BSc Physics with Astrophysics

Year of entry: 2024

Course unit details:
Origin of the Solar System

Course unit fact file
Unit code EART32201
Credit rating 10
Unit level Level 6
Teaching period(s) Semester 1
Available as a free choice unit? No

Overview

In this course unit students will trace the evolution through nucleosynthesis of the galactic chemical composition from the big bang to the formation of our solar system. They will gain an insight into how the elements heavier than He were produced through stellar nucleosynthesis. They will learn how a portion of a molecular cloud collapsed to form a solar nebula in which the planets began to form, and understand how the analysis of meteorites sheds light on this time period. They will learn how a range of processes combined to produce the diverse population of planetary bodies we are familiar with today.

 

There is an emphasis in the course on developing your own understanding, applying it in new contexts, and supporting your opinions with evidence. Students are encouraged to read around the subject, following their interests and starting from some recommended papers on the blackboard site.

 

Pre/co-requisites

Pre-requisite Units:

Core second year units on the planetary science pathway of the Earth Sciences degree programme.

OR

First two years of Physics programmes.

Aims

For students to develop and be able to explain an evidence-based understanding of the processes that led to the emergence of our solar system in its current configuration, and of the bodies within it.

 

Learning outcomes

On the successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

Developed

Assessed

ILO 1

Provide an up-to-date account of the properties of the solar system and of the bodies within it.

X

X

ILO 2

Critically discuss the processes proposed to have determined the properties of planetary bodies.

X

X

ILO 3

Comment on areas of uncertainty in this area, and on the things we don’t know.

X

X

ILO 4

Support their opinions in this area with evidence from scholarly reviews and primary sources.

X

X

ILO 5 Reflect on the benefits obtained through and pitfalls encountered by working as a team. X  

 

Syllabus

The lecture series takes the form of a narrative covering the events that led to the formation of our solar system and the planetary bodies within it. The narrative will reference the current evidence base and discuss areas of uncertainty. It will cover…

  • Galactic chemical evolution producing the solar system composition from the products of big bang nucleosynthesis.
  • Molecular cloud collapse.
  • The formation and properties of an accretion disk/solar nebula.
  • The formation of dust, emergence of planetesimals and processes thereon.

Teaching and learning methods

20 x 1 hour lectures.

Blackboard site with links to recommendations for further reading, notes, material supporting lectures and a discussion board.

Students will work as a team to develop a wiki covering subjects central to the course unit.

 

Assessment methods

Method Weight
Written assignment (inc essay) 50%
Report 50%

Feedback methods

Assessment type

% Weighting within unit

Hand out and hand in dates

Length

 

How, when and what feedback is provided

ILO tested

Essay

50%

TBD

As appropriate

Via turnitin within expected time limit

1-4

Essay

50%

TBD

As appropriate

Via Turnitin within expected time limit

1-4

 

Recommended reading

The blackboard site and lecture slides provide links to the current research literature.

 

Study hours

Independent study hours
Independent study 100

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
James Gilmour Unit coordinator

Additional notes

STUDY HOURS

 

Type

Example student activity

Total Hours

New material

Consolidation and Practice

Contact time (students are in front of staff)

Lecture (new material)

Mostly listening & taking notes (mostly new material)

15

15

0

Lecture (revision/examples)

Mostly listening & taking notes (no new material- revision of course)

5

0

5

Practical (new material and practice.  Typically 25-50% of practical  time is spent on new material)

Interactive individual or group work (problem solving, experiments, watching demonstrations, describing and interpreting samples, paper-based exercises, computer-based exercises)

0

0

0

Tutorial

Interactive small group work

0

0

0

Seminar/examples class

Working on and discussing questions

0

0

0

Independent study time

Pre/post lecture work

Reading own notes, re-solving examples, prep work, revisit podcast

20

 

20

Pre/post practical work/write up

Complete practical work, prep work, reading feedback

0

 

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