UNIT 1 ASSIGNMENTS

1. Find units in your textbook relevant to the history of astronomy and optics. List questions you have about the reading and ask them during class time. Most important to history are the topics of epicycles and the geocentric model. Most important to optics are the topics of spectroscopy, blackbody radiation, inverse square law, and redshift.

• For supplemental reading, go to
  unit 1 instructor notes.

• For a look at the emission line spectra for some chemical elements (including the all-important hydrogen and helium), go to the following page:
  http://astro.u-strasbg.fr/~koppen/discharge/

• Different types of objects and/or processes in astronomy result in different kinds of electromagnetic spectra.  Go to the following link for a vivid, short example of this - we'll discuss it briefly in class:
  http://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/objects/heapow/archive/active_galaxies/m81_xmm.html

2. Respond with written answers to the UNIT 1 Discussion Questions.
   Score your responses just before turning them in by comparing with my official unit 1 DQ responses (available on the screen in class on the due date).
   Give yourself 0, 1/2, or 1 point for each question for a total possible of 3.
   Turn in your self-assessed discussion questions with the score at the top, on the first day of unit 2.
   DO NOT tear a page from a spiral notebook and turn it in with frilly edges.
3. Print out the UNIT 1 Homework and circle your answer choice for each question.  I'll take questions about the homework during class prior to due date.
   I'll provide scantron sheets for your answers on the due date.
   Bring a pencil. Do not use ink.