Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA
Students have a weekly online reading assignment (hosted by SurveyMonkey.com), where they answer questions based on reading their textbook, material covered in previous lectures, opinion questions, and/or asking (anonymous) questions or making (anonymous) comments. Full credit is given for completing the online reading assignment before next week's lecture, regardless if whether their answers are correct/incorrect. Selected results/questions/comments are addressed by the instructor at the start of the following lecture.
The following questions were asked on reading textbook chapters and previewing presentations on reviewing the history of astronomy, Kepler's and Newton's laws, and telescope powers.
Selected/edited responses are given below.
Describe something you found interesting from the assigned textbook reading or presentation preview, and explain why this was personally interesting for you.
"The ice-skater effect really interesting. With this visual, I can more easily see where the arms (planets) move slowest when farthest from the body (sun) and move fastest when brought nearest to the sun."
"Magnifying power is the least important power of a telescope. It seems like that would be really important, but nope, not as important as light-gathering power and resolving power."
"Closed orbits versus open orbits--if an object has a high enough velocity, then it would be able to leave its closed orbit and enter an open orbit."
"The first models of our universe and solar system were interesting, and I was thinking about how much they knew even though a lot of it was wrong, but did all that work with no technology."
"Learning about Kepler's laws and Newton's laws. They set a standard for science and discovering how planets move, and it was personally interesting to read the difference between the two scientists."
"Why planets move--because they are forced to orbit the sun because of the sun's gravitational force."
"I like how Tycho Brahe wore fake noses. I don't know why I just find it kind of funny."
Describe something you found confusing from the assigned textbook reading or presentation preview, and explain why this was personally confusing for you.
"It is difficult to grasp the concept that a planet in an inner orbit takes less time to complete an orbit, while a planet in an outer orbit takes more time to complete an orbit."
"The telescopes were way more complex than I thought. I think I'll understand more when I get to really look at it in person."
"What fprimary and feyepiece are, and why measuring them is important."
"The direction of a planet in retrograde motion and in prograde motion."
"The telescopes parameters and powers were confusing--I needed more explanation to go with all of the photos in the presentation."
"How retrograde motion works to reverse a planet's movement."
When a planet is undergoing retrograde motion, over several nights it moves __________ with respect to the background stars.
east to west. **************** [16] west to east. ************** [14] (Either of the above choices is possible.) ******** [8] (Unsure/lost/guessing/help!) ** [2]
When a planet is undergoing prograde motion, over several nights it moves __________ with respect to the background stars.
east to west. ****************** [18] west to east. ******************** [20] (Either of the above choices is possible.) [0] (Unsure/lost/guessing/help!) ** [2]
The __________ powers of a telescope depends on the: (Only correct responses shown.)
light-gathering power: diameter of the primary lens/mirror [70%]
resolving power: diameter of the primary lens/mirror [45%]
magnifying power: both the focal lengths of the primary lens/mirror and eyepiece: [33%]
The least important feature to consider when purchasing an optical telescope is the __________ of its images.
brightness * [1] resolution. * [1] magnification *********************************** [35] (Two of the above choices.) [0] (Unsure/lost/guessing/help!) *** [3]
Briefly explain your answer for the least important feature to consider when purchasing an optical telescope.
"If you can't gather enough light to see something, or have it clear enough, it won't matter if it's big! That's why I chose magnification as the least important feature to consider."
"Considering the ultimate goal of viewing the stars/planets, the resolution is not the first priority."
"I could not find nor formulate an answer for the question."
Ask the instructor an anonymous question, or make a comment. Selected questions/comments may be discussed in class.
"Can a lunar eclipse occur during the very next full moon after a solar eclipse (or vice versa)?" (Yes, provided that the moon's orbit is still sufficiently aligned edge-on with the sun in the two weeks between the eclipses.)
"So all you need to make a telescope is some mirrors or a lens and a giant tube?" (Essentially, yes.)
"Approximately how much money is that huge Thirty-Meter Telescope in Hawaii going to cost?" (About $970 million to $1.2 billion.)
"I am confused on how checking your grade works on the site. I could see it, but it didn't make sense." (We'll go over that in class.)
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