Astronomy 210 Quiz 1, spring semester 2014
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA
Earth's __________ causes the sun to rise and set, as seen by an observer in San Luis Obispo, CA.
(A) rotation.
(B) revolution.
(C) precession.
(D) tilt.
(E) (More than one of the above choices.)
Correct answer (highlight to unhide): (A)
Section 30674
Exam code: quiz01nYe3
(A) : 18 students
(B) : 5 students
(C) : 2 students
(D) : 2 students
(E) : 3 students
Success level: 61% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.70
20140208
Astronomy quiz question: moon phase, six hours later?
Astronomy 210 Quiz 1, spring semester 2014
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA
The moon is in its first quarter phase at 3:00 PM. Which phase will the moon have six hours later, at 9:00 PM? Clearly circle your answer below.
Correct answer (highlight to unhide): (F)
The moon takes approximately four weeks (a "moonth") to go through its eight phases, such that it will take approximately one week to go through two phases, or approximately three-and-a-half days to go from one phase to the next phase. Thus the moon in its first quarter phase will still be in the same phase six hours later.
Section 30674
Exam code: quiz01nYe3
(A) : 3 students
(B) : 5 students
(C) : 2 students
(D) : 1 student
(E) : 0 students
(F) : 18 students
(G) : 1 student
(H) : 0 students
Success level: 60% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.48
Section 30676
Exam code: quiz01SLo3
(A) : 6 students
(B) : 12 students
(C) : 1 student
(D) : 4 student
(E) : 2 students
(F) : 18 students
(G) : 2 students
(H) : 0 students
Success level: 42% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.75
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA
The moon is in its first quarter phase at 3:00 PM. Which phase will the moon have six hours later, at 9:00 PM? Clearly circle your answer below.
Correct answer (highlight to unhide): (F)
The moon takes approximately four weeks (a "moonth") to go through its eight phases, such that it will take approximately one week to go through two phases, or approximately three-and-a-half days to go from one phase to the next phase. Thus the moon in its first quarter phase will still be in the same phase six hours later.
Section 30674
Exam code: quiz01nYe3
(A) : 3 students
(B) : 5 students
(C) : 2 students
(D) : 1 student
(E) : 0 students
(F) : 18 students
(G) : 1 student
(H) : 0 students
Success level: 60% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.48
Section 30676
Exam code: quiz01SLo3
(A) : 6 students
(B) : 12 students
(C) : 1 student
(D) : 4 student
(E) : 2 students
(F) : 18 students
(G) : 2 students
(H) : 0 students
Success level: 42% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.75
20140207
Astronomy quiz archive: stars/sun/seasons/moon phases
Astronomy 210 Quiz 1, spring semester 2014
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA
Section 30674, version 1
Exam code: quiz01nYe3
Section 30674
Section 30676, version 1
Exam code: quiz01SLo3
Section 30676
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA
Section 30674, version 1
Exam code: quiz01nYe3
Section 30674
| 0- 8.0 : | ** [low = 4.0] |
| 8.5-16.0 : | ******** |
| 16.5-24.0 : | ***** [mean = 23.6 +/- 9.3] |
| 24.5-32.0 : | ********* |
| 32.5-40.0 : | ****** [high = 40.0] |
Section 30676, version 1
Exam code: quiz01SLo3
Section 30676
| 0- 8.0 : | * [low = 4.0] |
| 8.5-16.0 : | *********** |
| 16.5-24.0 : | ************ [mean = 23.2 +/- 8.1] |
| 24.5-32.0 : | *************** |
| 32.5-40.0 : | ****** [high = 36.5] |
Astronomy current events question: Ceres' water vapor
Astronomy 210L, spring semester 2014
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA
Students are assigned to read online articles on current astronomy events, and take a short current events quiz during the first 10 minutes of lab. (This motivates students to show up promptly to lab, as the time cut-off for the quiz is strictly enforced!)
(A) polar ice caps.
(B) deep underground oceans.
(C) changing cloud patterns.
(D) plate tectonics.
(E) variations in absorbed light.
Correct answer: (E)
Student responses
Sections 30678, 30679, 30680
(A) : 12 students
(B) : 1 student
(C) : 17 students
(D) : 1 student
(E) : 22 students
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA
Students are assigned to read online articles on current astronomy events, and take a short current events quiz during the first 10 minutes of lab. (This motivates students to show up promptly to lab, as the time cut-off for the quiz is strictly enforced!)
