Keele Badge

PHY-20028 - Module Specification
School of Chemical and Physical Sciences
Faculty of Natural Sciences

For academic year: 2022/23 Last Updated: 19 January 2023

PHY-20028 - Galaxies
Coordinator: Jacco Van Loon Room: LJ2.07 Tel: +44 1782 7 33331
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 5
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 734921

Programme/Approved Electives for 2022/23

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2022/23

This module is a core requirement for students in the second year of a single-honours BSc in Physics with Astrophysics. It introduces many of the key observations of normal and active galaxies, and the astrophysics that explains them. It builds upon the first-year study of mechanics, Newtonian gravity and stellar structure, plus some aspects of electromagnetism and thermodynamics from first and second years, to develop an understanding of the internal structures, dynamics and long-term evolution of self-gravitating stellar systems. Dark matter is a recurring theme. Further core physics and astrophysics are adapted to calculate physical processes involving stars and gas around the supermassive black holes in galactic nuclei. Aspects of galaxy clusters, including the hot gas that pervades them, are introduced in empirical terms and analysed physically. An associated laboratory component is designed to give broader experience with the acquisition and analysis of astronomical data in general. Assessment is by problem sheets, logs and formal reporting of lab work, and an exam.

Aims
This module aims to introduce, consolidate and interpret in physical terms the main features of galaxies and other self-gravitating stellar systems in the Universe. It applies and extends concepts from prior core studies in physics and astrophysics, to develop a systematic physical framework for describing and analysing the properties of and interrelationships between the stars, dark matter and gas in galaxies and galaxy clusters.

Talis Aspire Reading List
Any reading lists will be provided by the start of the course.
http://lists.lib.keele.ac.uk/modules/phy-20028/lists

Intended Learning Outcomes

1,2
1,2
1,2
1,2
1,2
3

Study hours

Lectures: 24 hours (scheduled)
Tutorials: 12 hours (scheduled)
Practical (lab) sessions: 18 hours (scheduled)
Completion of problem sheets: 30 hours (estimated)
Completion of lab report(s): 12 hours (estimated)
Private study (including exam revision): 52 hours
Exam: 2 hours

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Exam weighted 60%
Unseen 2-hour exam weighted 60%
Students answer a number of compulsory, short questions (for 40% of the total exam mark) and two longer questions from a choice of four. Questions test a mix of factual knowledge and problem-solving ability and can require mathematical and numerical calculations or descriptive answers or combinations thereof.

2: Problem Sheets weighted 20%
Problem sheets weighted 20%
Four sets of mathematical and/or numerical and/or computational problems, with each set weighted equally in the total module mark.

3: Laboratory Report weighted 20%
Laboratory work weighted 20%
Lab work need not be tied directly to the module contents and lectures, but will be astronomical/astrophysical in nature. Assessment is based on a diary of all work carried out during laboratory sessions and a formal report, based on work recorded in the diary, that describes in more detail (rough guideline: around 1500 words in addition to appropriate data, tables, graphs and captions) the background, design, execution and results of a specific experiment.

Please note that for the 2022/23 Academic Year programmes may be adapted to operate in accordance with a flexible, digital approach. This means that there may be some changes made to how modules are delivered and assessed. The latest information will be provided to you by your School in module handbooks. We endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes and details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/student-terms-and-conditions/

Last Updated: 19 January 2023