ANU Extension Astrophysics B

This course is designed for students who wish to study modern astrophysics at a high level and who have a desire to gain a deep understanding of the universe and its evolution, at a level beyond a standard that may be offered through a unit in the Physics courses at years 11 and 12. International students are not able to enrol in this course. Topics covered in year 11 will include; • The main time, length and mass scales in astronomy • The application of Newtons laws in astrophysics • The first stars in the universe • Supernovae, black holes and the death of stars • The formation stars and planets • Methods for finding new planets and conclusions that can be drawn from them • Planetary climates and thermodynamics • Life in space – philosophical arguments about its existence and nature • The use of graphical methods to display astrophysical data • An introduction to statistical techniques used in astrophysics • Topics covered in year 12 include • The origins of electromagnetic radiation and the various categories of electromagnetic radiation • The very early universe, from the era of inflation to the microwave background • The expanding universe, and evidence for the Big Bang • Dark matter: the evidence for it, alternative theories and its possible nature. • Dark Energy, the evidence for it, alternative theories and its possible nature. • The information base on which an interpretation and description of the universe depends • The science required to interpret the information gathered to describe the universe, to include general relativity • The acquisition of data concerning the universe • The use of information technology to process large data sets • The use of statistical techniques to analyse large data sets This is Part B of a 2 part course.