Markus Bauer , Michael Küppers, Laurence O’Rourke, and Göran Pilbratt, "Herschel Discovers Water Vapour Around Dwarf Planet Ceres," January 22, 2014The European Space Agency Herschel space observatory detected __________, which is evidence of water vapor around the dwarf planet Ceres.
http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/Herschel/Herschel_discovers_water_vapour_around_dwarf_planet_Ceres
(A) polar ice caps.
(B) deep underground oceans.
(C) changing cloud patterns.
(D) plate tectonics.
(E) variations in absorbed light.
Correct answer: (E)
Student responses
Sections 30678, 30679, 30680
(A) : 12 students
(B) : 1 student
(C) : 17 students
(D) : 1 student
(E) : 22 students
Astronomy current events question: measuring Proxima Centauri's mass
Astronomy 210L, spring semester 2014
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA
Students are assigned to read online articles on current astronomy events, and take a short current events quiz during the first 10 minutes of lab. (This motivates students to show up promptly to lab, as the time cut-off for the quiz is strictly enforced!)
(A) explode as a type Ia supernova.
(B) pass in front of a distant star.
(C) be captured by our solar system.
(D) complete its first observed rotation.
(E) be eclipsed by the moon.
Correct answer: (B)
Student responses
Sections 30678, 30679, 30680
(A) : 1 student
(B) : 43 students
(C) : 3 students
(D) : 5 students
(E) : 1 student
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA
Students are assigned to read online articles on current astronomy events, and take a short current events quiz during the first 10 minutes of lab. (This motivates students to show up promptly to lab, as the time cut-off for the quiz is strictly enforced!)
Ken Croswell, "Proxima’s Unprecedented Passage: When Stars Align," January 23, 2014Later this year the nearby red dwarf star Proxima Centauri will __________, allowing its mass to be measured.
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/proximae28099s-unprecedented-passage-when-stars-align/
(A) explode as a type Ia supernova.
(B) pass in front of a distant star.
(C) be captured by our solar system.
(D) complete its first observed rotation.
(E) be eclipsed by the moon.
Correct answer: (B)
Student responses
Sections 30678, 30679, 30680
(A) : 1 student
(B) : 43 students
(C) : 3 students
(D) : 5 students
(E) : 1 student
Astronomy current events question: locating asteroid 2014 AA impact
Astronomy 210L, spring semester 2014
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA
Students are assigned to read online articles on current astronomy events, and take a short current events quiz during the first 10 minutes of lab. (This motivates students to show up promptly to lab, as the time cut-off for the quiz is strictly enforced!)
(A) GPS.
(B) tidal wave.
(C) solar flare.
(D) nuclear explosion.
(E) air traffic.
Correct answer: (D)
Student responses
Sections 30678, 30679, 30680
(A) : 8 students
(B) : 11 students
(C) : 6 students
(D) : 11 students
(E) : 16 students
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA
Students are assigned to read online articles on current astronomy events, and take a short current events quiz during the first 10 minutes of lab. (This motivates students to show up promptly to lab, as the time cut-off for the quiz is strictly enforced!)
D. C. Agle, "First 2014 Asteroid Discovered: Update," January 2, 2014Earlier this year, the impact of asteroid 2014 AA was pinpointed off the coast of Venezuela using __________ detectors.
http://www.nasa.gov/jpl/asteroid/first-2014-asteroid-20140102/
(A) GPS.
(B) tidal wave.
(C) solar flare.
(D) nuclear explosion.
(E) air traffic.
Correct answer: (D)
Student responses
Sections 30678, 30679, 30680
(A) : 8 students
(B) : 11 students
(C) : 6 students
(D) : 11 students
(E) : 16 students
20140204
Online reading assignment: eclipses, history of astronomy (SLO campus)
Astronomy 210, spring semester 2014
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 eclipses, and an preliminary overview of the history of astronomy.
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.
Describe something you found confusing from the assigned textbook reading or presentation preview, and explain why this was personally confusing for you.
A friend of yours has a birthday on March 30. According to your starwheel, the sun would have been located in front of which zodiac sign on that date? (Ignore daylight saving time.)
Match the phase of the moon during these eclipse types. (Only correct responses shown.)
Place these astronomers in chronological order of their historical contribution to astronomy. (Only correct responses shown.)
Match these terms with their descriptions. (Only correct responses shown.)
Ask the instructor an anonymous question, or make a comment. Selected questions/comments may be discussed in class.
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 eclipses, and an preliminary overview of the history of astronomy.
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.
