ASTR 115
Statistical Mechanics and Its Application to Astrophysics
Description: Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Requisites: Mathematics 32B, 33A, 33B, Physics 1A, 1B, and 1C (or 1AH, 1BH, and 1CH). Particle distributions, partition functions, black body radiation, Saha equation, degeneracy. Applications to stellar atmospheres, stellar interiors, and interstellar medium. P/NP or letter grading.
Units: 4.0
Units: 4.0
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Most Helpful Review
Though I don't think anyone had problems understanding her - the material of astro 115 is pretty easy - she's awfully boring. Does lots of algebra on the board that doesn't really need to be done, making for a lot more boredom and a lot less thinking. The homework is straight from the book and not hard at all. The quizzes were notoriously easy, the midterm and final were a bit harder, but very doable. Just don't make any stupid mistakes or overthink. The structure of the class seems very random - just about everything you do is an approximation, and figuring out when to use which approximation is the only thing that can really foul you up. So while you'll learn what you need to and not have problems in her class, expect to be looking at the clock every 10 minutes during lecture.
Though I don't think anyone had problems understanding her - the material of astro 115 is pretty easy - she's awfully boring. Does lots of algebra on the board that doesn't really need to be done, making for a lot more boredom and a lot less thinking. The homework is straight from the book and not hard at all. The quizzes were notoriously easy, the midterm and final were a bit harder, but very doable. Just don't make any stupid mistakes or overthink. The structure of the class seems very random - just about everything you do is an approximation, and figuring out when to use which approximation is the only thing that can really foul you up. So while you'll learn what you need to and not have problems in her class, expect to be looking at the clock every 10 minutes during lecture.
Most Helpful Review
Winter 2019 - The professor introduced a lot of concepts in class, however, none can be found directly on the textbooks and he tends to skip around class materials a lot. In addition, he gave out a lot of extra credits on hw and test (although none of us have time to do them). I will say the class is really hard and he didn't explain all concept thoroughly. The exercises he gave out during discussions are also not that relatable to class material either.
Winter 2019 - The professor introduced a lot of concepts in class, however, none can be found directly on the textbooks and he tends to skip around class materials a lot. In addition, he gave out a lot of extra credits on hw and test (although none of us have time to do them). I will say the class is really hard and he didn't explain all concept thoroughly. The exercises he gave out during discussions are also not that relatable to class material either.
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