Information Package / Course Catalogue
Astrophysics For Everyone
Course Code: FİZ222
Course Type: Area Elective
Couse Group: First Cycle (Bachelor's Degree)
Education Language: Turkish
Work Placement: N/A
Theory: 2
Prt.: 0
Credit: 2
Lab: 0
ECTS: 2
Objectives of the Course

To introduce astrophysics topics at a basic level with a non-technical approach; to develop students' scientific awareness of the structure of the universe.

Course Content

This course aims to explain the structure and functioning of the universe within the framework of physical principles at a level everyone can understand. Topics such as basic concepts of astrophysics, classification of celestial bodies, formation and evolution of stars and galaxies, electromagnetic spectrum, telescopes, black holes, dark matter and energy, and expansion of the universe are covered. Students are expected to develop their scientific thinking skills and evaluate current astrophysical events.

Name of Lecturer(s)
Lec. Işıl BAŞARAN ÖZ
Learning Outcomes
1.Explain the historical development of astrophysics, scientific method and basic concepts.
2.Explain basic information about the solar system, the firmament, orbital motions, eclipses and constellations.
3.Become familiar with the properties of stars such as brightness, color, temperature classifications and their location in the H-R diagram.
4.Explain the processes of interstellar medium, star formation and stellar evolution; recognize supernovae, neutron stars and black holes.
5.Knowledge of physical processes such as blackbody radiation, electromagnetic spectrum and observational techniques such as spectroscopy and photometry.
6.Interprets fundamental astrophysical information such as Hubble's law, the expansion of the universe and cosmological background radiation
Recommended or Required Reading
1.Neil deGrasse Tyson, Astrophysics for People in a Hurry, W. W. Norton & Company, 2017
2.Current scientific internet resources such as nasa.gov, esa.int
Weekly Detailed Course Contents
Week 1 - Theoretical
Historical development of astrophysics, scientific method and basic concepts
Week 2 - Theoretical
Celestial dome and constellations
Week 3 - Theoretical
The sun, the solar system, gravity and orbital motions
Week 4 - Theoretical
Luminosity, absolute and apparent magnitude, color and temperature classifications of stars
Week 5 - Theoretical
Interstellar matter and star formation
Week 6 - Theoretical
Nuclear reaction and hydrostatic equilibrium
Week 7 - Theoretical
Blackbody radiation and the electromagnetic spectrum
Week 8 - Theoretical
Review (Midterm exam)
Week 9 - Theoretical
Classification of stars by luminosity, absolute magnitude, color and temperatures
Week 10 - Theoretical
Hertzsprung-Russell diagram, stellar evolution
Week 11 - Theoretical
Supernovae, red giants, neutron stars and black holes
Week 12 - Theoretical
Observational methods, spectroscopy, photometry
Week 13 - Theoretical
Distance determination methods, binary stars, matter transfer, stellar mass determination
Week 14 - Theoretical
Microwave background radiation, Hubble's law and the expansion of the universe
Week 15 - Theoretical
Overview, presentations
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Type of AssessmentCountPercent
Midterm Examination1%20
Final Examination1%60
Seminar1%20
Workload Calculation
ActivitiesCountPreparationTimeTotal Work Load (hours)
Lecture - Theory140228
Seminar1426
Midterm Examination1426
Final Examination18210
TOTAL WORKLOAD (hours)50
Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes
PÇ-1
PÇ-2
PÇ-3
PÇ-4
PÇ-5
PÇ-6
PÇ-7
PÇ-8
PÇ-9
PÇ-10
PÇ-11
PÇ-12
PÇ-13
PÇ-14
OÇ-1
5
3
3
3
2
2
1
2
3
4
3
3
5
2
OÇ-2
5
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
3
2
2
5
1
OÇ-3
5
4
3
3
1
2
2
1
2
3
2
2
5
1
OÇ-4
5
4
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
3
2
2
5
1
OÇ-5
5
4
3
3
2
3
3
2
2
3
2
2
5
2
OÇ-6
4
3
3
4
5
3
2
5
4
5
3
3
4
2
Adnan Menderes University - Information Package / Course Catalogue
2026