PHYS 321 - Astronomy & Astrophysics II

Course Information

*****Materials for the latest course (SPRING 2020) have been moved to NJIT Canvas*****

*****THE FOLLOWING IS FOR SPRING 2019*****

Instructor: Prof. Bin Chen

Email: bin.chen at njit dot edu

Class Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays 02:30 pm—03:50 pm

Classroom: Faculty Memorial Hall, Room 203

Office Hours: Tuesdays 01:00-02:00 pm, in Tiernan Hall Room 101

Textbook: Introduction to Modern Astrophysics, 2nd Edition, Carroll & Ostlie (same textbook as Phys 320).

Homework: Assigned approximately every week. Collected at the beginning of the lecture in the following week.

Exams: Two in-class exams and one final exam.

Grades: Your grade will be based on your homework (20%), class participation and presentations (20%), two in-class exams (15% each, 30% total), and final exam (30%).
Syllabus: Download PDF

Course Schedule and Lecture Notes (Spring 2019)

(subject to change during the semester; please check regularly)

WEEKS

TOPICS

TEXT STUDIES

HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS

Week 1: 1/21 Light, Blackbody Radiation, and Color Index Chapt 3, Section 3, 4, 5, 6
PS #1; Due Jan 31

Week 2: 1/28 The Interaction of Light and Matter
Chapt 5
PS #2; Due Feb 7

Week 3: 2/4
Stellar Spectra and H-R Diagram

Chapt 8
PS #3; Due Feb 14

Week 4: 2/11
Stellar Atmosphere
Chapt 9 N/A

Week 5: 2/18
Stellar Atmosphere (cont'ed)
Chapt 9
PS #4; Due Feb 26

In-class Exam #1 Feb 26/Tu
Topics in Weeks 1-5

Week 6: 2/25
Stellar Interiors Chapt 10 N/A

Week 7: 3/4
Stellar Interiors (cont'ed) Chapt 10 PS #5; Due Mar 14

Week 8: 3/11
Stellar Evolution
Chapts 12.2, 12.3, 13, 15
PS #6; Due Mar 28

Week 9: 3/18
Spring Break. No class

Week 10: 3/25
Stellar Remnants
Chapts 16, 17
N/A

In-class Exam #2 Apr 9/Tu
Topics in Weeks 6-10

Week 11: 4/1
Stellar Remnants (cont.)
Chapt 16, 17 PS #7; Due Apr 9

Week 12: 4/8
The Milky Way Galaxy
Chapt 24 PS #8; Due Apr 23

Week 13: 4/15
Nature of Galaxies Chapt 25, 26 N/A

Week 14: 4/22
Large-Scale Structures, Big Bang Chapt 27, 29 PS #9; Due May 2

Week 15: 4/29
Presentations: (4/30) Dichiara (Mars), Maurer/Panchhi (Binaries), Grajales/Daniels (Neutron Stars);
(5/2) MacKelvey/Nemati (Galaxies), Bronicki/Lomuscio (Black Holes)

Final Exam:
May 13 8:30-11:00 AM, CKB 220
All Topics

WEEKS	TOPICS	TEXT STUDIES	HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS
Week 1: 1/21	Light, Blackbody Radiation, and Color Index	Chapt 3, Section 3, 4, 5, 6	PS #1; Due Jan 31
Week 2: 1/28	The Interaction of Light and Matter	Chapt 5	PS #2; Due Feb 7
Week 3: 2/4	Stellar Spectra and H-R Diagram	Chapt 8	PS #3; Due Feb 14
Week 4: 2/11	Stellar Atmosphere	Chapt 9	N/A
Week 5: 2/18	Stellar Atmosphere (cont'ed)	Chapt 9	PS #4; Due Feb 26
In-class Exam #1 Feb 26/Tu	Topics in Weeks 1-5
Week 6: 2/25	Stellar Interiors	Chapt 10	N/A
Week 7: 3/4	Stellar Interiors (cont'ed)	Chapt 10	PS #5; Due Mar 14
Week 8: 3/11	Stellar Evolution	Chapts 12.2, 12.3, 13, 15	PS #6; Due Mar 28
Week 9: 3/18	Spring Break. No class
Week 10: 3/25	Stellar Remnants	Chapts 16, 17	N/A
In-class Exam #2 Apr 9/Tu	Topics in Weeks 6-10
Week 11: 4/1	Stellar Remnants (cont.)	Chapt 16, 17	PS #7; Due Apr 9
Week 12: 4/8	The Milky Way Galaxy	Chapt 24	PS #8; Due Apr 23
Week 13: 4/15	Nature of Galaxies	Chapt 25, 26	N/A
Week 14: 4/22	Large-Scale Structures, Big Bang	Chapt 27, 29	PS #9; Due May 2
Week 15: 4/29	Presentations: (4/30) Dichiara (Mars), Maurer/Panchhi (Binaries), Grajales/Daniels (Neutron Stars); (5/2) MacKelvey/Nemati (Galaxies), Bronicki/Lomuscio (Black Holes)
Final Exam: May 13 8:30-11:00 AM, CKB 220	All Topics