Unit name | Stellar Structure and Evolution 301 |
---|---|
Unit code | PHYS34013 |
Credit points | 10 |
Level of study | H/6 |
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
Unit director | Professor. Dugdale |
Open unit status | Not open |
Pre-requisites |
120 credit points at Level I/5 in Physics, Physics with Astrophysics, or joint honours programmes in Mathematics and Physics or Physics and Philosophy. |
Co-requisites |
None |
School/department | School of Physics |
Faculty | Faculty of Science |
This unit introduces the physics underlying the structure and evolution of stars, through a description of applicable nuclear physics, fluid mechanics and thermal physics.
Emphasis is placed on deriving simple models for the structures of different types of star and the processes of stellar evolution.
Aims:
Able to use the virial theorem and equations of hydrostatic equilibrium. Understand the importance of equations of state. Understand the different effects and environments of the r and s processes in nucleosynthesis. Understand the radiative and convective transfer of heat. Understand the ythe origins of the chemical elements. Understand how the different masses of stars lead to different endpoints of stellar evolution.
Lectures and problems classes
Written examination comprising 1 2-hour paper