Columbi a University Astronomy and Astrophysics


SYLLABUS AND ASSIGNMENTS PAGE
Astronomy C1836
STARS AND ATOMS

Professor:

Arlin Crotts
Phone number 854-7899
e-mail: arlin@astro.columbia.edu

Syllabus:

Readings and Exercises: There will be a weekly reading of about 25 pages from Aller, plus about six usually simple writing or calculational exercises, assigned in class.


Date Topic Exercises Readings
Sep. 9Historical OverviewclickAller, p. 1-14
Sep. 14, 16Introduction to the Starsclickp. 15-34
Sep. 21, 23Light & Spectraclickp. 35-56
Sep. 28, 30Atoms & Molecules-handout
Oct. 5, 7Gravity's Pullclickp. 57-71
Oct. 12, 14Stellar Atmospheres-p. 72-103
Oct. 19(midterm exam)--
Oct. 21Stellar Spectra--
Oct. 26, 28Stellar Spectraclickp. 104-126
Nov. 2(Election Day holiday)--
Nov. 4Varieties of Stars-p. 127-141
Nov. 9, 11Stellar Interiorsclickp. 142-166
Nov. 16, 18Birth and Life of Starsclickp. 167-203
Nov. 23, 25Stellar Aging-p. 204-254
Nov. 30, Dec. 2Stars, Gas & Dustclickp. 255-280
Dec. 7, 9Stellar Odditiesclickp. 281-313
Dec. 14New Windows to the Stars--
Dec. 15(Optional review session)--
Dec. 21(Final exam, 1:10-4pm)--

Assignments:

Exercises are due the Wednesday of the following week, in class. Solution sets will be distributed at the end of class that day.

Examinations:

The midterm exam will cover the readings, exercises and lecture material relevant through chapter 4 (p. 71) of Aller and the September 28th handout. The final exam will cover all material, with emphasis on chapters 5-12 of Aller.

Grading:

Grading will consist of 50% weekly exercises, 25% final exam, 15% midterm exam and 10% class participation. The lowest three exercise grades (10% of the course grade) or the equivalent on the exams will be dropped in computing the final grade.

Department of Astronomy home page.

Columbia University home page.

Astronomy Web Server Columbia University / e-mail: wwwserv@astro.columbia.edu

Last updated: 2 September 1998.