INSTRUCTOR:
Dr. M.V. Torbett, Associate Professor of
Astronomy & Physics
OFFICE:
K - 120
PHONE:
471 - 2827
EMAIL:
mtorbett@mail.maconstate.edu
WEBSITE:
http://home.maconstate.edu/mtorbett/
TEXTS:
Universe 6th Edition Kaufmann/Freedman
COURSE DESCRIPTION & OBJECTIVES:
Astronomy 1020: Stars, Galaxies, and Cosmology consists of the study of the nature of stars, their formation and their evolution, how these stars are collected into arrangements known as galaxies, the nature, origin, and evolution of our own as well as other galaxies, and the origin and evolution of the Universe as a whole. This course also explores the development of the methods, principles, and history of scientific thought as applied to astronomy. Although this course is largely descriptive, the language of science is mathematics and, thus, occasional use of equations and numerical relationships at the college algebra level will be employed. The laboratory component will complement the course by illustrating specific principles of astronomy and physics necessary for understanding a variety of observational and theoretical developments in this rapidly evolving discipline. The student will also further explore an approved topic in a 4-page, typed term paper.
EVALUATION:
There will be three (3) in-class tests, a final, laboratory work, and a term paper. The distribution of effort is as follows:
Test 1 15%
Test 2 15%
Test 3 15%
Final 25%
Lab 15%
Termpaper 15%
100%
ATTENDENCE AND MAKEUPS:
Class attendence is strongly encouraged. Experience has shown that regular attendence will definitely improve the student's grade. Homework will occasionally be collected and may influence "border-line" grades.
Be advised that College policy states that the total number of absences must not exceed twice the number of class meetings per week otherwise a grade of "F" may result.
There will be no makeups for missed tests or labs. The student may miss one test with an excused absence. The missed score will be computed using the student's score on the final. Missed tests beyond the one excused absence will be scored as a zero (0).
COURSE OUTLINE:
1. The Sun (Chap. 18) Internal structure, photosphere, chromosphere, corona, energy generation, radiative zone, convective zone, solar cycle, solar-terrestrial connection
2. Nature of the Stars (Chap. 19) parallaxes and distances, magnitudes and luminosities, colors and temperatures, sizes, masses, Hertzsprung-Russell diagram, main-sequence, red giants, white dwarfs, structure of stars, energy sources
3. The Birth of Stars (Chap. 20) interstellar medium, molecular clouds, gravitational instability, protostars, star-forming regions and shock waves, propagating star formation
4. Stellar Evolution I (Chap. 21) stellar ageing and nucleosynthesis, main-sequence lifetimes, evolution of the Sun (protostar, main-sequence, core hydrogen burning, core contraction, hydrogen shell burning, red giant, helium flash, core helium burning, core contraction, helium shell burning, red supergiant, helium shell flashes, planetary nebula, white dwarf), evolutionary tracks of other stars, red giants, pulsating stars, mass loss
5. Stellar Evolution II (Chap. 22) exhaustion of fuel, contraction and heating, ignition of next fuel, etc., evolution of low and intermediate mass stars, red giants to white dwarfs, planetary nebulae, evolution of massive stars, core collapse, type II supernovae, enrichment of the interstellar medium with heavy elements
6. Stellar Evolution Endpoints (Chaps. 23 & 24) white dwarfs, electron degeneracy pressure, neutron stars, neutron degeneracy pressure, pulsars, black holes
7. Interacting Stars binary stars, stellar evolution in a binary system, close main-sequence binaries, symbiotic and cataclysmic variables, X-ray binaries, accretion disks, novae, type I supernovae
8. Our Galaxy (Chap. 25) galactic components (spheroid, disk, halo, globular clusters, galactic clusters), Population I, Population II, Population III, size and structure of the galaxy, location of the Sun, spiral density waves, galactic center, supermassive black hole
9. Other Galaxies (Chap. 26) spirals, ellipticals, irregulars, the Local Group, galaxy clusters, interacting galaxies, galactic cannabalism, redshift, Hubble's Law and the expansion of the Universe
10. Quasars and Active Galaxies (Chap. 27) Seyfert galaxies, radio galaxies, quasars, rapid variability, supermassive black holes
11. Cosmology and the Origin of the Universe (Chap 28) Hubble's Law and the Big Bang, primordial fireball, 3K microwave background, primordial nucleosynthesis = origin of the original chemical elements, recombination era, galaxy formation
12. The Evolution of the Universe ( Chap. 29) unbound, bound, and critically bound Universes, deceleration parameter, Inflation hypothesis, Grand Unified Theories, origin of galaxies and galaxy clusters, fate of the Universe
13. Life in the Universe (Chap.30) nature and origin of life, Drake equation, Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI)