OpenStax Astronomy

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Chapter summaries (pdf): 01 - 02 - 03 - 04 - 05 - 06 - 07 - 08 - 09 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 13 - 14 - 15 - 16 - 17 - 18 - 19 - 20 - 21 - 22 - 23 - 24 - 25 - 26 - 27 - 28 - 29 - 30

OpenStax Astronomy

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Resources being developed on Wikiversity

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You must read this term paper written by a college freshman.

This is a redacted copy of an email sent to the student who wrote the best term paper in the first effort to use the Miraheze wikifarm at Wright State University Lake Campus in the Spring of 2017.


A thank-you note to Annie Isabelle Anonymous

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1st prize

Dear A.I.A,

https://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/File:Anonymous_Life_in_the_Universe.pdf

Your Astronomy project resides at the link shown above. I removed your real name and also password protected the pdf file. It should be possible to edit it using an Adobe editor using the password ****. You can use knowledge of that password to convince potential employers that you are the author of this impressive document.

I will request that all future reports of this nature follow the format you invented: A detailed summary of a chapter of a freely available textbook , with up to 100 multiple choice questions embedded into the document (in the future, the answers will be in a key at the end of the document). To be sure, many of your questions would be "bad" on an exam that would be used to assign a grade. But, an instructor using a document like yours could point out the "good" questions during the lecture. Or, the "good" questions could be extracted and stored on a private wiki to create a bank of questions that nobody else can see. Or, the instructor could edit your text on a wiki to better suit his or her needs. Perhaps you (or somebody else) might wish to discuss this further at the talk page shown below.

https://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/File_talk:Anonymous_Life_in_the_Universe.pdf

Also, in the future, it would be better if the document were on a private wiki where students can write a term paper without looking at each other's efforts, and create a document that would be easier for instructors to use and edit. I am currently using Miraheze for this purpose. At the moment my little "wikifarm" looks like this:

https://wright.miraheze.org/w/index.php?title=Main_Page&oldid=672

Let me know if you need a letter of recommendation. And, "Annie": THANK YOU !!!

Yours truly --User:Guy vandegrift

Footnotes

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We need a repository for the open bank of quiz questions, and at the moment I see three options:

Pros: Compatibility with all public and private wikis, and the ease with which anybody can use Python to create and edit these exams. The "conceptual" questions use the wikimedia quiz extension, but the "numerical" questions would require a high-level language to create the wikitext. These numerical questions typically come in 10 or more versions that have randomized numerical values. I currently use Matlab to create these exams, but will soon switch over to Python (which I recently learned).

Cons: Quizbank creates exams with a rather amateurish format. They are rendered on a wiki and printed out as a pdf file. For example, Quizbank/Sample_rendition can be be printed to create four midterms and a final exam (in two versions) for a a conceptual course in physics. Students can use this this studyguide to prepare for the exams. A more serious first-year introductory physics course requires numerical questions where the students practice using different numerical values. A studyguide for such a course can be found here.

OpenStax True False progress

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By the end of summer I hope to have a large collection of simple reading questions for this book. If you want to contribute leave a message at User talk:Guy vandegrift.

