Department of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics at The University of Alabama, 205 Hardaway Hall, P.O. Box 870280, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0280. Department phone: 205-348-7300.
| Jan. 6 | Introduction divide into groups "Draw the Solar System"(this was collected at end of class) Video - Private Universe Assign Chapters 1 and 2 of NightWatch and answer questions on p.92 of workbook |
| Jan. 8 | Video - Powers of Ten pp. 9 - 15 of workbook except "c" p.15 Assign Chap. 3 and 4 of NightWatch and answer questions pp. 93-94 of workbook. |
| Jan. 11 | class photos Discuss Chap. 3 & 4 discuss terms: altitude, azimuth, elevation, zenith, meridian p. 15(d) in workbook completed and turned in. |
| Jan. 13 | Examine telescopes Assign Chap. 5 Do workbook pages 36 - 40 given angles on handout |
| Jan. 15 | Met in Graves 106 (computer lab) to complete workbook pages 17 - 23. Page 21 collected at end of class. |
| Jan. 18 | HOLIDAY |
| Jan. 19 | OBSERVING SESSION Began at 5:30. Objects observed: Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Andromeda Galaxy, Pleiades, Orion Nebula. Condition: variable cloudiness Pages collected: pp. 31 and 84 |
| Jan. 20 | Assign Chap. 6 Complete p. 76 (to be turned in at end of class) Complete pages 42 - top of 48 (except Activity #2: Just use an orbital radius for Mars of 7.5 cm) |
| Jan. 22 | Class cancelled. University closed at 2PM due to weather! (Can you believe that?) |
| Jan. 25 | Review Chapter 6 p.77 in workbook (collected during class) workbook pages 48-59 (except #2 on page 50, Activity 10 on p.52, and #1 on p.54) |
| Jan. 25 | OBSERVING SESSION Began at 5:30. Objects observed: Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Andromeda Galaxy, Pleiades Condition: clear Pages collected: pp. 31 and 84 for first session; page 86 for second session |
| Jan. 27 | workbook pages 48-59 COMPLETED (except #2 on page 50, Activity 10 on p.52, and #1 on p.54) turn in solar system disk Assign Chapter 7 in NightWatch and accompanying workbook questions pp. 97-98 for Monday. |
| Jan. 29 | Meet in computer lab in 106 Graves Hall Complete pages 17-27 in Workbook turn in page 26 |
| Feb.1 | ANNOUNCE QUIZ FOR FRIDAY Review Chap. 7 work from page 61 through question #8 on page 65 (except question #6 on page 64) turn in page 78 |
| Feb. 3 | ANNOUNCE QUIZ FOR FRIDAY Complete pages 65 (Question #8) through page 68 (all items) Using solar system disk in the real world Announce Observing Session for Thursday, Feb.4 |
| Feb. 4 | OBSERVING SESSION Began at 5:30. Objects observed: Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Andromeda Galaxy, Orion Nebula Condition: clear Pages collected: pp. 31 and 84 for first session; page 86 for second session |
| Feb. 5 | Identify the following using the Model of Nearby Space and the Star & Planet Locator: summer solstice, winter solstice, vernal equinox, autumnal equinox. Make certain that the dates using both devices match. QUIZ 1 |
| Feb. 8 | Solar system play (set up model of nearby space on the Quad) Causes of the seasons (pp. 103-107) Turn in p.103 |
| Feb. 10 | Phases of the moon (pp. 108-112) Review Chap. 8 Assign Chap. 9 and accompanying questions for Friday Assignment: complete pp. 79 - 80 (Silicon Universe) by Wed (when portfolios due) [3.5-inch disks with the program Silicon Universe on them are located at the help desk in the Graves Hall computer lab] |
| Feb. 12 | Review for exam Look at sunspots if possible |
| Feb. 15 | EXAM I |
| Feb. 15 | OBSERVING SESSION Began at 5:45. Objects observed: Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Andromeda Galaxy, Orion Nebula, Pleiades, Beehive Condition: partly cloudy near western horizon Pages collected: pp. 31 and 84 for first session; page 86 for second session |
| Feb. 17 | Turn in portfolios Review exam Mission to Mars Assignment 1: due Feb. 26 |
| Feb. 19 | Begin 2nd unit: orbits Completed pages 1 - 5 in the workbook for the second unit of the course You must buy the workbook from the Supe Store in Ferguson Center for Monday |
| Feb. 22 | Observed Sunspots Completed page 6 Discussed unit conversions Made assignments for Science Olympiad |
| Feb. 24 | Announce QUIZ for Monday Announce Observing Session for Thursday Feb 25 Returned portfolios Newton's Laws (lecture); work through page 9 (all) |
| Feb. 26 | Announce QUIZ for Monday Newton's Laws (lecture) |
| Feb. 27 | SCIENCE OLYMPIAD for volunteers |
| Mar. 1 | Worked problems on Pages 10 and 11 of workbook Announced Observing Session for Wed, Mar 3 QUIZ II |
| Mar. 3 | Completed pages 12 - 16 of workbook (Class is moving very fast!) Returned Mission to Mars mission statements Distributed directions to the MacWane Center |
| Mar. 3 | OBSERVING SESSION began at 6 PM Saw two fairly bright satellites around 6:40 PM Observed Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, and Saturn (in order from western horizon upward) Very clear and COLD! |
| Mar. 5 | Completed pages 17 - 20 of workbook Assigned Mission to Mars Assignment #3 Collected Mission to Mars Assignment #2 |
| Mar. 6 | Field trip to the MacWane Center |
| Mar. 8 | Briefly discussed pages 17-20 Built a scale model of the Earth-Moon system showing relative distances of satellites from earth Calculated velocity and time required to complete one orbit for Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Pluto ANNOUNCED QUIZ FOR MONDAY |
| Mar. 10 | Begin Unit #3: Aircraft Flight Complete pp. 3 - 6 ANNOUNCED QUIZ FOR MONDAY |
| Mar. 12 | Completed pp. 7 - 9, including graphs ANNOUNCED QUIZ FOR MONDAY |
| Mar. 15 | Complete and discuss through page 12 QUIZ #3 |
| Mar. 17 | Complete pages 13 - 14 |
| Mar. 19 | Review Quiz Review pages 13 - 14 Complete pp. 15-16 |
| Mar. 22 | Complete pp. 17-20 QUIZ |
| Mar. 24 | Complete pp. 21-28 (wind tunnel) Airplane competition |
| Mar. 26 | NO CLASS |
| Apr. 5 | Review pp. 21-28 Lecture: pp. 29-31 Complete pp. 34-37 |
| Apr. 7 | Complete pp. 40-45 |
| Apr. 9 | review for exam |
| Apr. 12 | Trip to airport (complete pages 38 - 39) |
| Apr. 14 | EXAM II |
| Apr. 16 | NO CLASS (Honors Day) |