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Summarize major theories of physics (mechanics and gravity) as they relate to astronomy
Assessment Strategies
Completing lab projects
Participate in class activity
Participate in class disussion
Taking written test/quiz
Criteria
explain Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion
explain Newton's Laws of Motion
explain Newton's Universal Theory of Gravity
apply Newton's Laws of Motion of Gravity to orbits
describe Special Relativity as relates to astronomy
describe General Relativity as relates to astronomy
describe Quantum Mechanics as relates to astronomy
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Summarize major properties of light
Assessment Strategies
Completing lab projects
Participate in class activity
Participate in class discussion
Taking written test/quiz
Criteria
list types of electromagnetic radiation (light) in order of wavelength
identify how to observe each type of electromagnetic radiation
describe the following particle properties of light reflecting and photoelectric effect
describe wave properties of light:reflection, refraction, diffraction, interference, and Doppler effect
explain the relationship between light and atoms (spectroscopy)
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Show how to determine various stellar properties
Assessment Strategies
Completing lab projects
Participate in class activity
Participate in class discussion
Taking written test/quiz
Criteria
explain how to determine distances to stars
explain how to determine luminosities of stars
demonstrate the relationship between flux, luminosity, and distance
explain how to use stellar spectra to determine stellar temperatures, compositions, radial velocities, magnetic fields, and rotation rates
demonstrate the relationship between luminosity, radius, and temperature (Stephan-Boltzman relationship)
explain how to use binary stars to determine stellar masses and radii
plot stellar information on a HR diagram
interpret a HR diagram
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Describe the Sun and solar activity
Assessment Strategies
Completing lab projects
Participate in class discussion
Participate in class activity
Taking written test/quiz
Criteria
summarize the physical properties of the Sun
explain the process of nuclear fusion occuring in the Sun
explain the solar activity cycle
explain how solar activity cycle influences the Earth (and other planets)
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Explain the evolution of stars (low mass stars and high mass)
Assessment Strategies
Completing lab projects
Participate in class activity
Participate in class discussion
Taking written test/quiz
Criteria
describe conditions and environment needed for star formation
explain the evolution of a low mass star (i.e. Sun) from birth to death
explain the evolution of a high mass star (i.e. Betelgeuse) from birth to death
compare the evolution of stars of various masses (ex. low mass stars vs. high mass stars)
contrast the evolution of stars of various masses (ex. low mass stars vs. high mass stars)
describe three types of stellar remnants: white dwarfs, neutron stars/pulsars, and black holes
summarize how astronomers search for and detect exoplanets
relate the current status of extra-solar planetary searches
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Summarize the history of our understanding of the Milky Way
Assessment Strategies
Completing lab projects
Participate in class activity
Participate in class discussion
Taking written test/quiz
Criteria
explain how our view of the Milky Way has changed with time (ancient Greeks, Galileo, Herschel...)
explain Shapley's model of Milky Way
explain Kapteyn's model of Milky Way
discuss the Great Debate and its significance
explain Hubble's resolution to Great Debate
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Explain how to determine the properties of the Milky Way
Assessment Strategies
Completing lab projects
Participate in class activity
Participate in class discussion
Taking written test/quiz
Criteria
characterize the major components of the Milky Way (disk, spheroid, galactic halo, nuclear bulge, globular clusters...)
sketch the Milk Way
explain how to determine the dimensions of the Milky Way
explain how to measure the mass of the Milky Way
explain significance of flat rotation curve and dark matter
discuss the Milky Way supermassive black hole (Sag. A*)
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Explain the properties and structure of galaxies
Assessment Strategies
Completing lab projects
Participate in class activity
Participate in class discussion
Taking written test/quiz
Criteria
characterize the basic types of galaxies (Hubble tuning fork)
sketch the basic types of galaxies
classify galaxies by their basic shapes
explain how astronomers determine the sizes of galaxies
explain how astronomers determine the composition of galaxies
explain how astronomers determine the distances to galaxies (Hubble law; Cepheid variables, supernovae measurements...)
describe major types of active galaxies
explain the nature of quasars
explain the Unified AGN model
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Describe the large-scale structure of the universe
Assessment Strategies
Completing lab projects
Participate in class activity
Participate in class discussion
Taking written test/quiz
Criteria
identify our location in universe
describe the Local Group and its major members
list some groups and clusters
describe the Local Supercluster (Virgo, Supercluster)
describe the largest scale structure of universe (superclusters and voids)
recognize some example superclusters
explain how to map the structure of the universe
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Discuss the Big Bang Theory and the major evidence for it
Assessment Strategies
Completing lab projects
Participate in class activity
Participate in class discussion
Taking written test/quiz
Criteria
explain Hubble's observation of the expansion of the universe
discuss the importance of Hubble's Law
explain the cosmological principle
describe the Big Bang Theory
explain 5 major categories of evidence for Big Bang Theory
explain the three major measurements of Cosmic Microwave Background
discuss the status of Big Bang Nucleosynthesis Theory
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Summarize the evolution (origin and fate) of the universe
Assessment Strategies
Completing lab projects
Participate in class activity
Participate in class discussion
Taking written test/quiz
Criteria
summarize the origin and early evolution of universe
explain the role of Inflation (modification to Big Bang Theory)
discuss status of our understanding of dark matter
explain the discovery of accelerating expansion and its significance
discuss the status of our understanding of dark energy
describe how to measure the shape of the universe
summarize the possible fates of the universe
explain what observations astronomers are making in order to more accurately determine the fate of the universe
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Explore the possibility of life in the universe
Assessment Strategies
Completing lab projects
Participate in class activity
Participate in class discussion
Taking written test/quiz
Criteria
determine the characteristics that all life must share
explain the conditions which are favorable to life
explain the Drake equation
explore possible methods to scientifically search for life in the universe
assess the issues or problems that scientists may encounter in the search for extra terrestrial life
evaluate the worthiness of the search for terrestrial life
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Identify the purpose of important space missions and astronomical experiments as they apply to our modern understanding of stars, galaxies, and cosmology
Assessment Strategies
Completing lab projects
Participate in class activity
Participate in class discussion
Taking written test/quiz
Criteria
describe the major contributions of Hubble Space Telescope
identify major contributions of other space telescopes (i.e. Spitzer, Fermi, Chandra...)
describe the major discoveries of the Kepler mission
explain the purpose of the solar missions (SOHO, SDO, STEREO...)
describe some of the major cosmology missions (COBE, WMAP...)
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Use various astronomical instruments (telescope, planisphere, etc.) (OPTIONAL)
Assessment Strategies
Completing lab projects
Participating in observing sessions (Optional)
Taking written test/quiz
Criteria
explain the major functions of a telescope and/or binoculars
focus a telescope and/or binoculars
explain the structure of reflecting and refracting telescopes
sketch the structure of reflecting and refracting telescopes
use a starfinder (planisphere)
explain the function of spectroscopes (diffraction gratings)
use a spectroscope (diffraction grating)
explain the function of photometers (filters)
use astronomical sky simulation software (i.e. Stellarium, Starry Night)
use astronomical websites for data gathering (i.e. USNO Astronomical Applications, Heaven's Above...)