S
SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
EMORANDU?J!
To: ?
Senate
?
From:
J.W.G. Ivany
Chair, SCAP
Subject: Faculty of Science ?
Date:
?
November 19, 1987
Department of Physics
Reference SCUS 87-18; 87-35;
Reference SCAP 87-33; 87-34
Action undertaken by the Senate Committee on Academic Planning/Senate
Committee on Undergraduate Studies gives rise to the following motion:
Motion: ?
that Senate approve and recommend approval to the Board of
Governors as set out in S.87-65
New course
?
PHYS 390-3 ?
Introduction to Astronomy and
Astrophysics
Deletion of ?
PHYS 212-1 ?
Engineering Problems in
Dynamics
FOR INFORMATION
Acting under delegated authority, SCUS approved a change of vector to PHYS 130-2 and
PHYS 131-2 as set out in S.87-65.
- ?
SENATE CO1OITTEE ON UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES
NEW COURSE PROPOSAL FORM
1.
Calendar Infor'Tation
?
Department:Physics
•
Abbreviation-Code'.- pHy
S __ Course Number:
390
?
Credit Hours:3 ?
Vector:3-1-0
Title of Course: Introduction to Astronomy and Astrophysics
Calendar Description of Course:
Observational astronomy, solar system, stars and stellar evolution, galaxics,
and the universe. Short introduction to relativity. Observing sessions
when appropriate.
Nature of Course
Prerequisites (or special instructions):
P1-fl'S 102 or 121
What course (courses), if an
y
, is being dropped from the calendar if this course is
approved: Ndne
'
ut PHYS 197-3, Periphysical Topics II, which has in the past been
been offered with the subtitle "Introductory Astroromy" and offered less
2.
Scheduling
?
than annually, will no longer be offered under that subtitle.
How frequently will the course be offered?no more than annually, according to demand.
Semester in which the course will first be offered? 84-3
Which of your present faculty would be available to make the proposed offering
possible? Leigh Hunt Palmer
3.
Objectives of the Course
This course'in intended to satisfy a need felt by students in Science programs
for an introduction to astronomy. Formerly these students were limited to a
less sophisticated
I
course intended primarily for students in Arts programs,
among whom the demand for such a course seems to be very small. This course
will provide an attractive upper level elective for science students.
6. Budgetary and Space Requirements (for information only)
What additional resources will be required in the following areas:
Faculty
Staff
Library ?
$1,000for basic current references would be desirable.
Audio Visual
?
$500 for slide sets would be desirable.
Space
?
There is a suitable observing site on the Ring Road. Piers
(4" pipes) for Physics Department telescopes would be desirable
Equipment ?
Portable tripods, which require elaborate setup, are currently
used. Department already owns four 200-mm telescopes suitable
Appro"1 ?
for use in this course.
Date:
0 0
Department Chairman ?
Dean ?
hairman, SCUS
SCUS 73-34b:- '(Whencdmpleting this form, for instructions see Memorandum SCUS 73-34a.
Attach course outline).
5.
INTRODUCTION TO
ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS
I would
like
to propose ?
the Physics Department that an introductory?
course in astronomy and astrophysics be added to our upper level offerings.
My arguments in favor of doing this are presented below.
?
They include
propriety, competence. and necessity. Development of this proposal has
taken place over five years and I present below only the most important
arguments of which I have thought.
Astronomy and astrophysics are very active areas of contemporary scien-
tific research. A large fraction of governmental involvement and funding in
pure research goes to researeN in these fields. Almost every important
university has major commitments to research and academic programs in astro-
nomy. Even industrial research has made some major contributions to astro-
nomical knowledge, one of the most recent of which was recognized with a
Nobel Prize for Physics. That astrophysical research has been an important
frontier of physics was recc
'
gr;.ized again this year with the award of a Nobel
Prize to W. Fowler and S. Chandrasekhar.
Public awareness of and interest in astronomy is and has for years been
very high. If a telescope is set up (even in the daytime!) in a park or
other public place it immediately becomes the centre of a crowd of inter-
ested, questioning people. A surprisingly large number of them exhibit
awareness and knowledge of matters astronomical and even astrophysical
("Does a black hole really...?")! The press and television devote much
attention to the frequent dramatic discoveries which are made in these
areas. Our students, quite understandably, would like to be able to learn
something of astronomy and astroohysics as a part of their formal education
in Science.
