Undergraduate Course: Astronomy 1S: Stellar and Planetary Science (PHYS08027)
Course Outline
| School | School of Physics and Astronomy |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 1 Undergraduate) |
Credits | 20 |
| Home subject area | Undergraduate (School of Physics and Astronomy) |
Other subject area | None |
| Course website |
WebCT |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | There are five modules: Stars and the Universe - The Structure of Stars - The Birth of Stars and Planets - Stellar Evolution - Star Death. Each module gives a physical grounding in its subject and together they build a full picture of stellar and planetary science.
Can be taken on its own, or supplemented (in the following year) by the companion course "Astronomy 1G: Galactic and Cosmological Science" to give a fuller picture.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | Students MUST NOT also be taking
Discovering Astronomy S: Stars and Planets (PHYS08029)
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Other requirements | A physical science course to SCE Higher grade or equivalent is desirable. |
| Additional Costs | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | Yes |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
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.
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Assessment Information
1 coursework exercise, 16.7%, tutorial exercise 16.7%
Degree Examination, 66.6% |
Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
&· Introduction
&· Celestial Mechanics; Radiation and Matter; Spectra; Distances and Magnitudes; The HR diagram
&· Stellar Structure
&· Review of Observations; Dynamical timescales; Thermal equilibrium; Nuclear reactions; The Main-sequence; Post-main-sequence evolution
&· The Origin of the Planets
&· The Solar Systems; The formations of planets; Extrasolar planets; Impacts
&· The Evolution of Stars
&· Star birth; The evolution of the Sun; Star clusters; The origin of chemicals in the Universe; The life cycle of a star
&· Star Death
&· The life of a star; White dwarfs; Neutron stars; Black holes
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| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
Not entered |
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Ast1S |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Catherine Heymans
Tel:
Email: |
Course secretary | Miss Paula Wilkie
Tel: (0131) 668 8403
Email: |
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