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PH30057: Stellar & galactic astrophysics

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2014/5
Further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: Department of Physics
Further information on credits Credits: 6
Further information on unit levels Level: Honours (FHEQ level 6)
Further information on teaching periods Period: Semester 2
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Summary: EX 100%
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Detail:
  • Examination (EX 100%)
Further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment: Mandatory extra work (where allowed by programme regulations)
Further information on requisites Requisites: Before taking this unit you must take PH10001 and take PH20013 and (take PH20016 or take PH20076)
Further information on descriptions Description: Aims:
The aims of this unit are to explore the physical processes that lead to the formation and evolution of stars and to the structure and chemical evolution of galaxies.

Learning Outcomes:
After taking this unit the student should be able to:
* describe the structure and dynamics of galaxies and how they are related;
* outline the key steps in the formation and evolution of galaxies;
* describe the physical processes occurring in the inter-stellar medium;
* discuss in detail how stars form from gravitational collapse of dense gas clouds;
* solve order of magnitude problems on any part of the syllabus.

Skills:
Numeracy T/F A, Problem Solving T/F A.

Content:
Observational background (4 hours): Stellar distances, magnitudes, luminosities. Stellar classification; Hertzsprung-Russell diagram. Red shift. Black holes. Large scale structure of the Universe. Galaxies; galactic structure, classification of galaxies, formation and evolution of galaxies.
Galactic astrophysics (9 hours): The Milky Way galaxy (MWG). Galactic rotation. Stellar dynamics. The interstellar medium of the MWG. External galaxies. The masses of galaxies. Chemical evolution and star formation histories of galaxies. Galaxies and the large scale structure of the Universe.
Stellar astrophysics (9 hours): Components of the ISM; dark clouds, HII regions, T-Tauri stars, HH objects, masers. Angular momentum and magnetic field problems. Obtaining information about the ISM; spectral line shapes, interstellar reddening. Optical depth. Dust grains. Formation of molecules. Radiatively excited regions. Continuum emission. Hydrostatic equilibrium. Collapse processes. Star formation. Evolution of protostars. Molecular outflows. Zero-age main sequence stars. Evolution off the main sequence. Late stages of stellar evolution. Supernovae. Stellar remnants.
Further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

PH30057 is Optional on the following programmes:

Department of Mathematical Sciences Department of Physics
  • USXX-AFB03 : BSc(Hons) Mathematics and Physics (Year 3)
  • USXX-AAB04 : BSc(Hons) Mathematics and Physics with Study year abroad (Year 4)
  • USXX-AKB04 : BSc(Hons) Mathematics and Physics with Year long work placement (Year 4)
  • USXX-AFM01 : MSci(Hons) Mathematics and Physics (Year 3)
  • USXX-AAM01 : MSci(Hons) Mathematics and Physics with Study year abroad (Year 4)
  • USXX-AKM01 : MSci(Hons) Mathematics and Physics with Year long work placement (Year 4)
  • USPH-AFB01 : BSc(Hons) Physics (Year 3)
  • USPH-AAB02 : BSc(Hons) Physics with Study year abroad (Year 4)
  • USPH-AKB02 : BSc(Hons) Physics with Year long work placement (Year 4)
  • USPH-AFB09 : BSc Physics (Year 3)
  • USPH-AFM02 : MPhys(Hons) Physics (Year 3)
  • USPH-AKM04 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with Professional and Research Placements (Year 4)
  • USPH-AKM03 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with Professional Placement (Year 4)
  • USPH-AFM04 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with Research placement (Year 3)
  • USPH-AFB05 : BSc(Hons) Physics with Computing (Year 3)
  • USPH-AAB06 : BSc(Hons) Physics with Computing with Study year abroad (Year 4)
  • USPH-AKB06 : BSc(Hons) Physics with Computing with Year long work placement (Year 4)

Notes:
* This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2014/15 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2015/16 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2014/15.
* Programmes and units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.
* Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.