1. Tides; Tidal Locking; Lagrange Points; Non-inertial Reference Frames; Roche Limit; Io

2. Planetary Atmospheres; Fluid Statics and Dynamics; Greenhouse Effect; Albedo; Atmospheric Escape

3. Planetary Composition; Temperature and Cooling of Interiors; Phases of Matter

4. Planetary Seismology; Elastic Waves in Solids; Oblateness and Moment of Inertia

5. Magnetic Fields; Magnetospheres; Auroras; Solar Dynamo; Earth's Field; Jupiter and Io

6. Solar Wind; Alfven Waves; Plasmas; Comet Tails; Radiation Pressure

7. Dynamical Systems and Rings; Orbital Resonance; Chaos and Non-linear Systems; Collisions with Earth

8. Solar System Age and Formation; Radioactive Dating; Planetary Formation; Hill Radius; Extrasolar Planets

Since physics plays a major role in the discussion and understanding of the topics in this course, I will make free use of physical concepts that are typically seen at the freshman and sophomore levels (for instance, physical optics and diffraction, to give an example). You should be familiar with physics at this level at least to keep up in the course.

During the last two weeks of class, there will be student presentations on independent projects. For the independent projects, each person will select and follow up on a facet of solar system astrophysics not already covered in the course. Aside from a ~30 min. presentation given to the class on your topic, you will also submit a paper (with references) at the end of the course. I'll have more to say about these independent projects later in the semester. We will also have (almost) weekly assignments which will be graded, and I plan to give a final exam.

Instructor: Froney Crawford
Office: Hackman 421
Phone: (717) 358-4499
Email: fcrawfor@fandm.edu
Office Hours: Mon 2-4 p.m., Tue 3-4 p.m., Thu 3-4 p.m.

I'll give you my IM address and cell phone number in person. Come see me anytime.

• Homework Assignments (50%)
  
• Independent Project (15%)
• Final Exam (25%)
  
• Participation (10%)

I reserve the right to adjust your grade to some extent at the end of the semester to reflect effort, conscientiousness, participation, etc. (this is also reflected in the participation component of the grade).

We will also make use of several physics textbooks as supplemental resources, including introductory physics texts such as the one you used in Physics 111 and 112 and the excellent mechanics textbook Classical Mechanics by John R. Taylor. Please be sure to keep these textbooks handy.