Astrophysics has always interested me outside of school, reading into it on the internet, the big bang, cosmology, what the universe is expanding into, what was before the big bang etc...
But after looking through the AQA A-Level spec for astrophysics (im about to start A2) i noticed that its not as much about that sort of stuff as i would of hoped, and its alot about lens and telescopes and what not.
So i was wandering, whats generally on the Physics with Astrophysics course at Uni? Or does it change greatly between each different uni?
If anyone has any information about these different courses too, and which you would do/have done:
Quantum and Cosmological Physics
Physics with Theoretical Physics
Here's the basic rundown of what 1st year Phys/Astro is like at Manchester
Timetable - 10 lectures, 2 tutorials [1 maths (where maths is Maths 1, Maths 2, Dynamics and Electricity and Magnetism) 1 physics (the other core modules)], one day in lab and a maths workshop. Most things seemed to be in the morning, but certainly not a case of 9am starts every day.
The course itself
You do 5 modules a semester, plus lab. In the first semester you do:
Maths 1 - Pretty much revision of A2 core maths and the important stuff from the Further Pure maths modules. Pretty straightforward, depending how much maths you've done.
Dynamics - Does what it says on the tin. Lots of Newtonian mechanics - topics include kinematics, newtons laws, momentum, rotational dynamics, moments of inertia, gravitation - lots of other stuff. Backed up with online 'masteringphysics' problems and an extra problem class based on how the year went on with masteringphysics that week.
Quantum Physics and Relativity - Intro to quantum physics (photoelectric effect, Bohr model of the atom, Heisenberg uncertainty principle, bit of stuff about wavefunctions - nothing too difficult) and special relativity (time dilation, length contraction, Lorentz transformations, relativistic energy and momentum) - probably the most interesting course in semester 1.
Astronomy and Cosmology - pretty general intro to astronomy, quite easy, not very mathematical either as they let chemistry and geology students do it too. Lots to learn though.
And an option module. I'll say more about that in a bit.
Semester 2:
Maths 2 Differential equations, partial differentiation and vector calculus (divs, grads and curls). Not that hard if you work at it - but a bit of a jump up from Maths 1.
Electricity and Magnetism Pretty self explanatory. Basically a more maths-ed up version of stuff you did at A-level. A lot of the topics will sound familiar, but they'll be done much more mathematically. You get 3 years of E&M courses.
Solids, Liquids and Gases Again, fairly self explanatory - pretty boring course, but quite an important one. If you've done much chemistry you'll find some of it pretty easy.
Vibrations and Waves Everything you did and didn't want to know about SHM, sound and light pretty much. Quite a good course, and towards the end, gets you to the point where you're ready to start quantum mechanics pretty much.
Lab - The days of short experiments are gone. Experiments are either 2 or 3 days long, and you learn lots of stuff about error analysis (you get a set of lectures on it in fact), and writing proper lab reports. Not the most exciting of courses (and I hated starting my week with lab, lol) but easy marks (I got a comfortable 2.i for lab this year and I sucked at it quite spectacularly).
Option Modules
Only optional in the sense that you can choose which ones you do There's quite a wide range of things to choose from - there's physics options, but also things like languages or economics and so on. The ones I did were both physics options.
Random Processes in Physics - Pretty much all about probability. This might as well be another maths module. It's an easy course if you're good at maths.
Advanced Dynamics - Probably the best course I did all year. Much more interesting than it sounds. Bit more advanced stuff on gravitation and rigid body motion, but also more stuff on special relativity and what happens if you do mechanics in an accelerating (linearly or rotating) frame of reference i.e. where things like the Coriolis force and centrifugal forces come from. It's a great course and if your maths is good, you should almost definitely take it.
Tutorials and Workshops Mentioned a bit about tutorials but the general plan is you do the weeks problem sheet, give it in, get it marked and then spend the tutorial working through it (there's 4 in a tutorial group and the tutor). You get workshops for maths and E&M and theyre basically harder problem sheets that you work on in groups with the help of PhD students/members of staff.
While I've enjoyed my first year, I'm hoping to switch to Physics with Theoretical next year as Random Processes and Advanced Dynamics were core for phys/theorists and I particularly enjoyed these courses. If you don't take to lab, but like maths, then theoretical physics could be the option for you.
Astrophysics has always interested me outside of school, reading into it on the internet, the big bang, cosmology, what the universe is expanding into, what was before the big bang etc...
But after looking through the AQA A-Level spec for astrophysics (im about to start A2) i noticed that its not as much about that sort of stuff as i would of hoped, and its alot about lens and telescopes and what not.
So i was wandering, whats generally on the Physics with Astrophysics course at Uni? Or does it change greatly between each different uni?
If anyone has any information about these different courses too, and which you would do/have done:
Quantum and Cosmological Physics
Physics with Theoretical Physics
Thanks in advance
I almost applied for Physics with Astrophysics, but at the last minute my teacher told me that it was bad idea becuase if I decided I wanted to go into a non-physics-related job, employers are more put off by the astrophysics as they think you just spend all your time looking at stars. If you're unsure, just apply for straight physics and choose the astrophysics elective modules, then if you decide you like it you can transfer to physics with astrophysics after you first year.
I almost applied for Physics with Astrophysics, but at the last minute my teacher told me that it was bad idea becuase if I decided I wanted to go into a non-physics-related job, employers are more put off by the astrophysics as they think you just spend all your time looking at stars. If you're unsure, just apply for straight physics and choose the astrophysics elective modules, then if you decide you like it you can transfer to physics with astrophysics after you first year.
That's crazy. I wouldn't want to work for anyone who took that view really.
Also, I don't think I've looked at a single star all year as part of the course, except for photographs/photographic plates maybe. *shudders at memories of Astro labs*
Also, I've only actually done one astronomy course this year, and that was core for everyone anyway. Advanced Dynamics had a bit of solar system stuff in, orbits and whatnot - but that's about it besides Introductory Astronomy. Though there was a 'Physics of the Solar System' module - and from what I'd heard, that was quite mathsy too.
Yeah the Phys/Astro course at Manchester starts to specialize in the 2nd and 3rd years. Astrophysics does sound good, especially when your telling a non-physicist but in reality its not brilliant at all IMO, lots of very dry lectures about galaxies etc which isn't my cup of tea. Cosmology on the other hand is a much better topic to study.
Most astrophysicists have degrees in Physics. You can pick up the astro bit later easily enough - but its harder if you dont have the base physics to begin with.
If its a career in astrophysics you are looking for I'd recommend doing a physics degree first then maybe a masters in astronomy.
Physics discussion, revision and homework help.
Useful Resources:
Physics with...option x at Uni
