Astronomy in-class activity: Milky Way populations/history

Astronomy 210 In-class activity 19 v.08.10.30, fall semester 2012
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

Students find their assigned groups of three to four students, and work cooperatively on an in-class activity worksheet comparing and contrasting different populations of stars in the Milky Way. Students are instructed to look for connections and similarities, then to concentrate on specific differences.

Astronomy midterm handout: atmosphere transparency, H-R diagram

Astronomy 210 Midterm 2 cover sheet v.08.07.10, fall semester 2012
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

Diagrams showing the transparency of Earth's atmosphere to different electromagnetic radiation wavelengths, and a Hertzsprung-Russell diagram of star luminosities/absolute visual magnitudes versus surface temperature/spectral types, and showing relative sizes compared to the sun.

Overheard: obligatory electrical safety warning

Physics 205B, spring semester 2012
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

(Overheard after instructor recounts a previous incident, having accidentally touched the exposed 5,000 V ends of a discharge tube apparatus.)

Student: "What did it feel it like?"

Instructor: "You know how when your stomach feels nauseous, like it wants to barf, but can't?" (Beat.) "That's how my arm felt for a few hours afterwards--like it wanted to barf, but couldn't."

Overheard: instructor introduction

Astronomy 210, spring semester 2012
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

(Overheard on the first day of the semester, after the instructor introduces himself to the class.)

Student 1: "Dr. Len, do we have to call you 'P-dog?'"

Instructor: (Beat.) "Well, by the end of the semester there will basically be two kinds of students in this class--those who can call me 'P-dog,' and those who just can't possibly call me 'P-dog.' You'll figure out which kind of student you are."

Student 2: "Dr. Len, why do we have to call you 'P-dog?'"

Instructor: (Beat.) "'Dr. Len' is my slave name, my real name is 'P-dog.'"