Dr. Mary Lou West, 244 Richardson Hall, 973-655-7266
Office hours: M11, T1, R11, and by appointment
e-mail:westm@mail.montclair.edu http://www.csam.montclair.edu/~west
Math Sci / Physics , Montclair State University, 973-655-5132

ASTROPHYSICS (PHYS-480): Fall 2007, 3 sh


T 4-5:15 PM, in RI-226, R 4-5:15 in RI-261
Textbook: "Intro to Modern Astrophysics" by B. Carroll and D. Ostlie, 2 edition, 2007

The Tools of Astronomy

Week Monday Topic and Reading Activity
1 R, Sep 6 Celestial Sphere, Ch 1
2 Sep 10 Celestial Mechanics, Ch 2 Voyager software, RI-103
3 Sep 17 Continuous spectrum of light, Ch. 3 Excel Tips
4 Sep 24 Interaction of Light and Matter, Ch 5, Stellar Atmospheres, Ch 9 Orbit (Planetary Orbit Code)
5 Oct 1 HW #1, Oct 1 Test 1 (Ch 1, 2, 3, 5), Oct 4

The Nature of Stars

6 Oct 8 Interiors of Stars, Ch 10 StatStar (Stellar Structure Code)
7 Oct 15 Stellar Evolution and Black Holes, Ch 13, 16, 17 HW #2
8 Oct 22HW #3 , Oct 23 Test 2 (Ch 9, 10, 13, 16, 17), Oct 25

The Solar System

9 Oct 29 Physical Processes in Solar System, Ch 19, Terrestrial and Jovian Planets, Ch 20, 21
10 Nov 5 Solar System Formation, Ch 23
11 Nov 12 HW #4 Nov 13 Test 3 (Ch 19, 20, 21, 23) Nov 15

Galaxies and the Universe

12 Nov 19 Milky Way, Ch 24, Galaxy Evolution, Ch 26 THANKSGIVING
13 Nov 26 Active Galaxies, Ch 28 Paper on Term Project due Nov 27, Galaxy (Tidal Interaction Code)
14 Dec 3 Cosmology, Ch 29 Nucleogenesis
14 Dec 10 HW #5 Dec 11 Review

Exam (Cumulative, bring a pencil, calculator, books, notes):
Friday, Dec 14, 3:15-5:15 PM

Dates may change due to unforeseen circumstances. Changes will be announced, and it is the responsibility of the student to keep informed.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS: 3 tests (Oct 4, Oct 25, Nov 15), final exam (Dec 14), individual project/paper (due Nov 27), homework problems. You are encouraged to work in groups, but turn in your own reports and homeworks on time. Bring a calculator to every class, please. I hope that some projects might be presented as posters or talks at the MSU Student Research Conference in May.

Your course grade is composed of 15% for each test, 15% for the final exam, 24 5% homework and class participation, 15% term project/paper. Tests are open book and open notes.

Goals for this course:

  1. Students should understand the scientific process; how scientific knowledge is obtained.
  2. Students should understand the laws of nature and be able to see their application in the cosmos
  3. Students should understand simulation software and be able to use it effectively.
  4. Students should understand and be able to evaluate discussions of astrophysics in popular literature such as newspapers, magazines, and television (critical thinking skills).

This page is http://www.csam.montclair.edu/~west/ast480/apoutline.html