Participation in the laboratory activity is required to complete the unit. The lab sessions will take the form of exercises using the python computing language to manipulate functions that represent physical systems considered during lectures. The lab work will reinforce concepts from the lectures, and demonstrate how computers can be used to test physical models. Basic numerical techniques and data visualisation will be covered. There will be 4 equally-weighted projects: 3 in the first half of the course, and 1 in the second half. Each lab project will be assigned two weeks of lab time. Python notebooks will be used to conduct the labs, and completed notebooks will be submitted and graded electronically. Projects shall be submitted one week after their lab time is completed, i.e. at the ends of weeks 3, 6, and 9. Extensions will only be considered if requested with valid reasons prior to the due date, and the penalty for late submission of the assignments is the subtraction of 5% of the final grade for every day of delay. The assignment can not be turned in more than 1 week past the official due date.

There will be a total of 4 assessed assignments, each worth 5% of the final grade. Two will be given in each half of the course. The assignments will be based on the lecture material, and will be set at regular intervals. The assignments are an integral part of the unit and aid your understanding of the material.  The total weight of the assignments on the final grade is 20%. Extensions will only be considered if requested with valid reasons prior to the due date, and the penalty for late submission of the assignments is the subtraction of 5% of the final grade for every day of delay. The assignment can not be turned in more than 1 week past the official due date.

Students will undertake a practical project involving computer programming, astrophysical interpretation, report and presentation.  Computational facilities will be available in the laboratory.  The project will be undertaken during Weeks 10-13. Extensions will only be considered if requested with valid reasons prior to the due date, and the penalty for late submission of the practical project is the subtraction of 5% of the final grade for every day of delay. For any problems with meeting the deadlines, please contact the Unit Convenor.

The final examination will be of three hours duration plus ten minutes reading time.  Battery or solar powered calculators which do not have a full alphabet on the keyboard will be allowed into the examination. Calculators with text retrieval are not permitted for the final examination.  

You are expected to present yourself for the final examination at the time and place designated in the University examination timetable (http://www.timetables.mq.edu.au/).   The timetable will be available in draft form approximately eight weeks before the commencement of examinations and in final form approximately four weeks before the commencement of examinations.

The only exception to not sitting the examination at the designated time is because of documented illness or unavoidable disruption.  In these circumstances you may wish to apply for Special Consideration (see ‘Special Consideration’ in this Guide).  If a supplementary examination is granted as a result of the special consideration process the examination will be scheduled after the conclusion of the official examination period.  You are advised that it is the policy of the University not to set early examinations for individuals or groups of students.   All students are expected to ensure that they are available until the end of the teaching semester, i.e.  the final day of the examination period.