Discovering Astronomy S: Stars and Planets (U03374)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 8 ? Acronym : PHY-1-AstDS

For non-specialists, aimed at non-scientists.
Starts with an explanation of the visually observed night sky, and how this leads to a consistent model of the Solar system and beyond, the tools of the astronomer are surveyed, and then the properties of the planets in our solar system (and others) are described. The Sun is used as a yardstick for star modelling, and the appearance and life cycle of stars is revealed.
Can be taken on its own, or supplemented (in the following year) by the companion course "Discovering Astronomy G: Galaxies and Cosmology" to give a fuller picture

Entry Requirements

? Pre-requisites : Students are expected to be able to perform simple arithmetic and to understand basic geometry and simple algebra.

? Prohibited combinations : Astronomy 1S: Stellar and Planetary Physics (PHY-1-Ast1S) Astronomy A Astronomy C

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Undergraduate (School of Physics), (School of Physics, Schedule Q)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 1st year

? Delivery Period : Semester 1 (Blocks 1-2)

? Contact Teaching Time : 3 hour(s) per week for 10 weeks

First Class Information

Date	Start	End	Room	Area	Additional Information
21/09/2007	14:00	15:00	Lecture Theatre 3, Appleton Tower	Central

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Lecture	Monday	14:00	14:50	Central
Lecture	Monday	16:10	17:00	Central
Lecture	Friday	14:00	14:50	Central

? Additional Class Information : In addition to lectures, students are expected to attend six one-hour tutorial/practical sessions M 1500 or F 1500, as arranged.

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course the student should:
1) have a thorough understanding at the appropriate level of the basic observational results of stellar astrophysics and of the theoretical tools used in their interpretation.
2) understand the physics of the internal structure of a main sequence star
3) understand the current knowledge of formation of stars and planets
4) know how stars evolve from the main sequence, how they transmute the elements in their cores and how this relates to the history of the Universe
5) understand the ways in which different stars die: white dwarfs, neutron stars, black holes.