PHYSICS OF THE SPHERE SCIE 110

Aula da Esfera

Semester: Fall 2019

Course Instructor: Ali Serpengüzel | SCI 119 | Tu Th 1430

Lectures: CASE Z48 | Tu Thu 1600

Coordinator: Nazmi Yılmaz | SCI 136 | TBA

Assistant: TBA | TBA | TBA

Science Librarian: Ebru Çınar | LIB 222 | TBA

Week                      Subject Field
#01 September 16  Introduction
#02 September 23 Sky
#03 September 30 Astronomy
#04 October 07      Gravity
#05 October 14       Light
#06 October 21      Atoms
#07 October 28      Spectra
#08 November 04 Sun
#09 November 11  Solar System
#10 November 18  Earth
#11 November 25  Moon Mercury
#12 December 02  Mars Venus
#13 December 09  Jupiter Saturn
#14 December 16  Uranus Neptune

Course Description: The importance of the spherical geometry; applications in navigation and
communication instruments; geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, celestial sphere; navigation,
sailing and flight; spherical coordinates, spherical harmonics, spatial and temporal measurements.

Course Objective: The objective of this course is to teach the importance of the spherical
geometry, its applications in navigation and communication instruments, and our planet the earth
such as the geosphere, the hydrosphere, the atmosphere, as well as the celestial sphere with
navigation, sailing and flight. An introduction is given to spherical coordinates, as well as spatial
and temporal measurements and parameters.

Learning Outcomes: The students are expected to know, where they are, basically the planet
Earth, as well as their orientation on the planet and how to get from one point to another in
space and time. They will learn the properties of Earth, Moon, Mars, and Venus in special, and the
solar system and the Universe in general.

Teaching Method: There are two weekly face to face meetings. There are presentations and
demonstrations.

Attendance: All students are required to attend classes, laboratory experiments, and problem
sessions. Even a university approved Medical Excused Absence or Dean of Student’s Excused
Absence doesn’t relieve you of this attendance requirement.

Grading policy: Two midterm exams (25 % each), and a final exam (50%). The dates of the
exams will be announced later. Makeup exams are very reluctantly given only with a university
approved medical excuse. Do not plan to take makeups.

Textbook: Foundations of Astronomy, Michael A. Seeds and Dana E. Backman, 13th Edition,
Cengage Learning (2017).

Student Code of Conduct: Students should be familiar with the Koç University Student Code of
Contact.