ASTR 261 STUDY GUIDE FOR FINAL EXAM

Study previous test.
One could benefit from looking over the test reviews for PHY161

Study all my web chapters.
Do all the Z&G readings

Historical aspects of astronomy: Know who did what
and when.

Do all problems

TERMS (Know concepts and definitions for):

Radial velocity, tangential velocity, space velocity,
Doppler Principle, Doppler shift, blueshift, redshift,
Kumar limit; Chandrasekhar limit, Schwarzschild radius,
Cosmological Principle,
to mention a few.

TOPICS:
Trignometric parallax method
Proper motion
Photometry and the magnitude system
Absoltue magnitudes and luminosities
Monochromaticm polychroamatic, and bolometric bandpasses
Reddening
Nature of EM radiation.
Kirchhoff's Laws.
Quantum theory of radiation and the Bohr atom.
Laws of radiation.
Planckian or Black Body radiation curves.
Stellar spectra and the production of absorption lines.
Properties of spectral lines and equivalent widths.
The Doppler Effect
Radial velocity diagram for a binary system/
Spectral Classes and relation to surface temperature of a star.

The Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram.
Properties of the groupings in the H-R Diagram.
Determining stellar masses.
Distance modulus.
Spectroscopic parallax method.

Stellar Evolution:
Bok Globules
The order of the different stages of stellar evolution.
Pre and post main-sequence evolutionary tracks.
Degenerate electron pressure.
The defining characteristics of protostars, main-sequence stars,
    white dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes.
Theories of Relativity; The space-time continuum;
Relation between curved space-time and gravity.

Period-Luminosity Law.
Local Group.
Magellanic Clouds.
Types of star clusters, their properties, and determining
their ages.
Stellar prototypes: RR Lyrae, Delta Cephei, W Virginis, T Tauri, U Geminorum,
    omicron Ceti.

Recent Topics:

  1. The work of Galileo, Herschel, Shapley, Hubble,
  2. Einstein, Lemaitre, and Gamow.
  3. Cosmology
  4. Structure of a spiral galaxy;
  5. Types of galaxies; QUASARS
  6. The distribution of galaxies in the universe
  7. Hubble Diagram; Hubble's Law; Hubble Constant
  8. The expanding universe
  9. The "primordial atom" and the Big Bang/Fireball Theory
  10. Cosmological Principle.
  11. Inflationary epoch of the universe.
  12. Dark matter and evidence for.
  13. Type Ia and Type II supernovae
  14. Frerball chronology
  15. Accretion theory for the formation of the planets
Equations to Memorize:
LAT = HAsun + 12:00
LST = RA + t = HAVE
TP = Tsun - TE
1/2mv2 = 3/2kT
Stefan-Boltzmann and Wien Laws
7-5.2; 7-5.3; 7-F 3-14; Doppler Equation
8-1.1
D=1/p
B1/B2 = (2.512)m2-m1
11-4.1;  11-5.2; 11-8.2; 11-9.1; 11-11.1; 11-11.2

QUESTIONS TO RESEARCH:
What is the solar neighbor hood?
What is a parsec?

  • Define absolute magnitude.
  • In the H-R Diagram, why are most stars found to define a locus called the main sequence?
  • What are the physical differences between white dwarfs and red dwarfs.
  • What are the defining characteristics of main sequence stars?
  • What is the mass-luminosity law and for what stars is this valid?
  • How is mass ratio for a binary star system determined?
  • What important effect do stars have on the galactic interstellar medium?
  • What is a brown dwarf?
  • What is the Kumar limit?
  • What stage of evolution follows the main sequence stage for the Sun?
  • What is the final stage of evolution for the Sun?
  • How can a star with a mass 10 times the Sun's become a white dwarf star?
  • What is the relationship between the age of a star and its chemical composition?
  • What is meant by the term "main sequence turnoff point" and what is it used to determine?
  • Why would we not expect to find planetary systems around the first generation of stars that formed in the Galaxy?
  • What is the "pristine chemical composition of the universe?"

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