Frontiers in Astrophysics (PHYS4080)

Course overview

This course will explore the most exciting latest questions in astrophysics and cosmology, such as dark matter and dark energy, and introduce you to many tools useful for higher-level research in astrophysics and more broadly. It will be taught in an interactive manner, with half of the contact hours dedicated to project-based learning. Topics we will cover include: dark matter, dark energy, the cosmic microwave background, the large-scale structure of the universe, gravitational waves, building computer simulations of the universe, and using all of these to understand our fundamental laws of physics.

Frontiers of Astrophysics will bring you up to speed on the latest in extragalactic astrophysics, cosmology, astroparticle physics, gravitational waves and exoplanet science. Throughout the course we will be introducing you to modern tools (software) used to simulate and analyse the latest data, and test cosmological theories of things such as dark energy and dark matter. ﾠThe "lecture" sessions will be discussions and problem solving. ﾠThe "contact" sessions will be a series of four short projects for you to deep dive into particular topics. ﾠYou will be taught by the specialists in each area on their specific topic, so you will be getting truly expert perspectives.ﾠ

Course requirements

Assumed background

We will assume you are already comfortable with basic cosmology (which was covered inﾠPHYS3080) includingﾠFriedmann equations, calculations of the expansion of the universe, dark energy and dark matter,ﾠtypes of galaxies and the basics of galaxy evolution,ﾠthe very early universe, the formation of the elements, the cosmic microwave background, and inflation.ﾠﾠ

Prerequisites

You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:

PHYS3080

Recommended prerequisites

We recommend completing the following courses before enrolling in this one:

PHYS2082, PHYS3071 and MATH4105

Incompatible

You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:

PHYS7280

Course contact

Course staff

Timetable

The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.

Additional timetable information

All classes will be conducted on campus. Consult your personal timetable for times and locations. Students are expected to attend these sessions in personﾠunless they have a valid reason for being unable to attend (such as illness). Important: if you are ill, then do not attend any classes in person. Alternative arrangements can be organised – consult Blackboard for details.

Aims and outcomes

This course aims to give you a strong background in a wide range of modern cosmology and astrophysics areas including dark energy, dark matter, observational cosmology, astroparticle physics, gravitational waves, extragalactic astrophysics and exoplanet science. We also aim to get you conversant with the standard analysis tools used by professionals in the field. This will be an excellent component of an honours degree in astrophysics and a solid foundation for starting a PhD in astrophysics. 

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing this course you should be able to:

Assessment

Assessment summary

A hurdle is an assessment requirement that must be satisfied in order to receive a specific grade for the course. Check the assessment details for more information about hurdle requirements.

Assessment details

Project based learning

• Hurdle

Mode

Oral, Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia, Written

Category

Project

Weight

50%

Due date

16/08/2024 5:00 pm

10/09/2024 5:00 pm

8/10/2024 5:00 pm

25/10/2024 5:00 pm

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07

Task description

Hurdle requirements

Submission guidelines

Submission instructions will come with each project.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

See ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENT INFORMATION for extension and deferred examination information relating to this assessment item.

Late submission

A penalty of 1 grade for each 24 hour period from time submission is due will apply for up to 7 days. After 7 days you will receive a mark of 0.

You are required to submit assessable items on time. If you fail to meet the submission deadline for any assessment item then the listed penalty will be deducted per day for up to 7 calendar days, at which point any submission will not receive any marks unless an extension has been approved. Each 24-hour block is recorded from the time the submission is due.

Solutions for assessment item/s will be released 7 days after the assessment is due and as such, an extension after 7 days will not be possible.

Problem Set 1

Mode

Written

Category

Tutorial/ Problem Set

Weight

10%

Due date

27/08/2024 5:00 pm

Learning outcomes

L03, L04

Task description

Submission guidelines

Submit this assessment item through the link in Blackboard.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

Solutions for this assessment item will be released 7 days after the assessment is due and as such, an extension after 7 days will not be possible.

See ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENT INFORMATION for the extension information relating to this assessment item.

Late submission

A penalty of 1 grade for each 24 hour period from time submission is due will apply for up to 7 days. After 7 days you will receive a mark of 0.

You are required to submit assessable items on time. If you fail to meet the submission deadline for any assessment item then the listed penalty will be deducted per day for up to 7 calendar days, at which point any submission will not receive any marks unless an extension has been approved. Each 24-hour block is recorded from the time the submission is due.

Problem Set 2

Mode

Written

Category

Tutorial/ Problem Set

Weight

10%

Due date

15/10/2024 5:00 pm

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03, L04

Task description

Submission guidelines

Submit this assessment item through the link in Blackboard.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

Solutions for this assessment item will be released 7 days after the assessment is due and as such, an extension after 7 days will not be possible.

See ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENT INFORMATION for the extension information relating to this assessment item.

Late submission

A penalty of 1 grade for each 24 hour period from time submission is due will apply for up to 7 days. After 7 days you will receive a mark of 0.

You are required to submit assessable items on time. If you fail to meet the submission deadline for any assessment item then the listed penalty will be deducted per day for up to 7 calendar days, at which point any submission will not receive any marks unless an extension has been approved. Each 24-hour block is recorded from the time the submission is due.

Exam

• Hurdle
• Identity Verified
• In-person

Mode

Written

Category

Examination

Weight

30%

Due date

End of Semester Exam Period

2/11/2024 - 16/11/2024

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03, L04, L07

Task description

Hurdle requirements

Exam details

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You may be able to defer this exam.

See ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENT INFORMATION for the deferred examination information relating to this assessment item.

Course grading

Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.

Additional course grading information

Your grade for this course will be determined by which of the above levels of achievement that you consistently display in the items of assessment.ﾠ For each category of assessment a percentage ﾠmark will be determined.ﾠ The weighted average of these will then determine your overall grade for the course.

