Spring Course Syllabus for Astronomy Stellar & Galactic Astronomy

Transcription

1 Spring 2018 The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Physics & Astronomy Department Course Syllabus for Astronomy Stellar & Galactic Astronomy Instructor: Nicolas A. Pereyra, Ph.D. Office: PHYS 150; Phone Office Hours: MW 1:40 pm 2:55 pm Textbook: The Cosmic Perspective, 8 th Edition by Bennett, Donahue, Schneider, and Voit. Blackboard Learn: PowerPoint lecture slides will be available for viewing, printing, and downloading through Blackboard. Catalogue Course Description: ASTR 3301: This is an algebra/geometry/trigonometry/vector-based course in which students study stars and galaxies. Topics include: our Sun; star types, properties and evolution; our Milky Way Galaxy; galaxies types and general properties; Hubble s Law; the expansion of the Universe; the Big Bang Model. Prerequisite: ASTR 1402 or ASTR 2301 Page 1 of 7

2 Students with Disabilities: If you have a documented disability (physical, psychological, learning, or other disability which affects your academic performance) and would like to receive academic accommodations, please inform your instructor and contact Student Accessibility Services to schedule an appointment to initiate services. It is recommended that you schedule an appointment with Student Accessibility Services before classes start. However, accommodations can be provided at any time. Brownsville Campus: Student Accessibility Services is located in Cortez Hall Room 129 and can be contacted by phone at (956) (Voice) or via at accessibility@utrgv.edu. Edinburg Campus: Student Accessibility Services is located in 108 University Center and can be contacted by phone at (956) (Voice), (956) (Fax), or via at accessibility@utrgv.edu. Mandatory Course Evaluation Period: Students are required to complete an ONLINE evaluation of this course, accessed through your UTRGV account ( you will be contacted through with further instructions. Students who complete their evaluations will have priority access to their grades. Sexual Harassment, Discrimination, and Violence: In accordance with UT System regulations, your instructor is a responsible employee for reporting purposes under Title IX regulations and so must report any instance, occurring during a student s time in college, of sexual assault, stalking, dating violence, domestic violence, or sexual harassment about which she/he becomes aware during this course through writing, discussion, or personal disclosure. More information can be found at including confidential resources available on campus. The faculty and staff of UTRGV actively strive to provide a learning, working, and living environment that promotes personal integrity, civility, and mutual respect in an environment free from sexual misconduct and discrimination. Page 2 of 7

3 Student Learning Outcomes, Core Curriculum, and Objectives: Astronomy is the study of the universe in which we live. The celestial bodies, including Earth, will be studied to improve our understanding of the origins, evolution, composition as well as the motion of these celestial bodies including: stars, planets, asteroids, comets, and meteors. Astronomers look at the universe and see a vast system of objects waiting to be discovered and understood. At the end of this course students will be able to: 1. Understand and apply method and appropriate technology to study astronomy. 2. To recognize scientific and quantitative methods and approaches used by astronomers to communicate findings and interpretation. 3. To identify and recognize scientific theories dealing with the creation of our universe (and our solar system in particular). 4. To demonstrate knowledge of the interdependence of science and technology and the effects on our modern culture. Today s astronomical instruments and techniques are expanding our views of the earth and its place in the universe. 5. To apply quantitative methods in the analysis and study of astronomical objects. Page 3 of 7

4 I. Space and Time (Chapters S2 of the Textbook) Relatives Velocities in Newtonian Mechanics. Inertial Rest Frames. Constancy of the Speed of Light. Relativity of Time. Special Theory of Relativity (SR). Lorentz Transformations. Time Dilatation in SR. Length Contraction in SR. Particle Momentum in SR. Kinetic Energy in SR. Doppler Effect in SR. Mass-Energy. II. Our Star (Chapter 14 of the Textbook) Nuclear Fusion. Nuclear Fission. Strong Nuclear Force. Mass-energy conversion. Solar Wind. Thermostat. Energy Emission from Sun s Surface. Density (in Astronomy). Pressure. Gravitational Equilibrium. Plasma. Electron. Proton. Neutron. P-P Chain. Neutrino. Solar Neutrino Problem. Solar Activity (Solar Weather). Solar Vibrations. Sunspots. Magnetosphere. Spectral Line. Solar Prominences (Solar Loops). Solar Flares. Sunspot Cycle. Solar Minimum. Solar Maximum. III. Surveying the Stars (Chapter 15 of the Textbook) Nebula. Luminosity. Apparent Brightness. Luminosity-Distance Relation. Apparent Magnitude. Absolute Magnitude. Stellar Temperature and Thermal Emission. Parallax. Stellar Parallax. Parsec. Electromagnetic Wave. Wavelength. Frequency. Photon. Energy of a Photon. Momentum of a Photon. Doppler Effect. Doppler Shift. Blue-shifted. Redshifted. Binary System. Visual Binary. Eclipsing Binary. Spectroscopic Binary. Stellar Masses in Binary Systems. H-R Diagram. Main Sequence. Giants. White Dwarfs. Spectral Classes. Luminosity Classes. Degenerate Matter. Star Cluster. Open Cluster. Globular Cluster. Halo. Main Sequence Turn-Off. Big Bang. IV. Star Birth & Star Stuff (Chapter 16 and Chapter 17) of the Textbook) Galactic Recycling. Star Clusters. Stellar Life Cycle. Gravitational Equilibrium. Jean s Mass. Nebula. Protostar. Jet (of a Protostar). Brown Dwarf. Electron Degeneracy Pressure. Main-Sequence Star. Low-Mass Star. Red Giant. Helium Flash. Double-Shell Burning. Planetary Nebula. White Dwarf. High-Mass Star. Supergiant. Multiple-Shell Burning. Main-Sequence Supernova (Type II). Neutron Star. Neutron Degeneracy Pressure. Black Hole. Supernova Remnant. P-P Chain. CNO Cycle. Binary System. Close Binary System. Accretion Disk. Page 4 of 7

