C2002: Introduction to Astrophysics II
Spring 2008
Lecture times: Tuesday/Thursday 1:10-2:25 PM
Room: Pupin 414
Instructor: Greg Bryan
Office: Pupin 1325
Office hours: Wednesday 2-4 PM (or anytime I'm around)
Office phone: 212-854-6837
email: gbryan //at\\ astro.columbia.edu
Course web-page: www.astro.columbia.edu/~gbryan/C2002
(or via courseworks)
Course Description
This is the second-part of a two-part
introduction to the study of astrophysics. The idea of the course is
two-fold: first to present a survey of modern astrophysics in order to
form a framework for understanding later courses. The second is to
develop some of the basic tools necessary for understanding and
applying the physics of astrophysics.
In Part I of this course
(C2001), you developed a set of physical tools and applied them to the
study of stars. In this second course, we will build on this and see
how stars (and other components) group into galaxies, and how galaxies
have paved the way to our current understanding of the evolution of the
universe itself. Along the way, we will meet other interesting
characters, such as supermassive black holes residing in the centers of
galaxies and see why they are important denizens of the universe. We
will end with cosmology: what is known now about the remarkable
universe in which we live, and what we still need to find out.
Syllabus
A schedule of lectures can be found here,
along with the corresponding section from Carroll & Ostlie (the
textbook). You are strongly recommended to read the appropriate
section before the lecture.
Textbooks
An Introduction to Modern Astrophysics
by Carroll and Ostlie (Addison-Wesley, 1996, 2007): This is the textbook used
for the C2001-2002 sequence, and the text on which we will base our
approach. In the syllabus I have indicated the chapter sections to
read as we go through the course. These are based on the second (2007)
edition, but the corresponding chapters in the first edition (1996)
should be easy to find.
Grading
There will be approximately ten problem
sets throughout the term, as well as a mid-term and final exam. The
problem sets are important and I expect them to be done promptly and
handed in on time. We will also have short class discussions from
time-to-time, so please think about the lectures and be prepared to
talk about them. The final grade will be based on all of these
(problem sets 30%, midterm 30%, final 30%, discussion 10%).
Problems Sets
Problem set #1 due Thursday, Feb 7, 2008
Problem set #2 due Thursday, Feb 14, 2008
Problem set #3 due Thursday, Feb 21, 2008
Problem set #4 due Thursday, Feb 28, 2008
Problem set #5 due Thursday, Mar 6, 2008
Problem set #6 due Thursday, April 3, 2008
Problem set #7 due Thursday, April 10, 2008
Problem set #8 due Thursday, April 17, 2008
Paper to be discussed Thursday, April 24 (also see this paper)
Problem set #9 due Thursday, May 1, 2008