Compare The Differences Between Galactic And Globular Clusters (Essay Sample)

Assignment 7 refer to the syllabus I uploaded for instructions and
please cite the sources you get information from
Center for Learning and Technology
COURSE SYLLABUS
INTRODUCTORY ASTRONOMY
AST-101-GS
Course Syllabus
INTRODUCTORY ASTRONOMY
AST-101-GS
©Thomas Edison State College
October 2014
Course Essentials
Introductory Astronomy is a one semester course designed to give you a
good understanding of how people have learned and continue to learn about
the physical universe. The course covers four major areas: Exploring the Sky,
Stars, The Universe of Galaxies, and Planets in Perspective.
The most important concept in Introductory Astronomy is the process of
science—the process by which scientists ask questions of nature and
gradually puzzle out the secrets of the physical world. You will discover how
the universe is dynamic and continually evolving by applying the scientific
method. Science is based on the interplay of evidence and hypothesis, and
that interplay is the principal organizing theme for Introductory Astronomy.
Objectives
After completing Introductory Astronomy, you should be able to:
1. Identify the major structures of the universe.
2. Explain the contributions made to the study of astronomy by a select
group of scientists from the past.
3. Explain the scientific method.
4. Understand and use scientific notation.
5. Identify and explain the major characteristics of the sun.
6. Identify the different types of stars.
7. Discuss the life-cycle of stars from how they are formed to how they
die.
8. Identify the major classes of galaxies and describe their characteristics.
9. Explain dark matter and its importance.
10. Define cosmology is and discuss its basic assumptions.
11. Explain the "big bang" theory.
12. Discuss several possible courses for the future development of the
universe.
13. Explain the history of Earth's formation.
14. Compare and contrast the physical characteristics of other planets in
the solar system.
15. Identify the minor members of the solar system and describe their
characteristics.
16. Discuss the methods scientists use to determine the possibility that
extraterrestrial civilizations exist elsewhere.
Course Materials
In addition to the Course Syllabus, you will need the following materials to
do the work of the course. All of these materials are available from the
textbook supplier, MBS Direct.
Textbook
Horizons: Exploring the Universe, 13th ed., by Michael A. Seeds (Belmont, CA:,
Brooks/Cole-Thompson Learning, 2013).
ISBN: 978-1-133-61063-2
Course Structure
Introductory Astronomy is a three-credit, 12-week course consisting of ten
(10) written assignments, a midterm examination and a final project in the
form of a paper. Weekly study assignments include readings from one or
more chapters in the textbook (see the “Course Calendar”).
Written Assignments
There are ten written assignments in total, all of which consist of questions
that deal with material in the textbook. Some of your assignment questions
call for short essay answers, which usually require no more than a paragraph
or two or a calculation or drawing. Standard essay questions require
answers that are each a minimum of one typed page. You may write more, of
course, in order to make your answers more comprehensive.
As part of Assignments 6 and 8 you are also required you to arrange with
your mentor the topic of a paper you must produce as a final project and
submit an outline of its structure. See the “Final Project” section at the end of
the syllabus for specific details.
Be sure to complete all relevant readings before answering the questions in
the “Written Assignments” section of the syllabus. Before you begin to write,
it will be helpful to outline your answers, listing the points you wish to make
and the examples you will use to support your ideas. Creative thinking and
the use of your own wording are important aspects of an effective answer.
Midterm Examination
Introductory Astronomy requires you to take a proctored online midterm
examination during Week 7. The midterm is a closed-book, proctored online
exam. It is two hours long and covers material from Weeks 1-6 (Chapters 1-
10). It consists of multiple choice questions and essay questions.
For the midterm, you are required to use the College's Online Proctor Service
(OPS). Please refer to the "Examinations and Proctors" section of the Online
Student Handbook (see General Information area of the course Web site) for
further information about scheduling and taking online exams and for all
exam policies and procedures. You are strongly advised to schedule your
exam within the first week of the semester.
Online exams are administered through the course Web site. Consult the
course Calendar for the official dates of exam weeks.
Statement about Cheating
You are on your honor not to cheat during the exam. Cheating means:
 Looking up any answer or part of an answer in an unauthorized
textbook or on the Internet, or using any other source to find the
answer.
 Copying and pasting or in any way copying responses or parts of
responses from any other source into your online test. This includes
but is not limited to copying and pasting from other documents or
spreadsheets, whether written by yourself or anyone else.
 Plagiarizing answers.
