College of Science

Department of Applied Physics

Course Outline

Semester : Fall 2016-2017

Course Title : Astronomy & Space Sciences (1430101)
Credit Hours : 3 Hours
Instructor : Omar Adwan
Office : M7-003B
Office Hours:
.Sun .Mon .Tues .Wed .Thu

(13:00-14:00) (12:00-13:00) (13:00-14:00) (8:30-9:30)

M7-003B M7-003B M7-003B M7-003B

Phone : 06 51 66 717 Ext: (1717) Email: adwan@sharjah.ac.ae

Prerequisites : None

Textbook : Foundations of Astronomy by Michael Seeds – Cengage Learning, 13 th ed.

References : Exploring the Universe by Michael Seeds – Cengage Learning, 2008 ed.

1. Course Description:
The astronomy message is universal. It reaches every one of us, and as human beings, we would like to
understand life as we see it on a planet called Earth. Thus, this course will focus on what will benefit you
more, what will enrich your knowledge, and what will enrich your understanding of the scientific process of
learning.

The course starts with an overview of general astronomy, i.e., easily observed natural astronomical
phenomena (getting to know the sky, seasons, solar and lunar eclipses, observing the sky…). It will then deal
with the early history of the study of astronomy. The fundamental astronomical concepts about light, matter,
and energy, the various types of ground and space telescopes used to explore the electromagnetic spectrum will
then be discussed. The course will also cover the formation of the Solar System and its occupants. Earth is then
compared to the Moon and Earth’s nearest planetary neighbors and also to the gaseous Jovian planets. The
planetology, astrobiology, and astrochemistry of the Solar System will be debated to understand what makes
Earth so unique (life) among the other planets.

After a study of the Sun, our nearest star, we move on to discuss all aspects of stars. We will present the
observational traits of stars – their colors and types – and we go on to show how we measure their distances,
brightness, and motions. We will also discuss binary stars, variable stars, and star clusters, in the process
showing how we derive stellar masses and ages. We will answer the question of how stars shine and reveal that
all stars have life cycles. The death of a star is sometimes a violent event and creates peculiar objects such as
neutron stars and black holes.

The last part of the course will describe the parts of the Milky Way and our place in it. We will then
push beyond the Milky Way to discuss galaxies in general, the fundamental units of the Universe, and evidence
that they consist largely of dark matter. The evolution of galaxies will also be discussed. Lastly, we will then

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 consider the ultimate questions of cosmological creation by analyzing recent findings and current theories
regarding the evidence for an accelerating expansion of the Universe, possibilities for the overall geometry and
fate of the Universe.

2. Course objectives:
After completing the course, the student should be able to:

1. Recognize how science works and identify how to evaluate scientific arguments from evidence, and
interpret the up-to-date information on different areas of astronomy and space science that have rapidly
developed in recent times.

2. Demonstrate a clear understanding of the night sky: stars, constellations, mapping the sky, time and
calendars, and other related topics.

3. Interpret the different astronomical concepts about light, matter, and energy in order to be able to
investigate the astronomical natural phenomena like the solar and lunar eclipses, and seasons using
several numerical and graphical methods.

4. Acquire a clear understanding of the nature of the origin, evolution and the current state of the solar
system, planetary atmospheres, interiors and satellites systems, the discovery of other Solar Systems using
space missions & new technologies.

5. Evaluate the distance scale of the Universe and compositions of objects on various cosmic scales: galaxies,
galaxy super-clusters, quasars and diffuse matter at high red-shift, Big-bang cosmology, including cosmic
expansion, the origin of the chemical elements, and finally the emphasis on the physical processes in the
early universe.

3. Academic Integrity

The University of Sharjah is committed to creating a learning environment that is honest and ethical. Academic
dishonesty will not be tolerated in any way or form at UoS. Academic dishonesty includes cheating, plagiarism
or any other attempt to gain an academic advantage in a dishonest or unfair manner. We believe that high-
quality creative work should be created independently, and should be your own original work.

4. Lecture schedule:
The lectures are the heart of the course, defining its content and its character. They will provide not only a
presentation of the principal concepts but a view of their development, significance, relative importance, and
interrelationships which you will find difficult to get in any other way.

Lecture Organization:

The total lecture time will be divided into two parts. The first two-thirds period of the lecture will be devoted to
formal lecturing, presenting the main concepts of the subject. The last third period will be devoted to activities
such as informal discussion of things presented in the lecture and textbook, of the assigned homework, and of
related ideas, so as to clarify or extend the basic course material. This is an invaluable opportunity for the
students to gel help or to find added interest in the course. The students must make good use of this
opportunity by taking an active part in the discussion. Ask questions.

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5. Methods of Teaching:
1. Computer resources including Ipad/laptop/Data Show and the internet
2. PowerPoint presentations
3. Computer Animations (Astronomy Software, Astronomy DVDs)
4. Live Astronomical Night (Moon, planets, stars, galaxies) and Day (Sun) observations using telescopes.

