The first part of this unit covers the physical mechanisms responsible for the generation, absorption and scattering of light in environments as diverse as rarefied nebulae and ultra-dense neutron stars. Fluid dynamics is developed and applied to understand the motion of gas in astrophysical objects, including shock waves in interstellar space, stars, and planetary atmospheres. During the second half of the unit the theory of stellar structure and evolution is developed. Students become familiar with the UNIX computing environment and carry out a project using computer models of how stars are born and die. -- Course Website
Instructor: Physics staff
Prerequisites: PHYS201(P) and PHYS202(P)
