PVB210 Stellar Astrophysics

Unit Outline: Semester 1 2024, Gardens Point, Internal

Overview

Astrophysics is the application of physics and chemistry to investigate the origin and evolution of galaxies, stars, planets, nebulae and other astronomical objects in the universe. Topics presented in this unit include Indigenous astronomy, orbital mechanics, telescopes, our solar system, the planets, star formation, stellar evolution, stellar remnants, and exoplanets.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of practical and conceptual topics in stellar astrophysics, including Indigenous perspectives.
2. Work collaboratively and individually to conduct, analyse, and draw conclusions from hands-on and computer-based experimental work.
3. Effective oral and written communication skills, including the ability to convey scientific information engaging to a non-expert audience.

Content

Learning Approaches

In this unit, you will participate through in-class and online lectures, practical experiments, and projects to develop conceptual and applied knowledge and skills. You will develop your critical knowledge of astrophysics and have an opportunity to apply this knowledge via various group-based projects, including hands-on and computer-based experiments and an oral presentation. You will also complete additional work in solving sets of problems, working with reference texts and other resource materials provided in lectures and online. You will be required to undertake private study to supplement and support the lectures and collaborative learning program. This unit will contribute actively to numerous learning attributes, such as problem-solving, critical thinking, programming principles, written and oral communication and interpersonal skills.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

You will gain regular feedback in this unit by attending and participating in practical experiments. You will also receive written feedback on your practical outputs and group-based projects, which will relate to and inform your final assessment.

Assessment

Overview

This unit will be assessed through a:

• practical portfolio in the form of experimental proformas and a scientific report
• group-based project to prepare and deliver an oral presentation and news article
• final written examination

The assessment pieces in this unit are designed to stimulate and engage you through practical work in the laboratory, scientific observation, and working with peers to research and deliver an oral presentation and news article. These assessment pieces will provide valuable learning experiences as well as ongoing formative feedback to integrate the knowledge and skills you have acquired throughout the astrophysics minor.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Practical Portfolio

You will be required to attend five practical sessions and work in teams of three to complete five laboratory experiments, which will be assessed using a combination of proforma question sheets and an (individually submitted) scientific report.

This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.

Assessment: Presentation (Oral or Group)

In a group of three or four, you will be required to write an illustrated article on any astrophysical topic suitable for a newspaper or magazine that could be understood by a member of the public. Using the content from this article, you will also be required to give a short oral presentation.

Assessment: Examination (Written)

Examination (Theory)

In the event that campus access is restricted at the time of the central examination period, an alternative, which may be a Timed Online Assessment, will be offered. Individual students who can demonstrate circumstances that prevent their attendance on campus will be provided with an alternative assessment approach.

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.

Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Resources

Resource Materials

Prescribed text(s)

An Introduction to Modern Astrophysics 2nd ed, Carroll and Ostlie, Pearson, ISBN 0-321-44284-9. (N.B. This is the same book used for cosmology).

Risk Assessment Statement

In this unit you will undertake lectures and practicals in classrooms and lecture theatres. There are no extraordinary workplace health and safety issues associated with these components of the unit. You will also be required to undertake practical sessions in the laboratory under the supervision of teaching and technical staff of the School. The School's occupational health and safety policies and procedures will apply to these sessions and you will be required to conform to these. You will undergo a health and safety induction before the commencement of the first practical session. For this unit you will also need to complete a self-directed learning exercise in laser safety since some of the laboratory exercises use lasers. If you do not follow legitimate instructions or endanger the safety of others or do not act in accordance with the requirements of the Workplace Health and Safety Act, you will be required to leave the session.