Schedule of Lectures and Homework

Homework is due at the beginning of class on the day specified.  Problems are from Astrophysics in a Nutshell.

The reading is the relevant sections from Astrophysics in a Nutshell by Dan Maoz.  Please do the reading before class.
Link to Maoz's page about the textbook.

Unit #1

Dates
Topic
Reading
Homework
8/26 T
Observational Techniques Chapter 1
1.1, 1.2 due 8/28
8/28 R Blackbody Radiation, Stellar temperature and types
2.1, 2.2.2
2.1  due 9/2
9/2 T
Distance, luminosity, radius; HR diagram
2.2.1, 2.2.3, 2.3
2.2, 2.3 due 9/4
9/4 R
Binaries
2.2.4 2.4 due 9/9
9/9 T
Solar properties, hydrostatic equilibrium, virial theorem 3.0, 3.1
pendulum, 3.1 due 9/11
9/11 R
Radiative energy transport
3.3
3.3 due 9/16
9/16 T
Equations of stellar structure, equation of state
3.2, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6
3.2, 3.4 due 9/18
9/18 R
Opacity, Scaling relations on main sequence 3.7, 3.8
3.5 due 9/23
9/23 T
Nuclear energy production 3.9 3.6 due 9/25
9/25 R
Nuclear reaction rates 3.10 3.7 due 9/30
9/30 T
Convection 3.12 3.8 due 10/2
10/2 R
Solving the equations of stellar structure
3.11 3.9 due 10/7
10/7 T
Review  Equation sheet for exam


10/9 R
Exam #1

10/14 T
Stellar evolution and Degenerate matter 4.1, 4.2.1, 4.2.2
4.1 due 10/16
10/16 R
White dwarfs
4.2.3
4.2 due 10/21
10/21 T
Supernovae and Neutron stars 4.3 4.3 due 10/23
10/23 R
Pulsars and their nebulae 4.4 4.4 due 10/28
10/28 T
Black Holes   Interacting Binaries 4.5, 4.6.0 4.7 due 10/30
10/30 R
Interacting Binaries 4.6.1-4.6.3 4.9, 4.10 due 11/4
11/4 T
Star Formation 5.1 5.1 due 11/6
11/6 R
H II Regions 5.2 5.2 due 11/11
11/11 T
  continued
5.3 due 11/13
11/13 R
Interstellar Medium 5.3, 5.4 5.4 due 11/18
11/18 T
Problem session


11/20 R
Winds from Hot Stars


11/25-27
Thanksgiving vacation


12/2 T
Problem session continued

12/4 R
Problem session continued

12/9 T
Exam #2

12/11 R
Who wants to be a millionaire astronomer