Instructor: Prof. JAMES
NEFF,
144 SCIC,
953-5325, neffj@cofc.edu
office hours: 3:15-4:45
Mondays, Tuesdays, & Wednesdays
Course Materials/Website: https://neffj.people.cofc.edu/ASTR311/
Catalog Description: The basic concepts of the physics of stars and
stellar systems are explored.
Topics covered include stellar interiors, stellar atmospheres, stellar
spectra, star formation, stellar evolution, stellar remnants, variable stars,
and binary stars.
Assumed Background: You have all completed PHYS112,
ASTR206, and Calculus II.
Most of you have taken more upper level physics and math classes, but
few of you will have taken the Introductory Astronomy courses. I will briefly review key concepts
relating to stellar astrophysics that were introduced in ASTR129 &130, but
you should take it upon yourself to acquire a broader background in basic
astronomy. In this course we will
occasionally use physics and mathematical tools that you have not yet been exposed
to. Hopefully, knowing how these
tools are used in a physically interesting situation will help you later when
you fully develop them in other classes.
Text and Required Materials:
An
Introduction to Stellar Astrophysics by Francis LeBlanc (1st
edition; 2010). This book follows
the outline of the course, but it includes more material than we will cover
this semester. Most of the
assigned homework problems will be from this book. I will also occasionally distribute supplemental reading
material, so it would be a good idea for you to start a loose-leaf notebook to
hold all of the materials from this class. Some of the assigned reading material will be
internet-based. You should
regularly check the course web site for announcements and updates.
Schedule: The course will consist of
lecture/discussion during the regular class period and frequent homework.
Students will be expected to come to class prepared, with their homework
completed, and ready to participate in the discussion.
Grading: The following weights apply in determining your final grade:
3 Mid-Term exams ... 45% Homework and in-class exercises... 40% Final exam/paper/project... 15%