63 207 Nom Nom 2.2 0.7
pp Sections Questions Sec Ques pp/sec pp/ques
1 Science and the Universe: A Brief Tour 11 11 2 0.928998009 2.849829391
1.1 The Nature of Astronomy 13 13 0 0 0
1.2 The Nature of Science 13 13 2 0.928998009 2.849829391
1.3 The Laws of Nature 15 15 0 0 0
1.4 Numbers in Astronomy 15 15 2 0.928998009 2.849829391
1.5 Consequences of Light Travel Time 17 17 1 0.464499005 1.424914695
1.6 A Tour of the Universe 18 18 5 2.322495023 7.124573477
1.7 The Universe on the Large Scale 23 23 4 1.857996019 5.699658781
1.8 The Universe of the Very Small 27 27 1 0.464499005 1.424914695
1.9 A Conclusion and a Beginning 28 28 3 1.393497014 4.274744086
2 Observing the Sky: The Birth of Astronomy 31 31 1 0.464499005 1.424914695
2.1 The Sky Above 32 32 10 4.644990046 14.24914695
2.2 Ancient Astronomy 42 42 7 3.251493033 9.974402867
2.3 Astrology and Astronomy 49 49 5 2.322495023 7.124573477
2.4 The Birth of Modern Astronomy 54 54 15 6.96748507 21.37372043
3 Orbits and Gravity 69 69 1 0.464499005 1.424914695
3.1 The Laws of Planetary Motion 70 70 6 2.786994028 8.549488172
3.2 Newton’s Great Synthesis 76 76 5 2.322495023 7.124573477
3.3 Newton’s Universal Law of Gravitation 81 81 4 1.857996019 5.699658781
3.4 Orbits in the Solar System 85 85 3 1.393497014 4.274744086
3.5 Motions of Satellites and Spacecraft 88 88 3 1.393497014 4.274744086
3.6 Gravity with More Than Two Bodies 91 91 12 5.573988056 17.09897634
4 Earth, Moon, and Sky 103 103 1 0.464499005 1.424914695
4.1 Earth and Sky 104 104 3 1.393497014 4.274744086
4.2 The Seasons 107 107 7 3.251493033 9.974402867
4.3 Keeping Time 114 114 3 1.393497014 4.274744086
4.4 The Calendar 117 117 3 1.393497014 4.274744086
4.5 Phases and Motions of the Moon 120 120 5 2.322495023 7.124573477
4.6 Ocean Tides and the Moon 125 125 4 1.857996019 5.699658781
4.7 Eclipses of the Sun and Moon 129 129 16 7.431984074 22.79863513
5 Radiation and Spectra 145 145 1 0.464499005 1.424914695
5.1 The Behavior of Light 146 146 7 3.251493033 9.974402867
5.2 The Electromagnetic Spectrum 153 153 8 3.715992037 11.39931756
5.3 Spectroscopy in Astronomy 161 161 5 2.322495023 7.124573477
5.4 The Structure of the Atom 166 166 6 2.786994028 8.549488172
5.5 Formation of Spectral Lines 172 172 4 1.857996019 5.699658781
5.6 The Doppler Effect 176 176 13 6.03848706 18.52389104
6 Astronomical Instruments 189 189 1 0.464499005 1.424914695
6.1 Telescopes 190 190 6 2.786994028 8.549488172
6.2 Telescopes Today 196 196 10 4.644990046 14.24914695
6.3 Visible-Light Detectors and Instruments 206 206 4 1.857996019 5.699658781
6.4 Radio Telescopes 210 210 7 3.251493033 9.974402867
6.5 Observations outside Earth’s Atmosphere 217 217 5 2.322495023 7.124573477
6.6 The Future of Large Telescopes 222 222 11 5.109489051 15.67406165
7 Other Worlds: An Introduction to the Solar System 233 233 1 0.464499005 1.424914695
7.1 Overview of Our Planetary System 234 234 12 3 25 5.573988056 17.09897634 4.0 0.5
7.2 Composition and Structure of Planets 246 246 5 2.322495023 7.124573477
7.3 Dating Planetary Surfaces 251 251 3 1.393497014 4.274744086
7.4 Origin of the Solar System 254 254 11 5.109489051 15.67406165
8 Earth as a Planet 265 265 1 0.464499005 1.424914695
8.1 The Global Perspective 266 266 4 1.857996019 5.699658781
8.2 Earth’s Crust 270 270 8 3.715992037 11.39931756
8.3 Earth’s Atmosphere 278 278 5 2.322495023 7.124573477
8.4 Life, Chemical Evolution, and Climate Change 283 283 5 2.322495023 7.124573477
8.5 Cosmic Influences on the Evolution of Earth 288 288 15 6.96748507 21.37372043
9 Cratered Worlds 303 303 0 0 0
9.1 General Properties of the Moon 303 303 7 3.251493033 9.974402867
9.2 The Lunar Surface 310 310 5 2.322495023 7.124573477
9.3 Impact Craters 315 315 5 2.322495023 7.124573477
9.4 The Origin of the Moon 320 320 1 0.464499005 1.424914695