"I find that everything in the textbook is confusing, which is very interesting to me."
"That the tilt of the moon's orbit changes over the months. I had no idea that it did that."
"I found the entire section that goes into detail about the different types of eclipses particularly interesting. As a child I was always fascinated with eclipses but never quite understood them and then as I grew older I never remembered to research them. So its cool to finally get to learn more."
"I thought it was cool that not everyone will see the same eclipse, because it depends where you are. I thought this was cool because then you can plan when you might see one and you can also find out when (or if) other people will see one."
"I thought the history part was interesting because you never think there is a history to astronomy, just always thought it existed. All of the astronomers were all interesting."
"What really interested me was being told how to tell when an eclipse will be going to take place. This was interesting to me because, personally, I have never seen an eclipse in my life. Next time I know when one is going to occur, I will brag to all my friends and they will think I am such a scholar."
Describe something you found confusing from the assigned textbook reading or presentation preview, and explain why this was personally confusing for you.
"Lunar eclipses are confusing to me because I'm not sure what is casting a shadow on what. Is it the Earth's shadow cast on the moon? Or the moon's shadow on Earth?"
"In the presentation previews I was confused about how to tell the difference between the solar and lunar eclipses. I think I understand the difference (solar is when the sun is blocked, lunar is when the moon is darkened) but it was hard to tell the difference on the picto-quiz in the presentation preview because I couldn't tell which figures were representing the moon and which were the sun. I re-read it and I think I understand it 100% now. But it was still confusing at first."
A friend of yours has a birthday on March 30. According to your starwheel, the sun would have been located in front of which zodiac sign on that date? (Ignore daylight saving time.)
Aries. ** [2] Taurus. [0] Gemini. [0] Cancer. [0] Leo. [0] Virgo. *** [3] Libra. [0] Scorpio. [0] Sagittarius. [0] Capricorn. [0] Aquarius. * [1] Pisces. ******************************* [31d] (Unsure/guessing/lost/help!) ** [2]
Match the phase of the moon during these eclipse types. (Only correct responses shown.)
Total solar eclipse: new moon [82%]
Partial solar eclipse: new moon [72%]
Annular solar eclipse: new moon [64%]
Total lunar eclipse: full moon [92%]
Partial lunar eclipse: full moon [74%]
Place these astronomers in chronological order of their historical contribution to astronomy. (Only correct responses shown.)
Aristotle [95%]
Ptolemy [85%]
Copernicus [90%]
Tycho [77%]
Kepler [62%]
Galileo [62%]
Newton [95%]
Match these terms with their descriptions. (Only correct responses shown.)
Ideas accepted as truth without further examination: first principles [87%]
Predictions that could be tested by observations: hypotheses [74%]
Universal statements of cause and effect: rational laws [92%]
Describe phenomena without explaining why it occurs: empirical laws [77%]
Ask the instructor an anonymous question, or make a comment. Selected questions/comments may be discussed in class.
"What types of animals do you have?" (A miniature Schnauzer, a pixiebob cat, and a bengal cat who has a Facebook account.)
"Your beard is fabulous." (Uh, thank you, but what about my mustache? MY MUSTACHE?!?)
"Where did you get the glasses for watching the eclipse for your dog? Why exactly is it so dangerous to look at a solar eclipse?"(Online; just make sure it is specifically for eclipses. Welding googles do not provide protection for staring at the sun. It may seem safe to stare at the sun directly during a eclipse, but your unprotected eye would still be exposed to a lot of infrared light that will heat up and burn your retina.)
"Do you believe in God? Do you believe astrology can predict the future?" (My religion teaches me that I should not believe in astrology.)
"Do you think students learn better working in groups than individually?" (Generally, yes, for practicing applying certain concepts, but your mileage may vary.)
"Do we always have to ask a question? Is this last part worth points?" (If you completely answered all of the above questions, this part is optional. If you did not, then you should put some substantive feedback/questions/comments here to make up for that.)
"Honestly, I need help on everything! There is not much I actually understand. This is personally confusing to me because I actually need help from a teacher and not learning online!" (Don't worry about understanding everything (or anything) from the presentations before coming to class, at least you've been exposed to the basic terminology and concepts, and realize (and also help me realize) what you need clarification and explanation on when you come to class.)
Online reading assignment: lenses
Physics 205B, spring semester 2014
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 lenses.
Selected/edited responses are given below.
Describe what you understand from the assigned textbook reading or presentation preview. Your description (2-3 sentences) should specifically demonstrate your level of understanding.
