FY2450 Astrofysikk

Våren 2010

  • Lecturer: Jan Myrheim, office: E5-102

  • Description:
    This introductory course gives an overview about the Universe, its major players and processes.
    Starting with an introduction into the properties of electromagnetic radiation and astronomical techniques,
    we go on to discuss the evolution of stars from birth to death, the structure of the Milky Way and other, more exotic galaxies,
    and end with a short introduction to cosmology and the expanding universe.
    The course is aimed at physics students in the 3rd year as well as interested students from other fields
    with some basic knowledge of mathematics and physics.
    Lectures+Exercises: Tuesday 16.15-18.00 R9
    Lectures: Friday 12.15-14.00 R3
    Starting week 2, Tuesday January 12
    The first lecture after Easter holiday is Friday April 9
    The last lecture of the semester is Tuesday April 27
    The examination is Friday May 21, 9.00-13.00
    Question session: Wednesday May 19 at 14.15 in R3

  • Recommended books:
    1. Lecture notes for FY2450: click here.
    2. M.L. Kutner, Astronomy: A Physical Perspective (Cambridge University Press 2003)

    Additional reading:
    3. B.W. Carrol, D.A. Ostlie, An Introduction to Modern Astronomy (Pearson International Edition 2007)
    [somewhat higher level, very complete]
    4. J. Myrheim, Notes for FY2450: click here.

  • Hand-in exercise:
    You may solve these problems and have the solutions corrected,
    this is an offer but not a mid-term examination
     Norwegian version or English version.
    Solutions: Norwegian version

  • Examination sets:
    Examination, May 2009, in Norwegian
    Examination, May 2009, in English
    Solution, May 2009, in Norwegian
    Examination, December 2009, in Norwegian
    Examination, May 2010, in Norwegian
    Examination, May 2010, in English
    Solution, May 2010, in Norwegian

  • Reference group:
    Asbjørn Dahl (Elektro)
    Snorre S. Rønning (BFY)
    Karsten H. Vodal (MLREAL)

  • Program: (numbers refer to the corresponding chapters in Kutner's book)
    Week 2 (12/1, 15/1): Introduction; Continuous radiation from stars (2); Spectral lines (3)
    Week 3 (19/1, 22/1): Telescopes and other detectors (4)
    Week 4 (26/1, 29/1): Binary stars (5)
    Week 5 (2/2, 5/2): The Sun (6)
    Week 6 (9/2, 12/2): Special relativity (7); general relativity (8)
    Week 7 (16/2, 19/2): Main sequence stars - nuclear energy (9)
    Week 8 (23/2, 26/2): Main sequence stars - stellar structure (9)
    Week 9 (2/3, 5/3): Stellar old age, white dwarfs (10)
    Week 10 (9/3, 12/3): Death of high mass stars (11)
    Week 11 (16/3, 19/3): Close binaries (12), Star clusters (13)
    Week 12 (23/3): Interstellar medium (14), star formation (15)
    Week 13: Easter holidays
    Week 14 (9/4): Milky way and other galaxies (16-19)
    Week 15 (13/4, 16/4): Cosmology (20)
    Week 16 (20/3, 23/3): Big Bang (21)
    Week 17 (27/4): Last lecture

    Latest update: June 3, 2010