9.5 Mercury 321 321 14 6.502986065 19.94880573
10 Earthlike Planets: Venus and Mars 335 335 0 0 0
10.1 The Nearest Planets: An Overview 335 335 7 3 15 3.251493033 9.974402867 2.3 0.5
10.2 The Geology of Venus 342 342 5 6 28 2.322495023 7.124573477 0.8 0.2
10.3 The Massive Atmosphere of Venus 347 347 3 3 19 1.393497014 4.274744086 1.0 0.2
10.4 The Geology of Mars 350 350 9 4.180491042 12.82423226
10.5 Water and Life on Mars 359 359 12 5.573988056 17.09897634
10.6 Divergent Planetary Evolution 371 371 10 4.644990046 14.24914695
11 The Giant Planets 381 381 0 0 0
11.1 Exploring the Outer Planets 381 381 6 2.786994028 8.549488172
11.2 The Giant Planets 387 387 6 2.786994028 8.549488172
11.3 Atmospheres of the Giant Planets 393 393 16 5 20 7.431984074 22.79863513 3.2 0.8
12 Rings, Moons, and Pluto 409 409 1 0.464499005 1.424914695
12.1 Ring and Moon Systems Introduced 410 410 1 0.464499005 1.424914695
12.2 The Galilean Moons of Jupiter 411 411 9 4 8 4.180491042 12.82423226 2.3 1.1
12.3 Titan and Triton 420 420 5 5 10 2.322495023 7.124573477 1.0 0.5
12.4 Pluto and Charon 425 425 7 3.251493033 9.974402867
12.5 Planetary Rings 432 432 19 8.825481088 27.07337921
13 Comets and Asteroids: Debris of the Solar System 451 451 1 0.464499005 1.424914695
13.1 Asteroids 452 452 11 7 16 5.109489051 15.67406165 1.6 0.7
13.2 Asteroids and Planetary Defense 463 463 3 1.393497014 4.274744086
13.3 The “Long-Haired” Comets 466 466 10 5 10 4.644990046 14.24914695 2.0 1.0
13.4 The Origin and Fate of Comets and Related Objects 476 476 17 7.896483079 24.22354982
14 Cosmic Samples and the Origin of the Solar System 493 493 1 0.464499005 1.424914695
14.1 Meteors 494 494 5 2.322495023 7.124573477
14.2 Meteorites: Stones from Heaven 499 499 5 2.322495023 7.124573477
14.3 Formation of the Solar System 504 504 6 5 12 2.786994028 8.549488172 1.2 0.5
14.4 Comparison with Other Planetary Systems 510 510 5 2.322495023 7.124573477
14.5 Planetary Evolution 515 515 12 5.573988056 17.09897634
15 The Sun: A Garden-Variety Star 527 527 1 0.464499005 1.424914695
15.1 The Structure and Composition of the Sun 528 528 11 7 18 5.109489051 15.67406165 1.6 0.6
15.2 The Solar Cycle 539 539 5 2.322495023 7.124573477
15.3 Solar Activity above the Photosphere 544 544 4 1.857996019 5.699658781
15.4 Space Weather 548 548 15 6.96748507 21.37372043
16 The Sun: A Nuclear Powerhouse 563 563 0 0 0
16.1 Sources of Sunshine: Thermal and Gravitational Energy 563 563 3 1.393497014 4.274744086
16.2 Mass, Energy, and the Theory of Relativity 566 566 10 5 11 4.644990046 14.24914695 2.0 0.9
16.3 The Solar Interior: Theory 576 576 6 2.786994028 8.549488172
16.4 The Solar Interior: Observations 582 582 13 6.03848706 18.52389104
17 Analyzing Starlight 595 595 0 0 0
17.1 The Brightness of Stars 595 595 4 1 3 1.857996019 5.699658781 4.0 1.3
17.2 Colors of Stars 599 599 3 1 3 1.393497014 4.274744086 3.0 1.0
17.3 The Spectra of Stars (and Brown Dwarfs) 602 602 7 3 9 3.251493033 9.974402867 2.3 0.8
17.4 Using Spectra to Measure Stellar Radius, Composition, and Motion 609 609 16 7.431984074 22.79863513
18 The Stars: A Celestial Census 625 625 0 0 0
18.1 A Stellar Census 625 625 4 1.857996019 5.699658781
18.2 Measuring Stellar Masses 629 629 7 3.251493033 9.974402867
18.3 Diameters of Stars 636 636 5 2.322495023 7.124573477
18.4 The H–R Diagram 641 641 18 8.360982084 25.64846452
19 Celestial Distances 659 659 0 0 0
19.1 Fundamental Units of Distance 659 659 4 1.857996019 5.699658781
19.2 Surveying the Stars 663 663 9 4.180491042 12.82423226
19.3 Variable Stars: One Key to Cosmic Distances 672 672 7 3.251493033 9.974402867
19.4 The H–R Diagram and Cosmic Distances 679 679 12 5.573988056 17.09897634
20 Between the Stars: Gas and Dust in Space 691 691 1 0.464499005 1.424914695
20.1 The Interstellar Medium 692 692 4 1.857996019 5.699658781