Science students who pursue a career in teaching will be required to
Include much astronomy in their teaching because it Is core curricular
material in B.C. It would be unfortunate if SFU did not provide opportunity
(which Is available at the other two provincial universities and many
colleges) for its students to study astronomy •s part of their preparation.
SFU now has in its Physics,Department a faculty member with experience
in astronomy and astronomy teaching.
?
This resource should now be made
available to our students in a format appropriate to the demand. The
students who request astronoiry courses are usually prepared in both Physics
and Mathematics well beyond the level of the course which is presently
offered, PHYS 198-3, which has no university prerequisites. A course with
introductory physics prerequisites (and, en passant, mathematical prerequi-
sites) appropriate to the 300 level would serve the needs and abilities of
these students much better than PHYS 198-3. Four previous offerings of PHYS
198-3 have been completed by more than 70 students. I expect this course to
attract more students than 198-3.
Given that need for the course has been herein established, I ask the
Physics Department to commit resources to It by adopting Physics 390-3,
Introduction to Astronomy and Astrophysics, a course proposal for which Is
attached.
?
9
Leigh Hunt Palmer
12 December 1983
Contents
This is textbook, but it will be augmented by material on observation
from
tI,\].].
about telescopes" and
"The
observer's handbook", principally
regarding coordinate s
y
stems, .-istrc'pbotographic methods, and ephemerides.
Preface
The Principle ofLensesandthe Refracting Telescope
?
22
Reflection ?
24
The Principle
of
Parabolic Mirrors and
the Reflecting Telescope.
?
25
Part
P
I.
Basic Principles
?
1
Angular Resolution
?
27
32
Astronomical Instruments and Measuremenis
1. The Birth of Science
?
3
a
i
The Constellations as Na'igational Aids
?
3
3. The Great Laws of Microscopic
The Constellations as Timekeeping Aids
?
4
Physics
?
33
The Rise of Astrology
?
. 9
Mechanics ?
33
The Rise of Astronomy
?
9
The Universal Law
of
Gravitation ?
34
Modern Astronomy ?
10
Gauss's Formulation
of
the Law
of
Gravitation ?
34
Rough Scales of the Astronomical Universe
?
11
Conservation
of
Energy
?
35
Contents of the Universe
?
12
The Electric Force
?
38
Relative Strengths
of
Electric and Gravitational
Forces
?
39
2. Classical Mechanics, Light, and
Electromagnetism
?
39
Nuclear Forces
?
40
Astronomical Telescopes
?
14
Quantum Mechanics
?
40
Classical Mechanics
?
14
The Quantum-Mechanical Behavior
of
Light
?
43
The Quantum-Mechanical Behavior
of
Matter ?
44
The Nature of Light
?
16
Spectrum
of
the H
y
drogen A loin
?
45
The Energy Density and Energy Flux
of
a
Angular Momentum
?
47
Plane Wave
?
17
Orbital Angular Momentum
?
48
The Response
of
Electric Charges to Light
?
18
Spin Angular Momentum
?
49
Astronomical Telescopes
?
20
Quantum Statistics
?
50
The Periodic Table
of
the Elements ?
50
Refraction ?
20
The Principle
of
the Prism
?
21
Atomic Spectroscopy
?
52
.
CONTENTS
Special Relativity
?
53
Time Dilation
?
54
Lorent: Contraction
?
55
Relativistic Doppler Shift
?
57
Relativistic Increase
of
Mass ?
58
Equivalence
of
Mass and Energy
?
59
Relativistic Quantum Mechanics
?
60
Concluding Philosophical Remarks
?
61
4.
The Great Laws of
Macroscopic Physics
?
62
Thermodynamics ?
62
Alternative Statements
of
the Second Law of
Thern7odvnamics
?
63
The Statistical Basis
of
Thermodynamics ?
63
Statistical Mechanics
?
64
Thermodynamic Behavior of Matter
?
66
The Properties of a Perfect Gas
?
66
Acoustic Waves and Shock Waves
?
68
Real Gases, Liquids, and Solids
?
