Program Overview

---

Program Overview

The University of Copenhagen offers a comprehensive range of academic programs, including Bachelor's and Master's degrees, PhD programs, and Continuing Education courses. The university is organized into several faculties, including the Faculty of Science, which encompasses various departments and research centers.

Bachelor's Program in Physics

The Bachelor's program in Physics at the University of Copenhagen is designed to provide students with a solid foundation in the principles of physics, including mechanics, electromagnetism, and thermodynamics. The program is structured to provide a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter, with a focus on theoretical and experimental aspects.

Course Description: Stars and Planets (Astro2)

The course "Stars and Planets (Astro2)" is a 7.5 ECTS course that focuses on the physics of stars and planets. The course aims to provide students with a deep understanding of the fundamental physical properties and processes that govern the structure and evolution of stars and planets.

• The course covers topics such as:
  • The interstellar medium and star formation
  • Protoplanetary disks around newly formed stars
  • Planets around other stars
  • The structure and evolution of stars
• The course is designed to provide students with a qualitative understanding of the relationship between observations and model calculations, as well as the ability to apply this knowledge in literature studies and broader astrophysical contexts.

Learning Objectives

Upon completing the course, students are expected to have gained a thorough understanding of the physics of stars and planets, including:

• The structure and physical conditions in the interstellar medium
• The structure and dynamics of protoplanetary disks and their connection to planet formation
• The methods used to search for exoplanets and the technical limitations of these methods
• The fundamental principles of stellar structure and evolution
• The physical processes that govern the formation of heavy elements in stars through fusion processes and the buildup of heavy elements through r- and s-processes

Teaching Methods

The course is taught through a combination of lectures, exercises, and discussions. The teaching materials are available on the course website, and students are expected to have a basic understanding of thermodynamics, mathematics, mechanics, electromagnetism, and introductory astronomy.

Assessment

The course is assessed through a 20-minute oral exam, where students are expected to present a problem and answer questions from the examiner and internal co-examiner. The exam is based on a list of exam questions that are made available to students at least three weeks prior to the exam.

Prerequisites

The course requires students to have a basic understanding of physics, mathematics, and astronomy, equivalent to the first year and first block of the second year of the Bachelor's program in Physics.

Study Board

The course is offered by the Study Board for Physics, Chemistry, and Nanoscience, and is taught at the Niels Bohr Institute, which is part of the Faculty of Science.

Course Information

• Course code: NFYB16004U
• Credits: 7.5 ECTS
• Level: Bachelor's
• Duration: 1 block
• Placement: Block 2
• Schedule: Tuesdays 8-12 and Thursdays 8-17
• Capacity: No limit, unless students enroll during the late enrollment period or as merit or single-course students.

The course is also offered as part of the university's continuing education program.