Undergraduate Course: Discovering Astronomy S: Stars and Planets (PHYS08029)
This course will be closed from 31 July 2011
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 |
None |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | 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
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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
Astronomy 1S: Stellar and Planetary Science (PHYS08027)
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Other requirements | Students are expected to be able to perform simple arithmetic and to understand basic geometry and simple algegra. |
| 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 exercises 16.7%,
Degree Examination 66.6% |
Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
Not entered |
| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
Not entered |
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Not entered |
| Keywords | AstDS |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Ken Rice
Tel: (0131) 668 8384
Email: |
Course secretary | Miss Paula Wilkie
Tel: (0131) 668 8403
Email: |
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