20.2 Interstellar Gas 696 696 8 3.715992037 11.39931756
20.3 Cosmic Dust 704 704 7 3.251493033 9.974402867
20.4 Cosmic Rays 711 711 3 1.393497014 4.274744086
20.5 The Life Cycle of Cosmic Material 714 714 2 0.928998009 2.849829391
20.6 Interstellar Matter around the Sun 716 716 11 5.109489051 15.67406165
21 The Birth of Stars and the Discovery of Planets outside the the Solar System 727 727 1 0.464499005 1.424914695
21.1 Star Formation 728 728 9 4.180491042 12.82423226
21.2 The H–R Diagram and the Study of Stellar Evolution 737 737 3 1.393497014 4.274744086
21.3 Evidence That Planets Form around Other Stars 740 740 4 1.857996019 5.699658781
21.4 Planets beyond the Solar System: Search and Discovery 744 744 9 4.180491042 12.82423226
21.5 Exoplanets Everywhere: What We Are Learning 753 753 6 2.786994028 8.549488172
21.6 New Perspectives on Planet Formation 759 759 12 5.573988056 17.09897634
22 Stars from Adolescence to Old Age 771 771 1 0.464499005 1.424914695
22.1 Evolution from the Main Sequence to Red Giants 772 772 6 2.786994028 8.549488172
22.2 Star Clusters 778 778 4 1.857996019 5.699658781
22.3 Checking Out the Theory 782 782 7 3.251493033 9.974402867
22.4 Further Evolution of Stars 789 789 9 4.180491042 12.82423226
22.5 The Evolution of More Massive Stars 798 798 11 5.109489051 15.67406165
23 The Death of Stars 809 809 1 0.464499005 1.424914695
23.1 The Death of Low-Mass Stars 810 810 5 2.322495023 7.124573477
23.2 Evolution of Massive Stars: An Explosive Finish 815 815 7 3.251493033 9.974402867
23.3 Supernova Observations 822 822 8 3.715992037 11.39931756
23.4 Pulsars and the Discovery of Neutron Stars 830 830 6 2.786994028 8.549488172
23.5 The Evolution of Binary Star Systems 836 836 3 1.393497014 4.274744086
23.6 The Mystery of the Gamma-Ray Bursts 839 839 18 8.360982084 25.64846452
24 Black Holes and Curved Spacetime 857 857 0 0 0
24.1 Introducing General Relativity 857 857 6 2.786994028 8.549488172
24.2 Spacetime and Gravity 863 863 3 1.393497014 4.274744086
24.3 Tests of General Relativity 866 866 3 1.393497014 4.274744086
24.4 Time in General Relativity 869 869 2 0.928998009 2.849829391
24.5 Black Holes 871 871 8 3.715992037 11.39931756
24.6 Evidence for Black Holes 879 879 3 1.393497014 4.274744086
24.7 Gravitational Wave Astronomy 882 882 13 6.03848706 18.52389104
25 The Milky Way Galaxy 895 895 1 0.464499005 1.424914695
25.1 The Architecture of the Galaxy 896 896 9 4.180491042 12.82423226
25.2 Spiral Structure 905 905 4 1.857996019 5.699658781
25.3 The Mass of the Galaxy 909 909 2 0.928998009 2.849829391
25.4 The Center of the Galaxy 911 911 7 3.251493033 9.974402867
25.5 Stellar Populations in the Galaxy 918 918 3 1.393497014 4.274744086
25.6 The Formation of the Galaxy 921 921 14 6.502986065 19.94880573
26 Galaxies 935 935 1 0.464499005 1.424914695
26.1 The Discovery of Galaxies 936 936 3 1.393497014 4.274744086
26.2 Types of Galaxies 939 939 6 2.786994028 8.549488172
26.3 Properties of Galaxies 945 945 3 1.393497014 4.274744086
26.4 The Extragalactic Distance Scale 948 948 3 1.393497014 4.274744086
26.5 The Expanding Universe 951 951 14 6.502986065 19.94880573
27 Active Galaxies, Quasars, and Supermassive Black Holes 965 965 0 0 0
27.1 Quasars 965 965 8 3.715992037 11.39931756
27.2 Supermassive Black Holes: What Quasars Really Are 973 973 8 3.715992037 11.39931756
27.3 Quasars as Probes of Evolution in the Universe 981 981 14 6.502986065 19.94880573
28 The Evolution and Distribution of Galaxies 995 995 1 0.464499005 1.424914695

Pros: Much better developed, larger in scope, and more professional.

Cons: At the moment only does medical board exams. Costs money for the student.

Pros: It's already been done! (but I just learned about it)

Cons: We don't have a textbook (something for Wikiversity to fix?)