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PHYSICS
3010
SPACE EXPLORATION
COURSE SYLLABUS
FALL 2009
Instructor: Ludger
Scherliess
Office Hours: By
appointment
Tel: 7-7189
Fax: 7-2992
E-mail: ludger.scherliess@usu.edu
Classroom: Old
Main 119
Times: Tuesday/Thursday 3:00 - 4:15 p.m.
Class website: http://www.physics.usu.edu/
Click
Class Websites
Click
PHYX 3010 in Fall 2009 column
Textbook: There
is no textbook, the PowerPoint slides for each class section will be accessible
at the class website. Additional
material can be found in books and from professional web sites such as
www.nasa.gov.
Course Goals:
Science
is the basis of the advanced technology that affects our lives today in
countless ways. Whether it is the
macroscopic world of the machines we use every day, or the microscopic world of
atoms that play a crucial role in the functioning of those machines. Technology is ultimately driven by
energy, so studies of our prime energy source, the sun, and understanding its
very large-scale motion is a strong influence on our lives. Finally, on the ultimate size scale of
the universe astronomical phenomena are of consuming interest to most of the
population and their curiosity as to whether other life forms exist in the
cosmos has been and continues to be a very powerful driver of space
exploration.
The
decisions on which technologies are promoted are governed by many other
considerations than the science behind them. Wide-ranging political and economic considerations play a
major part in the advance of technology.
In turn the consequences of these political and economic decisions have
extensive social implications to the population. The feedback between the people and the political and the
economic powers operates in quite different ways leading to the very complex
interactions in our modern society.
In
this course we will use the development of space exploration, primarily of the
near earth environment, as an example of the effects of the interaction of
science, technology and society.
The term ÒSpace ExplorationÓ will be used to encompass exploration for
the acquisition of fundamental knowledge, for commerce and for national
defense.
In
summary, the goals of the course are as follows:
1. Become
more aware of the technology behind space exploration, manned and unmanned and
for scientific, commercial or defense uses of this technology.
2. Understand
the increasing effects of this technology on all our lives, for both good and
bad.
3. Appreciate
the roles of society to affect the direction and use of new technologies, and
also to be aware of ethical, environmental and legal issues arising from our
increasing use of space technology.
4. Increase
your skepticism and criticism of the claims made as new technologies and new
uses for existing technologies emerge into the public arena.
5. Leave
the class as a more aware, informed and responsible citizen of the world.
Course Outline
Tentative Schedule
|
TUESDAY |
|
THURSDAY |
QUIZ topic |
25-Aug |
Course Format/Introduction |
27-Aug |
Introduction |
|
1-Sep |
Near Space Environment |
3 |
Near Space Environment |
|
8 |
Near Space Environment |
10 |
Near Space Environment |
|
15 |
Getting into Space QUIZ#1 |
17 |
Getting into Space |
Near space environment |
22 |
Getting into Space |
24 |
History of Space Exploration |
|
29 |
History of Space Exploration QUIZ#2 |
1-Oct |
Science exploration |
Getting into space |
6 |
Science exploration |
8 |
Science exploration |
|
13 |
Science exploration |
15 |
No class (Fall Break) |
|
20 |
Commerce exploration QUIZ#3 |
22 |
Commerce exploration |
Science exploration |
27 |
Defense exploration QUIZ#4 |
29 |
Defense exploration |
Commerce exploration |
3-Nov |
Earth Observation |
5 |
Earth Observation |
|
10 |
Space exploration and nationalism QUIZ#5 |
12 |
Space exploration and nationalism |
Defense exploration |
17 |
Present status |
19 |
Present status |
|
24 |
Future Exploration QUIZ#6 |
26 |
No class (Thanks Giving) |
Space exploration and nationalism |
1-Dec |
Future Exploration |
3-Dec |
|
|
Class quizzes
The
above timetable shows the dates and topics of six quizzes to be given
throughout the semester. The
grades for all six of the quizzes will be included in the final grade
computation.