5 V. The Bizarre Stellar Graveyard (Chapter 18 of the Textbook) Stellar Life Cycle. Low-Mass Star. High-Mass Star. White Dwarf. Neutron Star. Black Hole. Main-Sequence Supernova (Supernova Type II). White Dwarf Supernova (Supernova Type I). Binary System. Accretion Disk. Nova. Isolated Star. Pulsars. X-ray Binary. X-ray Burster. Escape Velocity. Event Horizon. Schwarzschild Radius. Quasars. Gamma-ray Bursts. VI. Our Galaxy (Chapter 19 of the Textbook) Galaxy. Milky Way. Interstellar Medium. Ionization Nebula. Spiral Galaxy. Elliptical Galaxy. Irregular Galaxy. Galactic Disk. Spiral Arms. Halo. Galactic Bulge. Globular Clusters. Open Clusters. Density Wave. Heavy Element (in Astronomy). Disk Stars (Population I). Spheroidal Stars (Population II). Protogalactic Cloud. Star-gas-star cycle. Hot bubbles. Sgr A*. Supermassive Black Hole. Accretion Disk. VII. Galaxies and the Foundation of Modern Cosmology & Galaxy Evolution (Chapters 20 & 21 of the Textbook) Barred Spiral Galaxy. Lenticular Galaxy. Dwarf Galaxy. Giant Galaxy. Radar. Parallax. Standard Candle. Main Sequence Fitting. Local Group. Cepheids (Cepheid Variables). Period-Luminosity Relation (Cepheid Variables). Andromeda Galaxy. Light. Frequency (of light). Expansion of the Universe. Big Bang. Red Shift z (Newtonian and SR). Hubble s Law. Observable Universe. Protogalactic Cloud. Galactic Evolution. Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN). Quasar (QSO). VIII. Dark Matter, Dark Energy, and the Fate of the Universe (Chapter 23 of the Textbook) Galaxy Group or Cluster. Supercluster. Dark Matter. Rotation Curve (in Spiral Galaxies). Flatness of a plotted Curve. Mass-to-Light Ratio. Hot Gas (found in between galaxies of a cluster). Gravitational Lensing. Baryonic Matter. Non-baryonic matter. Protons. Neutrons. Neutrinos. Photons. MACHOS (in Astronomy). WIMPS (in Astronomy). Large-scale structure. Protogalaxy. Recollapsing Universe. Critical Universe. Coasting Universe. Accelerating Universe. Dark Energy. Page 5 of 7

6 IX. The Birth of the Universe (Chapter 22 of the Textbook) Big Bang Theory. Particle Creation and Annihilation. Matter and Antimatter. Antiparticle. Fundamental Forces. Gravity. Electromagnetic Force. Weak Nuclear Force. Strong Nuclear Force. Superforce. GUT (Grand Unified Theory) Force. Planck Era. GUT Era. Electroweak Era. Particle Era. Nucleosynthesis Era. Nuclei Era. Era of Atoms. Era of Galaxies. Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB).Temperature and Wavelength of CMB. Large-Scale Structure. Inflation (in the Big Bang Theory). Critical Density (of the Universe). X. Life in the Universe (Chapter 24 of the Textbook). Greenhouse Effect. Runaway Greenhouse Effect. Heavy Bombardment. Isotope. Theory of Evolution. Natural Selection. DNA. Mutation. Prokarya. Eukarya. Bacteria. Archaea. Black Smoker. Ozone. habitable world. habitable zone (of a star). Kepler Mission. Planetary Transits. Rare Earth Hypothesis. SETI. Drake s Equation. Grading Policy: 10 Hourly Lecture Exams... 50% 10 Home Assignments... 50% Page 6 of 7

7 Note #1: As indicated above, we will have 10 (ten) exams. The lecture exams will be open-book. Each exam will correspond to chapters of the textbook Note #2: As indicated above, we will have 10 (ten) home assignments. Each home assignment will also correspond to a chapters of the textbook. Note #3: It is very much recommended that after the lectures for a given chapter(s) of the textbook have been completed, that the student work through the Quantitative Problems section of the given chapter(s). Any questions that arise to the student at this point may be addressed during classes or in office hours. Note #4: No Final Exam. Page 7 of 7