Mar 28, 2024  
2020-2021 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2020-2021 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

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PHYS 102 - Introduction to Astronomy


Description:
An introduction to the physics of the bodies in our solar system with an emphasis on planets and the Sun. This course will include an emphasis how we observe the planets and Sun, current and past planetary missions, and the comparative evolution of bodies in our solar system. NS-Patterns and Connections Natural World (L).

Credits: (4)

General Education Category: NS-Patterns and Connections Natural World (L).

Learner Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

  • Describe the history of the solar system; the most important features of the surface, atmospheres, and orbits of the bodies in the solar system; and the physical processes that determine them.
  • Describe the history of planetary missions in our solar system.
  • Explain why Mars, Venus, and Earth have evolved into very different planetary bodies, including how this relates to global change.
  • Learn to interpret simple planetary data (such as spectral data) to determine the properties of a planetary body.
  • Learn about the scientific process.
  • Calculate basic astronomical quantities like the flux of light at the top of an atmosphere or the force of gravity on the surface of a planet.
  • Describe the motion of the Earth in the solar system including the cause of seasons.
  • Estimate the properties of a given planet with a given mass and composition around a given star.
  • How to read, evaluate, and prepare presentations on current planetary science topics.

Learner Outcomes Approval Date:
4/2/2015

Anticipated Course Offering Terms and Locations:



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