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{\bf Course Syllabus\\
29:119 Introduction to Astrophysics I\\
Department of Physics and Astronomy\\
Fall Semester 2008}\\


Steven R. Spangler\\
705 Van Allen Hall\\
319-335-1948\\
steven-spangler@uiowa.edu\\
http://phobos.physics.uiowa.edu/$\sim$srs/\\
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{\em Introduction to Astrophysics} is a discussion of the main themes and results of theoretical astrophysics.  The level of the presentation is intermediate, meaning that a level of mathematics and physics appropriate for a junior or senior physics major is assumed. Topics to be discussed include celestial mechanics, electromagnetic radiation and its interaction with atoms and molecules, the application of atomic physics to our understanding of starlight, and the physics of the Sun. 
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{\bf General Course Information}
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\item Lectures are from 9:30 to 10:45 AM, Tuesdays and Thursdays, in Room 618 of Van Allen Hall.
\item The required textbook for the course is {\em An Introduction to Modern Astrophysics} by Bradley W. Carroll and Dale A. Ostlie, Second Edition, Pearson/Addison Wesley. The first semester of this course will deal with approximately the first half of this book.  The same textbook will be used in the continuation of the course next semester.  In both semester, the lectures will closely adhere to the material and discussion in the textbook.  
\item The level of physics and mathematics employed in this class assumes that students have completed mathematics through 22M:27 and 22M:28 (linear algebra, vector calculus, differential equations), and physics through 29:27,28,29, and 30, or their equivalent at another university. 
\item Since the homework problems will be primarily mathematical in nature, and sometimes involve operations which are difficult or impossible to carry out analytically, I {\em strongly} recommend students become proficient in {\em Mathematica}, {\em Mathcad}, or preferably both.  These packages are available on student machines throughout the department.  If you wish to have one of them installed on your own machine, you will have to purchase it (with student discount) from Iowa Book and Supply.   
\item Office hours for Professor Spangler are Monday, 2:30 - 3:30, Tuesday, 2:30 - 3:30, and Wednesday, 1:30 - 2:30, or by appointment 
if attendance during these times is not possible. 
\item One hour exams will be held in the regular class period on October 2 and November 20. 
\item The final exam will be held on Wednesday, December 17 at 12PM (``High Noon'')  in room 618, Van Allen Hall.   
\item Homework will be assigned, collected and graded. The purpose of these exercises is to  practice  mathematical deductive thinking in an astrophysical context, and to explore material that is not discussed in the lecture. I plan to assign a homework set  every week.  The total score of all homework assignments will count the same as one exam. Students are encouraged to work in 
groups of 2 to 3 ({\bf not} ``goal line stands'' of half the class). I also expect and want students to come and talk to me about these.   
\item There is a World Wide Web homepage associated with the course, 
(URL given above). Go to the link for 29:119. 
The website contains supplemental lecture material and homework assignments. It also 
serves as a gateway to other astronomical links. 
\item I would like to hear from anyone who has a disability which may require some modification 
of seating, testing, or other class requirements so that appropriate arrangements may be made. 
Please see me after class or during office hours. 
\item Grades will be assigned on the basis of a point total from the homework and the exam scores.  The conversion from point score to letter grade will be determined in part on an absolute scale (to be determined) and in part by a student's standing vis-a-vis his or her peers.  Students will be fully informed of the grading scale as the semester progresses. 


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Below is listed the tentative set of topics to be discussed in the semester, together with textbook references. 
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{\bf List of topics to be covered}\\
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{\bf 1. Celestial Mechanics}\\
\noindent
Gravitational force of astronomical objects, derivation of Kepler's Laws from classical physics, perturbations (Chapter 2).


\noindent
{\bf 2. Continuous Spectrum of Light.}\\
Blackbody radiation, Wien's Law, Stefan-Boltzmann Law, comparison between blackbody spectra and stellar spectra (Chapter 3).
 

\noindent
{\bf 3. The Interaction of Light with Matter}\\
Absorption and emission of light by atoms and molecules. Review of the physics of quantized energy levels in atoms and molecules (Chapter 5).


\noindent
{\bf 4. Telescopes.}\\
Whirlwind description of telescopes in the optical, radio, and x-ray (Chapter 6).

\noindent
{\bf 5. Binary Stars.}\\
Methods of classifying binary stars on the basis of observables: visual, eclipsing, and spectroscopic 
binaries. Determination of orbits and masses from observations of binary stars.  How other stellar parameters can be obtained from observations of binaries (Chapter 7).

\noindent
{\bf 6. Stellar Spectra: observations and classification.}\\
 ``Otis Baxter Allegedly Found Giant Kangaroo 
Monkies Running Near Solon...''. The Boltzmann equation for populations of energy levels, Saha equation for ionization states (Chapter 8). 

\noindent 
{\bf 7. Stellar Spectra: astrophysical principles.}\\
The physical principles involved in the emergence of light from stellar atmospheres.  Introduction to the concepts and equation of radiative transfer (Chapter 9).

\noindent
{\bf 8. Stellar Interiors.}\\
The equations of stellar structure and their description of the physical processes going on in the interiors of star.  Nuclear reactions in stellar interiors.  The Vogt-Russell Theorem. Stellar astrophysics as the basis for  understanding  stellar evolution (Chapter 10). 

\noindent
{\bf 9. The Sun.}\\
Taking advantage of our proximity to get an amazingly close view of a star. The solar interior. The structure of the solar atmosphere, solar flares and coronal mass ejection, the origin of the solar wind.  The nature of the 11 year solar cycle (Chapter 11).

\noindent
{\bf 10. The Interstellar Medium and Star Formation.}\\
The variety of forms of matter in the interstellar medium. Our understanding of how stars form.  The Jeans mass as a criterion for contraction of interstellar gas clouds.  The discovery and nature of molecular clouds.  The role of magnetic fields in regulating star formation.  The possibly important role played by turbulence in star formation.  HII regions (Chapter 12). 

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