Astronomy (Theory)

Paper Code: 
24DPHY513(A)
Credits: 
04
Contact Hours: 
60.00
Max. Marks: 
100.00
Objective: 
Course Objectives: 
This course will enable the students to -
• develop knowledge of Stars & stellar systems, Stellar Evolution, White dwarfs, neutron stars and black holes, Pulsars, The sun and solar system. 
• get general information about the universe and equilibrium dynamics of planets and starts and develops necessary background for further studies and research programmes in astronomy and astrophysics.
Course Outcomes: 

Course Outcomes (COs):

          Course

Learning outcome (at course level)

Learning and teaching strategies

Assessment Strategies

Course Code

Course Title

24DPHY513(A)

 

     Astronomy

(Theory)

 

CO93: Analyze the properties of stars based on their magnitudes, colors, and spectral characteristics.

CO94: Critically examine the formulation of iron cores, neutrino cooling, and the dynamics of supernova explosions.

CO95: Analyze the structural properties of white dwarfs and their thermal evolution and evaluate the internal structure and mass bounds of neutron stars and black holes.

CO96: Critically analyze the dynamics of binary star systems, including low and high-mass X-ray binaries, and the effects of accretion.

CO97: Evaluate the atmospheric and coronal properties of the Sun, along with solar wind dynamics and analyze the dynamics of the solar system, including its orbits, planetary interactions, and overall system behavior.

CO98: Contribute effectively in Course specific interaction.

Approach in teaching:

Interactive Lectures, Discussion, Tutorials, Power point presentation, Problem Solving in tutorials,  Visit to Birla Platenorium &  Swai Man Singh Jantar-Mantar the Astronomical open Lab.  

 

Learning activities for the students:

Self learning assignments, Effective questions, Seminar presentation, Solving numerical

Additional learning – Online Videos.

Class test, Semester end examinations, Quiz, Solving problems , Assignments, Presentations

 

12.00
Unit I: 
Stars & stellar systems and Stellar structure:
Introduction, stars, stellar magnitudes & colours, pulsars, stellar binaries, theoretical constraints on astronomical observations.
introduction, equation of stellar structure, solutions to equations, toy stellar models, observational aspects of stellar atmospheres.
12.00
Unit II: 
Stellar Evolution and Supernova:
Introduction, pre-main sequence collapse, evolution of high mass stars, evolution of low mass stars, late stage evolution of stars.
Introduction, Formulation of iron cores & neutrino cooling, core collapse, supernova luminosity & light curves.
12.00
Unit III: 
White dwarfs, neutron stars and black holes:
 Introduction, structure of white dwarfs,  surface structure & thermal evolution of white dwarfs, neutron star models, mass bounds for neutron stars, internal structure of neutron stars, gravitational collapse & black holes, rotating black holes.
 
12.00
Unit IV: 
Pulsars and Binary stars & Accretion:
 Introduction, EM field around the pulsar, glitches in pulsars, pulsar timing, pulsar scintillation.
Introduction, low mass and high mass X-ray binaries, accretion disks, general relativistic effects in binary systems.
 
12.00
Unit V: 
The sun and solar system:
Introduction, the standard solar model, solar neutrinos, solar oscillations, the atmosphere and corona of the sun, solar wind, brief description of the solar system, aspects of solar system dynamics.
 
Essential Readings: 
• Green, S.F. & Jones, M.H., An Introduction to the Sun and Stars (Cambridge University Press).
• Jones, M.H. & Lambourne, R.J.A., An Introduction to Galaxies & Cosmology (Cambridge
• University Press).
• Carroll, B.W. & Ostlie, D.A., An Introduction to Modern Astrophysics (Pearson).
 
References: 
• Shu, F.H., The Physical Universe, An Introduction to Astronomy, (University Science Books).
• Motz, L. & Duveen, A., The Essentials of Astronomy, (Colombia University Press).
• T. Padmanabhan, Theoritical Astrophysics, volume II, (Cambridge University Press).
 
 E-Content:
 
Academic Year: 
2024-2025
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