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Semester 1

Astrophysics: Stars and Planets (PHYS10111)

Subject

Physics and Astronomy

College

SCE

Credits

20

Normal Year Taken

4

Delivery Session Year

2023/2024

Pre-requisites

Course Summary

This course begins from a premise of no prior knowledge or experience of Astrophysics, but a solid background in both Physics and Mathematics. Students are introduced first to the key concepts of observational astronomy, the basic properties and structure of stars, and their evolution throughout their lifetimes. The course then examines the formation of stars and of the planets orbiting them, considering the properties of planets in the solar system and those orbiting around other stars.The course is a core course for all Astrophysics students in Semester 1 of Senior Honours, and is designed to be accessible to students in all other degree programmes within the School of Physics & Astronomy.The course is self-contained, but is also intended to link naturally with the Astrophysics: Galaxies and Cosmology course which follows in Semester 2. Taken together, these two courses should provide students with a solid, balanced, physics-based understanding of the structure of our Universe, and our place within space and time.

Course Description

Course Description (academic description): This course begins from a premise of no prior knowledge or experience of Astrophysics, but a solid background in both Physics and Mathematics. Students are introduced first to the key concepts of observational astronomy, the basic properties and structure of stars, and their evolution throughout their lifetimes. The course then examines the formation of stars and of the planets orbiting them, considering the properties of planets in the solar system and those orbiting around other stars.The course is a core course for all Astrophysics students in Semester 1 of Senior Honours, and is designed to be accessible to students in all other degree programmes within the School of Physics & Astronomy.The course is self-contained, but is also intended to link naturally with the Astrophysics: Galaxies and Cosmology course which follows in Semester 2. Taken together, these two courses should provide students with a solid, balanced, physics-based understanding of the structure of our Universe, and our place within space and time.

Assessment Information

Written Exam 90%, Coursework 10%, Practical Exam 0%

Additional Assessment Information

90% exam10% coursework

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