2024
Astrophysics
Name: Astrophysics
Code: FIS14161L
6 ECTS
Duration: 15 weeks/156 hours
Scientific Area:
Physics
Teaching languages: Portuguese
Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese
Presentation
This discipline endeavours to provide an understanding of the universe and its contents through observations and the application of physical laws. The phenomena it seeks to explain include the distribution of matter on the largest scales, and the nature, behaviour and evolution of celestial objects
Sustainable Development Goals
Learning Goals
The objective of the unit is to provide the students an introduction to astrophysics, namely:
- the Solar System,
- the structure and evolution of stars,
- galaxies and
- cosmology.
Other objectives include the development of skills from the theoretical point of view in understanding astrophysical concepts and the development of skills from the practical point of view for solving astrophysical problems.
- the Solar System,
- the structure and evolution of stars,
- galaxies and
- cosmology.
Other objectives include the development of skills from the theoretical point of view in understanding astrophysical concepts and the development of skills from the practical point of view for solving astrophysical problems.
Contents
1. The Earth in Space. The dynamics of the Earth: differential gravitational forces. The dynamics of the earth-Moon system.
2. The solar system. Characteristics of the planets: motion, interiors, surfaces, atmospheres. The small bodies. The origin of the solar system.
3. The stars. The Sun: structure, solar activity. The stars: stellar distances, stelar magnitudes. Binary systems. The Hertzsprung-Russell diagram: stelar atmospheres, stellar spectra.
4. Stellar structure and evolution. Stellar interiors: hydrostatic equilibrium, thermonuclear reactions. Stellar evolution: star birth, main sequence, red giants, quantum degeneracy. Star deaths.
5. Galaxies. The Milky Way. Other galaxies: the hidden mass problem, galactic clusters.
6. The Universe. Expansion of the universe: redshift, Friedmanns equation, the origin and future of the universe.
2. The solar system. Characteristics of the planets: motion, interiors, surfaces, atmospheres. The small bodies. The origin of the solar system.
3. The stars. The Sun: structure, solar activity. The stars: stellar distances, stelar magnitudes. Binary systems. The Hertzsprung-Russell diagram: stelar atmospheres, stellar spectra.
4. Stellar structure and evolution. Stellar interiors: hydrostatic equilibrium, thermonuclear reactions. Stellar evolution: star birth, main sequence, red giants, quantum degeneracy. Star deaths.
5. Galaxies. The Milky Way. Other galaxies: the hidden mass problem, galactic clusters.
6. The Universe. Expansion of the universe: redshift, Friedmanns equation, the origin and future of the universe.
Teaching Methods
The teaching involves theoretical lectures and problem classes. The problem classes function in a complementary manner to the theoretical classes, applying the lectured material to the resolution of problems on particular areas.
Assessment methods: Either two optional tests or a final exam are held. Each of the tests contributes 50% of the final grade, and access to the second test requires a minimum grade of 8 points in the first test. A second exam can be held during the appeals period.
Assessment methods: Either two optional tests or a final exam are held. Each of the tests contributes 50% of the final grade, and access to the second test requires a minimum grade of 8 points in the first test. A second exam can be held during the appeals period.
