astro 411 homework assignments

Astrophysics 411 Homework Assignments

You are expected to turn in the following homework assignments during the semester, by the dates listed. All problems refer to problem numbers at the ends of chapters in Stars and Stellar Processes, Mike Guidry (Cambridge University Press, 2019).

The assignments may be adjusted somewhat as the semester proceeds, so you need to check this page before doing an assignment. These will not be graded but will be be checked for completion. You may be penalized 25% per day for each day that an assignment is late. This is meant to keep you from getting behind; if there are reasons why you need to be late with an assignment, check with me and we can probably reach an arrangement if your reason is legitimate.

Solutions will be provided after the due date for each assignment. You are expected to do the homework before consulting the solutions. You may work together on the homework assignments as long as each person is doing all the problems (That is, it is not permissable for a team to divide up the work and then copy from each other). You are encouraged to use tools like Maple, Mathematica, MatLab, or programming languages like C, Fortran, Java, or C++ in solving problems and graphing solutions, but you must also understand how to solve (simple) problems without these tools for tests.

Chapter	Problems	Due Date*
1. Some Properties of Stars (review)	2, 3, 6, 10, 12	Aug. 30
2. The Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram (review)	1, 2, 4, 5, 10	Aug. 30
3. Stellar Equations of State	2, 3, 5, 23	*
4. Hydrostatic and Thermal Equilibrium	2, 11, 15	*
5. Thermonuclear Reactions in Stars	7, 10	*
6. Stellar Burning Processes	5, 6	*
7. Energy Transport in Stars	3, 6, 10	*
8. Summary of Stellar Equations	2, 5	*
9. Formation of Stars	3, 15	*
10. Life and Times on the Main Sequence	4	Dec 3
11. Neutrino Flavor Oscillations	1, 6	Read (HW optional)
12. Solar Neutrinos and the MSW Effect	6, 7	HW optional
13. Evolution of Lower-mass Stars	2, 8	Dec 3
14. Evolution of Higher-mass Stars	1	HW optional
15. Stellar Pulsations and Variability	1, 2	HW optional
16. White Dwarfs and Neutron Stars	7, 9	Dec 10
17. Black Holes	3, 6	Omit (in A421)
18. Accreting Binary Systems	1, 8	Read (HW optional)
19. Nova Explosions and X-ray Bursts	2	Read (HW optional)
20. Supernovae	3, 8	HW optional
21. Gamma-ray Bursts	3	Omit (in A421)
22. Gravitational Waves and Stellar Evolution	2	Omit (in A421)

* Unless otherwise noted, all homework assignments are due by the end of class, one week after that chapter is completed in the lecture. Optional homework due one day before final test (Dec. 10)..