6 ECTS credits
150 h study time
Offer 1 with catalog number 1017196BNR for all students in the 1st semester at a (B) Bachelor - advanced level.
1. Fotometry
1.1. Apparant and absolute magnitude and luminosity
1.2. Fotometric systems
1.3. From apparant magnitude to absolute luminosity
2. The Hertzsprung-Russell diagram
2.1. The effective temperature
2.2. Colour differences in the Johnson fotometric system
2.3. Spectral classification of stars
2.4. Atomic spectra of stars
2.5. The Russell-Saunders coupling scheme
2.6. The spectrum of hydrogen
2.7. Spectra of heavier elements
3. Stellar structure
3.1. The observations
3.2. Gas pressure and radiative pressure
3.3. The four equations of stellar structure
3.4. Polytropes
3.5. The sun is a gaseous sphere with polytrope-index = 3
4. Stellar evolution
4.1. The energy sources of a star
4.2. Time scales
4.3. The contraction of a cloud of interstellar gas and dust into a star of the main sequence
4.4. The ZAMS (Zero Age Main Sequence)
4.5. The TAMS (Terminal Age Main Sequence)
4.6. The Chandrasekhar limit mass for White Dwarfs
4.7. De limit mass for Neutron stars
4.8. The evolution of a star with 0,08 Mo - M - 0,26 Mo
4.9. The evolution of a star with 0,26 Mo - M - 1,5 Mo
4.10. The evolution of a star with 1,5 Mo - M - 15 Mo
4.11. The evolution of a star with15 Mo - M - 100 Mo
5. Stellar coordinate systems
5.1. Spherical trigonometry
5.2. Equatorial coördinates
5.3. Galactic coördinates
5.4. Horizon coördinates
5.5. Proper motions
6. The dynamics of the galaxy
6.1. Observations of the 21cm-line of Hydrogen
6.2. De spiral structure of the milky way
7. Cosmologie
7.1. Speciale relativity
7.2. Euclidic and non-Euclidic geometries
7.3. Consequences of general relativity in the neighbourhood of the sun
7.4. PSR 1913+16 and general relativity
7.5. General relativity and the universe
7.6. Missing mass
7.7. Quasars
7.8. 3K cosmic background radiation
7.9. Newtonian cosmology
7.10 Looking into the past
Lecture notes are available per chapter.
Other references:
E. Chaisson and S. McMillan: "Astronomy Today" (1999 - Prentice Hall - ISBN 0-13-085863-3)
H. Karttunen, P. Kröger, H. Oja, M. Poutanen and K. Donner: "Fundamental Astronomy" (1996 - Springer - ISBN 3-540-60936-9)
B. Carroll and D. Ostlie: "Modern Astrophysics" (1996 - Addison-Wesley - ISBN 0-201-54730-9)
Complementary study material:
A night of observation in the popular Observatory MIRA at Grimbergen (stars, binaries, galaxies, white dwarfs, nebulae, ...)
Students will be acquainted with basic concepts in astronomy and modern astrophysics
The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Oral Exam determines 70% of the final mark.
SELF Paper determines 30% of the final mark.
Within the Oral Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:
Within the SELF Paper category, the following assignments need to be completed:
Students perform tasks during the year. Small personal investigations which are quoted. The oral examination is taken after the 2nd semster because this course in given in teh 2nd semester. The questions are taken from a list which is given well beforehand to the students.
This offer is part of the following study plans:
Bachelor of Physics and Astronomy: Default track (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Teaching in Science and Technology: biologie (120 ECTS, Etterbeek) (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Teaching in Science and Technology: geografie (120 ECTS, Etterbeek) (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Teaching in Science and Technology: chemie (120 ECTS, Etterbeek) (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Teaching in Science and Technology: wiskunde (120 ECTS, Etterbeek) (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Teaching in Science and Technology: ingenieurswetenschappen (120 ECTS, Etterbeek) (only offered in Dutch)