PHYSICS 105
Introduction to Astrophysics

Spring Semester 2008
  • syllabus (preliminary)
    • M51 galaxy
    M51 whirlpool galaxy (courtesy SDSS)
    Instructor

    Mark Kruse
    email: mkruse"at"phy.duke.edu
    Office: Physics 283, 660-2564
    Office hours: Tuesdays, 3:00 pm - 5:00pm, or by appointment
    Teaching Assistant: Brandon Mader, brandon.mader"at"duke.edu, office hours: M 1:00 - 2:00pm, W 10:00 - 11:30 am, Room 130 physics

    Lectures

    Room: Physics 130
    Times: M W 11:45 am - 1:00 pm
    Start: Friday Jan 11, 11:55am

    Audience and Prerequisites

    This is an undergraduate course, aimed at students who have completed 2 semesters of introductory physics, and 2 semesters of calculus.
    Prerequisites: PHY-41/42 or PHY-51/52 or PHY-53/54 or PHY-61/62, MATH-31/32
    OR, consent of the instructor.

    Course Description

    See the linked syllabus above for outline of lecture material.

    Textbooks and References

    Text: Introduction to High-Energy Astrophysics, by Rosswog and Bruggen, 2007 (available from the Duke bookstore)

    References:

  • Modern Astrophysics, Carroll and Ostlie (1996)
  • Various other readings will be handed out in class
    • Grade calculation

    Homework assignments: 30%
    Two 1-hour exams: 40%
    Final exam (3 hours): 30%

    Lecture notes

  • Lecture handouts will be made available here
  • Brief intro to Particle Physics
  • Nuclear Reaction Chains in Stars
  • Electron Degeneracy Pressure

    • Homeworks

    There will be approximately 10 problem sets throughout the semester, which you can download from here in pdf format.

  • Homework #1 (review of material you should be familiar with -- will be made available on or before Jan 2 2008)
    Due 5:00pm Jan 16
  • Homework #2 Due 5:00pm Jan 28
  • Homework #3 Due 5:00pm Feb 6
  • Homework #4 Due 5:00pm Feb 18
  • Homework #5 Due 5:00pm Mar 5
  • Homework #6 Due 5:00pm Mar 19
  • Homework #7 Due 5:00pm Apr 2
  • Homework #8 Due 5:00pm Apr 16
  • Homework #9 Not due for credit. solutions
    • Exams

  • Exam #1 : Friday, 22 February 2008, 11:55am in room Phy 130
  • Exam #2 : Friday, 4 April 2008, 11:55am in room Phy 130
  • Exam 2 formula sheet
  • Final Exam : Wednesday, 30 April 2008, 7:00pm - 10:00pm in room Phy 130
  • Final Exam formula sheet

    • Mark Kruse, prepared for Spring 2008.