Skip to main content

Module

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 LearningLecture materials361:0036:00Non-Synchronous Activities
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture91:009:00Synchronous On Line Material
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion301:0030:00Completion of in course assessments
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture91:009:00Present in Person
Structured Guided LearningStructured non-synchronous discussion181:0018:00Non Synchronous Discussions to Support Learning
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesDrop-in/surgery41:004:00Office Hour or Discussion Board Activity
Guided Independent StudyIndependent study941:0094:00Preparation time for lectures, background reading and course review
Total200:00
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 Examination1202A60In class test
Other Assessment
Description Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Written exercise1M30N/A
Written exercise2M10N/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