There
will be no final examination in this course, but a group portfolio will be
required. This document must be
handed in no later than 5:00 pm December 3, 2009. Because of stringent time restrictions on submitting grades
to allow degree certificates to be presented at commencement any portfolios
later than the deadline will not be graded.
One
of the following topics should be chosen for the portfolio:
The History of Space Exploration
Space Science
Space Commerce
Space Defense
Space Imaging
Space Exploration and Nationalism
The Future of Space Exploration
Other
topics are possible, but your group must obtain my approval of the topic.
In
order to address several of the pedagogy guidelines for a University Studies
depth course and to be able to implement them in a large class a group
portfolio will be used to complete the final grade computation. After the initial dropping/adding has
settled down, I will assign you to groups of sufficient number to end up with
no more than 15-20 groups. Each
group will produce a portfolio providing you with valuable experience in
working collaboratively and experience in writing and research all of which are
goals of the University Studies program.
In
the third or fourth week of the semester I will assign the groups discussed
above. Each group should meet and
select a spokesperson. This
spokesperson will be the link to me in matters connected with the portfolio. The prime method of communication will
be e-mail.
In order that all class members will be free to meet with their
groups at least once, I will devote one partial class period for group meetings
in the classroom. The group
meeting will be to select a group spokesperson, to select a topic for the
portfolio and to discuss what each group member will contribute to the
portfolio. After this meeting the
group spokesperson should send me an e-mail indicating who he/she is and which
topic has been selected. I
encourage groups to arrange additional meetings in their own time if this is
possible. Groups should also
utilize e-mail to share and discuss contributions to the portfolio.
I
will only grade one portfolio for each group, and each group member who
contributes to the portfolio will receive the same mark for the common elements
of the portfolio which are an accurate and complete cover page and table of
contents and the general content and format of the portfolio. These common marks will be given to
each group member whose name appears on the cover page. That list of names will also match the
individual contributions in the portfolio. Each individual contribution to the portfolio will also gain
additional marks for the individual, so the individual group member names must
be clearly shown on their contributions.
The
group spokesperson will be responsible for contacting the group, organizing
meetings and progressing individual contributions. The group spokesperson will also assemble the final document
for submission at the end of the semester. He or she will gain extra credit of 5% when a complete,
acceptable group portfolio document is handed in.
The
portfolio should include parts that are written, illustrations with written
descriptions, graphical/tabular with written descriptions, quantitative
calculations with written descriptions, references and any other media that is
appropriate to the topic of the portfolio. The material should be organized in a logical manner to
provide the reader with a clear view of the background, issues and future
prospects involving the topic chosen.
A more detailed description of the portfolios will be distributed
later. There is no need for
elaborate binding of the portfolio – a collection of the items in a
manila folder will be adequate.
Course Grade Computation
6
quizzes 50%
Portfolio 50%
A
percentage score will be computed for each student and the letter grade
assigned according to the conversion table below:
Letter grade A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- D+ D
% score 90 85 80 75 70 65 60 55 50 45
The scores represent the lower bound for
the adjacent letter grades. For
example a B grade will be given for all aggregate % scores, weighted as
described earlier, which fall between 75.0% and 79.9%. Marks of 44.9% and below will be graded
F.
Late Adds and Drops
For Fall 2009 semester, the last day to add
a class is 14 September 2009. The
University is enforcing late adds and drops with more rigor than in the past
and students will not be able to receive credit for the class if they are not
officially registered by that date.
For Fall 2009 semester, the last day to
drop a class without a notation in your transcript is 14 September 2009.
Materials for Persons with
Disabilities
In
cooperation with the Disability Resource Center, reasonable accommodation will
be provided for students with disabilities. Please meet with the instructor and contact the Disability
Resource Center (797-2444) as soon as possible during the first week of class
to make arrangements. Alternative
format print materials, large print, audio, diskette or Braille will be
available through the Disability Resource Center.