Astronomy - Winter 1999

Astronomy 2 is a one-quarter introductory course designed for non-science majors, and offers a broad overview of modern astronomy. The course will review many of the fundamental concepts of the astronomical universe, with an emphasis on how we came to know them. Since the universe is big, and the quarter is short, we can't cover everything. We will start with an overview of important historical developments, and build up an understanding of basic physical principles (gravity, light, atoms), then moving outward to stars, extragalctic astronomy and cosmology (origin and evolution of the universe). There will be very little coverage of the solar system.

Some elementary algebra will be used in the homework problems. In addition to the formal course lectures, a number of star-gazing sessions will be offered (as weather permits) to learn the constellations, the motions of the moon, planets, and stars through the heavens, and to observe with binoculars and small telescopes. A field trip to Lick Observatory to view selected objects through our 36" refracting telescope will also be arranged.

DISCUSSION SECTIONS - will be held once a week and are a VERY important part of the course as they allow further discussion and explanation of concepts presented in the lectures, in a smaller and more informal setting. Homework problem solutions will also be discussed in these sections.

HOMEWORK - will be assigned regularly in the lectures. A problem set will be distributed in class each Tuesday, and due in class the following Tuesday. The weekly assignments will consist of 5 problems/week at 10 points/problem and will count in total for 20% of the final course grade. These assignments, while not mandatory, offer excellent practice and preparation for the midterm and final.

EXAMS - There will be a midterm and a final exam. I am more interested that you learn concepts rather than memorizing numbers, formulas, and taxonomy. Therefore, both exams will be open book/open notes. The midterm and final will each count 40% toward the final course grade.

LICK OBSERVATORY FIELD TRIP - A trip to Lick observatory to view a few selected objects through one of our moderate-sized telescopes will be arranged.

Professor: Bodenheimer

This class is designed for physics majors in their junior or senior year. Two years of college physics and two years of college math (including at least one year of calculus) are highly recommended as preparation. The course will show how known physical principles, in conjunction with astronomical observations, can be used to extract information about the structure and evolution of stars.

Textbook: Unsold and Baschek, THE NEW COSMOS, 4th edition (Springer-Verlag). Chapter 4 will form the core of the course material. Other sections will also be useful.

Topics

1. Basic Observational Data

a. Solar Data

b. Magnitudes, Distances, Parallaxes of Stars

c. Stellar Energy Distributions, Colors, Temperatures

d. Line spectra, spectral types

e. Color-Magnitude diagrams, Clusters, Ages

f. Binary systems and stellar masses

g. Chemical composition

2. Stellar Atmospheres

a. Radiative Transfer

b. Equilibrium conditions in Stellar Atmospheres

c. Absorption Coefficient

d. Structure of a Stellar Atmosphere

e. Formation of Spectral Lines

f. Onset of Convection

3. Stellar Interiors and Evolution

a. Equations of Stellar Structure

b. Physics of Stellar Interior, Nuclear Rates

c. Phases of Stellar Evolution

d. Final stages: White Dwarfs, Supernovae,

Neutron Stars

Course Requirements

1 term paper

1 practice quiz, take home, open book

1 final quiz, closed book

several homework problems

there may be a final problem set rather than a final quiz

First reading assignment: section 2.5.3, section 2.6, section 4.3

Revised 7/21/04.