Physics 1070 3.0
Astrophysics I
Course Outline
Fall 2006 (F06)
Course Director & P. A. Delaney
Term lecturer
Office
Phone 736‑2100 ext. 77763
E-mail pdelaney@yorku.ca
Website www.yorku.ca/pdelaney/phys1070
This is an introductory course in
astronomy designed for the science student not just astronomy majors. Topics of discussion will include the
dynamics and evolution of the planets in our Solar System, our Sun, stellar
birth and stellar evolution. To deal
with these topics, material concerning the nature of
light (electromagnetic radiation), its measurement and fundamental
characteristics will be covered. The
changing arena of extra-solar planets and other areas of topical astronomical
interest will be discussed. To ensure
that everyone has a feel for the modern world of astronomy, an observational
exercise involving the observatory’s telescopes and a computer-planetarium
assignment will be included.
The science of Astronomy will
transport you back to the beginnings of civilisation and then move you forward
to contemplate the ultimate future of the Universe. Not all answers are known
and the ongoing need for research will become evident. In essence, astronomy is the study of all
that is. As with most areas of human knowledge, the more you know, the more
fascinating a subject becomes. This introductory course will whet your appetite
for more! Enjoy.
Important
Dates and information:
Students who feel that there are
extenuating circumstances, which may interfere with the successful completion
of the exam or other course requirements are encouraged to discuss the matter
with the Course Director as soon as possible.
Students
with physical, learning or psychiatric disabilities who require reasonable
accommodations in teaching style or evaluation methods should discuss this with
the Course Director early in the term so that appropriate arrangements can be
made.
Outline of Lecture Course (guide only – 1
lecture = 3.0 hours, approximate topic order)
1. Positional Astronomy (1 lecture)
- co-ordinate systems, telescope tour and
checkout.
2. Introduction and Celestial
Mechanics (1 lecture)
- Kepler's Laws; escape & orbital
velocity;
3. Radiation, Observations and
Detectors (1 lecture)
- review of basic radiation physics;
temperature
-
atmospheric
transmission; optical telescopes; refractor, reflector; detectors;
-
radio telescopes;
future telescopes
-
review of basic
radiation physics; temperature, Doppler shift
4. The Sun (1 lecture)
- basic parameters; atmosphere; limb-darkening;
activity; solar cycle
5. Stellar evolution, binary stars
and stellar masses, stellar spectra, H-R Diagram (1 lecture)
- simple radiation concepts; magnitude system -
apparent & absolute; extinction
- types and uses
- basic concepts; spectral classification;
luminosity class
6.
Our Solar System (1 lecture)
7.
Earth-Moon System (1 lecture)
- time and seasons; evidence for Earth's
rotation & revolution (includes precession, nutation,
aberration, refraction,
8. Terrestrial Planets (1 lecture)
- Mercury through Mars; planetary evolution
9. Jovian
Planets (1 lecture)
- Jupiter through Neptune; Pluto and Charon
and beyond
10. Small Bodies and debris in our
Solar System (1 lecture)
- moons, rings, asteroids, meteors, formation
of solar system
Format of the course and term work
There will be one, three hour lecture
given each week for this course on Tuesdays and Thursdays commencing at 1130
hrs for 90 minutes in Curtis Lecture
Hall J (CLH J). Attendance at the
lectures is highly recommended,
because the professors greatly enhance the material covered in the textbook. Office hours will normally be immediately
before class for one hour (Tuesdays and Thursdays) in the Petrie Science and
Engineering room 329.
The breakdown for the course
assessment is as follows:
Exercises (‘normal’ 3) 15% Due: October 5, November 2, November 30
Starry Night exercise: 7.5% October
12
Essay: 10% November 16
Mid-term exam: 17.5% October 19
Final term exam: 35% TBA
(December
Observational exercise:
15% November 30
Total 100%
Please note that all submitted
elements of this course must be typed.
This includes essays, assignments (including equations but not
diagrams), etc., but does not include the exams. Also, deadlines will be adhered to strictly
or significant penalties will result (25% per day late penalty). This is to ensure your work in this course -
and others - is done in a timely and appropriate manner. Good time management skills will be an asset! Copies of the Skynews
magazine will be available for purchase at a significant discount. While this magazine is not a requirement of
the course, its contents will be a significant asset when
doing the essay as well as background reading for many topics covered in this
course.
Note that the University will set the
examination schedule for December. The
material in the exams will be set by the term lecturer based upon work
presented in class and from the textbook.
It is the student's responsibility to be available to take the exams
during the examination periods.
Textbook
The textbook for the course is
‘Universe’ by William Kaufmann and Roger Freedman (6th or 7th
Edition). It is available from the campus bookstore. Material covered during
the lectures will often be referenced in this book. Approximately chapters 1
through 19 will be dealt with in class during the course. Note that the chapters on the planets will
not be dealt with in as much detail as other chapters.
A Note Concerning Plagiarism
Any material submitted by a student
for this course must be original unless otherwise acknowledged. Collaboration with colleagues on a problem is
an essential part of science, but to claim credit for work performed by others
is both unethical and unacceptable. Plagiarism and cheating will not be
tolerated. The penalty for such offences range from a failing
grade on the submitted material to expulsion from the University.
Recommended
The following is a list of books and
references that cover topics discussed in the course and may be useful
additional resources for the student.
Most are of a non‑technical nature. Some, however, are more
advanced and others are included for the star gazing enthusiast. All library
reference numbers are for the Steacie Library unless otherwise stated.