 Asking anyone else to assist you by whatever means available while
you take the exam.
 Copying any part of the exam to share with other students.
 Telling your mentor that you need another attempt at the exam
because your connection to the Internet was interrupted when that is
not true.
If there is evidence that you have cheated or plagiarized in your exam, the
exam will be declared invalid, and you will fail the course.
Final Project
You are required at the end of the semester to hand in a final project in the
form of a paper that details some type of current research that is going on in
astronomy today. This paper will be worth 20% of your final grade for the
course. For details of this assignment, see the “Final Project” section at the
end of this syllabus. For the scheduling of your paper see the “Course
Calendar” and “Assignments” sections.
Grading
To receive credit for the course, you must earn a letter grade of D or higher
on the weighted average of all assigned course work (e.g., exam,
assignments, projects, papers, etc.). You will receive a score of 0 for any
work not submitted.
Your final grade will be determined as follows:
Written Assignments 1–10 50 percent
Midterm examination 30 percent
Final Project 20 percent
Letter grades for assignments and examinations equate to numerical grades
as follows:
A = 93–100 C+ = 78–79
A– = 90–92 C = 73–77
B+ = 88–89 C– = 70–72
B = 83–87 D = 60–69
B– = 80–82 F = Below 60
Strategies for Success
To succeed in this course, consider following these steps:
1. Read carefully the entire “Course Essentials” section of this syllabus,
making sure that all aspects of the course are clear to you and that you
have all the materials required for the course.
2. Take the time to read the entire Student Handbook. The handbook
answers many questions about how to proceed through the course, how
to schedule your midterm exam and arrange for a proctor, and how to get
the most from your educational experience at Thomas Edison State
College.
3. Before you begin working on your assignments, take the time to fill in the
dates for the current semester on the “Course Calendar.” The Week-by-
Week dates you will need to plan your semester's work are located
within the first section of this Course Manual. Once you fill out the
calendar, you will know exactly when to begin your assignments, when
your written assignments are due, and when to schedule your
examination.
4. Each week, consult the “Course Calendar” in the syllabus to determine
which lesson(s) in the student guide you are to study and which
chapter(s) in the textbook you are to read. It is essential that you follow
the “Course Calendar” each week to ensure that you stay on track
throughout the course.
Course Calendar
Using the table of week-by-week dates in the General Course Instructions in
the Course Manual, write the dates for the current semester in the second
column. In the last column, fill in the actual date for sending each assignment
and taking examinations.
Week Dates Textbook
Chapter(s)
Written Assignment/
Examination
Due Date/
Exam
Date
1
1, 2, 3
Appendix A
1(
submit by Monday of
Week 2)
2 4
2(
submit by Monday of
Week 3)
3 5, 6
3(
submit by Monday of
Week 4)
4 7
4(
submit by Monday of
Week 5)
5 8, 9
4(
submit by Monday of
Week 5)
6 10
6(
submit by Monday of
Week 7)
7 MIDTERM EXAMINATION
Week Dates Textbook
Chapter(s)
Written Assignment/
Examination
Due Date/
Exam
Date
8 11, 12, 13
7(
submit by Monday of
Week 9)
9 14
8(
submit by Monday of
Week 10)
10 15, 16, 17
9(
submit by Monday of
Week 11)
11 18, 19, 20
10
(submit by Monday of
Week 12)
12
FINAL PROJECT
(submit by Saturday of Week 12)
Written Assignments
Answer each of the following assignment questions as completely as
possible. Do not merely copy answers from your reading materials.
Formulate answers in your own words. When using material from your
readings to answer the assignments, be sure to cite it properly by giving the
source and page numbers in parentheses or using footnotes or endnotes. Use
quotation marks even if only a few words are taken directly from a source.
When you have completed an assignment, proofread your answers for
correct grammar, accurate spelling, and clarity of ideas. Be certain you have
answered the questions completely.
Send your answers to your mentor according to the instructions in the
Student Handbook on or before the appropriate due dates. Please contact
your mentor if a written assignment is going to be delayed.
The preferred method for preparing each assignment for submission is given
within the assignment.
Assignment 1
Chapters 1, 2, and 3
This assignment has a series of questions that call for short essay answers.
The questions are designed to help you determine your grasp of how
astronomers use basic math skills in their work and how they measure
astronomical distances. Please show all calculations for each problem that
requires math. Type your written answers, using no more than one
paragraph to complete each answer.
