ASTR - 392. Principles of Astrophysics II

3 credit(s)
Astrophysics is the application of physical principles to astronomical systems. Astrophysicists use their knowledge of physics to explain observations of astronomical phenomena, drawing upon a wide range of subjects in physics, including classical mechanics, quantum and atomic physics, thermodynamics, electromagnetism, chemistry, and nuclear physics, among others. In this two semester introduction to astrophysics students will learn how to use a variety of physical principles to understand the characteristics and evolution of planets, stars, galaxies and the Universe as a whole. In this course the thematic focus will be on using stellar physics to understand the constituents (stars, planets, heavy elements) and physical evolution of the cosmos. Among the topics we will explore planetary and stellar atmospheres, stellar structure and evolution, degenerate stars (white dwarfs and neutron stars), star, galaxy, and planet formation, and the origin of primordial elements synthesized moments after the Big Bang).

Prerequisite(s): PHYS 120 or PHYS 140.
Equivalent: (Same as PHYS 392)
Attribute: (ATTR: ARTS).