Instructor: William H. Jefferys
RLM 16.236 (471-1455)
Office Hours: TTh 2-3
Email:
TA: Elizabeth Leass
RLM 16.212 (471-8443)
Office Hours: TTh 11-12
Email: lizwiz@astro.as.utexas.edu
Beth Fernandez
RLM 15.202A (471-8316)
Office Hours: MW 1-2
Email: beth@astro.as.utexas.edu
Textbooks: From Sundials to Atomic Clocks, Second Revised Edition,
by Jespersen, Fitz-Randolph, and Robb
Longitude, by Dava Sobel
Relativity Visualized, by Lewis Carroll Epstein
(Optional) Mapping Time by E. G. Richards
Equipment: Janus Astrolabe (available at Coop, School Supplies).
I have set up a Worldwide Web Homepage for this course. I plan to put information onto this page that you my find useful. It is not required that you have access to the Worldwide Web, but if you do, it will enhance your enjoyment of this course. All students can obtain access to the Web and to E-mail by going to the Undergraduate Library and signing up for an account. The URL of the Web page for this course is:
http://quasar.as.utexas.edu/ast309.html
In this course we will discuss many different aspects of time,
including how we measure time, how and why calendars arose and
are constructed, how time and space are related by the theory
of relativity, how time has affected the evolution of the universe,
why time seems to move in only one direction, and whether time
travel is even possible. We will see how astronomy and the measurement
of time have affected each other through the centuries.
An important part of this course will be assignments that are
done outside of class and then discussed in class. It is important
that they be done on time. No credit can be given if an assignment
is turned in late. Since some of these assignments will involve
observations, and therefore depend on the weather, it is recommended
that they be done promptly so that you don't find yourself with
an assignment due the next day and the skies pouring rain.
We will sometimes work small calculation problems in class. Please
come to each class session prepared to work with your calculator.
Be sure you know how to use it!
GRADING POLICIES
There will be three quizzes and one final exam. The final exam
will count as an additional quiz, so in effect there are four
quizzes total. The lowest quiz grade will be dropped and the quiz
grade will be the average of the remaining three. If you take
all three quizzes that will be given during the semester, therefore,
and are happy with the average, you need not take the final. However,
if you take the final, your grade can only improve, it cannot
get worse. The quizzes will cover only the material since the
previous quiz; the final, however, will be comprehensive (and
will be about 50% longer than a standard quiz).
You are expected to prepare a set of notes for each quiz (including
the final), which you may consult during the quiz. The notes must
be handwritten, on one side of an 8-1/2"x11"
sheet of paper. The notes must be turned in with your quiz. They
will be graded, and will constitute 10% of your quiz grade.
There will be no makeup quizzes. If you have to miss a
quiz because of illness or any other reason, your quiz grade will
be based on the remaining ones (including the final). You may
also substitute two extra outside assignments for one
missed quiz. More information on outside assignments will be announced
in due course. You may also turn in up to two more
extra outside assignments which will be taken into account when
the final grade is determined and which can only help raise your
final grade. Note that there are only three outside assignments.
The quiz grade counts 60% of the total grade. 40% of your grade
will come from the regular outside assignments. Up to 15% extra
credit will be given for additional outside assignments that you
turn in.
COURSE OUTLINE
|
Week |
Topic |
Reading |
| Aug 27 | Preliminaries; Motions of the Planets | From Sundials to |
| Sep 1 | Stonehenge; Eclipses; Calendar | Atomic Clocks |
| Sep 8 | Calendar | |
| Sep 15 | Calendar | |
| Sep 22 | Clocks: History; Earth Rotation; Sundials | |
| Sep 29 | Clocks: Modern; The Problem of Longitude | Longitude |
| QUIZ #1 Thursday, Oct 2 | ||
| Oct 6 | Navigation; Loran; GPS | |
| Oct 13 | Ages of Planets and Stars | |
| Oct 20 | Relativity | Relativity Visualized |
| Oct 27 | Relativity | |
| Nov 3 | Relativity | |
| QUIZ #2 Tuesday, Nov 4 | ||
| Nov 10 | Time and the Universe | |
| Nov 17 | Time and the Universe | |
| Nov 24 | Time and the Universe | |
| Dec 2 | Time and the Universe | |
| QUIZ #3 Thursday, Dec 4 |