Syllabus for Physics 230

The table below shows the sequence of topics we will cover in this course. The dates are slightly tentative -- we may occasionally move ahead or fall behind. As you can see, we are not always following the textbook's arrangement of material. We may skip some sections within chapters.

Sep 6 Introduction

Sep 8 Tools: geometry and clocks 9.1

Sep 10 Tools: optical telescopes 6.1 - 6.2

Sep 13 Tools: telescopes beyond the optical 6.4-6.5

Sep 15 Tools: spectrographs 6.3, 7.3

Sep 17 Tools: interpretation of spectra 7.1-7.4

Sep 20 The Sun: overview 8.1-8.2

Sep 22 The Sun: energy source, neutrinos 8.3

Sep 24 Test 1

Sep 27 Special Guest Lecture

Sep 29 Nearby stars: distances, absolute magnitudes 2.1, 9.1-9.2

Oct 1 Nearby stars: colors, the HR diagram 9.3

Oct 4 Nearby stars: masses, eclipsing binary stars 9.4-9.5

Oct 6 The ISM and dust 10.1-10.2

Oct 8 Gas in the ISM 10.3

Oct 11 Star formation in the ISM 11.1

Oct 13 Stellar Evolution: structure and energy sources 11.2-11.3

Oct 15 Stellar Evolution: timescales and the HR diagram 12.1-12.2

Oct 18 Stellar Evolution: clusters and ages 12.3

Oct 20 Death of low-mass stars 13.1-13.2

Oct 22 Death of high-mass stars 13.3

Oct 25 Neutron stars 14.1-14.2

Oct 27 Black Holes 14.1-14.2

Oct 29 Test 2

Nov 1 The Milky Way Galaxy: overview 15.1, 15.3-15.4

Nov 3 The Milky Way Galaxy: pulsing stars determine its size 15.1, 12.4

Nov 5 The Milky Way Galaxy: its neighborhood 16.1, 16.3

Nov 8 Planets around other stars I: how to find them 9.4 (for background)

Nov 10 Planets around other stars II: what are they like?

Nov 12 Life on Earth -- and elsewhere? 19.1-19.3

Nov 15 Final Exam. 2:45 PM - 4:45 PM 08-3305

Nov 16 Alternate final. 2:45 PM - 4:45 PM 76-1274

This page maintained by Michael Richmond. Last modified Oct 22, 2004.

Sep 6	Introduction
Sep 8	Tools: geometry and clocks	9.1
Sep 10	Tools: optical telescopes	6.1 - 6.2

Sep 13	Tools: telescopes beyond the optical	6.4-6.5
Sep 15	Tools: spectrographs	6.3, 7.3
Sep 17	Tools: interpretation of spectra	7.1-7.4

Sep 20	The Sun: overview	8.1-8.2
Sep 22	The Sun: energy source, neutrinos	8.3
Sep 24	Test 1

Sep 27	Special Guest Lecture
Sep 29	Nearby stars: distances, absolute magnitudes	2.1, 9.1-9.2
Oct 1	Nearby stars: colors, the HR diagram	9.3

Oct 4	Nearby stars: masses, eclipsing binary stars	9.4-9.5
Oct 6	The ISM and dust	10.1-10.2
Oct 8	Gas in the ISM	10.3

Oct 11	Star formation in the ISM	11.1
Oct 13	Stellar Evolution: structure and energy sources	11.2-11.3
Oct 15	Stellar Evolution: timescales and the HR diagram	12.1-12.2

Oct 18	Stellar Evolution: clusters and ages	12.3
Oct 20	Death of low-mass stars	13.1-13.2
Oct 22	Death of high-mass stars	13.3

Oct 25	Neutron stars	14.1-14.2
Oct 27	Black Holes	14.1-14.2
Oct 29	Test 2


Nov 1	The Milky Way Galaxy: overview	15.1, 15.3-15.4
Nov 3	The Milky Way Galaxy: pulsing stars determine its size	15.1, 12.4
Nov 5	The Milky Way Galaxy: its neighborhood	16.1, 16.3

Nov 8	Planets around other stars I: how to find them	9.4 (for background)
Nov 10	Planets around other stars II: what are they like?
Nov 12	Life on Earth -- and elsewhere?	19.1-19.3

Nov 15	Final Exam. 2:45 PM - 4:45 PM	08-3305
Nov 16	Alternate final. 2:45 PM - 4:45 PM	76-1274