Description
This course has been made no longer
available from 2003 onwards.
Personally, I do understand the reasons for such
decision but I also regret that students will
not have this learning opportunity.
"Astronomy and
Geophysics" will replace it (with a reduced content and detail
regarding some
astrophysical subjects).
This undergratuate course was included in the syllabus for students in their 4th and final year, aiming at a degree in Teaching of Physics and Chemistry (eventually becoming High or Secondary School teachers). I was the lecturer from its start (1998) until its removal on 2002.
I have focused my teaching on (a) providing students with a fair description of different astrophysical aspects (ranging from basic Celestial Mechanics, Observational Astronomy, Stellar Astrophysics, Dynamics of Galaxies and a bit of Cosmology), together with (b) exploring with simple but rigourous calculations how one can actually explain how "things are" in the sky. I do not agree with some amateurish attitudes that astrophysical concepts are only to be merely "shown" to students by means of pretty pictures and a lot of "wow!". I tried to also "put physics" in it. Otherwise, students will neither understand the "why" and "how" of astrophsyics.
Program, Evaluation Methods and Bibliography
In the following links you may find
Lecture Notes
No lecture notes are currently available - yet. A monograph was(!) currently being prepared. However, I hope to post here at some time in the future.
Tutorials Schedulle
Students would have consult me [Horario de Atendimento - 2002/03] on
Thursday - 5a Feira between 11.00 - 12.00 am, either in my
office or LAG. But not anymore...
Exams, Tests,Problem Sets and Marks (classifications)
Students may peruse previous example/exercice
sheets and tests/exams
(some may be missing - I will try to update this section):
Students may also find the several problem
sets and laboratory assignments
posted here.
Astrophysics students may also use this site to download the following Tutorials:
This is the current academic year (2001/2002)
Marks/Classifications
(Excel format)
Other Resources Available
The following links may provide additional material and resources elsewhere that you may find useful for your study:
Students Feedback on the Course
Finally, I have asked the students to fill in THIS questionaire
(Inquerito1) Query1 at the start of the
semester and THIS questionaire
(Inquerito2) Query2 at the end.
I stress that these are THE questionaires that interest me the most.
I am further grateful in advance for any
constructive criticism that may have assisted me and the
teaching of Astrophysics to be both more effective in the
(very!) near future.
Back to my homepage!