Aims
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
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know the essentials of astronomical measurements of brightness, velocities and angles on the celestial sphere;
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understand how the distances, sizes and masses of astrophysical objects can be measured
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understand how the elements are formed inside stars;
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know about the expansion of the Universe and how observations can lead to the determination of its age, mass and future evolution.
Subject Specific Intellectual
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:
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have an appreciation of the relative distances, sizes and masses of the various objects in the Universe;
• Stars: the Hertzsprung-Russell (H-R) diagram; H-R diagrams of star clusters; classification of stars from their position in the H-R diagram; the dependence of stellar properties and timescales on mass; the determination of the ages of clusters; physical conditions within stars; nuclear fusion; stellar evolution; core-collapse supernovae; white dwarfs, neutron stars and black-holes; accretion powered stars.
• Galaxies: classification of galaxies by their appearance; galaxy interactions; the Milky Way; active galaxies; super massive black holes; Eddington-limited accretion.
• Cosmology: the expansion of the Universe; the Cosmic Microwave Background; the Big Bang model; measurement of the age and mass and the future evolution of the Universe.
Learning & teaching methods
Teaching will be primarily by delivered lectures, and learning is enhanced by problem sheets.
| Activity | Description | Hours |
|---|
| Lecture | | 30 |
Assessment methods
Referral assessment is by one multi-choice test.
| Method | Hours | Percentage contribution |
|---|
| Multichoice test I | - | 40% |
| Multichoice test II | - | 40% |
| 5 problem sheets | - | 20% |
Referral Method: See notes below