PHY8052 : Numerical Stellar Structure and Evolution (Inactive)
- Inactive for Year: 2024/25
- Module Leader(s): Professor Tamara Rogers
- Owning School: Mathematics, Statistics and Physics
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 10 |
| ECTS Credits: | 5.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
This module will use research grade software (Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics, MESA) to compute stellar structure and evolution models and investigate cutting edge research topics in the area. This is a follow-on class to Stellar Structure and Evolution.
Outline Of Syllabus
In this course students will learn how to use the Research grade stellar evolution code Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics (MESA) in order to study the structure and evolution of stars. This course follows on from PHY3040 in which the theoretical concepts were covered. Students will be required to use both Unix and Python.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 10 | 1:00 | 10:00 | Formal lectures |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Practical | 20 | 1:00 | 20:00 | Student led group activity |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Practical | 10 | 1:00 | 10:00 | Guided Computer Lab |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 60 | 1:00 | 60:00 | Skills practice. Directed research and reading. Project Work |
| Total | 100:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
This is a hands-on practical, computer based class. Lectures will be for introducing projects and reviewing the theoretical underpinning. Computer classes will be used to get students started on projects. Small group teaching will be used for students to present work to peers and lecturer and for assessment.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prob solv exercises | 1 | M | 20 | Project 1 |
| Prob solv exercises | 1 | M | 20 | Project 2 |
| Prob solv exercises | 1 | M | 20 | Project 3 |
| Prob solv exercises | 1 | M | 20 | Project 4 |
| Prob solv exercises | 1 | M | 20 | Project 5 |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
This is a practical, computational and research-based course. Assessment will be wholly based on projects and project presentation.
There will be 6 "projects", approximately 1 every two weeks. Each project will require a written report and one student will give an oral presentation on a project (randomly assigned). Each project report will be done with a partner, with the partner alternating for every project. Your total mark for the course will be made up of your top five scores, one of which must be the oral presentation.
Examples of Projects:
P1 - Hydrostatic Equilibrium
P2 - Scaling Laws
P3 - Degeneracy
P4 - Polytropes
P5 - Convection
P6 - Nuclear Burning
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- PHY8052's Timetable