1. A. Why do scientists use the metric system of measurement instead of
the English system of measurement? What is scientific notation and
why is it useful? Include math examples for each part.
B. Why are some distances measured in light-years and some in
astronomical units? Include a definition of each of these distance
measurements.
C. Answer Review Questions 2 and 4 and Problems 2 and 4 on page 21a
(Chapter 2) of the Seeds textbook. Include all computations for the
problems.
2. A. Discuss stellar magnitude. Include in your answer the definition of
the term and the difference between absolute and apparent
magnitudes.
B. Relate how the magnitude scale was originally organized by
Hipparchus and how today's astronomers have modified it.
3. A. Explain the difference between the orbital period of the moon around
Earth (sidereal period) and the length of the lunar cycle (synodic period).
B. Explain why lunar eclipses occur, comparing and contrasting what
happens during a total and a partial eclipse.
Assignment 2
Chapter 4
Please answer both standard essay questions in this assignment in a
minimum of one typed page each.
1. A. Compare the Ptolemaic and Copernican models of the universe. State
the main tenets of each theory: how they are alike or different, what
evidence each used to support the ideas, and how each explained the
retrograde motion of the inner planets.
B. How did Tycho Brahe's model of the universe differ from that of
Ptolemy or Copernicus? Explain the points of dispute.
2. Discuss how Newton's law of universal gravitation explained or clarified
the orbital circular motion of planets. Consider Kepler's second and third
laws to help you in your explanation.
Assignment 3
Chapters 5 and 6
Please answer each of the standard essay questions in this assignment in a
minimum of one typed page each.
1. The Seeds textbook states, “To an astronomer, nothing is so precious
as starlight”. Today we recognize that this starlight is electromagnetic
radiation. List the following:
A. Each part of this radiation used by an astronomer.
B. What instrument (telescope, etc.) works best with each type of
radiation.
C. What celestial objects we study and what we learn about them
from the radiation they emit.
D. What special instruments work in conjunction with telescopes to
advance our studies of “starlight.”
2. The ultimate key to our understanding the universe is our knowledge
of the atom.
A. Illustrate with an example the difference between an atom and an
ion.
B. Describe two ways an atom can be excited.
C. Why should photons emitted by a hotter material have an average
shorter wavelength?
D. Atoms produce spectra. Distinguish between a continuous, a
bright-line, and an absorption spectrum by describing how each is
formed.
3. How was the spectral classification system arrived at? Relate its
construction to the Balmer series and explain how a star's spectral
class can give us clues to its temperature, motion, and chemical
composition.
Assignment 4
Chapter 7
Please answer both standard essay questions in this assignment in a
minimum of one typed page each.
1. Describe the sun in terms of its structure and activity. Include in your
discussion the following terms: sunspots, prominences, solar flares, and
solar wind.
2. How is it that the Earth and the humans who inhabit it can be affected by
solar activity?
Assignment 5
Chapters 8 and 9
Please answer both standard essay questions in this assignment in a
minimum of one typed page each.
1. Explain how the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram is constructed of the four
main groupings of stars. Identify the characteristics of the four main
groupings of stars on the diagram.
2. “A Star Is Born!” In a step-by-step fashion, reconstruct the birth of a star.
In your answer, include interstellar medium, protostar, and how stellar
equilibrium is finally reached.
Assignment 6
Chapter 10
Please answer both standard essay questions in this assignment in a
minimum of one typed page each.
1. “A Star Dies!” Using the same technique you applied in question 2 in
Assignment 5, trace the events in the demise of stars of low stellar mass,
those of medium stellar mass, and those that are very massive.
2. Explain how Type I and Type II supernovae occur.
As part of Written Assignment 6 you are required to arrange with your
mentor the particular topic you want to write about for your Final Project
paper and submit a preliminary list of sources you intend to use. Consult the
“Final Project” section at the end of this syllabus for details of what this
involves and what you are required to do.
Assignment 7
Chapters 11, 12, and 13
The questions in this assignment are very specific and call for short essay
answers. In some cases, a paragraph will do; in others, you may need no
more than two paragraphs. Because of the nature of these questions, there are
more for you to answer. In this section, we are very much in the realm of
theoretical and controversial debate.
1. Describe how Harlow Shapley determined that the sun was not at the
center of our galaxy.
2. Compare the differences between galactic and globular clusters.
3. How does the use of H II regions to find a galaxy's distance differ from
the use of Cepheid variables?
4. How does the cluster method tell us the mass of galaxies?
5. What evidence do we have that the center of our galaxy is a powerful
source of energy?
