Physics 315: Galaxies
and the Interstellar Medium
Centaurus A |
Instructors:Dr.
D. Davis & Dr. J. Hewitt
Prerequisite:Physics
122
Lecture Location/Times:
Tu/Th 8:30am-9:45pm
Rm: Math & Psychology 012
Contact: dsdavis'at'umbc'dot'edu
|
Physics 315 is an introduction to the
interstellar medium and galaxies.
We will cover elliptical, spiral, and irregular
galaxies, as well as the distribution of both stars and gas within them
(the
interstellar medium).
Also included in
the class will be discussions of galaxy formation, active galaxies and
clusters of galaxies. This class is intended for students who have
completed
at least Physics 121 and 122 (introductory, calculus based physics) and
are interested in the physics of galaxies.
The text is
Galaxies in the Universe: an Introduction 2nd edition Sparke & Gallagher.
There are also corrections available as
errata.
All homework is due at the beginning of class on the day it is due!
Class
Lectures & problem sets:
Grading:
- Midterm (30%) Oct 10
- Final Exam (40%)
Final exam date & time:
TBD
- Homework (20%)
- Project (10%)
The topic list below is a guide only. As the class progresses and
if we need to spend more time on a topic this may change. In addition
if there are any additional topics the class would like to see covered
this may alter the schedule.
The course will include:
The Milky Way galaxy
- Galactic coordinates
- Determination of distances within our Galaxy
- Trigonometric parallax
- Proper motions
- Photometric distance; extinction and reddening
- Spectroscopic distance
- Distances of pulsating stars
- The structure of the Galaxy
- The Galactic disk: Distribution of stars
- The Galactic disk: chemical composition and age
- The Galactic disk: dust and gas
- The Galactic bulge
- The visible halo
- The distance to the Galactic center
- Kinematics of the Galaxy
- Determination of the velocity of the Sun
- The rotation curve of the Galaxy
- Dark Matter in the Galaxy
- Gravitational Lensing
- Virial Theorem
- Stellar Orbits
- The Galactic potential & Epicycles
- Effective potentials
- The Local Group
- Distribution of Galaxies
- The LMC & SMC
- Distance Indicators
- Dwarf Galaxies
- 3-D structure of the Local group
- Galaxy Classification
- Hubble classification
- de Vaucouleurs revision
- DDO system
- Dust and Gas in External Galaxies
- Spiral Galaxies
- Elliptical Galaxies
- Galaxy Groups
- Clusters of Galaxies
- Large Scale Structure
- Cosmologies
- Active Galaxies
Important Dates
- Midterm Exam: Oct 10
- Last Day to drop: Nov 12
- Project Presentations: TBD
- Last Class: Dec 10
- Final Exam: TBD
Students are expected to be familiar with UMBC's
Policies, Expectations & Regulations in this course.