AstronomyPhysics at the Grenfell Campus of Memorial University, Corner Brook, NL |
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Physics 3160: Stellar & Galactic Astronomy |
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Physics Info
Physics
1020 |
This course will not be offered in 2011/12. The physics and mathematics of galaxies. Review of stellar astronomy. Introduction to galaxies and their properties. Milky Way kinematics and structure; the interstellar medium. Orbits of stars in galaxies. The Local Group. Properties of spiral and elliptical galaxies. An introduction to modern cosmology. Physics 3160 is an upper year physics/astronomy course with mathematics & physics prerequisites: Physics 2056 and 2151 and Mathematics 2000. Physics 3220 is recommended.
Office Hours:
Course Topics:The course is broken up into several main areas, generally following the arrangement of topics in the textbooks: Section I. (Phillipps) Review of Stellar Astronomy. You will already be familiar with some of this material from PHYS 2151, but we will go into greater depth, and be more technical, with most things. This section will review astronomical observation (magnitudes, colours, spectra, radial velocities, distances, etc.), and basics about stars (spectral classification, the HR diagram, stellar evolution). Appendix (pp. 285-288) and lecture notes. Section II. General Observational Properties of Galaxies. Most of Chapter 1 will be review from PHYS 2151; be sure to renew your acquaintance with this material. In Chapter 2 you will learn more about general galaxy properties – morphologies, sizes, luminosities, surface brightness profiles. You’ll also find out about the luminosity function for galaxies, and be introduced to active galaxies and a “nature vs. nurture” debate. Section III. Galaxies in Detail. Chapters 3, 4, and 5 will look at the nature of elliptical, spiral, and irregular galaxies in some detail. In addition to covering the stellar and gaseous components of the galaxies, you’ll be learning about their dynamics and chemical evolution. In Chapter 4 (spiral galaxies), we’ll spend a fair bit of time looking at our own Galaxy. Section IV. Active Galaxies. “The squeaky wheel gets the grease”, so we’ll devote a few days to these spectacular show-offs in Chapter 6. Section V. Galaxy Clusters. In Chapter 7 you’ll learn about groups of galaxies and their large-scale distribution in space. Here’s where you’ll find two pretty spiffy ways to find the mass of galaxy clusters - even if you can’t see most of it! Section VI. (Liddle) An Introduction to Modern Cosmology. And now for the really cool stuff! As the author of your second text says: “By a lucky chance, and a subtle bit of cheating, the correct equations describing an expanding Universe can be obtained from Newtonian gravity. From this basis, one can study all the triumphs of the Hot Big Bang cosmology – the expansion of the Universe, the prediction of its age, the existence of the cosmic microwave background, and the abundances of light elements such as helium and deuterium – and even go on to discuss more speculative ideas such as the inflationary cosmology.” Which is just what we’ll do! Exercise 1:Colour Galaxy Images Sloan Digital Sky Survey Marking Scheme:This is a trifle different than what you may be used to; your mark in the course is based entirely on your performance in the final examination. Throughout the term there will be problem sets (both individual and group) and exercises to be done. These will be marked on a “pass/fail” basis. If you “fail” the term work, you may not sit the final examination, and you will receive a mark of “F” (numerical grade of 45%) for the course. If you achieve a “pass” mark in the term work you will be allowed to sit the final examination. The exam will consist of a written and an oral part. Written part: Near the end of term, you will be given 4-6 problems. You are free to try to solve them, or ignore them, as you see fit. But during the final exam, you will draw one of these problems from a hat, and solve it individually in a limited time. The written portion will be closed-book and closed-notes, but all relevant equations, formulae, constants and so on will be provided. Your solution to the problem will be the basis for 50% of your mark. Oral part: After you have finished the written problem, I will ask you some questions about material from the course. How well you answer them will determine the other 50% of your mark. Your attention is drawn to University regulations governing academic offences, particularly plagiarism. Anyone found guilty of an academic offence can expect, at the very least, to receive a mark of zero for the work in question.
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Last update: 04 October, 2011