You must also satisfy all the following conditions to pass (grade of 4 or higher) the course:

1. Achieve 40% or higher in the final exam.
2. Score 40% or higher for the project work.

The details of the supplementary assessment for if you fail any of these criteria are in Supplementary Assessment section below.ﾠ

Assessment Criteria

Answers to written examination questions, and projects ﾠwill be assessed in terms of the extent to which they demonstrate the ability of the student to:

• Define, explain and interrelate the key concepts involved in the course.
• Use the basic theory to describe quantitatively the behaviour of important features of astrophysics and cosmology.
• Recognise the regime of applicability of the theory presented.
• Apply the theory to new physical problems and obtain correct analytical and numerical results in the appropriate units of measurement.
• Utilise the appropriate mathematical and other techniques to derive relationships for physical quantities.
• Have an appreciation of the orders of magnitude of important quantities.
• Perform computational tasks using original software as well as standard cosmological software tools; ﾠanalyse the data and present qualitative and/or quantitative results.
• Write reports ﾠexpressing measurements, analysis and conclusions in a clear and cogent style.ﾠ

Supplementary assessment

Supplementary assessment is available for this course.

Should you fail a course with a grade of 3, you may be eligible for supplementary assessment. Refer to my.UQ for information on supplementary assessment and how to apply. 

Supplementary assessment provides an additional opportunity to demonstrate you have achieved all the required learning outcomes for a course.  

If you apply and are granted supplementary assessment, the type of supplementary assessment set will consider which learning outcome(s) have not been met.  

Supplementary assessment in this course will be a 2-hour examination similar in style to the end-of-semester examination. To receive a passing grade of 3S4, you must obtain a mark of 50% or more on the supplementary assessment. 

Additional assessment information

Artificial Intelligence

The assessment tasks in this course evaluate students’ abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.

Applications for Extensions to Assessment Due Dates

Extension requests are submitted online via my.UQ – applying for an extension. Extension requests received in any other way will not be approved. Additional details associated with extension requests, including acceptable and unacceptable reasons, may be found at my.UQ.

Please note:

• Requests for an extension to an assessment due date must be submitted through your my.UQ portal and you must provide documentation of your circumstances, as soon as it becomes evident that an extension is needed. Your application must be submitted on or before the assessment item's due date and time.
• Applications for extension can take time to be processed so you should continue to work on your assessment item while awaiting a decision. We recommend that you submit any completed work by the due date, and this will be marked if your application is not approved. Should your application be approved, then you will be able to resubmit by the agreed revised due date.
• If an extension is approved, you will be notified via your my.UQ portal and the new date and time for submission provided. It is important that you check the revised date as it may differ from the date that you requested.
• If the basis of the application is a medical condition, applications should be accompanied by a medical certificate dated prior to the assignment due date. If you are unable to provide documentation to support your application by the due date and time you must still submit your application on time and attach a written statement (Word document) outlining why you cannot provide the documentation. You must then upload the documentation to the portal within 24 hours.
• If an extension is being sought on the basis of exceptional circumstances, it must be accompanied by supporting documentation (eg. Statutory declaration).
• For extensions based on a SAP you may be granted a maximum of 7 days (if no earlier maximum timeframe applies). See the Extension or Deferral availability section of each assessment for details. Your SAP is all that is required as documentation to support your application. However, additional extension requests for the assessment item will require the submission of additional supporting documentation e.g., a medical certificate. All extension requests must be received by the assessment due date and time.
• An extension for an assessment item due within the teaching period in which the course is offered, must not exceed four weeks in total. If you are incapacitated for a period exceeding four weeks of the teaching period, you are advised to apply for Removal of Course.
• If you have been ill or unable to attend class for more than 14 days, you are advised to carefully consider whether you are capable of successfully completing your courses this semester. You might be eligible to withdraw without academic penalty - seek advice from the Faculty that administers your program.
• Students may be asked to submit evidence of work completed to date. Lack of adequate progress on your assessment item may result in an extension being denied.
• There are no provisions for exemption from an assessment item within UQ rules. If you are unable to submit an assessment piece then, under special circumstances, you may be granted an exemption, but may be required to submit alternative assessment to ensure all learning outcomes are met.

Applications to defer an exam

In certain circumstances you can apply to take a deferred examination for in-semester and end-of-semester exams. You'll need to demonstrate through supporting documentation how unavoidable circumstances prevented you from sitting your exam. If you can’t, you can apply for a one-off discretionary deferred exam.

Deferred Exam requests are submitted online via mySi-net. Requests received in any other way will not be approved. Additional details associated with deferred examinations, including acceptable and unacceptable reasons may be found at my.UQ.

Please note:

• Applications can be submitted no later than 5 calendar days after the date of the original exam.
• There are no provisions to defer a deferred exam. You need to be available to sit your deferred examination.
• Your deferred examination request(s) must have a status of "submitted" in mySI-net to be assessed.
• All applications for deferred in-semester examinations are assessed by the relevant school. Applications for deferred end-of-semester examinations are assessed by the Academic Services Division.
• You’ll receive an email to your student email account when the status of your application is updated.
• If you have a medical condition, mental health condition or disability and require alternative arrangements for your deferred exam you’ll need to complete the online alternative exam arrangements through my.UQ. This is in addition to your deferred examinations request. You need to submit this request on the same day as your request for a deferred exam or supplementary assessment. Contact Student Services if you need assistance completing your alternative exam arrangements request.

Learning resources

You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.

Library resources

Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.

Learning activities

The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.

Policies and procedures

University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:

• Student Code of Conduct Policy
• Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
• Assessment Procedure
• Examinations Procedure
• Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure

Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.