Undergraduate Course: Introductory Astrophysics (PHYS08050)
Course Outline
School | School of Physics and Astronomy |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 2 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
Summary | This is an applied physics course focusing on the practical application of physics to understand a range of different astronomy observations. The emphasis will be on astrophysics problem solving.
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Course description |
1. Stars (14 hours of lectures)
- Light and Gravity
- Spectra, Blackbody radiation, Newton's Laws
- Birth to Death
- HR diagram, Main Sequence Stellar Structure, Stellar Evolution, Star Death
2. Galaxies (11 hours of lectures)
- Milky Way and beyond
- Galactic structure, galaxy morphology/formation, AGN and Black Holes
3. Cosmology (6 hours of lectures)
- Big Bang and Inflation, CMB, Nucleosynthesis, Dark Matter and Dark Energy
4. Revision (3 hours workshop)
- Mock exam and feedback
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | It is recommended that students have Higher or A-Level maths, or equivalent. |
Additional Costs | None |
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisites | It is recommended that students have Higher or A-Level maths, or equivalent. |
High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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Academic year 2020/21, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: None |
Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 31,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 3,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 8,
Online Activities 9,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 2,
Formative Assessment Hours 2,
Summative Assessment Hours 2,
Revision Session Hours 2,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
137 )
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Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
67 %,
Coursework
33 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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Additional Information (Assessment) |
2/3 Examination
1/6 Coursework Assignment
1/6 Tutorial / Workshop Problems and Online Quizzes |
Feedback |
Not entered |
Exam Information |
Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours & Minutes |
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Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May) | | 2:00 | | Resit Exam Diet (August) | | 2:00 | |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Understand the key physical concepts underlying the properties of stars, galaxies, and the universe at large
- Think critically about astrophysical problems
- Understand how to frame astrophysical problems in mathematical terms
- Understand the key observed properties of stars, galaxies, and the universe at large
- Apply mathematical and physics techniques to solve astrophysical problems
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Reading List
A course book will be provided that contains all the information that we want you to understand by the end of the course. |
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
Additional Class Delivery Information |
Each week there are 2x90 minute lectures, and one teaching studio problem solving workshop and an assessed online multi-choice quiz. |
Keywords | InAst |
Contacts
Course organiser | Dr Catherine Heymans
Tel: 0131 668 8301
Email: heymans@roe.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Stephanie Blakey
Tel: (0131 6)68 8261
Email: steph.blakey@ed.ac.uk |
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