BSc Physics with Astrophysics

This unit introduces basic concepts of astronomy and cosmology. The unit introduces the physical scale of the Universe and astronomical objects including appropriate use of astronomical units. The laws of gravity will be introduced in the context of astronomical objects and their movements, including a brief overview of Kepler’s laws. Observational aspects are discussed which includes properties of light and Blackbody radiation, a revision of geometric optics, introduction of telescope design, spectroscopy and basic concepts of detectors. The unit introduces observational concepts of distance measurements for geometric as well as brightness distances. The properties and basic life cycle of stars are discussed using the Hertzsprung Russell diagram, stellar structure, hydrostatic equilibrium, energy production including nucleosynthesis, and stellar remnants. The basic properties and structure of galaxies are introduced with galaxy type classification. Galactic rotational curves and evidence for dark matter are demonstrated. The unit concludes with a chapter on cosmology which introduces the concept of redshift, observational evidence or the Big Bang including the Hubble flow, a basic derivation of the first Friedmann equation and an evaluation of the Friedmann equation for cosmological components, as well as physics of the early universe.  

This course aims to introduce the physical properties of stars and galaxies, observational concepts of astronomy, application of basic physical laws including gravitation to explain the properties of astronomical objects and basic concepts of cosmology and observational evidence.

On completion successful students will be able to:

1. Carry out calculations in using common astrophysical units

2. Apply the laws of gravity to astrophysical objects 

3. Describe and explain the physics of detectors and telescopes including geometric optics 

4. Explain how astronomical distances are measured

5. Use the basic laws of physics to explain the global properties and basic evolution of stars

6. Describe the structure of the Milky Way and other galaxies 

7. Describe the fundamental constituents of the Universe: baryons, dark matter and dark energy, and the observational evidence for their presence

8. Describe and explain the evolution of our Universe, including the evidence for the Big Bang

9. Use the equations which describe the evolution of the Universe to derive properties of the Universe

Syllabus

1. The Universe and its physics: A tour of the Universe, its scale and contents; Gravity; Pressure; Radiation

2. Observational astronomy: the electromagnetic spectrum; geometrical optics; resolving power, and the diffraction limit; telescopes and detectors; gravitational waves

3. Distances: parallax measurements, standard candles

4. Physics of the Sun and Stars: blackbody radiation, the Planck, Stefan-Boltzmann and Wien laws, effective temperature, interstellar reddening); hydrogen spectral lines and Doppler effect); Hertzprung-Russell diagram; Freefall and Kelvin-Helmholtz time; nuclear fusion; basic stellar structure (hydrostatic equilibrium, equation of state); white dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes

5. Planetary systems:  Kepler's laws; Detection methods of extrasolar planets; search for life elsewhere; SETI.

6. Galaxies:  Star formation and the interstellar medium; stellar populations; galaxy rotation curves, mass and dark matter; Galaxy collisions; central engines

7. Cosmology: Olber’s paradox, Hubble's Law; the age of the Universe; Evolution of the Universe: Madau diagram; Evidence for the Big Bang (blackbody radiation, nucleosynthesis); dark energy and the accelerating Universe.

Two one hour, live in-person lectures per week where the core material with examples will be delivered. The lectures contain interactive elements such as mentimeter quizzes. The recordings of these lectures will be linked on the course page. The lecture slides shown during lectures will be available in pdf format. There will be written lecture summary notes available online. Links to online demonstrations and online material such as videos or animations will be. There will be weekly exercises which will be delivered via an online quiz. The weekly online quiz will be submitted weekly, then marking including written feedback will be delivered via teaching assistants and unit lead. The solutions will be discussed during weekly tutorial sessions. A Piazza discussion forum is also provided where students can ask questions with answers provided by other students and the unit lead. 

* 10% Tutorial Work/attendance 

Feedback will be offered by tutors on students’ written solutions to weekly examples sheets, for which model answers will also be issued.

Maoz, D. Astrophysics in a Nutshell (Princeton University Press).  

Carroll, B. & Ostlie. D.  An Introduction to Modern Astrophysics (Cambridge University Press).