Instructor: Professor Kirk Korista
Office: 1124 (and occasionally 2226) Everett Tower
Telephone: 387-4936
Physics Department: 387-4940
Email: kirk.korista@wmich.edu
Office Hours:  MW 11 a.m.-noon, TR 1-3 p.m., or by appointment, or just drop by. I expect that you will make use of them.

• COURSE INFORMATION: This is an introduction to modern astrophysics. We will explore the underlying physical foundations of a wide range of astrophysical processes that involve stars, the basic building blocks of the cosmos (e.g., binary star orbits, formation of stellar spectra, stellar structure and evolution). You will gain physical insight into these processes via order-of-magnitude type calculations and the asking of questions. To this end we will apply some of the principles of mechanics, ideal gases, atomic & nuclear physics (quantum mechanics). If you've ever wondered what good this stuff is, you are embarking on a journey to find out. This course satisfies one of the requirements for the astronomy minor program and one of two required electives for the physics minor program. 3 credit hours. This course will emphasize physical understanding, both conceptual and quantitative, and eshew "plug and chug" and "equations from the magic book".
  

• PREREQUISITES: The official prerequisite for this course is PHYS 3090; however, at my discretion I do allow students to take PHYS 3090 concurrently. You must inform me if you have not taken PHYS 3090. PHYS 1060 (Introduction to Stars & Galaxies) is a recommended but not required course.
  

• CLASS MEETINGS: This class meets TR 11 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. in 2211 Rood Hall. 

• REQUIRED MATERIALS: The textbook is An Introduction to Modern Astrophysics (2nd Edition, 2007; hopefully the 2nd printing or later) by Carroll & Ostlie, and course note-pack. Both are available from the WMU Bookstore. Please also have pencils & erasers, a calculator with the major math functions, and a folder or binder to keep handouts, old homework, etc.

• PARTICIPATION: I assume you are here because you are interested in and have a desire to learn astrophysics. So, I expect that you will participate during the class meetings (5% of your grade). Showing up inattentively (or dithering about on your favorite electronic device) will not gain you credit. One unexcused absence will be allowed without penalty.  If you have a legitimate excuse for missing class, please speak with me, ahead of time if at all possible.
  

• HOMEWORK: Homework (mostly quantitative problem solving) will be assigned throughout the semester, and you will be responsible for these assignments. Some of them may involve computer work. You must show enough work to demonstrate that you understand the physical processes involved. Reasonable use of significant figures will be expected, as will the correct use of units. The homework will be due at the beginning of class of the assigned due date, and counted late thereafter. A 10% deduction from your score will be imposed upon the grade of a late assignment on the first school day late.  A grade of zero will be imposed for anything later. Students will be allowed a single 1-school-day-late homework assignment, free of deduction. I do not expect this to be a problem. Please speak with me ahead of time if there are special circumstances that might prevent you from completing the homework on time. All homework is to be done in pencil.

• COMPUTER PLOTS, COMPUTATIONS:  Computer graphing is an important skill in any science, engineering, or applied math field. Any scientific plots constructed for homework must be quantitative, meaning that it provides labels of curves and axes, the inclusion of appropriate units, a numerical scale with an appropriate number of major & minor tick marks on the axes that demonstrates that the student understands the physical process(es).  Accuracy is also key. While metrically ruled (10 ticks/cm only) graph paper plots will be accepted, I prefer that they are done with the use of a computer (PC, laptop, workstation). For example, students may use Maple or MS-Excel, or Origin, (or ...). If these or other programs are used for making difficult/lengthy computations, the student must explain and demonstrate the steps that were "plugged into the program." All equation derivations are to be done by hand - not computer.
  

• EXAMS: There will be approximately 2 exams during the regular portion of the semester, to be announced in class. The Final Exam has been scheduled for Monday April 23, 8-10 a.m. All exam work is to be done in pencil. Approved (by me) electronic calculators will be the only electronic devices allowed during exams.
  

• GRADING POLICY: Together the regular hour exams will be worth 30% of your course grade, the homework will be worth 40% of your course grade, and the final will be worth 25% of your course grade. The remaining 5% will be based upon your attendance to class.  Exam scores will be "curved" in some way, but HW scores will not.  Small amounts of extra credit (EC) are sometimes available on the exams and applied to the exam score, and occasionally there will be some extra credit (EC) questions on the HW, as well as EC mini-projects the credit on which will be applied toward your homework total.
  

• GRADING SCALE:
A     90-100%
BA  85-89%
B     80-84%
CB  75-79%
C     70-74%
DC  65-69%
D     60-64%
E        < 60%
 
• On the WWW: http://homepages.wmich.edu/~korista/phys325.html is the class web page that will contain class announcements, various computer programs to be used in homework, etc, as well as a whole bunch of really cool astronomical images and computer simulations of the cosmos.  Feel free also to visit my web site to learn a bit about me at http://homepages.wmich.edu/~korista/.