Survey Astronomy 102

Survey

The following list of questions were included in the survey of Astronomy 102 students on the first day of class. These questions were used to determine the mathematical proficiency of the students enrolled in the course. To view the results of the survey for the Fall 2013 class, click here (link currently not available).

Please indicate your proficiency in several mathematical areas by indicating whether you are Uncomfortable, Content, Comfortable, and Expert in each of the following areas:

1. Arithmetic

2. Units and unit conversion

3. Scientific number notation

4. Algebra

5. Geometry

6. Reading and drawing graphs

7. Trigonometry

Consider the following 4 statements. For each statement, indicate whether you consider the statement (1) an accepted scientific fact, (2) possibly true but unverified, (3) false but couched in scientific-sounding terms, or (4) nonsense.

8. One could travel to the nearest stars faster than light, or travel backwards through time, by taking shortcuts through hyperspace.

9. The Universe began with an explosion, setting all of its contents into an outward expansion that persists to this day.

10. There are canals on Mars, we believe. Where there are canals, there is water; where there is water, there is oxygen; where there is oxygen, we can breathe.

11. One's destiny is determined by the relative positions in the sky of the stars, planets, Sun and Moon at the moment of one's birth.

Last updated on Tuesday, January 12, 2016 12:25

Astronomy 102, Spring 2016.

Survey