Credit Hours:
4
Prerequisites:
None.
Lecture:
Mon/Wed 2:45 - 4:05 PM
Lecture Hall:
Brown Hall Room 370
Laboratory:
Wed 4:15 - 6:15 PM
Laboratory Room:
Brown Hall Room 264 (most weeks).
Instructor:
Dr.
Beverly Smith
Email:
Office:
Brown Hall Room 273
Phone:
(423)-439-8418
Office Hours:
Tuesday 4- 5 PM and Thursday 3 - 4 PM or by appointment
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
In this interdisciplinary course, we will utilize
the scientific method along with
aspects of astronomy, physics,
geology, paleontology, chemistry, biology, and engineering to investigate
the question of the existence of life elsewhere in the Universe.
We will discuss the structure, origin, and evolution
of the Universe as a whole,
particularly as it pertains to the possibility of life beyond the
Earth.
We will address
the possibility
of life on other planets and moons in our own solar system
in light of results from recent
interplanetary spacecraft, the
recent discoveries of extrasolar planets, the possibility
of advanced civilizations elsewhere in the Galaxy, and the
origin and evolution of life here on Earth. We will also
cover topics in interstellar
communication and spacecraft design, and discuss factors that may
limit the lifetime of an advanced civilization.
This course uses math at the level of high school algebra.
REQUIRED TEXT:
Extraterrestrial Life
by Neal Evans
REQUIRED EQUIPMENT FOR LABORATORY:
`Life in the Universe' Lab Manual; Star and Planet Locator; `Molecular
Visions' Molecule Model Kit; Simple Calculator (needs scientific
notation, but does not need to be programmable).
COURSE WEB SITE:
http://www.etsu.edu/physics/bsmith/life08/life.html
LABORATORY:
There will be 11 regularly-scheduled
afternoon
laboratories throughout the semester, on a wide range
of related topics, from extrasolar planets to UFOs.
Students must do at least 10 labs for full credit in the lab portion of
the course; the 11th lab can be used as a make-up or as extra credit.
The laboratory is a required part of the course.
STUDENTS MUST DO AT LEAST 8 LABS TO PASS THIS COURSE!
There will also be two optional out-of-class activities which can be
used as either make-ups for the lab or as extra credit.
There will be no individual make-ups for the lab; these three additional
labs are the only available make-ups.
Except for the two out-of-class labs,
all labs must be done during the regularly-scheduled lab period.
The lab reports are due at the end of the lab period.
QUIZZES AND THE FINAL:
There will be six short (15 - 20 minutes) quizzes during
the semester, as well as a final exam.
The quizzes will generally be given during the last 20 minutes
of class on the days listed on the
syllabus.
The final exam will be given on Monday
April 28
at 10:30 AM.
Note that no electronic devices (including ipods, cell phones,
and calculators) may be used during quizzes. Calculators will
not be needed for the quizzes.
There will
be NO
individual makeups for the quizzes.
The lowest two quiz grades
OR
your grade on the final will be dropped.
Instead, the final is, in a sense,
a general `makeup' for
everyone in the class. If you have taken all the quizzes,
you do not need to take the final exam. However, even if you
do take all the quizzes, I strongly urge you to take the final
exam anyway, unless you have an A average in the course.
The final exam grade can only help you; it will not hurt your grade.
If you do worse on the final than your two lowest quizzes, then
your grade on the final will not be included in calculating your
course grade.
GRADING
AND ASSIGNMENTS:
The laboratory grade is 25% of the final course grade,
with the quizzes/final making up the remaining 75%.
In addition, students are eligible for up to 3 extra credit points
for CLASS PARTICIPATION and
ATTENDANCE.
Your final letter grade will be determined from the following
percentage scale:
ANY QUESTIONS?
Send email to:
This web page will contain general information
about the course as well as reminder notices
and course announcements.
Percent
92 or more
90 to 92
87 to 90
83 to 87
80 to 83
77 to 80
Grade
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
Percent
72 to 77 70 to 72 67 to 70 60 to 67
less than 60
Grade
C C- D+ D F