Introduction to Stellar Physics
3.0
creditsAverage Course Rating
Survey of stellar astrophysics. Topics include stellar atmospheres, stellar interiors, nucleosynthesis, stellar evolution, supernovae, white dwarfs, neutron stars, pulsars, black holes, binary stars, accretion disks, protostars, and extrasolar planetary systems. Recommended Course Background: AS.110.108-AS.110.109, AS.171.202
Fall 2012
Professor: Rosemary Wyse
239 The best aspect of this course was the hands-on experiments that didn’t come with any pre-lab or post-lab assignments. Students completed al their experiments in class and did not have to do any work outside of the classroom. The worst aspects of the course included the unclear lab guidelines, ineffective teaching assistants, and lengthy labs that students often had a difficult time completing. The course would improve if the students were provided with clearer lab instructions, effective teaching assistants and more structured lab experiments, in order to prevent the experiments from being rushed and not well-correlated with the subject matter. Prospective students should be prepared to use statistics and Microsoft Excel in the lab. Those who want to be successful should read the labs beforehand and pace themselves to complete them in the al otted three hours.