Undergraduate Course: Astronomy 1G: Galactic and Cosmological Science (PHYS08028)
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: The Science of Astronomy - The Milky Way and Other Galaxies - Active Galaxies and Black Holes - Galaxies at Large and Cosmology. Each module gives a physical grounding in its subject and together they build a full picture of our Universe. This course can be taken on is own or supplemented (in the following year) by the companion course "Astronomy 1S: Stellar and Planetary Science".
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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 G: Galaxies and Cosmology (PHYS08030)
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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) Understand the major concepts and tools used by astronomers
2) Know the well-established facts about our galactic environment
3) Understand the basic mechanisms of galactic structure and evolution
4) Know the distribution of galaxies in space and time as a key to the history of the Universe
5) Understand, at the appropriate level, the current cosmological models of our Universe.
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Assessment Information
5 x Tutorial hand-ins (best 4 of 5 count 1/6 of final mark)
1 x Coursework (1/6 of final mark)
1 x Final exam (2/3 of final mark) |
Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
1) The Science of Astronomy
Principles of Astronomical Science; Whirlwind Tour of the Universe; Gravity and Motion; Radiation and Matter; Astrophysical Spectra; Distances and Magnitudes; Properties of the Stars
2) The Milky Way and Other Galaxies
Overview of the Milky Way; Stellar Populations in the Milky Way; Gas, dust, and dark matter in the Milky Way; Size, dynamics, and history of the Milky Way; Other galaxies : types, shapes, and contents; Dynamics and masses : first clues to galaxy formation
3) Active Galaxies and Black Holes
The Physics of Black Holes; Properties of Black Holes; Stellar Mass Black Holes; Supermassive Black Hole; Active Galaxies; Energy extraction from Black Holes
4) Galaxies at Large
Cosmography : the geography and demography of galaxies; Clustering of galaxies; Galaxy distances and the Hubble flow; Collisions and mergers; Distant galaxies and quasars; The formation of galaxies
5) Cosmology
The Expanding Universe; The Big Bang and Inflation; The Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation; Nucleosynthesis; The Dark Side of the Universe; What the future may hold for the Universe
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| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
Not entered |
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Ast1G |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Catherine Heymans
Tel: 0131 668 8301
Email: heymans@roe.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Paula Wilkie
Tel: (0131) 668 8403
Email: Paula.Wilkie@ed.ac.uk |
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