James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2004

Offerings
View how AS5021 is offered in 2004

(Also shows pre-requisites and inadmissible combinations if applicable)

AS5021:06

The Solar System

External

HECS Band 2

Semester 1 (February to May) and Semester 2 (September to December).
This subject is delivered via the Internet using Blackboard through Learn JCU. Each week the student will be given lecture material, assignment material, readings and self learning. Assessment will be on a week-by-week basis and there will be a final "open-book" examination.
The material in this subject is delivered over the Internet. It is equivalent to four hours of lectures, four hours of tutorials and four hours of workshops/seminars per week.

Available only to students enrolled in the Graduate Certificate of Astronomy, Graduate Diploma of Astronomy, Master of Astronomy and Doctor of Astronomy.

Staff:

Assoc. Professor G White.

This subject concentrates on the physics, chemistry and dynamics of the Solar System. It is a study of the nature of the bodies that make up the Solar System, its dynamics and its formation and evolution. The techniques used to study the Solar System are covered, including a history of ground-based observation, space probes and exotic missions. To cover this subject comprehensively, students must study solar type systems in their environment of interstellar space; and study some of their less known members and their chemical compositions. The life processes will be looked at briefly and it will explore the possibilities of finding life elsewhere in the Solar System and in other solar type systems.

Learning Objectives:

introduction to new (and not too distant habitat) for the human species;

learn how the Solar System is studied at an advanced level;

introduction to advanced concepts in chemistry, nuclear synthesis and biological processes;

learn to fully utilise the Internet for learning and research;

learn the vocabulary of science and the thinking processes of scientists;

learn the skills of presentation.

Assessment by three essays (10% each) (30%); three assignments (10% each) (30%); end-of-semester examination (open book) (40%).