The Galaxy, MTH726U / ASTM0002 , 2012

Lecturer: Dr. Will Sutherland

Revision lecture on Thu 26th April, 3pm, Maths 102
Exam on Friday 11th May, 2:30pm.

Update history (most recent first) :

27 Apr 2012: Posted scanned notes from revision lecture (below).
03 Apr 2012: Posted solutions for coursework Q20-Q26.
20 Mar 2012: Posted solutions for coursework Q14-Q19, and answers for 2011 exam.
1 Mar 2012: Posted solutions for coursework Q8 - Q13
1 Mar 2012: Added 2011 exam paper.
9 Feb 2012: Posted solutions for coursework Q1 - Q7.
9 Jan 2012: Page updated for 2012 course.

This page will cover:

Lecture Notes
Coursework problems, and answers
Advice on examples and revision
Past exam papers and solutions
Questionnaire results

Basic Information

Here is the

Course Information handout

Semester B in 2012
1.0 course unit: 24 hours of lectures (or equivalent)
Lecturer: Dr. Will Sutherland
2pm - 4pm on Thursdays in Maths 103, School of Mathematical Sciences
Core for MSc in Astrophysics (ASTM002)
Assessment method : examination (100 %)

Also available for:

MSc in Mathematics (ASTM002), MSci in Mathematics (MTH726U), MSci in Astrophysics (MTH726U), MSci in Physics (MTH726U), and some other MSci schemes (MTH726U).

Course Aims and Objectives

The aims and objectives of the course are:

To understand the basics of galactic classification, and do simple quantitative problems relating to this.
To understand the meaning of the collisionless Boltzmann equation and its context. To be able to do simple problems involving Jeans equations.
To have a qualitative understanding of emission processes in the interstellar medium (ISM). To be able to do simple problems on metal enrichment of the ISM.
Graphical ideas about the relation between disc mass and rotation curve, and the signature of a dark halo.
A qualitative understanding of gravitational lensing. To be able to do simple calculations relating to microlensing surveys.
To understand the timing argument for the mass of the Milky Way. Additional qualitative aspects of the dynamics of the Milky Way.

Please note the administrative updates below