Describe what you found confusing from the assigned textbook reading or presentation preview. Your description (2-3 sentences) should specifically identify the concept(s) that you do not understand.
Complete the online reading assignment ray tracings as best as you can. Identify the type of image produced for each ray tracing. (Only correct responses shown.)
Complete the online reading assignment ray tracings as best as you can. Identify the image orientation and size produced for each ray tracing. (Only correct responses shown.)
Ask the instructor an anonymous question, or make a comment. Selected questions/comments may be discussed in class.
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 lenses.
Selected/edited responses are given below.
Describe what you understand from the assigned textbook reading or presentation preview. Your description (2-3 sentences) should specifically demonstrate your level of understanding.
"I understand that converging lens refract light inward and are thickest at the center. Diverging lens bend light outward from the focal point and are thinnest at the center."
"An image is considered to be real when the light rays of a certain point on a certain object converge to a corresponding point on a certain image. It is considered virtual if light rays from a particular point appear as if they are diverged from that particular on that particular image, even though they actually didn't. I get that stuff."
"I understand the difference between a converging lens and a diverging lens. A converging lens takes parallel rays of light and makes them meet at a specific point in space. Diverging lenses do the opposite; they take parallel rays of light and spread them out at the focal point."
"Images are formed by reflection from mirrors and refraction from lenses. Lenses can be diverging or converging, meaning they 'focus' light or 'defocus' light, respectively. I can draw the two (or three) principal rays through a lens."
Describe what you found confusing from the assigned textbook reading or presentation preview. Your description (2-3 sentences) should specifically identify the concept(s) that you do not understand.
"Not sure what upright/inverted or enlarged/diminished means."
"I have no idea how to draw the principal rays. I thought I understood, but then I looked at the key for the ray tracing homework and now I'm completely lost, I don't know how I'm supposed to know which line goes where and at what angle. I'm even more lost on how to identify the type of image produced for ray tracings and identifying the orientation and size of the image."
"I am having a hard time distinguishing between a real and a virtual image. I somewhat understand the mirror example, but I would not know how to apply these concepts to lenses. Can we please go over more examples?"
Complete the online reading assignment ray tracings as best as you can. Identify the type of image produced for each ray tracing. (Only correct responses shown.)
Converging lens 1: real image [83%]
Converging lens 2: real image [69%]
Converging lens 3: (no image produced) [49%]
Converging lens 4: virtual image [57%]
Converging lens 5: virtual image [57%]
Diverging lens 6: virtual image [69%]
Diverging lens 7: virtual image [69%]
Diverging lens 8: virtual image [71%]
Diverging lens 9: virtual image [63%]
Diverging lens 10: virtual image [49%]
Complete the online reading assignment ray tracings as best as you can. Identify the image orientation and size produced for each ray tracing. (Only correct responses shown.)
Converging lens 1: inverted, diminished [46%]
Converging lens 2: inverted, enlarged [34%]
Converging lens 3: (no image produced) [46%]
Converging lens 4: upright, enlarged [26%]
Converging lens 5: upright, enlarged [29%]
Diverging lens 6: upright, diminished [34%]
Diverging lens 7: upright, diminished [34%]
Diverging lens 8: upright, diminished [35%]
Diverging lens 9: upright, diminished [46%]
Diverging lens 10: upright, diminished [26%]
Ask the instructor an anonymous question, or make a comment. Selected questions/comments may be discussed in class.
"Two antennae got married, the ceremony was only so-so, but the reception was fantastic."
"I am so completely lost. The book was incredibly confusing and I so I was hoping the blog presentation would help, and it did a little, but I still have no idea how to do the ray tracing homework."
"The ray tracing worksheet was very confusing for me, could you go over it?" (Yes.)
"Isn't divergent lens 10 image the same size as the object?" (Very nearly so--it's just a little smaller than the object.)
20140203
Online reading assignment: eclipses, history of astronomy (NC campus)
Astronomy 210, spring semester 2014
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 eclipses, and an preliminary overview of the history of astronomy.
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.
Describe something you found confusing from the assigned textbook reading or presentation preview, and explain why this was personally confusing for you.
A friend of yours has a birthday on March 30. According to your starwheel, the sun would have been located in front of which zodiac sign on that date? (Ignore daylight saving time.)
Match the phase of the moon during these eclipse types. (Only correct responses shown.)
Place these astronomers in chronological order of their historical contribution to astronomy. (Only correct responses shown.)
Match these terms with their descriptions. (Only correct responses shown.)
