Astronomy                 Natural Science 1001

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Astronomy
Meteorology
Geology

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Astronomy
Meteorology
Geology

Primary goals

• Describe the life cycle of stars
• Explain the physical processes that occur as a star dies

How do we know information about stars?  

• Why is the light spectrum of a star so important?  [p. 496-500]
• Define luminosity, apparent brightness, Msun  [p. 488-489]

Electron degeneracy    [p. 453-454]      Explanation D2L

• Describe degenerate matter
• Describe electron degeneracy
• If the mass of degenerate matter changes, how does the size (diameter) change? Explain why.
• 1-min detailed lecture

Star formation   

• Molecular cloud collapse
  --Describe the relative number of stars by size in a molecular cloud that collapses.  [p. 526-527]
  --Relate star mass with the relative time to become a star.  [p. 523]
• Brown dwarfs  [p. 524-525]     Explanation D2L
  --Describe how brown dwarfs form.  

Main sequence     [p. 534-535, 498-499]

• Describe the main sequence.
• Relate star mass and luminosity.
• Relate star mass and surface temperature.
• Relate star mass and time on the main sequence
  --Explain this relationship

Star dies    [p. 533; overview p. 547-550]

Star dies--Red giant stage     [p. 535-536]     Explanation D2L

• Describe the steps in the red giant stage. Be able to explain why each step occurs.
• Describe the interior of a red giant.

Star dies--Low mass star      [p. 538-540]

• Mass loss stage
  --Describe the interior of the star at the beginning of the Mass Loss stage.
  --Explain why the star loses mass.
  --Visual delights--Describe a planetary nebula. Explain what we see.
  --Planetary nebula video   1 min
• White dwarf stage  [p. 556-557]
  --Describe a white dwarf (composition, energy, future)

Star dies--High mass star   

• Supernova process   [p. 542-547]
  --Describe the development of the series of fusion shells
  --Describe the process that results in the collapse of the iron core and the subsequent supernova
  --Visual delights--Describe a supernova remnant. Explain what we see.
• Neutron star    [section 18.2  p. 559-563; much more than we cover]
  --What is a pulsar?  1 min video
  --Describe a neutron star.
  --excellent lighthouse model from McGraw-Hill
• Black hole   [section 18.3  p. 563-568; much more than we cover]
  --Describe a black hole. Describe the event horizon.
  --Describe what it is like to visit a black hole
  --Good YouTube about supernovae and black holes
  --Technical, but interesting description (with animations!) from Dr. Hamilton
• Animation of black hole and jets
  --jets   30 secs
• Close binary system
  --animation  30 sec
  --pumpkin stars video
• Videos
  --research video  3 min neutron stars form short gamma ray burst
  --research video  1 min  star disrupted by black hole
  --research video  1 min black hole jets

Origin of Heavy Elements    [p. 544-545]

• Where do the heavy elements in the universe come from?
• What evidence do we have to support this idea?