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Birla Institute of Technology & Science - Pilani, Goa campus

Instruction division
Semester-II 2016-2017
Course Title: Introduction to Astronomy & Astrophysics Course No.: PHY F215
Instructors: Prasanta Kumar Das Office(Phone): B-314 (0832-2580-448)
Class hour (Room): M T TH 4-5 PM ( C-306 )

Course Description

The present course will be a conceptual treatise with minimal use of mathematical tools, aimed at a larger audience.
It will introduce the students to the fascinating world of Astronomy & Astrophysics. The focus will be to provide
both the theoretical as well as experimental/ observational aspects of astrophysical systems. This course can be used
as a pre-requisit for higher level course on Astrophysics and Cosmology.

Scope and Objectives

Modern day Astrophysics (and Astronomy) is not only interesting but challenging as well. Throughout the history,
mankind has been curious about the so called heavenly/ celestial bodies, from our own solar systems to the world
beyond. The course aims to provide the fundamental principles and ideas within the realm of the Universe. Various
techniques pertaining to the estimation of the physical parameters of these astrophysical systems, theoretical ideas
about the astrophysical compact objects e.g. Neutron star, Black Hole etc will also be discussed, within a span of
about 40-42 lectures.
Textbook
IGNOU study material PHE-15(Astronomy and Astrophysics), Indira Gandhi National Open University, 2006.
Reference Books

R.1: Astrophysics by Arnab Raychaudhuri, Cambridge University Press, First edition,2010.

Evaluation Scheme(TBA: To Be Announced)

EC No. Evaluation Component(EC) Duration Weightage(%) Date & Time Remarks
1. Test 1 1 hour 20 % 23rd February, 2017 Closed Book
2. Test 2 1 hour 20 % 30th March, 2017 Open Book
3. Comprehensive Exam. 3 hours 40 % 7th May, 2017 (FN) Closed Book
4. Assignment + Quiz + Project (5 + 10 + 5) %

Assignments: They will be given in the class.

Make-up: No make-up for the comprehensive examination will be given.

Chamber consultation hours: To be announced in the class.

Notices: Check on moodle or the course page in my homepage.

Course feedback: Your feedback is quite important. Please provide your online feedback in the link provided in
the course page of my homepage during the mid of the semester. The course feedback will also be taken in hard copy
by the ID division at the end of the semester.
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Lecture Nos. Objectives Topics References

01-05 History and Myths and Astronomy at different times moodle(Notes)
- Basic Terminology Distances, Masses and Time scales U 1.2
- - Brightness, Flux and Luminosity U 1.3
- - Astronomical Quantities U 1.4
05-10 Radiation interaction Virial theorem, Newtons theory and gravitation U4
- radiation pressure, transfer equation U4
11-14 Stellar Spectra Boltzman Theorem, Black Body, types of Spectra U7
- Newton & Einstein, Saha, H-R diagram, Main sequence stars
15-20 Stellar astrophysics I Hydrostatic equillibrium, Virial theorem Chap 4 (R.1), U 9
- energy transport, Stellar models, Binary stars Chap. 3 (R.1), U 8
21-26 Stellar astrophysics II Nuclear reaction, rate, Chap 3 (R.1), U 8
- Protostar and Main sequence, U9
27-35 Compact Stars White Dwarfs, Neutron Stars, Chap 4 (R.1)
- Supernovae and Black hole, Chandrashekhar Limit U 11
- Stellar collapse -
35-42 Galaxies Milky way galaxy, dark matter, rotation curve, AGN U 12, 13, 14
- Standard model of the Universe Hubbles law, CMB radiation, cosmic acceleration Lecture notes, U 15