Ask the instructor an anonymous question, or make a comment. Selected questions/comments may be discussed in class.
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 eclipses, and an preliminary overview of the history of astronomy.
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.
"I found it interesting that in an eclipse, you have to have a full moon or a new moon for it to happen. We also need the moon's orbit to be aligned edge-on."
"The solar eclipses were the most interesting to me. I think they were my favorite because I love how they look. They have, by far, the coolest photographs. The lunar eclipses are fun to look at because of the red coloring, but I think the solar eclipses are much more attractive."
"I thought it was interesting learning the difference between solar eclipses and lunar eclipses. With solar eclipses, light to Earth is blocked by the moon while with lunar eclipses, light to the moon is blocked by Earth. Opposites!"
"I related the eclipses to the TV show Heroes."
"I thought it was interesting that we can see the moon at all when there is a lunar eclipse, I would like to talk about that more in class to be able to fully understand how that is possible."
"It was interesting to learn more about a few of the ancient astronomers. It was good to be able to match the astronomer with their corresponding ideas and models, when I had previously only knew very little about who went with what."
Describe something you found confusing from the assigned textbook reading or presentation preview, and explain why this was personally confusing for you.
"Nothing, the material that was covered was understandable and I feel confident on the reading and previews."
"A topic that carries some confusion for me are eclipses. Although I have been through several solar and lunar eclipses in my lifetime, I find it hard to explain scientifically what is happening. I think I just need to see more actual 3D models of these processes."
"In the *.GIF animation of the moon's orbit, I was not able to tell when there was going to be an eclipse and would like clarification."
"Something I didn't quite understand from the reading were the philosophers principles on the universe. I'm not sure why their opinions are important to astronomy especially if some of them were completely wrong, although it is interesting that Copernicus was the first one to believe that the sun is the center of the solar system."
"I thought the concept of how the lunar eclipse happened would be easy to understand. But for some reason, it took me awhile to get it down. It made me feel stupid once I got it."
"The sky itself kinda confuses me. I think if I spend more time looking at it the more I learn I will understand it."
"I found it confusing trying to figure out which astronomers had evidence to back up their theories and which ones didn't."
"The eclipses and not the 'how or why,' but 'when and why then.'"
A friend of yours has a birthday on March 30. According to your starwheel, the sun would have been located in front of which zodiac sign on that date? (Ignore daylight saving time.)
Aries. *** 3] Taurus. * [1] Gemini. [0] Cancer. [0] Leo. [0] Virgo. *** [3] Libra. [0] Scorpio. [0] Sagittarius. [0] Capricorn. [0] Aquarius. * [1] Pisces. ***************** [17] (Unsure/guessing/lost/help!) * [1]
Match the phase of the moon during these eclipse types. (Only correct responses shown.)
Total solar eclipse: new moon [54%]
Partial solar eclipse: new moon [58%]
Annular solar eclipse: new moon [58%]
Total lunar eclipse: full moon [85%]
Partial lunar eclipse: full moon [58%]
Place these astronomers in chronological order of their historical contribution to astronomy. (Only correct responses shown.)
Aristotle [89%]
Ptolemy [73%]
Copernicus [81%]
Tycho [81%]
Kepler [62%]
Galileo [62%]
Newton [89%]
Match these terms with their descriptions. (Only correct responses shown.)
Ideas accepted as truth without further examination: first principles [92%]
Predictions that could be tested by observations: hypotheses [81%]
Universal statements of cause and effect: rational laws [77%]
Describe phenomena without explaining why it occurs: empirical laws [72%]
Ask the instructor an anonymous question, or make a comment. Selected questions/comments may be discussed in class.
"When is the next solar eclipse and lunar eclipse, and where in the world will it be a total solar eclipse?" (Next total lunar eclipse for the entire western U.S. is the evening of April 15-16, 2014--visible right here in San Luis Obispo county. Next total solar eclipse in the U.S. is August 21, 2017--you'll need to go on a road trip!)
"Do we need to know dates of birth of influential people or just what they did and around what time frame?" (Well, more importantly, what contribution did they make to astronomy, which is related to who came before and who came after them.)
"The flipped classroom is a way of learning I've never used, it's interesting."
"There were some reading assignment questions that could only be answered with information found in unassigned chapters. Am I correct in only reading these assigned pages?" (Yes, but sometimes I may leave out a relevant section by mistake. No harm in reading ahead.)
Online reading assignment: polarization
Physics 205B, spring semester 2014
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 polarization.
