Program Overview

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Overview

The field of astrophysics spans length and time scales unseen in any other area of science, and to understand this field, we must synthesise knowledge of a huge number of different physical processes. The aim of PHYS4122 is to teach you about the complexity of our Universe via advanced-level treatments of several concepts that are central to modern astrophysics research.

Unit details and rules

• Academic unit: Physics Academic Operations
• Credit points: 6
• Prerequisites: An average of at least 65 in 144 credit points of units
• Corequisites: None
• Prohibitions: None
• Assumed knowledge: A major in physics
• Available to study abroad and exchange students: Yes

Teaching staff

• Coordinator: Bruce Yabsley
• Guest lecturer(s):
  • Geraint Lewis
  • Thorsten Tepper Garcia
  • Manisha Caleb
• Lecturer(s):
  • Jonathan Bland-Hawthorn
  • Ciaran O'Hare

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 31 March 2025

• Type:
  • Supervised exam: Final exam
  • Attendance: Guest lecture and final presentations attendance
  • Assignment:
    • Assignment 1: Written assignment
    • Assignment 2: Written assignment
  • Presentation: Topics in astrophysics presentation
• Weight:
  • Supervised exam: 50%
  • Attendance: 5%
  • Assignment:
    • Assignment 1: 10%
    • Assignment 2: 10%
  • Presentation: 25%
• Due:
  • Supervised exam: Formal exam period
  • Attendance: Multiple weeks
  • Assignment:
    • Assignment 1: Week 05, 26 Mar 2025 at 23:59
    • Assignment 2: Week 11, 16 May 2025 at 23:59
  • Presentation: Week 13
• Length:
  • Supervised exam: 2 hours
  • Presentation: 15 minutes + 10 minutes questions

Assessment summary

• Assignment 1: This assignment will require you to apply information from lectures and your reading to solve worked problems.
• Assignment 2: This assignment will require you to apply information from lectures and your reading to solve worked problems.
• Topics in astrophysics presentation: This assessment will require you to integrate material from the final section of the course, and your own study on an agreed topic, and to present it to the class.
• Guest lecture and final presentations attendance: The full 5% will be awarded if you attend >75% of these sessions.
• Final exam: The exam will cover all material in the unit, excluding content covered in the guest lectures.

Assessment criteria

• Result name:
  • High Distinction: 85-100
  • Distinction: 75-84
  • Credit: 65-74
  • Pass: 50-64
  • Fail: 0-49
• Description:
  • High Distinction: At HD level, a student demonstrates a flair for the subject and comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the unit material.
  • Distinction: At DI level, a student demonstrates an aptitude for the subject and a solid knowledge and understanding of the unit material.
  • Credit: At CR level, a student demonstrates a good command and knowledge of the unit material.
  • Pass: At PS level, a student demonstrates proficiency in the unit material.
  • Fail: When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

Learning support

• Simple extensions: If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.
• Special consideration: If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes

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

• LO1: Demonstrate understanding of the physics underlying astrophysical situations, and use these concepts to describe the system under consideration.
• LO2: Synthesise knowledge from the undergraduate syllabus and apply physics knowledge and mathematical skills to solve astrophysical problems.
• LO3: Evaluate different theoretical models applying to a system and assess the applicability of these models.
• LO4: Analyse astrophysical observations and numerical simulations to construct a physical model for an astrophysical system.

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.

• GQ1: Depth of disciplinary expertise: Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
• GQ2: Critical thinking and problem solving: Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
• GQ3: Oral and written communication: Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
• GQ4: Information and digital literacy: Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
• GQ5: Inventiveness: Generating novel ideas and solutions.
• GQ6: Cultural competence: Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures.
• GQ7: Interdisciplinary effectiveness: Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
• GQ8: Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity: An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
• GQ9: Influence: Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Weekly schedule

WK | Topic | Learning activity | Learning outcomes ---|---|---|--- Week 01 | Introduction to Galaxies (weeks 1-2) | Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) | LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 Week 03 | Galactic Dynamics (weeks 3-4) | Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) | LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 Week 04 | Dynamics of the Milky Way (weeks 4-5) | Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) | LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 Week 06 | Dark Matter | Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) | LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 Week 07 | Big Bang, Inflation, and Cosmology (weeks 7-8) | Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) | LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 Week 08 | Guest Lecture #1 | Lecture and tutorial (1 hr) | LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 Week 09 | Cosmological Perturbations and Dark Matter Halos (weeks 9-10) | Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) | LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 Week 10 | Formation of First Stars and First Galaxies (weeks 10-11) | Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) | LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 Week 11 | Gaseous Processes in Astrophysics (weeks 11-12) | Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) | LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 Week 12 | Guest Lectures #2 and #3 | Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) | LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 Week 13 | Seminar presentations by students | Seminar (6 hr) | LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews. There have been some changes to the assessments and the teaching schedule since this unit was last offered.