Assignment 8
Chapter 14
The questions in this assignment are very specific and call for short essay
answers. In some cases, a paragraph will do; in others, you may need no
more than two paragraphs. Because of the nature of these questions, there are
more for you to answer. In this section, we are very much in the realm of
theoretical and controversial debate.
1. Explain the Big Bang Theory and discuss why modifications to the theory
as originally stated were eventually accepted.
2. Briefly relate several possible courses for the future of the universe and
the kinds of observation that would be necessary to resolve the issue.
As part of Written Assignment 8 you are required to submit to your mentor a
brief outline of how you intend to structure your Final Project paper and, if
applicable, a list of any additional sources you intend to use. Consult the
“Final Project” section at the end of this syllabus for details of what you are
required to do.
Assignment 9
Chapters 15, 16, and 17
Please answer both standard essay questions in this assignment in a
minimum of one typed page each
1. Outline the solar nebula theory, and explain how the characteristic
properties of the solar system provide evidence that supports that
theory.
2. Compare and contrast the Terrestrial Planets of Earth, Mercury,
Venus and Mars. In what ways are they similar enough to be classed
together and how are they different from one another?
Assignment 10
Chapters 18, 19, and 20
Please answer both standard essay questions in this assignment in a
minimum of one typed page each.
1. Compare and contrast the Jovian Planets of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and
Neptune. How are they different from the Terrestrial Planets and what
are the unique features of each?
2. Discuss the minor members of the solar system such as comets, meteors,
and asteroids. Include in your answer their origin, properties, and
geology, where it applies.
3. Explain the Drake equation and its significance in the effort to locate
civilizations on planets other than Earth.
Final Project
You are required at the end of the semester to hand in a final project in the
form of a paper, which will be worth 20% of your final grade for the course.
For the scheduling of this paper see the “Course Calendar.”
Your Paper
Your paper must be about some type of current research that is going on in
astronomy today. It should be a minimum of eight to ten (8-10) pages in
length and should be supported by reputable sources. We suggest you go to
astronomy journals to do this paper. Journals whose dates of publication are
no more than three years old are acceptable resources so that this is truly
current science.
There is no specific referencing style that you must use, but whichever one
you choose it should be an accepted style (i.e. MLE, Turabian, AP), and you
should be consistent in using it. Check with your mentor.
The Production of your Final Project
You will produce your paper in three stages:
1. Selection of Topic and Preliminary List of sources
As part of Written Assignment 6 you are required to arrange with
your mentor the particular topic regarding current research in
astronomy you want to write about and submit a preliminary list of
sources you intend to use.
2. Outline of Structure
Once your selection and preliminary list of sources has been
approved you are required to submit as part of Written Assignment 8
a brief outline of how you intent to structure your paper and, if
applicable, a list of any additional sources you intend to use.
In your outline you should state the hypothesis being examined
or the theory being tested, what avenue the research on that
topic is taking, and what might be partially or wholly resolved
as a result of this research.
3. Writing Your Paper
Once you have received feedback from your mentor regarding your
outline, proposed structure, and any additional sources, you will then
produce your paper. Your completed paper is due at the end of the
semester.
Submitting Your Paper
To submit your paper, go to the “Assignments” area of the course site.
Minimum Requirements for your Paper
Your paper must meet the following minimum requirements:
1. It must be between eight and ten (8-10) pages in length with double
spacing. The length of your paper does not include the title page,
table of contents page, or reference page.
2. It must have a title page. The title page must have the title of the
paper, your name and address, and the name of the course.
3. In addition to the main body of your paper it must have a conclusion
section. This section should briefly summarize the issue(s) you
covered and clearly articulate your analysis of the topic.
4. Your paper must have a reference section. There is no specific
referencing style that you must use, but whichever one you choose it
should be an accepted style (i.e. MLE, Turabian, AP), and you should
be consistent in using it. Check with your mentor.
The references you cite should be from reputable and authoritative
sources. Be discerning; just because something is in print or on the
Internet does not mean it is credible. Your references must include
primary and secondary sources.
5. Each section of your paper must have a separate heading. Placing a
heading at the beginning of each section of the paper makes the
discussion in the paper easier to follow. Headings also improve the
paper's visual presentation.
9. Your paper must use proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation. All
technical flaws in your analysis paper will result in grade deductions.
10. A missed due date will also result in a grade deduction. Check the
course “Calendar” area of this syllabus to find out when your paper is
due.