71
Macroscopic Quantum Phenomena
?
75
Thermodynamic Behavior of Radiation
?
77
An Example
?
80
Philosophical Comment
?
80
art
H. The
Stars ?
81
5.
The Sun as a Star ?
83
The Atmosphere of the Sun
?
84
The Interior of the Sun
?
86
Radiative Transfer in the Sun
?
89
The Source of
Energy of
the Sun ?
90
The Stability
of
the Sun ?
92
Swnn;arv of
the Principles of
Stellar Structure
?
94
The Convection Zone
of the Sun ?
95
The Chromosphere and Corona of the Sun
?
96
Magnetic Activity in the Sun
?
98
The Relationship of the Sun to Other Stars
and toUs
?
100
6.
Nuclear Energy and Synthesis
of the Elements ?
102
Matter and the Four Forces
?
103
Protons and Neutrons
?
104
Electrons and Neutrinos ?
105
Particles and Antiparticles
?
105
The Quantum-Mechanical Concept
of
Force
?
107
Nuclear Forces and Nuclear Reactions
?
108
The Strong Nuclear Force
?
108
The Weak Nuclear Force
?
109
Atomic Nuclei ?
110
Thermonuclear Reactions
?
112
The Proton-Proton Chain
?
113
The CNO C y cle ?
113
Temperature Sensitivity
of
Thermonuclear Reactions ?
114
Binding Energies
of
Atomic Nuclei
?
115
The Triple Alpha Reaction
?
117
The General Pattern
of
Thermonuclear Fusion
?
118
The rand s Processes ?
119
The Solar Neutrino Experiment
?
121
Speculation About the Future
?
123
7.
The End States of Stars ?
125
White Dwarf ?
126
Electron-Degeneracy Pressure
?
126
Mass-Radius Relation
of
White Dwarfs ?
127
Source of
Luminosit y
of
a White Dwarf 129
Neutron Stars ?
129
Upper Mass Limit for Neutron Stars
?
131
Neutron Stars Observable as Pulsars
?
131
The Masses
of
Neutron Stars ?
134
Black Holes ?
134
Gravitational Distortion of
Spacetune ?
135
Thermod y namics of
Black Holes ?
139
Concluding Philosophical Remarks
?
143
8.
Evolution of the Stars ?
144
Theoretical H-R Diagram
?
145
Properties of
Stars on the Main Sequence
?
145
Evolution of Low-Mass Stars
?
147
Ascending the Giant Branch
?
147
The Heliwn Flash and Descent to the Hori:ontal
Branch ?
149
Ascending the Asymptotic Giant Branch
?
151
Planetar y Nebulae and White Dwarfs
?
152
Evolution of High-Mass Stars
?
153
Approach to the Iron Catastrophe
?
153
Supernova of Type II ?
154
Concluding Philosophical Remark
?
157
9.
Star Clusters and the Hertzsprung-
Russell Diagram ?
159
The Observational H-R Diagram ?
159
Lwninosity ?
159
Effective Temperature ?
161
UBV Photometry and Spectral Classification
?
161
Luminosit y
Class ?
164
S
.
0
CONTENTS
10. Binary Stars
?
179
Observational Classification of
Binary Stars
?
179
The Formation of Binary Stars
?
184
Evolution of the Orbit Because of
Tidal Effects ?
185
Classification of Close Binaries Based on the
Roche Model
?
186
Mass Transfer in Semidetached Binaries
?
188
Energy Transfer in Contact Binaries
?
189
Evolution of Semidetached System
?
191
Detached Component = Normal Star: Algols
?
191
Accretion Disks
?
193
Detached Component = White Dwarf: Cataclysmic
Variables ?
195
• I ?
Detached Component = Neutron Star: Binary X-ray
Sources ?
198
Interesting Special Examples of Close
Binary Stars ?
203
cvgnusX-1: A Black Hole?
?
203
The Binary Pulsar: A Confirmation
of
Einstein's
General Relativity? ?
204
SS433 ?
206
Concluding Remarks
?
208
The H-R Diagram of Nearby Stars
?
166
The H-R Diagram of Star Clusters
?
166
Open Clusters ?
167
Distance to the Hrades Cluster
?
169
Cepheid Period-Luminosity Relation
?
