PHY 317 - Fall 2009 - Timetable

 

Note: the timetable is subject to change. Any changes will be posted on Blackboard. Last update: August 27, 2009.

The dates of Exam I,II, and III are tentative. There is no final exam. The project will be graded based on the oral presentation and associated written report.

A note on bibliographic resources concernig required readings: numbers refer to chapters of the textbook (Ostlie and Carroll's An Introduction to Modern Stellar Astrophysics, second edition); reading assignments from other books (on reserve in the Science and Technology Library) are indicated by the authors' names: Phillips The Physics of Stars; Prialnik Stellar Structure and Evolution. "Notes" indicates that specific bibliographic references will be given in class.; "GPh" indicates a textbook of a calculus based general physics course.

Date

Lecture

Section

Topic

Readings

8/31/09

1

Introduction

Introduction to the course: A brief history of the Universe

Phillips: Ch. 1.1; notes

9/2/09

2

The Tools of Astronomy and Astrophysics

Celestial mechanics I: Newton's laws; Kepler's laws

2.2 - 2.3; GPh

9/4/09

3

Celestial mechanics II: the virial theorem

2.4

9/7/09

No class today

9/9/09

4

The Tools of Astronomy and Astrophysics Elements of Astronomy I: distance and luminosity of stars

Electromagnetic radiation: Maxwell's equations

3.1-3.3; GP

9/11/09

5

Elements of astronomy II: light, photons, and spectra; blackbody radiation

3.3-3.6

9/14/09

6

Elements of astronomy III: the color index; the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram

8.2; Prialnick 1.1-1.4

9/16/09

7

Elements of quantum mechanics I: the Bohr's model; the deBroglie wavelength; particle in a box; quantization of energy

5.1-5.3

9/18/09

8

Elements of quantum mechanics II: Schrodinger equation, spin, tunneling, Zeeman effect

5.4

9/21/09

No class today

9/23/09

9

The Tools of Astronomy and Astrophysics

Exercises

9/25/09

10

Exercises

9/28/09

No class today

9/30/09

11

The Tools of Astronomy and Astrophysics

Elements of statistical physics and thermodynamics I: fundamental thermodynamic variables and relations; the chemical potential

notes; GPh

10/2/09

12

Elements of statistical physics and thermodynamics II: the Fermi-Dirac and Bose-Einstein statistics

Phillips 2.1; notes

10/5/09

13

Exercises

10/7/09

15

Exam I on Class 1 - 13 material

10/9/09

16

The Tools of Astronomy and Astrophysics

Elements of statistical physics and thermodynamics III: the classical and quantum gas

Phillips ; notes

10/12/09

17

Elements of statistical physics and thermodynamics IV: non-relativistic and ultra-relativistic gas; exercises

Phillips 2.1

10/14/09

18

Statistical physics applied to stars I: photon gas

Phillips 2.2-2.3; notes

10/16/09

19

Statistical physics applied to stars II: stellar atmospheres; Saha's equation; exercises

8.1; Phillips 2.2-2.4

10/19/09

20

The Interstellar Medium

The Interstellar Medium I

6 - all; 12.1-12.2

10/21/09

21

The Interstellar Medium II

6-all; 12.1.-12.2

10/23/09

22

Star Formation and Structure

From protostar to star

12.2-12.3

10/26/09

23

Star formation and stellar structure I: hydrostatic equilibrium; equations of stellar structure

10.1-10.2; Prialnick 2- all

10/28/09

24

Stellar structure: equations of stellar structure

Prialnick 2- all;Prialnik 5.1-5.4

10/30/09

25

Energy sources I: nuclear processes

10.3; Prialnik 4-all

11/2/09

26

Energy sources II: reactions

10.3; Prialnik 4-all; Phillips 4-all

11/4/09

27

Exercises

 

11/6/09

28

Exam II on Class 16 - 27 material

 

11/9/09

29

Star Formation and Structure

Energy transport in stars I

Phillips 3- all; 10.4-10.5  

11/11/09

30

Energy transport in stars II

Phillips 3- all; 10.4-10.5  

11/13/09

31

Star Evolution

To main sequence

Prialnik 10-all; Prialnik8.1-8.3

11/16/09

32

Red giant phase

13.1-13.2; Prialnik 8.4-8.7

11/18/09

33

From main sequence star to white dwarf

16.1-16.5; Phillips 6.1

11/20/09

34

Exercises

11/23/09

35

Evolution of a massive star

15 -all; Phillips 6.2

11/30/09

36

Neutron stars, pulsars and black holes

16.6-16.7; 17.3; Phillips 6.3-6.4  

12/2/09

29

Exam III (comprehensive)

12/4/09

29

Presentation of Research Projects

Projects presentations

12/7/09

29

Projects presentations

12/9/09

29

Projects presentations

12/11/09

29

Projects presentations

12/14/09

29

Projects presentations