Physics & Astronomy 107

Frequently Asked Questions

Math and Grading
Q) What level and kind of math are in the course?
A) I use high school math: algebra and a little trigonometry.  You'll need to be able to work
with exponents and logarithms, too, because astronomy deals with such incredibly small
and large numbers.  I require you to MEMORIZE a few mostly geometrical FORMULAS (see LINKS) but
not very many.  Most of what you need I'll give you on an equation sheet.  You'll need
to know how to use a formula ("plug & chug"), to see how numbers relate. 

Q) How much math counts in my grade?
A) About 1/3 of the questions will have some math in them.  But, a lot of it is easy,
and all the questions are multiple choice.  So, even if you can eliminate a couple of possible choices,
you'll increase your chance of getting credit.  Also, I actually make a maximum score of around 115-120%.
So, on a quiz, if you get the two thirds qualitative questions right, then you have 80% --
which is roughly A-level.

Q) Help!  I can't do math!  What do I do?
A) You *can* learn the math you need for this course.  There are many resources to help
you: the tutors, the REACH center, classmates and the instructor.  I know a fair number of
students who surprised themselves by learning how to do problems in only 1-2 extra sessions
with the tutors or me.  I believe in students' abilities.  The skills you learn in this course like
critical thinking, the scientific method and exercising basic math will be useful for other things in life.

Q) Why do you have math in the course, anyway?  This is astronomy!
A) Astronomy is a mathematical science, and some math is essential to understanding
how astronomers use the scientific method.  A little math goes a long way: the ancient
Greeks could work out the size of Earth and made estimates of the distances to the Moon
and Sun with elementary trigonometry.   Astronomy needs math like history needs writing skills --
it's a tool of the trade.

Q) Why do we have so much homework and reading?
A) You can't learn the contents of the course without putting in 2-3 hours of effort outside of
class for every hour inside.  Much or even most of the learning you do goes on outside
of class!  Pretests are practice for homework, which
is practice for the quizzes, which are practice for the midterms and final.
So, you will see similar questions several times from pretests through to tests.
My past students asked that homework be collected every week, because otherwise they
wouldn't do it and wouldn't learn for the quizzes and tests.

Q) If our class has a final, why does the final count so much and why is it cumulative?
A) I think that students ought to have a chance at a decent grade (or even passing) until the
end.  "Never give up!  Never surrender!" (Capt. Taggart from Galaxy Quest).  If the final were not
cumulative and not weighted heavily, then a student could easily be in such a bad situation that
even scoring 100% on the final wouldn't be enough to pass.

Q) What are the quizzes and tests like?
A) All questions are multiple choice, graded by a Scantron or registered by clicker.
About 1/3 require math. Quiz, midterm and final questions are of similar style.
Questions draw heavily from the homework and the questions in the backs of the chapters
covered.  I also make up my own questions.  I will from time to time put in a question
about Astro-news/recent discoveries, so be sure to read the Astro-news!
The rest of the class website has a lot of important information, so read it thoroughly.

Q) Why don't you write study guides?
A) Everything I teach in class is important to the course. Otherwise, I
wouldn't teach it. As the semester progresses, I provide answer keys
to all the homework, quizzes and midterms, plus the PowerPoint files for
all the chapters covered, with summaries of what I think is important
at the end of each chapter. The Learning Assistant and I run at least
one midterm/final review session or question-and-answer session
outside of class. I'm happy to help you during office hours as well.

Other Topics
Q) Class is boring.  Can I get by with just reading the book?
A) You wouldn't get as good a grade.  Besides the participation points which you get
in class, and the quizzes, there is material I will present which is supplementary to the book,
or recent discoveries ("Astro-news").  The planetarium also presents unique opportunities to
learn through immersed visualization. Also, students CONTRIBUTE to the class.
This can be via consulting during clicker questions (though not the mini-quiz ones)
or asking questions. I can't think of all the questions!

Q) How do I register a clicker?
     A) For a clicker, go to https://macmillan.force.com/iclicker/s/article/Student-Guide-iClicker-Roster-Grade-Sync-Integration    and follow the directions. This is for the "cloud" version -- for which you need to buy a remote and enter the remote unit ID number. You need to use your UL username, which is up to six letters then two numbers then @louisville.edu
**DO NOT PAY TO REGISTER YOUR CLICKER.**
**DO NOT JUST BUY THE "CLOUD" SUBSCRIPTION WITHOUT A CLICKER REMOTE UNIT.**

B) **IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM, TRY THIS SECOND**
i) Log into BlackBoard and enter this course
ii) Click on "Tools"
iii) Click on ">clicker Student Registration" (might be at the bottom)
iv) Type in your clicker ID (8 characters, a mix of numbers and the letters A-H)
v) Tell the instructor you registered via BlackBoard

Clickers used in previous UL courses which are from iclicker.com should work fine.  But, they may have an old registration on file.
You need to update it and make sure you freshly register it with your name and student ID number.
**A clicker is required for this course.**

Q) Can I type my homework?
A) Certainly!  The grader and I would appreciate it.

Q) What do I do if I miss class?
A) You have a life and will miss a class or two.  Get the notes from a friend in class. I will generally provide the slides
and attempt to provide an audio recording after each lecture. I will drop the lowest homework grade, so you can miss one for free, and
grade clicker points out of about 75% of the total possible,
to allow you to miss a few classes with no penalty on participation.  (I'll use the clickers on an average of 1-2 times per
class -- sometimes fewer and sometimes more.)  For missing a test or homework, I will accept an excused absence in ADVANCE with
VERIFIABLE documentation (from a doctor, pastor, funeral home, sports coach, band director
etc.).  If you miss a quiz, test or homework due to illness, I need a doctor's note.  It's YOUR responsibility to
come to me if you miss a quiz or test.  If homework is due, it's still due unless
you've been sick for a week and have a doctor's note for it. Have another student turn it in or fax it
(number on my website) or as a very last resort e-mail it (pdf, not Word!) to me.
Homework needs to be on paper to be graded. I would appreciate your asking
before you e-mail me homework. If I get many e-mailed homework sets,
it loses time to detach, sort and print homework for the grader.
I will in general not wish to accept multiple homework assignments e-mailed to me by
the same person.

Q) If I haven't registered my clicker yet, will I ever get credit for past responses?
A) YES! The base station records your clicker ID number. You can register it later.
So, you will get credit -- AFTER you register. But, register as soon as you can. Otherwise,
I won't know to whom to credit your clicker responses. Your clicker grade
is about 1/3 of a grade, and can make the difference between a B+ and A-, or even passing and failing.

Q) Is the lab (108) connected to the lecture course? Do I have to take it? Or is it separate?
A) The lab (Physics & Astronomy 108) and the lecture course (Physics & Astronomy 107)
are separate. Some majors require a lab course, and others do not. Check with your
academic unit. You are welcome and encouraged to take it if you are interested, regardless of
whether it's required, of course, but it may not be required for your major. The lab offers
opportunities to learn fundamental concepts through hands-on discovery,
It includes experiments, computer-assisted material, remote use of
research-quality telescopes located in both northern and southern
hemispheres, and night observations weather permitting (especially for
the evening sections).

The lab satisfies the General Education requirement for a physical
science laboratory course.

You may take the 108 in any semester, but usually it is taken in the
same semester you take 107. I recommend taking the "in-person" lab, because you will get more help.