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Unit of study_
PHYS4122: Astrophysics and Space Science
2025 unit information
The field of astrophysics spans length and time scales unseen in any other area of science, and to understand this field, we must synthesise knowledge of a huge number of different physical processes. The aim of PHYS4122 is to teach you about the complexity of our Universe via advanced-level treatments of several concepts that are central to modern astrophysics research. This will include how cosmic structure emerges out of the vacuum during the very early Universe; how plasma and dark matter combine to form galaxies; and the precise tests of gravitational dynamics made possible by studying structures in the nearby Universe. These focus topics will also be complemented by shorter snapshots of several other areas of this rich field that are the subject of active research at the university, e.g. radio astronomy, asteroseismology, galaxy morphology and evolution, and astroparticle physics. By doing this unit you will learn how to synthesise knowledge of many different concepts and processes from across physics to solve modern research problems.
Unit details and rules
Managing faculty or University school:
Science
| Study level | Undergraduate |
|---|---|
| Academic unit | Physics Academic Operations |
| Credit points | 6 |
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Prerequisites:
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An average of at least 65 in 144 credit points of units |
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Corequisites:
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None |
| Prohibitions:
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None |
| Assumed knowledge:
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A major in physics |
At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:
- LO1. Demonstrate understanding of the physics underlying astrophysical situations, and use these concepts to describe the system under consideration.
- LO2. Synthesise knowledge from the undergraduate syllabus and apply physics knowledge and mathematical skills to solve astrophysical problems.
- LO3. Evaluate different theoretical models applying to a system and assess the applicability of these models.
- LO4. Analyse astrophysical observations and numerical simulations to construct a physical model for an astrophysical system.
Unit availability
This section lists the session, attendance modes and locations the unit is available in. There is a unit outline for each of the unit availabilities, which gives you information about the unit including assessment details and a schedule of weekly activities.
The outline is published 2 weeks before the first day of teaching. You can look at previous outlines for a guide to the details of a unit.
| Session | MoA ? | Location | Outline ? |
|---|---|---|---|
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Semester 1 2025
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Normal day | Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney |
Outline unavailable
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Modes of attendance (MoA)
This refers to the Mode of attendance (MoA) for the unit as it appears when you’re selecting your units in Sydney Student. Find more information about modes of attendance on our website.
