Program Overview

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Overview

The OLET1638: Astronomy: from Stars to Black Holes unit of study explores the lives of stars, leading some to explosive ends and the formation of a black hole. Students will learn about the life cycle of a star from its birth in the interstellar medium to its fate as a stellar remnant - as a white dwarf, neutron star or perhaps a black hole.

Unit Details and Rules

• Academic unit: Physics Academic Operations
• Credit points: 2
• Prerequisites: None
• Corequisites: None
• Prohibitions: PHYS1500
• Assumed knowledge: None
• Available to study abroad and exchange students: Yes

Teaching Staff

• Coordinator: John O'Byrne
• Lecturer(s): Manisha Caleb

Assessment

• Participation: Optional Observing (0% weight, due multiple weeks, 2 hours)
• Tutorial quiz: 1st Mastering Astronomy quiz (2.5% weight, due Week 02, 30 minutes)
• Assignment: Tutorial 1 submission (10% weight, due Week 03, 2 hours)
• Assignment: Tutorial 2 submission (10% weight, due Week 04, 2 hours)
• Assignment: Tutorial 3 submission (10% weight, due Week 05, 2 hours)
• Supervised exam: Final examination (50% weight, due Week 06, 1 hour)
• Assignment: Tutorial 4 submission (10% weight, due Week 06, 2 hours)
• Tutorial quiz: Mastering Astronomy quizzes (7.5% weight, due weekly, 30 minutes)

Early Feedback Task

This unit includes an early feedback task, designed to give students feedback prior to the census date for this unit.

Assessment Summary

• Mastering Astronomy quizzes: designed to build understanding of aspects of the material
• Tutorials: students individually submit results from the weekly tutorial exercise
• Optional Observing: an optional group activity to use optical telescopes on the roof of the Sydney Nanoscience Hub (SNH) to view the night sky
• Final examination: understanding of key concepts of the unit is tested in an on-campus exam

Late Submission

In accordance with University policy, penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date.

Academic Integrity

The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

Learning Support

• Simple extensions: available for students who encounter a problem submitting their work on time
• Special consideration: available for students who experience exceptional circumstances
• Using AI responsibly: guidance on the use of generative AI tools in assessment tasks

Weekly Schedule

Week	Topic	Learning Activity	Learning Outcomes
Multiple weeks	Observing - Optional single session	Practical (2 hr)
Week 02	Stellar Properties and Evolution - Canvas pages	Online class (5 hr)	LO1 LO2 LO6
Week 02	Stellar Properties and Evolution - tutorial	Computer laboratory (1 hr)	LO1 LO2 LO4 LO6
Week 02	Stellar Properties and Evolution - lecture	Lecture (1 hr)	LO1 LO2 LO6
Week 03	Late Stage Evolution and Supernovae - Canvas pages	Online class (5 hr)	LO2 LO5
Week 03	Late Stage Evolution and Supernovae - tutorial	Computer laboratory (1 hr)	LO2 LO4 LO5
Week 03	Late Stage Evolution and Supernovae - lecture	Lecture (1 hr)	LO2 LO5
Week 04	Neutron Stars - Canvas pages	Online class (5 hr)	LO2 LO5 LO6
Week 04	Neutron Stars - tutorial	Computer laboratory (1 hr)	LO2 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 04	Neutron Stars - lecture	Lecture (1 hr)	LO2 LO5 LO6
Week 05	Black Holes and Gravitational Waves - Canvas pages	Online class (5 hr)	LO2 LO5 LO6
Week 05	Black Holes and Gravitational Waves - tutorial	Computer laboratory (1 hr)	LO2 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 05	Black Holes and Gravitational Waves - lecture	Lecture (1 hr)	LO2 LO5 LO6
Week 06	Revision and Preparation for final exam	Individual study (5 hr)	LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6

Learning Outcomes

At the completion of this unit, students should be able to:

• LO1: Compare and contrast the basic observable properties of stars and how they are measured
• LO2: Summarise the birth and evolutionary history of stars of various masses
• LO3: Discuss the indigenous astronomy context for modern stellar astronomy
• LO4: Carry out simulations to illustrate how spectra are used to determine properties of stars
• LO5: Compare and contrast the characteristics of exotic stellar remnants - white dwarfs, neutron stars or black holes
• LO6: Outline the significance of changing technology, in particular spectroscopy and gravitational wave observations, in observation of stars and stellar remnants
• LO7: Carry out simple observations of the planets and stars using an optical telescope to illustrate the central role of observation in astronomy

Graduate Qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course.

Responding to Student Feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Additional Information

• Equity, Access and Diversity statement: The School of Physics recognises that biases, bullying and discrimination continue to impact parts of our community disproportionately.
• Work, health and safety: We are governed by the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 and Codes of Practice.
• Disclaimer: The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.