PHY104 - Introduction to Astrophysics#
These notes have been produced by Prof Paul Crowther (Hicks E43) and are intended to support and complement (not replace) lectures for PHY104, Introduction to Astrophysics. Both these notes and lecture slides have been adapted from material originally produced by Stu Littlefair with the notebook version converted from the original LaTeX notes.
PHY104 is intended to complement the non-mathematical treatment of astronomy in PHY111 (Our Evolving Universe) by introducing components of introductory physics to allow a more complete understanding of astro-physics with a primary focus on stars although the Solar System and galaxies are covered too. PHY104 provides students with the astrophysics foundations for more advanced topics in second and third year.
There are 11 topics or Chapters covered in PHY104 across 18 lectures. These are as follows:
Chapter 0: Introduction (lecture 1)
Chapter 1: Properties of light (lecture 2)
Chapter 2: Magnitudes (lecture 3)
Chapter 3: Distance Measurement (lecture 4)
Chapter 4: Motion of celestial objects (lecture 5)
Chapter 5: Thermal Continuum Radiation (lectures 6-7)
Chapter 6: Thermal properties of matter (lecture 8)
Chapter 7: A brief history of astronomical spectroscopy (lecture 9)
Chapter 8: The Bohr model of the atom (lecture 10)
Chapter 9: Line strength (lecture 11)
Chapter 10: Gravitational Astrophysics (lectures 12-13)
Chapter 11: Measuring mass (lectures 14-17)
Putting it all together (lecture 18)
Learning outcomes#
PHY104 Learning outcomes are as follows:
Understanding the basic principles of electromagnetic radiation, thermal continuum radiation and kinetic theory
Estimate the temperatures of stellar photospheres using a variety of techniques
Have a general awareness of energy levels in atoms and ions and how these related to the spectra of astrophysical sources
Understand the basic principles of Newtonian gravity
Estimate the masses of various astronomical systems from simple observations
The PHY104 Blackboard site provides specific details of “key equations you are expected to know” in the Examination section of the Assessment and Feedback folder.