6 EC
Semester 2, periode 4
5092PLSY6Y
The discovery and study of exoplanetary systems is currently revolutionizing the field of planetary sciences. In this course we will focus on comparing the solar system of which the Earth and her seven sister planets are a part, with the newly discovered systems around hundreds of other stars. The course will start with an inventory on the general makeup of classes of planets (Earth-like, Jupiter-like, Neptune-like) and other objects (Asteroids, Comets, Ice dwarf planets), as well as looking at the construction and dynamics of the solar system.
After covering the methods that are used to study exoplanetary system, we will look in depth at the results, both the properties of individual exoplanets and the structure of the planetary systems. We will look at the new dynamics that is necessary to understand some of these systems. We will also look at the important aspect of habitable zones around stars, and the implications for the possibility of life in the Universe.
Hoorcollege en werkcollege.
Activiteit | Aantal uur |
Hoorcollege | 28 |
Tentamen | 3 |
Werkcollege | 26 |
Zelfstudie | 111 |
Aanwezigheidseisen opleiding (OER-B):
| Onderdeel en weging | Details |
|
Eindcijfer | |
|
65% Tentamen | Moet ≥ 5.5 zijn, Vereist |
|
6.6% Test 1 (grade) | |
|
6.6% Test 2 (grade) | |
|
6.7% Test 3 (grade) | |
|
10% Essay | |
|
5% Class Participation (grade) |
For each lecture except the first one you will get a problem set, partially selected from the book, and partially formulated by me. The problem set will be introduced in the problem session. so you need to be there to the the problem sheet. If you cannot be there (with a good reason), mail to your TA and they will give you the problems. I very strongly recommend you work out all the problems yourself – it is the best and also the necessary excercise you need to for the exam. We will not be grading the worked-out problems - but you are invited to hand in you solultion for the TA to check. At the beginning of problem sessions, the TAs will go over the more common issues that happened with a previous set of problems, before moving to the new problems. Every week, you will be assigned chapters from the book to read. This is an opportunity for you to learn more, and go beyond want is covered in class.
During the block we will run several small tests of about 20 Minutes each. These test will happen in the problem sessions - you need to be there when that happens. The tests will be short questions, some in Multiple Choice form, to check of the understanding of the subject matter is proceeding properly. The questions are about knowledge. Knowledge from the course notes, the slides, and the book. Some questions will have their answers in the book chapter you will be assigned to read, on materials not necessarily covered in class. The tests together will contribute 20% to the final grade.
Every student also will have to write a short essay (1 page, 1500 words) over a recent research paper.
At the end of the course we will have a three-hour exam, for 65% of the grade. You also need to pass the exam - i.e. you cannot compensate a 5.0 in the exam with the earlier tests. You need at least a 5.5 in the exam itself, even if you get all 10s in the tests.
In the exam there will be a short list of terms that will test your knowledge. And the rest will be problems similar to the ones you had to do for during the problem sessions (Wekcollege), so this will test both understanding and technical skills. The book contains many more problems than we will be able to do - a good preparation for the exam will be to take at least a study all the problems we are not working out during the block (as well as the ones you did do, of course). You will find that not all the problems are formulated completely sharply, and that some open questions are included. This is on purpose and you are encourage to use judgement your own argued decisions to deal with this. We will grade these answers corresponding to context - so for example if you did the calculation wrong, but your answer to an open question makes sense in the context of your wrong result, that will be OK.
De manier van inzage wordt via de digitale leeromgeving gecommuniceerd.
For at least twenty working days after the announcement of the results of a written examination, the student can, on request, inspect his/her assessed work, the questions and assignments set, as well as the standards applied for marking. The place and time will be announced via Blackboard (from Teaching and Examination Regulations).
Each student has to write an essay (1 page) about a recent scientific article on the subject. These articles will be made available on Blackboard. Students also get problem sets to work on during the problem sessions and at home. This can be done alone or in a team of 2 students.
Dit vak hanteert de algemene 'Fraude- en plagiaatregeling' van de UvA. Hier wordt nauwkeurig op gecontroleerd. Bij verdenking van fraude of plagiaat wordt de examencommissie van de opleiding ingeschakeld. Zie de Fraude- en plagiaatregeling van de UvA: http://student.uva.nl
Het rooster van dit vak is in te zien op DataNose.
Aanbevolen voorkennis: Sterrenkunde 1. Introductory courses in Astronomy, Physics and Mathematics.
Hieronder vind je de aanpassingen in de opzet van het vak naar aanleiding van de vakevaluaties.
Below you will find the adjustments to the design of the course based on the course evaluations.