University of Vermont Fall 2008 Term

Physics Department Astro/Physics 257 "Astrophysics"

Professor Joanna Rankin Office hours: W 1-2;Th 4-5 pm or by appointment

Preliminary Course Syllabus

  - - - Course Introduction, Physical Background
Read: Carrol & Ostlie, Chapts. 1-5
Optional Chapt. 1-5 probs due by Sept. end

Sept. 2, 4 Fundamental Observations of Stars
Read: Carrol & Ostlie, Chapts. 7 and 8
Probs: 7.1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 17(EC); 8.1, 5, 9, 11, 13
Chapts. 7, 8 probs due: Thurs., Sept. 18

Sept. 9,11— Stellar Atmospheres
Read: Carrol & Ostlie, Chapt. 9&also Chapt. 6
Probs: 9.1, 6, 11, 17, 23; 28 a/o 29 (EC)
                                                      Chapt. 6, 9 probs due: Tues., Sept. 23

Sept. 16, 18— Stellar Interiors
Read: Carrol & Ostlie, Chapt. 10
Probs: 10.1, 3, 6, 7, 10, 12, 21, 26(EC)
Probs due: Thurs., Sept. 25

Sept. 23, 25— The Sun
Read: Carrol & Ostlie, Chapt. 11
Probs: 11.2, 3, 4, 10, 12, 14, 16
Probs due: Thurs., Oct. 2

Sept. 30, Oct. 2— Star Formation and the Interstellar Medium
Read: Carrol & Ostlie, Chapt. 12
Probs: 12.1, 2, 4, 5, 10, 14, 15, 19
Probs due: Thurs., Oct. 9

Oct. 7, 9— Stellar Evolution
Read: Carrol & Ostlie, Chapts. 13 (14)
Probs: 13.1, 2, 5, 7, 8, 13
Probs due: Thurs., Oct. 16

Oct. 14, 16— Stellar Gerontology
Read: Carrol & Ostlie, Chapts. 15 & 16
Probs: 15.2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 17; 16.1, 4, 10, 12, 14, 16, 20, 25
Probs due: Thurs., Oct. 23

Oct. 21, 23— Black Holes
Read: Carrol & Ostlie, Chapt. 17
Probs: 17.3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 18, 21, 25
Probs due: Thurs., Oct. 30

Oct. 28, 30— Accretion and Close Binary Star Systems
Read: Carrol & Ostlie, Chapt. 18
Probs: 18.2, 4, 6, 9, 10, 17, 21, 28, 31(EC)
Probs due: Thurs., Nov. 

Nov. 4, 6— The Milky-Way Galaxy
Read: Carrol & Ostlie, Chapt. 24
Probs: 24.1, 11, 12, 13, 16, 18, 31, 35
Probs due: Thurs., Nov. 13

Nov. 11, 13,— Galaxies and Galactic Evolution
Read: Carrol & Ostlie, Chapts. 25 & 26
Probs: 25.1, 4, 8, 10, 14, 17, 20, 22; 26.1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 13, 16, 18(EC)
Probs due: Thurs., Nov. 20

Nov. 18, 20— Active Galaxies and Quasars/Observational Cosmology
Read: Carrol & Ostlie, Chapt. 27 & 28
Probs: 27.2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 14, 17, 18; 26.1, 2, 5, 10, 13, 14, 17, 19
Probs due: Tues., Dec. 4

- - - - - - - - - - - - THANKGIVING VACATION - - - - - - - - - - - -

Dec. 2, 4— Mathematical Cosmology
Read: Carrol & Ostlie, Chapt. 29
Probs: 29.1, 5, 12, 17, 19, 29, 34, 40
Probs due: Tues., Dec. 11

Dec. 9, 11— The Early Universe
Read: Carrol and Ostlie, Chapt. 30
Probs: 30.1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 13
Probs due: Thurs., Dec. 15

Dec. 15, 8:00 am FINAL EXAM