170
Globular Clusters ?
173
RR Lyrae Variables
?
173
Population II Cepheids
?
174
Dynamics of Star Clusters
?
174
Philosophical Comment
?
178
Part
HI. Galaxies and Cosmology
?
209
21-cm-Line Radiation fro,n HI Regions
?
227
Radio Lines from Molecular Clouds
?
231
Infrared Manifestations of
Gaseous Nebulae
?
234
Ultraviolet, X-ray. and Gamma-ray Observations
of the Interstellar Medium
?
237
Cosmic Rays and the Interstellar
Magnetic Field
?
239
Interactions Between Stars and the
Interstellar Medium
?
245
The Death
of
Stars ?
245
The Birth of Stars
?
248
Concluding Remarks
?
253
12. Our Galaxy: The Milky
Way System
255
The True Shape and Size of the Milky
Way System
?
257
Stellar Populations ?
258
Stellar Motions and Galactic Shape
?
259
Missing-Mass Problem
?
259
The Local Mass-to-Light Ratio
?
260
Mass of the Halo
?
261
Differential Rotation of the Galaxy
?
261
The Local Standard
of
Rest
?
261
Local Differential Motions
?
262
Crude Estimates of the Mass
of
the Galax y ?
264
The Insignificance
of
Stellar Encounters
?
264
The Theory
of
Epic
.
i'clic Orbits
?
265
The Large-Scale Field
of
Differential Rotation
?
267
The Thickness
of
the Gas Lover
?
270
Kinematic Distances
?
271
Spiral Structure ?
272
The Nature
of
the Spiral Arms
?
274
The Densit y
- Wave Theor
y
of Galactic
Spiral Structure ?
275
The Basic Reason for Spiral Structure
?
281
The Birth
of
Stars in Spiral A mis
?
281
Concluding Remarks
?
284
11. The Material Between the Stars
?
211
The Discovery of Interstellar Dust
?
211
The Discovery of Interstellar Gas
?
214
Different Optical Manifestations of
Gaseous Nebulae
?
215
Dark Nebulae ?
216
Reflection Nebulae
?
216
Thermal Emission Nebulae: HI! Regions
?
216
No,zthemtal Emission Nebulae:
Supernova Re,nnanis
?
223
Radio Manifestations of Gaseous Nebulae
Radio Recombination Lines
?
226
Thermal Radio Continuuin Emission
?
226
40
13. Quiet and Active Galaxies
?
286
The Shapley-Curtis Debate
?
286
The Distances to the Spirals
?
286
Spirals: Stellar or Gaseous Systems?
?
287
The Zone of Avoidance
?
288
The Resolution
of
the Controversy ?
291
The Classification of Galaxies
?
293
Hubble's Morphological Types
?
293
Ellipticals ?
293
Spirals ?
294
226 ?
Refinements
of
Hubble's Morphological Scheme
?
296
Stellar Populations
?
296
Van den Bergh's Luminosity Class
?
297
CONTENTS
Flat and Open Universes
?
375
C'osmological Tests by Means
of
the
Rubble Diagram 377
?
9
Concluding Remarks
?
380
The Distribution of Light and Mass in
Regular Galaxies
?
297
Surface Photometry
of
Galaxies
?
297
Velocity Dispersions in Ellipticals and Rotation Curves
of
Spirals ?
298
The L 1/
4
Law for Ellipticals and Spirals
?
305
Dynamics
of
Barred Spirals
?
305
Active Galaxies ?
306
Sei
f ert
Galaxies
?
307
BL Lac Objects
?
309
Radio Galaxies ?
310
Quasars ?
315
Supermassive Black-Hole Models for Active
Galactic Nuclei
?
320
Observational Efforts to Detect Supermassive
Black Holes
?
323
The Nucleus
of
Our Own Galaxy ?
323
The Nucleus of
M87 327
Philosophical Comment
?
331
14.
Clusters of Galaxies and the
Expansion of the Universe 332
Interacting Binary Galaxies
?
332
Mergers ?
336
Hierarchical Clustering
?
339
Rich Clusters
of
Galaxies ?
339
Galactic Cannibalism
?
339
Ho: Gas in Rich Clusters
?
