| Product Name: |
CUPS Astronomy & Astrophysics Simulations |
| Level: |
Second Year Tertiary / Third Year Tertiary |
| Platform: |
PC - DOS |
| Supplied Information: |
The simulations include: Stellar Evolution, The Interior Model of a Star, Binary Stars, The Motion of N-Bodies, Galactic Kinematics, Stellar Pulsation, and Stellar Atmospheres. |
| Possible Use: |
This product is suitable for Second Year Tertiary / Third Year Tertiary courses for use by students working under instruction. |
| Price: |
$39 |
| Developer/s: |
J.M.A.Danby, R.Kouzes & C.Whitney |
| Review: |
Astrophysics Simulations comes on a single 3 1/2" floppy with a 200 page booklet. The program will run on any PC at 386 level preferably with VGA, mouse and a maths co-processor. Its comprehensive list of simulations covers many of the difficult areas of astronomy teaching, exploiting the PC's power for the volume of tedious calculations that the student can never do for lack of time. It thus opens up areas of teaching that would otherwise be impossible. The seven broad areas covered are: Stellar Evolution, The Interior Model of a Star, Binary Stars, The Motion of N-Bodies, Galactic Kinematics, Stellar Pulsation, and Stellar Atmospheres. In each of these areas are several programs to illustrate different sections, for example the binary star section has subdivisions on proper motion, the complex maths of visual binary star orbits with displays in 3D from any angle, the orbits and light curves of eclipsing binaries and the radial velocity curves of spectroscopic binaries. The menu driven programs are easy to use, and are interactive so it is by no means a passive display. While it is possible to run the programs without reading the textbook, I found this was of little benefit and quickly became boring. Full benefit is only derived from reading the text or in some way comprehending the physics and then running the program with understanding; you have to work at it. This turns the system from a mere passive display into a powerful mathematical tool. The level of student comprehension needed varied through the topics. Proper motion and eclipsing binaries was comfortable at first or second year level, wheras stellar atmosphere modelling would be better at third or fourth year. The program would work very well as a suppliment to the usual lecture course and as a series of practical experiments. It will not work as a stand-alone without substantial teaching backup. I found no bugs with the program but some of the diagrams in section 2 on binary stars could be improved. There is a curious error in figure 2.1 of the postion angle of a visual binary star. It shows N. at the top and E. to the right, not the correct astronomical way around. The text mentions that in a telescope the image would be corrected which would not correct the error. I wonder if the author has ever USED an astronomical telescope. My overall impression is that the program/book is marvellous value for money and a great addition to the teaching of astronomy. |
|
Keith Thompson, Monash University, Keith.Thompson@sci.monash.edu.au 31/5/96 |
Other references
to this product: |
Computers in Physics Education #6, Oct 95 |
| |
| Supplier: |
Jacaranda Wiley, PO Box 1226, Milton Qld 4064 |
|
headoffice@jacwiley.com.au |
|
http://www.wiley.com/products/worldwide/jacaranda/ |
|
phone: (07) 3859 9755 |
|
fax: (07) 3859 9715 |
| Date Record Last Modified: |
12/6/97 |