Selected/edited responses are given below.
Describe what you understand from the assigned textbook reading or presentation preview. Your description (2-3 sentences) should specifically demonstrate your level of understanding.
Describe what you found confusing from the assigned textbook reading or presentation preview. Your description (2-3 sentences) should specifically identify the concept(s) that you do not understand.
A horizontal antenna will emit __________ polarized light.
Vertically polarized light can be received by a _________ antenna.
Unpolarized light shines through two ideal polarizing sheets, that have their transmission axes aligned at right angles to each other. How much of the original intensity is transmitted through these two sheets?
When the light that passed through the first polarizer is now completely blocked by the second polarizer, the transmission axis of the second polarizer is:
Light from the screen of the iPad (in portrait mode) is:
Light from the screen of the Nexus 4 is:
Ask the instructor an anonymous question, or make a comment. Selected questions/comments may be discussed in class.
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 polarization.
Selected/edited responses are given below.
Describe what you understand from the assigned textbook reading or presentation preview. Your description (2-3 sentences) should specifically demonstrate your level of understanding.
"I feel a little more comfortable with the TIR material from the homework. I somewhat understand the polarization concept because of that Terminator 2 reference, i.e. things must go or move in a certain orientation to work or fit."
"Polarization is the generating and transmitting light using antenna and filters. Polarizers transmit light either horizontally-horizontally or vertically-vertically. Light that is traveling horizontally through a vertical plane will not pass through."
"Light waves can only be transmitted and received with matching antennae."
"I believe I understand what a transverse wave is, as well as unpolarized and polarized light source. Unpolarized light source is also known as randomly polarized, which is when the electric field changes frequently and the charges vibrate in random directions. Polarized light source is an example of a radio antenna in which electrons are forced to follow a specific length or area in vertical or horizontal polarization."
Describe what you found confusing from the assigned textbook reading or presentation preview. Your description (2-3 sentences) should specifically identify the concept(s) that you do not understand.
"How are radio waves generated horizontally/vertically?"
"I'm kind of confused on how to use the equations...as always."
"I don't understand how to apply Malus' law. I also don't understand the horizontal antenna example in the lecture presentation."
A horizontal antenna will emit __________ polarized light.
horizontally. ***************************** [29] vertically. ******* [7] (Both of the above choices.) ** [2] (Neither of the above choices.) [0] (Unsure/guessing/lost/help!) *** [3]
Vertically polarized light can be received by a _________ antenna.
horizontal. ******* [7] vertical. ***************************** [29] (Both of the above choices.) * [1] (Neither of the above choices.) * [1] (Unsure/guessing/lost/help!) *** [3]
0%. ******** [8] 50%. ********************** [22] 100%. ***** [5] (Unsure/guessing/lost/help!) ****** [6]
Unpolarized light shines through two ideal polarizing sheets, that have their transmission axes aligned at right angles to each other. How much of the original intensity is transmitted through these two sheets?
0%. *************** [15] 50%. ************ [12] 100%. * [2] (Unsure/guessing/lost/help!) ************ [12]
When the light that passed through the first polarizer is now completely blocked by the second polarizer, the transmission axis of the second polarizer is:
horizontal. ********* [9] vertical. ******************* [19] diagonal, upper left to lower right. ****** [6] diagonal, lower left to upper right. ** [2] (Unsure/guessing/lost/help!) ******** [8]
Light from the screen of the iPad (in portrait mode) is:
horizontally polarized. ************* [13] vertically polarized. ********* [9] diagonally (upper left to lower right) polarized. *** [3] diagonally (lower left to upper right) polarized. * [1] unpolarized. ** [2] (Unsure/guessing/lost/help!) ******** [8]
Light from the screen of the Nexus 4 is:
horizontally polarized. **** [4] vertically polarized. ******** [8] diagonally (upper left to lower right) polarized. ******** [8] diagonally (lower left to upper right) polarized. ******** [8] unpolarized. [0] (Unsure/guessing/lost/help!) ******** [8]
Ask the instructor an anonymous question, or make a comment. Selected questions/comments may be discussed in class.
"None at the moment."
"So our vertical car antennas receive vertical radio waves?" (Yes!)
"What causes polarization exactly? Is it the arrangement of the molecules that allow the light to pass through in a certain orientation?" (Yes; especially if the molecules form long chains that align with each other.)
"How can you tell if light is horizontally polarized, vertically polarized, or diagonally, etc.?" (You will need a polarizing filter to tell you this.)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)