PH32019: Stars and stellar evolution
[Page last updated: 23 April 2025]
| Academic Year: | 2025/26 |
| Owning Department/School: | Department of Physics |
| Credits: | 5 [equivalent to 10 CATS credits] |
| Notional Study Hours: | 100 |
| Level: | Honours (FHEQ level 6) |
| Period: |
- Semester 1
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| Assessment Summary: | EXOB 100% |
| Assessment Detail: |
- Written examination (EXOB 100%)
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| Supplementary Assessment: |
- Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
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| Requisites: |
Before or while taking this module you must ( take PH22006 AND take AT LEAST 1 MODULE FROM {PH22009, PH32018} ) OR ( take AT LEAST 1 MODULE FROM {PH20013, PH20060} AND take AT LEAST 1 MODULE FROM {PH20014, PH20061} AND take AT LEAST 1 MODULE FROM {PH20016, PH32018} AND take AT LEAST 1 MODULE FROM {PH20029, PH20067} )
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| Learning Outcomes: |
After taking this unit the student should be able to:
describe the physical processes occurring in the inter-stellar medium;
discuss in detail how stars form from gravitational collapse of dense gas clouds;
demonstrate an understanding of energy transport in stars;
describe in detail the post-main sequence evolution of stars;
solve order of magnitude problems concerning spectral line formation, gas and dust clouds, gravitational collapse, hydrostatic equilibrium.
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| Synopsis: | Drawing on your knowledge of quantum mechanics, thermal physics, gravitation, dynamics and electromagnetism, you will explore the composition of the interstellar medium, the process of star formation, and the structure and evolution of stars. You will see how stars form from condensing gas clouds in the interstellar medium and follow their life history through to the extreme physics of their demise and the exotic remnants they leave behind.
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| Content: | Components of the ISM (6 hours): Atomic hydrogen and 21cm radiation. Dark clouds. HII regions. T-Tauri stars. HH objects. Masers. Obtaining information about the interstellar medium (ISM). Spectral line shapes. Interstellar reddening. Optical depth. Radiative transfer. Interstellar dust grains. Formation of molecules. Radiatively excited regions. Continuum emission.
Stars and Star Formation (5 hours): Hydrostatic equilibrium. Collapse processes. The Virial Theorem. Star formation. Evolution of protostars. Angular momentum and magnetic field problems. Accretion discs and molecular outflows. Classification of stars. The Hertzsprung-Russell diagram. Zero-age main sequence stars. Initial stellar mass function.
Stellar Structure (6 hours): Energy transport in stars. Equations of stellar structure. Simple stellar models. Polytropic models. Evolution off the main sequence. The helium flash. Shell burning. The RGB and the AGB. Giant and supergiant stars. Variable stars.
Stellar Deaths (5 hours): Late stages of stellar evolution. Novae. Supernovae. Stellar remnants. Electron and neutron degeneracy pressure. White dwarfs, neutron stars and black holes.
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| Course availability: |
PH32019 is Compulsory on the following courses:
Department of Physics
- USPH-AFB22 : BSc(Hons) Physics with Astrophysics (Year 3)
- USPH-AAB10 : BSc(Hons) Physics with Astrophysics with Study year abroad (Year 4)
- USPH-AKB10 : BSc(Hons) Physics with Astrophysics with Year long work placement (Year 4)
- USPH-AFM22 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with Astrophysics (Year 3)
- USPH-AAM14 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with Astrophysics with Study year abroad (Year 4)
- USPH-AKM10 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with Astrophysics with Professional Placement (Year 4)
- USPH-AKM11 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with Astrophysics with Professional and Research Placements (Year 4)
- USPH-AFM23 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with Astrophysics with research placement (Year 3)
- USPH-AAM15 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with Astrophysics with Study year abroad and Research Placement (Year 4)
PH32019 is Optional on the following courses:
Department of Physics
- USPH-AFB26 : BSc(Hons) Mathematics and Physics (Year 3)
- USXX-AAB04 : BSc(Hons) Mathematics and Physics with Study year abroad (Year 4)
- USXX-AKB04 : BSc(Hons) Mathematics and Physics with Year long work placement (Year 4)
- USPH-AFB20 : BSc(Hons) Physics (Year 3)
- USPH-AAB02 : BSc(Hons) Physics with Study year abroad (Year 4)
- USPH-AKB02 : BSc(Hons) Physics with Year long work placement (Year 4)
- USPH-AFB24 : BSc(Hons) Physics with Theoretical Physics (Year 3)
- USPH-AAB16 : BSc(Hons) Physics with Theoretical Physics with Study year abroad (Year 4)
- USPH-AKB16 : BSc(Hons) Physics with Theoretical Physics with Year long work placement (Year 4)
- USPH-AFM20 : MPhys(Hons) Physics (Year 3)
- USPH-AAM12 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with Study year abroad (Year 4)
- USPH-AKM03 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with Professional Placement (Year 4)
- USPH-AKM04 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with Professional and Research Placements (Year 4)
- USPH-AFM21 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with research placement (Year 3)
- USPH-AAM13 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with Study year abroad and Research Placement (Year 4)
- USPH-AFM24 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with Theoretical Physics (Year 3)
- USPH-AAM16 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with Theoretical Physics with Study year abroad (Year 4)
- USPH-AKM16 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with Theoretical Physics with Professional Placement (Year 4)
- USPH-AKM17 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with Theoretical Physics with Professional and Research Placements (Year 4)
- USPH-AFM25 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with Theoretical Physics with research placement (Year 3)
- USPH-AAM17 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with Theoretical Physics with Study year abroad and Research Placement (Year 4)
- USPH-AFM26 : MSci(Hons) Mathematics and Physics (Year 3)
- USXX-AAM01 : MSci(Hons) Mathematics and Physics with Study year abroad (Year 4)
- USXX-AKM01 : MSci(Hons) Mathematics and Physics with Year long work placement (Year 4)
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Notes: - This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2025/26 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2026/27 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2025/26.
- 好色tv and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
- Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
- Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.
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