PHY1036 : Introductory Astrophysics & Electromagnetism (Inactive)
- Inactive for Year: 2024/25
- Module Leader(s): Dr Danielle Leonard
- Lecturer: Professor Jon Goss
- Owning School: Mathematics, Statistics and Physics
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
Semester 1 Credit Value: | 10 |
Semester 2 Credit Value: | 10 |
ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
European Credit Transfer System |
Aims
To understand how we measure properties of astrophysical bodies (planets, stars, and galaxies).
To understand the application of basic physical laws to those bodies.
To gain a basic understanding of the principles of physical cosmology.
To give an understanding of electromagnetic fields, the resultant forces, the origins of electricity and magnetism, and the theorems required to evaluate field properties symbolically and quantitatively.
Outline Of Syllabus
1. Physical Principles
-Measuring Distances
-Newtons Law of Gravitation
-Kepler's Laws and Orbits
-Light (Blackbody Radiation, Spectra)
2 Stars
-Stellar Structure and Evolution
-End States of Stellar Evolution
3. Galaxies
-Galactic Evolution + Morphology
-Scaling laws
-Dark Matter
4. Cosmology
-Expansion of the Universe
-Cosmic Inventory
5. Electrostatics
-Origin of charge and forces between charges:- electric field, potential energy, capacitance, dielectrics, electric flux, dispersion and circulation;
-Coulomb’s a and Gauss’ laws;
6. Magnetic Fields
-The concept of a magnetic field, dispersion and circulation, circuit laws, flow concepts, flux, inductance, flux density, mmf, mmf gradient.
-Ampere’s, Biot-Savart, Faraday’s and Gauss’ laws for magnetism.
-Magnetic materials including ferromagnetism and hysteresis
-forces of attraction and alignment; force on current carrying conductors.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Structured Guided Learning | Lecture materials | 36 | 1:00 | 36:00 | Non-Synchronous Activities |
Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 9 | 1:00 | 9:00 | Synchronous On Line Material |
Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 30 | 1:00 | 30:00 | Completion of in course assessments |
Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 9 | 1:00 | 9:00 | Present in Person |
Structured Guided Learning | Structured non-synchronous discussion | 18 | 1:00 | 18:00 | Non Synchronous Discussions to Support Learning |
Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Drop-in/surgery | 4 | 1:00 | 4:00 | Office Hour or Discussion Board Activity |
Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 94 | 1:00 | 94:00 | Preparation time for lectures, background reading and course review |
Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Non-synchronous online materials are used for the delivery of theory and explanation of methods, illustrated with examples, and for giving general feedback on assessed work. Present-in-person and synchronous online sessions are used to help develop the students’ abilities at applying the theory to solving problems and to identify and resolve specific queries raised by students, and to allow students to receive individual feedback on marked work. In addition, office hours/discussion board activity will provide an opportunity for more direct contact between individual students and the lecturer: a typical student might spend a total of one or two hours over the course of the module, either individually or as part of a group.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Exams
Description | Length | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Written Examination | 120 | 2 | A | 60 | In class test |
Other Assessment
Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
---|---|---|---|---|
Written exercise | 1 | M | 30 | N/A |
Written exercise | 2 | M | 10 | N/A |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
Summative assessments will allow students to apply the methods learned in the module and to recall and explain concepts developed in the module, and will allow instructors to assess their progress.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- PHY1036's Timetable