345
Missing Mass in Rich Clusters
?
348
Unsolved Problems concerning Small Groups and
Clusters ?
349
The Expansion of the Universe
?
350
The Extragalactic Distance Scale
?
350
Bubble's Law
?
352
Numerical Value
of
Hubbles Constant
?
352
Naive Interpretation
of
the Ph
y
sical Significance
of
Rubble's Law
?
353
Philosophical Comments - 354
15.
Gravitation and Cosmology
?
355
Newtonian Cosmology
?
355
The Cosnwlogical Principle
?
355
The Role
of
Graritazion in Newtonian Cosmology
?
358
Deceleration
of
the Expansion Rate
?
359
The Age
of
the Universe ?
360
The Ultimate Fate
of
the Universe ?
361
General Relativity and Cosmology
?
363
The Foundations
of
General Relativity
?
364
Relativistic Cosmology
?
367
The Large-Scale Geometry of Spacetime
?
368
Space Curvature
?
368
Spacetinie Curvature
?
370
16.The
Big Bang and the Creation?
?
of the Material World
?
381
?
Big Bang vs. Steady State
?
381
Distribution
of
Radio Galaxies and Quasars
?
382
Olbers' Paradox: Why is the Sky Dark at Night?
?
383 ?
The Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation 384
The Hot Big Bang
?
386
The Thern7a! History
of
the Early Universe
?
388
Big-Bang Nucleosynt/zesis ?
389
The Deuzeriwn Problen?
?
391
Massive Neutrinos? ?
392
The Evolution of
the Universe ?
393
?
The Creation of the Material World
?
396
The Limits of
Physical Knowledge
?
397
Mass-Energy from the Vacuwn? 398
The Quality of
the Universe
?
400
The Asymmetry Between Matter and Antimafler
?
400
Broken Symmetries
?
402
Local Si'mnzetries and Forces
?
404
Supersynunetry, Supergravity,
and Superun
j
fi cation ?
407
Philosophical Comment
?
411
IV. The
Solar System and
Life ?
413
17.
The Solar System
?
415
Inventory of the Solar System
?
418
Planets and Their Satellites
?
418
Minor Planets or Asteroids; Meteoroids, Meteors, and
Meteorites ?
420
Comets
?
423
The Interiors of Planets
?
425
Interior Structure
?
425
Mechanical Balance
?
425
Heat Transfer and Energy Balance
?
429
The Origin of Planetary Rings
?
431
The Atmospheres of Planets
?
433
Themal Structural
of
the Atmospheres
of
Terrestrial Planets
?
433
?
Runaway Greenhouse Effect 437
The Exosphere ?
441
Plane:arr Circulation ?
444
Stom p s on Earth
?
447
Ocean Circulation ?
449
The Atmosphere of
Jupiter 451
Magnetic Fields and Magnetospheres
?
454
CONTENTS
.
The Relationship of Solar-System Astronomy to
the Rest of Astronomy
?
458
18. Origin of the Solar System
?
and the Earth
?
459
The Age of the Earth and the Solar System
?
459
Radioactivity ?
459
Radioactive Dazing
?
460
Exposure Ages
of
Meteoroids ?
462
Age of
the Radioactive Elements
?
462
Motions of the Planets
?
463
Kepler's Three Laws
of
Planetar
y
Motion
?
463
Newton's Derivation
of
Kepler's Laws
?
463
D
y
namical Evolution
of
the Solar S
y
stem ?
466
Resonances in the Solar S
ystem ?
467
Regularities in the Solar System Caused by Initial
Conditions ?
474
Origin of the Solar System
?
474
The Nebular H
y pothesis ?
475
Differences Between Terrestrial and Jovian Planets: The
Condensation Theor
y ?
475
The Sizes
of
the Planets and Their Orbital
Spacings ?
478
Moons, Rings. and Comets
?
478
Condensation versus Agglomeration
of
Presolar Grains
?
481
Origin and Evolution of the Earth
?
482
The Melting
of
the Solid Earth
?
482
The Fomiation
of
the Atmosphere and the Oceans: The
Big Burp
?
483
Continental Drift and Sea-Floor Spreading
?
484
The Past and Future
of
the Continents ?
490
The Emergence of Life on Earth
?
