AS312 - Stellar and Galactic Astrophysics - Spring 2003

Homework Assignments and Required Formats

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Homework Required Formats and Styles:

Problem Set Solutions must be:

presented on clean, lined, white 8.5x11 inch paper,

there should be no "burstable" sides or spiral notebook holes (3-ring binder holes are permitted)

written in INK

presented on only the front side of the page

with only 1 problem per page

highly legible - extra space between lines allows you to identify errors and allows me to write comments

Writing Component assignment must be:

typed or typeset (e.g., with Word)

on unlined white paper

on one side only

have 1 inch margins

double-spaced, ragged-right format

Fonts are normally expected to be Times New Roman 12 point.

Homework Late Policy:

In the real world, missing deadlines has dire consequences (e.g., failure of a NASA mission to launch on time could make it unable to answer the questions it was designed to address - representing a tremendous waste of taxpayer dollars). Since we are practicing for the real world in this class, and trying to instill the highest work ethic, the late policy for homework and reports this semester will be equally dire:

Failure to turn in an assignment on the designated date, by the designated time, in the designated format will result in a zero score for that assignment.

Homework Assignments:

HW#1 -Due Friday, January 17th, by 3pm in Professor Clemens' mailbox in 514 CAS:

Chapter 8 (Zeilik & Gregory Text), problem 1 (page 177)
Chapter 8, problem 2 - also, add wavelengths of 3 microns, 30 microns, and 160 microns
Chapter 8, problem 3 - remember that 21 cm is less precise than the frequency given. Use the frequency in your calculations.

HW#2 - Due Friday, January 24th

Chapter 8, problem 4
Chapter 8, problem 5
Chapter 8, problem 6
Writing Assignment - Your Aunt Millie in Florida has written to you (she is such a prolific writer!) to ask how college is progressing and in particular, since you are now a famous astronomy student, to ask what makes the James Webb Space Telescope so worth the many billions of dollars being spent on it. In about 300 words (in the proper format), present Aunt Millie with three well-defended arguments in support of the JWST. Make sure your answer is in proper letter form, including reasonable addresses and salutations.

HW#3 - Due Friday, January 31st

Chapter 8, problem 7 (Do for 6,000K and 15,000K and describe the major differences between these two cases)
Chapter 8, problem 8
Chapter 8, problem 9
Chapter 8, problem 10
Chapter 8, problem 11
(moved problem 14 to next week)
Chapter 8, problem 15
Chapter 8, problem 16
Chapter 8, problem 17
Chapter 8, problem 18

HW#4 - Due Friday, February 7th

Chapter 8, problem 14
Chapter 9, problem 1
Chapter 9, problem 2
Chapter 9, problem 3
Chapter 9, problem 4
Chapter 9, problem 5
Writing Assignment - Aunt Millie has read in her local AARP newpaper that Boston University plans to renew its partnership with Lowell Observatory to jointly operate the 1.8 meter Perkins telescope outside Flagstaff, Arizona. She wants to know why Boston University would be interested in this telescope, and what types of discoveries might be made with it. In 300 words (in the correct format), argue for the continuance of the participation of Boston University in this telescope partnership and explain some of the areas of research the Astronomy Department members might conduct there.

HW#5 - Due Friday, February 14th

Chapter 9, problem 6
Chapter 9, problem 7
Chapter 9, problem 8
Chapter 9, problem 10
Chapter 9, problem 12

HW#6 - Due Friday, February 21st

Chapter 9, problem 13
Chapter 9, problem 14
Chapter 9, problem 17
Chapter 9, problem 20
Writing Assignment - The Stratospheric Observatory For Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) is due to begin flights in the next year or so. Imagine they year is 2005 and you have just been hired for your first job in astronomy as a telescope operator aboard SOFIA. Aunt Millie must be informed! In 300 words (in the correct format), explain what your job entials and why astronomers might want to carry a telescope into the stratosphere.

HW#7 - Due Friday, February 28th

Chapter 10, problem 1
Chapter 10, problem 2
Chapter 10, problem 3
Chapter 10, problem 4
Chapter 10, problem 14

HW#8 - Due Friday, March 7th

Chapter 10, problem 11
Chapter 10, problem 12
Chapter 10, problem 13
Chapter 10, problem 16
Chapter 11, problem 1
Chapter 11, problem 2
Chapter 11, problem 3
Chapter 11, problem 4
Chapter 11, problem 5
Chapter 11, problem 6

HW#9 - Due Friday, March 21st

Chapter 11, problem 7
Chapter 11, problem 8
Chapter 11, problem 9
Chapter 11, problem 10
Chapter 11, problem 11
Chapter 11, problem 12
Chapter 11, problem 13
Chapter 11, problem 14
Chapter 11, problem 15
Chapter 11, problem 16

HW#10 - Due Friday, March 28th

Chapter 11, problem 17
Chapter 11, problem 20
Chapter 11, problem 22
Chapter 11, problem 23
Chapter 12, problem 3
Chapter 12, problem 4
Chapter 12, problem 6
Chapter 12, problem 7
Chapter 12, problem 8
Chapter 12, problem 9

HW#11 - Due Friday, April 4th

Chapter 13, problem 1
Chapter 13, problem 2
Chapter 13, problem 3
Chapter 13, problem 5
Chapter 13, problem 10
Chapter 13, problem 12
Chapter 13, problem 13
Chapter 13, problem 14 (use figures 13-9 and 13-10)
Chapter 13, problem 15
Chapter 13, problem 18

HW#12 - Due Friday, April 11th

Chapter 14, problem 3
Chapter 14, problem 4
Chapter 14, problem 5
Chapter 14, problem 6
Chapter 14, problem 7
Chapter 14, problem 8

HW#13 - Due Friday, April 18th

Chapter 14, problem 13
Chapter 14, problem 14
Chapter 14, problem 15
Chapter 15, problem 8
Chapter 15, problem 10
Chapter 15, problem 11 (alpha * n^2 = 2 x 10^-19)

HW#14 - Due Friday, April 25th

Chapter 15, problem 14
Chapter 15, problem 18
Chapter 15, problem 19
Chapter 15, problem 20

HW#15 - Due Friday, May 2nd

Chapter 16, problem 1
Chapter 16, problem 2
Chapter 16, problem 6
Chapter 16, problem 7
Chapter 16, problem 8
Chapter 16, problem 10
Extra-Credit Problems:
1. Chapter 17, problem 1
2. Chapter 17, problem 2
3. Chapter 17, problem 4
4. Chapter 17, problem 5

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