6. Assessment methods: Homework, Quizzes, Exams, and Bonus questions

Besides the midterm and final exam, five quizzes (each 20 multiple-choice questions) will be given to the
students in the semester as follows:

- Quiz 1: (Chaps. 1 & 2)

- Quiz 2: (Chaps. 3& 4)
- Quiz 3: (Chaps. 5 & 6)
- Quiz 4: (Chaps. 7 & 8)
- Quiz 5: (Chaps. 9 & 10)

The best FOUR SCORES of these five quizzes will be chosen for the final semester work.

The midterm exam (40 questions) will emphasize work done during the first part of the semester (Chaps. 1- 5)
while the final exam (80 questions) will emphasize work done during the second part (Chaps. 6-10), but it may
also include some earlier material. The exams will consist mostly of multiple-choice questions, but each exam
may include a short “essay” section. Because photographs are very important in astronomy, projected slides will
be used in connection with some exam questions; be sure, therefore, to pay attention to slides used in classes
and to illustrations in the textbook.

Instructions related to procedures for the exams will be given before the first exam. Information about the
character and general content of each exam will be given before the exam so that you will know what is
expected of you.

Make-up exams will be arranged for those who miss an exam because of illness or emergency, but all students
are normally expected to take the regular exams at the scheduled times. Make-up exams must be approved by
the department chair.

Bonus questions (worth one or two points) will be asked throughout the semester. One bonus question will be
asked for each chapter. These bonus points will be added directly to your score at the end of the semester.

7. Grade Distribution:
Semester Activities: 40%
Midterm Exam: 20% Sunday 30 October 2016 at 16:00
Final Exam: 40%
Bonus Points: 10 points (extra)

8. Exams:
Midterm Exam: Sunday - October 30, 2016 at (16:00-17:00)
Final Exam: To Be Set

Attendance:
10% 3 Lectures (Warning 1)
15% 5 Lectures (Warning 2)
20% 6 Lectures (FORFIET) FA
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9. Course content: (The dates are tentative and may slightly be modified)
Date Chapter/Page
Chapter 1 – Here and Now (p. 1)

Weeks 1 & 2  Where are You? (p. 2)

 When is Now? (p. 7)
 Why Study Astronomy? (p. 7)
Chapter 2 – The Sky (p. 11)
 The Stars (p. 12)
Weeks 3 & 4  The Sky and Its Motion (p. 16)
 Cycles of the Sun (p. 20)
 Astronomical Influences on Earth’s Climate (p. 25)
To Be Set Quiz 1 (Chapters 1 & 2)
Chapter 3 – Cycles of the Moon (p. 31)
 The Changeable Moon (p. 32)
Weeks 5 & 6  Lunar Eclipses (p. 33)
 Solar Eclipses (p. 37)
 Predicting Eclipses (p. 43)
Chapter 4 – Origin of Modern Astronomy (p. 49)
 Roots of Astronomy (p. 50)
 Islamic Astronomy -
Week 7  Copernican Revolution (p. 58)
 Planetary Motion (p. 61)
 Galileo Galilei (p. 67)
 Modern Astronomy (p. 71)
To Be Set Quiz 2 (Chapters 3 & 4)
Chapter 5 – Light and Telescopes (p. 98)

Week 8  Radiation: Information from Space (p. 99)

 Optical Telescopes (p. 101)
 Astronomy from Space (p. 117)
Week 8 Astronomy Midterm Exam
Chapter 6 – Introduction to the Solar System (p. 396)

Week 9  The Great Chain of Origins (p. 397)

 A survey of the Solar System (p. 401)
 Planets Orbiting other Stars (p. 414)
To Be Set Quiz 3 (Chapters 5 & 6)
Chapter 7 – Earth: The Standard of Comparative Planetology (p. 424)
 A Travel Guide to the Terrestrial Planets (p. 425)
Week 10  Early History of Earth (p. 427)
 Solid Earth (p. 429)
 Earth’s Atmosphere (p. 433)
Chapter 8 – The Sun (p. 142)

Weeks 11 & 12  Solar Atmosphere (p.143)

 Nuclear Fusion in the Sun (p. 150)
 Solar Activity (p. 154)
To Be Set Quiz 4 (Chapters 7 & 8)
Chapter 9 – Life and Evolution of Stars
 Masses of Stars (p. 178)
Weeks 13 & 14  Spectral Types (p. 131)
 H-R Diagram (p. 174)
 Source of Stellar Energy (p. 226)
 Life Story of a Star (p. 233; p. 240; p. 256; p. 266)
Chapter 10 – Universe at Large

Week 15  Milky Way (p. 303; p. 308)

 Other Galaxies (p. 331)
 Cosmology (p. 369)
To Be Set Quiz 5 (Chapters 9 & 10)
Dec. 22, 2016 Last Day of Class
To Be Set Final Exam