Module Information
Course Delivery
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | Assignment sheets | 30% |
| Semester Exam | 3 Hours Examination | 70% |
| Supplementary Exam | 3 Hours Examination | 100% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
Classify the different regions of the Sun and infer their physical characteristics.
Describe the methods of helioseismology to obtain information on the internal structure of the Sun.
Discuss the processes of energy production and transfer through the Sun.
Critically review the observational and theoretical aspects of the atmospheric heating and the wind acceleration.
Summarise the main methods used in the description of plasmas, waves and instabilities.
Brief description
The module examines the physics of the Sun, our nearest star. Energy production in the Sun is considered and its transport from the solar interior to the Sun's atmosphere and heliosphere. Causes of solar activity are discussed. The essentials of plasma physics, magnetic fields, magnetic waves and instabilities are covered.
Aims
The module aims to introduce physical processes operating in the Sun and explain their effects.
Content
Structure of the Sun;
Nuclear processes in the core;
Energy transport from the interior to the atmosphere;
The solar cycle;
Magnetic structures in the Sun;
Magnetohydrodynamics;
'Frozen-in' fields;
Diffusion of magnetic field in a plasma;
Magnetic reconnection;
Basics of plasmas;
Waves and instabilities in plasmas;
Solar atmosphere and heliosphere;
Atmospheric and coronal heating;
Solar wind and heliosphere;
Parker's theory.
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Creative Problem Solving | Problem solving is a key skill in physics and will be tested via continuous assessment during the semester and in formal examination at the end of the module. |
| Professional communication | Written communication is developed via the lecture assignments and feedback |
| Reflection | Assignment feedback encourages self-directed learning and improves performance. |
| Subject Specific Skills | The module will equip the students with the background for the advanced measurement techniques in the field, provide understanding of basic processes in the Sun. |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 6