491
The Evolution
of
the Earth's Atmosphere
?
491
The Formation
of
the Ozone L.a'er
?
492
The Role
of
Life in changing the
Earths Atmosphere
?
493
Historical Comment
?
497
?
19. The Nature of Life on Earth
?
498
Growth ?
498
Reproduction.
?
499
Natural Selection and Evolution
?
499
Evolution Is Not Directed
?
500
Darwins Accomplishment in Perspective
?
501
The Evidence in Favor
of
Darwinian Evolution
?
502
The Bridge Between the Macroscopic and
Microscopic Theories of Evolution
?
503
The Cell as the Unit
of
Life ?
504
The Gene as the Unit
of
Heredity
?
507
Chromosomes, Genes, and DNA
?
509
Molecular Biology and the Chemical Basis of
Life ?
512
The Central Dogma 515
Protein Synthesis ?
515
A TP and Enzymes 520
Cell Division
?
521
Sexual Reproduction
?
523
Cell Differentiation ?
523
Viruses: The Threshold
of
Life ?
524
Cancer, Mutations, and Biological Evolution
?
526
Philosophical Comment
?
526
20. Life and Intelligence
in the Universe ?
528
The Origin of Life on Earth
?
528
Pasteur's Experiments on Spontaneous
Generation ?
530
The Hypothesis
of
a Chemical Origin
of
Life
?
531
A Concise History of Life on Earth
?
537
The Earliest Cells: The Prokar
y
otes ?
537
Sex Among the Bacteria: The Appearance
of
Eukavotes ?
539
Multicellular Organization and Cell
Differentiation
?
541
The organization
of
Societies
?
543
Intelligence on Earth and in the Universe
?
544
?
The Timescale
of
the Emergence
of
Hwnan Culture
?
544
Intelligent Life in the Galaxy
?
546
UFOs, Ancient Astronauts, and Similar Nonsense
?
546
Estimates for the Number
of
Advanced Civii:ations in the
Galaxy ?
547
The Future of Life and Intelligence on Earth
?
550
The Neuron as the Basic Unit
of
the Brain ?
557
The Organization
of
the Brain and Intelligence
?
544 ?
Hardware, Software, Genetic Engineering.
and Education
?
555
Artificial Intelligence ?
557
Silicon-Based Life on Earth?
?
560
Superbeings in the Universe?
?
561
A Tale of Two Civilizations
?
562
Epilogue 564
Appendixes 567
A.
Constants ?
567
B.
Euclidean Geometry
?
569
C.
The Greek Alphabet
?
570
D.
The Periodic Table
?
571
Index ?
573
0
SiMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
MEMORANDUM
Dr. Pablo Dobud
o....... Admini.str.ati . ve
Ass•is-tant ..........
to the Dean of Science
CURRICULUM CHANGES - PHYSICS
Subject
.....................................................
J. C. Irwin, Chairman
From
.....................................................
Department of Physics
January 6, 1987
Date
.....................................................
At a departmental meeting on December 15, 1986 the following
motions were passed:
(1)
That the vectors for
PHYS 130-2
and
PHYS
131-2
be changed form
?
(0-0-3) to
(0-0-4).
The
PHYS 131
General Physics Laboratory
B course has been taught for a number of
years as a laboratory where the students
carry out an experiment for about
3
hours and they are allowed one ad-
ditional hour in the laboratory to
write-up their results and submit their
lab. notebook for marking. Since
practically all the students use the
full four hours to complete the experi-
ment and the write-up, it is felt that
the vector (0-0-4) more correctly repre-
sents a student's lab, commitment than
does the current (0-0-3) vector. The
same statement can be applied to the
PHYS 130
General Physics Laboratory A.
(2)
That PHYS 212-1 be deleted from the
calendar.
PHYS 212-1.
Engineering Problems in
Dynamics is a course that is taken
(along with
PHYS 211-3
Mechanics) by
students intending to transfer into
Engineering at U.B.C. Recent enrolments
do not justify retaining this course and
students have the option to take Math
263-4
Engineering Mechanics II instead
of the PHYS
211 - PHYS 212
sequence.
F0
kJF0' mAflbtJ
S
ppgo/AL
J. C. IRWIN
JCl/ML
