(Don't Use Canvas to contact me, use email link)
Office: LD 156-S, 278-9244
Class: LE 101 on Tues and Thur 10:30 - 11:45
http://woodahl.physics.iupui.edu/Astro100
Is the University open/closed today?
About 70 questions, multiple choice, review all your notes and quizzes
Bring a picture ID card (Driver's License, CrimsonCard, JagTag, Military ID, etc.)
In LE 101, rememberize to bring a #2 (HB) pencil (failure to use a pencil results in a zero)
''.. I brought my pencil, gimme something to write on, man ..'' OpScan sheets will be provided, pick one up when you enter
4 questions, multiple choice, review your notes from the last three weeks (this will also help prepare for the exam)
Know everything about light
Know about the fundamental particles (and other aspects of matter)
Understand the distinction between chemical and nuclear reactions
4 questions, multiple choice, review your notes from the past two weeks
Know all about Newton, his Laws of Motion, and his Law of Gravity
Photon (wavy line) Being Absorbed by Atom -> Electron (solid blue line) Jumps Up into Higher Orbit
Atom Emitting a Photon (wavy line) -> Electron (solid blue line) Jumps Down into Lower Orbit
4 questions, multiple choice, review your notes from the past four lectures
Know the history of Foucault, Galileo, Kepler, Brahe, Copernicus
Know the numbers/info regarding galaxies, and stars in galaxies
Know the motion of Earth's path around Sun (ecliptic plane, perihelion = closest to the sun, etc.) and the seasons
Know about the Moon's motion around the Earth and the phases of the Moon
4 questions, multiple choice, review your notes from last week, know:
The metric prefix names for various powers of ten
Dividing two numbers and obtaining the "order of magnitude"
The number of stars in a galaxy and the number of stars in the observable universe
The speed-of-light in the metric units
Syllabus (PDF). Please print and keep with your notes.
Master Schedule (PDF). Please print and keep with your notes.
These documents may be changed/updated during the semester. Please check that you have the latest versions.
The TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE of 2017 (Monday, August 21st)
A solar eclipse only occurs if the New Moon is about within half a degree of the ecliptic plane (defined by the orbit path of Earth as it travels around the Sun). The Moon's orbital path, around the Earth, is (unfortunately) inclined by about 5 degrees to the ecliptic. Thus, there are only two opportunities each moonth (punning) when the Moon passes through the ecliptic. These points are called the nodes (ascending, descending). The Moon passing through a node is not sufficient, it must pass through the node during the New Moon lunar phase.
About twice a year, during an approximately 45 day window (based upon the orbital speeds of the Earth and Moon), the New Moon is close enough to a node that a solar eclipse can occur. Further complicating the motion, the Moon's orbital plane precesses relative to the ecliptic. Hence, the nodes precess around the ecliptic, completing one rotation about every 18.6 years. In addition, because the Moon's path around Earth is elliptical, during many solar eclipses the angular diameter of the Moon is not large enough to fully cover the Sun. Only when the New Moon is near a node and near perigee (i.e. closest to the Earth), does totality occur. On average, it takes about 400 years for totality to occur again at the same geographical location.
Many thanks to Ryan Bertram, who introduced me to this YouTube video (courtesy of Rob Bryanton, Canadian author) that discusses the ten possible dimensions of our universe.
Many thanks to Tim McCormick, who introduced me to this webpage that models early solar system formation.
Department of Physics, IUPUI - Updated on September 17, 2023 at 11:10 AM EDT
