Physics 427                                         Syllabus                                        Fall 2009

          I. General information
         II. BYU Standards and Policies
        III. CONFIDENTIAL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER (CID#)
        IV. Homework
         V. EXTRA CREDIT
        VI. Grades                                                                                              
        VII.  Semester Schedule
      VIII. Figures, Tables and Images

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Disclaimer:  Normally we waive deadlines, modify grade requirements, or otherwise accommodate those occasional students who suffer injuries, severe illnesses or other unforeseen problems, without disrupting the flow of coursework for the remainder of class members.  Because of the greater than normal possibility of a disruption this year of unknown magnitude, ranging from a slightly elevated class absence rate to a temporary closure of the entire university, due to the H1N1 (swine) flu virus, we reserve the right to modify any of the class policies, schedules and requirements stated in this syllabus.  Our hope is that no changes will be necessary.  For your information you may access the letters sent by Academic President John Tanner to faculty and by an unnamed university spokesperson to students regarding this matter.  In response to item #3 in President Tanner's letter, we have inserted boxes for you to submit your email address and your cell (or other) phone number with your CID# request.  Out intent is to make those two information items available to all class members.  (This will be done via an emailed list.)  If you do not want to make your email address and/or cell number available to other class members,  then leave those boxes blank when you specify your CID#.

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I.  GENERAL INFORMATION                                                                                                          

Course Number, Section and Title:  Physics 427, Section 1, Introduction to Astrophysics

Class Time and Place:  Fall Semester 2009, MWF 1:00-1:50 pm, 247 ESC

Instructor:  Dr. Clark G. Christensen

Office:  N482 ESC

Office Hours:  MWF 2:00 - 3:00 pm, other hours by appointment.  Please feel free to call or come by whenever
      you need.  However, unless you have an appointment, I may not be in except during my scheduled office
      hours.

Phone:  422-2207 (office),   375-5951 (home)    Email:  cgchristensen@byu.edu

Grader:  Christian Draper.   Phone:  801-836-1724    Email:  christiandraper@gmail.com

Credit: 3 hours

Prerequisites:  Physics 227 and 228.

Texts:  Modern Astrophysics by Bradley W. Carroll and Dale A. Ostlie  1996  ( Reading, Massachusetts & other
      locations:  Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, Inc.)

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II.  BYU STANDARDS AND POLICIES                                                                                          

Standards:  Each of you has signed a pledge to maintain BYU standards including those of honesty, respectful treatment of others, and modesty and dignity in dress and grooming. Your instructor is also fully committed to those standards and expects, as a matter of honor, that the conduct of all class members will be in conformity with those standards.

Sexual Harassment:  BYU's policy against sexual harassment extends not only to employees of the university but to students as well.  If you encounter sexual harassment or gender-based discrimination, please talk to your instructor, contact the Equal Employment Office at 422-5895, or contact the Honor Code Office at 422-2847.

Student with Disabilities:  BYU is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to qualified persons with disabilities.   If you have any disability that may adversely affect your success in this course, please contact the Services for Students with Disabilities Office at 422-2767.  Services deemed appropriate will be coordinated with you and your instructor by that office.

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III.  CONFIDENTIAL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER (CID#)           

To enable us to identify you on postings of scores, class rankings and grades, in conformity with federal privacy laws, we ask that you assign yourself a confidential four-digit identification number (CID#).  (If you fail to do so, your scores will still be known to your instructor but will not appear on posted lists.)  If more than one student selects the same CID#, that number will be assigned to the first person making the selection.  Later selectors will be invited to choose different numbers.  Please fill in the yellow boxes below, then click the "Submit" button.  If you discover an error in any box after you have exited it, please hit the "Reset" button and start over.  Be sure to read the comment regarding your email address and cell number in the disclaimer above before you fill in and submit the form.

      Name:                                                                                                      4-digit CID#:                      
         Email:           Cell (or other) Phone Number:     

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Policy:  There will be a number of homework assignments during the semester.  You may collaborate in doing the homework insofar as finding the correct procedure for working problems.  However, each student should do his/her own calculations, plot his/her own graphs, etc.  You may compare final results and redo your work if you feel so inclined. 

Homework is due at the beginning of the class periods on the dates indicated on the semester schedule.  Late homework will be penalized using the relation

s = s_o e^-(t-to)/20 ,

where s is the earned score rounded to the nearest tenth of a point, s_o is the "on-time score," t_o is the date on which the homework is due and t is the date on which the homework is submitted plus 1 if the homework is submitted after the time at which class begins.  Therefore an assignment submitted 2 minutes late is worth e^-1/20 = 0.951 of its on-time value.  (The score value of homework exponentially decays with a 20-day time constant [13.86-day half-life].)

Assignments:  Homework assignments can be obtained by clicking the assignment numbers posted on the semester schedule.  Your instructor may modify, add to, or cancel some of the posted homework problems at any time during the semester.

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V.  EXTRA CREDIT                                                                                                                       

Occasionally an opportunity to earn extra credit will arise.  Points earned as extra credit will be added to your total homework score.  Thus, when there are extra-credit opportunities, it will be possible to earn in excess of a
100-percent total score for the semester.

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VI.  GRADES                                                                                                                                   

Grades will be based on your total percentage score entered into a curve based on the performances of the classes of several semesters (because of the small number of students enrolled in a single semester).  Your percentage score will be determined using the weights in the following table.

Item	Maximum Raw Score	Weight [%]
Homework	?	40
Midterm Examination	?	20
Final Examination	?	40
Total		100

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VII.  SEMESTER SCHEDULE                                                                                                           

                Class meets at 1:00-1:50 pm in C247 ESC