Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Unit Convenor, Lecturer
Mark Wardle
Contact via mark.wardle@mq.edu.au
E6B, room 2.702
Lecturer
Orsola De Marco
Contact via orsola.demarco@mq.edu.au
E6B, room 2.706
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Credit points |
Credit points
3
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
MATH235 and PHYS201 and PHYS202
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Corequisites |
Corequisites
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Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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Unit description |
Unit description
The first part of this unit covers the physical mechanisms responsible for the generation, absorption and scattering of light in environments as diverse as rarefied nebulae, hot compact stellar atmospheres and distant galaxies. During the second part of the unit the theory of stellar structure and evolution is developed. Students become familiar with the UNIX computing environment and the python programming language, and carry out a project using computer models of how stars are born and die.
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Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
Hurdle tasks
This unit has hurdle requirements, specifying a minimum standard that must be attained in aspects of the unit. To pass this unit you must obtain marks of at least 40% in the final examination, 40% in the laboratory project, and (of course) an overall 50% in the unit.
Second-chance hurdle examinations will be offered in the week of July 24 - 28. Results will be released on July 13. You will be notified shortly after that date of your eligibility for a hurdle retry and you must also make yourself available during that week to take advantage of this opportunity.
Late Assessments Policy
The non-examination assessment components should be submitted via iLearn by the due date and time.
The penalty for late submission is deduction of 5% of the possible mark for that item for each 24 hour period (or part) overdue. Assessments will not be accepted for marking if submitted more than 1 week past the due date. Extensions to the due dates for assignments, practical assessments, and project will only be considered if requested with valid reason prior to the due date.
Students anticipating or experiencing difficulties in meeting a deadline should discuss this with one of the lecturers in the first instance, ideally ahead of the deadline, if at all possible. Students should also be familiar with the University's Disruptions to Study policy ( http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html ).
Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
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Assignments | 20% | No | Weeks 3, 6, 9, and 12 |
Practical Assessments | 20% | No | Week 3, 5, 7, and 10 |
Project | 20% | Yes | Week 13 |
Final Examination | 40% | Yes | Session 1 exam period |
Due: Weeks 3, 6, 9, and 12
Weighting: 20%
There will be 4 assignments, each worth 5% of the final grade. Two will be given in each half of the unit. 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%.
Due: Week 3, 5, 7, and 10
Weighting: 20%
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 and explore physical models. Basic numerical techniques and data visualisation will be covered. There will be 4 equally-weighted assessment tasks: 3 in the first half of the unit, and 1 in the second half. Each task 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. Each notebook will be due one week after its lab time is completed.
Due: Week 13
Weighting: 20%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)
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.
Satisfactory completion of the project is a hurdle requirement. You must obtain a project mark of at least 40% to pass the unit. If instead you receive a mark of 30-39%, you must within two weeks arrange a new deadline to submit a revised project.
Due: Session 1 exam period
Weighting: 40%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)
The final examination will be of three hours duration plus ten minutes reading time.
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.
The final examination is a hurdle requirement. You must obtain a mark of at least 40% to pass the unit. If your mark in the final examination is between 30% and 39% inclusive then you will be a given a second and final chance to attain the required level of performance.
Your lecturers are Professors Mark Wardle and Orsola De Marco. Delivery will be through lectures and lecture-tutorials (where content and problem solving examples are given).
Lab sessions will be conducted in the Physics and Astronomy computer lab, and will make use of Python Notebooks, running via the Anaconda python package. Note that labs start in Week 1.
Resources will be announced on iLearn. There is no required text, but the course will be closely based on material drawn from one of our favourite books: "An Introduction to Modern Astrophysics" by Carroll and Ostlie.
Lectures: Monday 12-2pm in W5A 204 and Friday 1-2pm in W6B 382.
Practicals (Computer laboratory): Friday 2-5pm in E7B 209.
Note: Lectures and Practicals start in Week 1.
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html
Assessment Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy_2016.html
Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html
Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/complaint_management/procedure.html
Disruption to Studies Policy (in effect until Dec 4th, 2017): http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html
Special Consideration Policy (in effect from Dec 4th, 2017): https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/special-consideration
In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/
Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au.
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
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