AST5770 – Solar and stellar physics
Course content
This course provides an advanced introduction to solar and star physics, including an overview of relevant physical phenomena and modern scientific methods. The focus is on the Sun, its structure and dynamics, put in context with other stellar types.
Learning outcome
After completing the course:
- you will have knowledge of the Sun's structure and variation on large and small scales.
- you will understand basic concepts about the physical phenomena that occur in the Sun's atmosphere.
- you will have an overview of how the Sun and other stars can be observed and what can be learned from different types of observation.
- you will understand the similarities and differences between the Sun and other stars.
- you can present the results of a project as a simplified research article.
- you will have knowledge of the current research front in solar physics.
Admission to the course
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in?Studentweb. The course is not open for single course studies.
The course has max capacity of 10 students. Applicants who have the course in their study plan at UiO will be given priority.
Recommended previous knowledge
Six semesters with studies in the Fysikk og astronomi (bachelor) programme or comparable knowledge. In addition, AST3310 – Astrophysical Plasma and Stellar Interiors and AST4310 – Radiative Processes in Astrophysics are recommended as previous knowledge.
Teaching
The teaching extends over one semester, and includes the following per week:
4 hours of lectures
2 hours of group teaching/supervision
The student will work on a major written project assignment based on a simplified research article. In the first half of the semester, students must submit 5 mandatory parts of the project assignment, which must be approved before you can take the final exam. In the second half of the semester, the students must complete the research article by putting all the parts together before they submit the entire project assignment for a final assessment.
Examination
Final home exam in the form of a project assignment, which counts 100 % towards the final grade.
This course has five mandatory assignments that must be approved before you can sit the final exam.
Examination support material
All examination support material is allowed.
Language of examination
The examination text is given in English, and you submit your response in English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F?is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
Resit an examination
Students who can document a valid reason for absence from the regular examination are offered a postponed examination at the beginning of the next semester.
Re-scheduled examinations are not offered to students who withdraw during, or did not pass the original examination.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.