Physics 47 – Spring 2008, 1-2:00 PM

Dr. W. M. Baker

Plyler 218B

Office Hours: Posted on office door

Text: Introduction to Modern Astrophysics, second edition, Ostlie and Carroll,

Pearson Addison Wesley.

This is a capstone course. It is intended to review key ideas in modern physics. We accomplish this review by seeing the various ideas in actions as we explore modern astrophysics. Our course objective will be to examine three main topics within astrophysics, which are listed below, through the “eyes of physics”.

Our text is a gigantic book! We can only directly address a small portion of the total text as we proceed through the course. However, there is no limit to what you can read and study on your own and I highly recommend that you do so. The educational approach that I want to take here is much like you would encounter in a graduate program. By this I mean that each of you will be responsible to independently conduct studies that support our discussions.

The general course outline is listed below. We will surely complete Parts I and II in significant detail. Part III is usually more of a survey mostly due to time constraints.

• The Big Bang
• What happened
• The physics of the Big Bang
• Modern Cosmology and the Large Scale Structure of the Universe

Related Chapters in the texts are Chapters 17, 29 and 30 plus addition handouts.

• The Physics of Stars
• Distances and Magnitudes
• Binary Star Systems
• The Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram
• Star Formation
• Stellar Interiors
• Stellar Evolution
• Black Holes and Compact Objects

Related Chapters Related Chapters in the texts are Chapters 7 through 18

• The Physics of Galaxies
• Our Galaxy
• Other Galaxies
• Quasars and Other Active Galaxies

Related Chapters Related Chapters in the texts are Chapters 24 through 28

Grades will be based on the following:

• Two research papers, one on a topic in Unit I and one from Unit II. These will answer a specific question which can be addressed by literature review and research study on your own such as by trying various ideas in simulations. The first will be due at the end of Unit I and the second following Unit II. Each of these research papers will count a total of 30% of your grade.
• Special problems 20% of grade.
• Labs 10% of grade.
• Final Exam, Tuesday, May 26, 2:30-5:00 PM. 10% of your grade.

Attendance: Regular attendance is expected and is viewed as a part of the in class work. Attendance is monitored on a daily basis at the beginning of the class. Missed work can be “made-up” only when a valid written excuse is presented.

A schedule for the labs and the materials will be made available during the term.

Students with disabilities who need academic accommodations should contact the disability director. This must be done early in the term and I must receive proper notification as quickly as possible.