TRUMP Part 2: Observational Properties of Astronomical Objects

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Part 2 of the TRUMP Astrophysics resource package dealt with the observational properties of astronomical objects and was therefore concerned with the analysis and interpretation of observations.

Like Part 1 of the TRUMP package, this part contained study notes (self-study material for teachers), teaching notes and photocopiable student sheets to support a range of student activities.

Contents of Teacher’s guide
INTRODUCTION TO PART 2

STUDY NOTES
Introduction
1.1 Carriers of astronomical information
2 Brightness and distance
2.1 Flux
2.2 Luminosity and flux
2.3 The magnitude scale
2.4 Distance
Summary of Section 2
3 Spectra and temperature
3.1 Stars as ideal thermal radiators
3.2 The physics of ideal thermal radiators
3.3 Line spectra
3.4 Stellar spectral types
Summary of Section 3
4 Using astronomical observations
4.1 The luminosity of the Sun
4.2 Hertzsprung-Russell diagrams
Summary of Section 4
Self-assessment questions
ITQ answers and comments
SAQ answers and comments
Glossary

TEACHING NOTES
Introduction
1.1 Observational astronomy
1.2 Terminology and units
2 Brightness and distance
Student learning outcomes
2.1 Observing light sources
2.2 Luminosity and flux
2.3 The magnitude scale
2.4 Distance
3 Spectra and temperature
Student learning outcomes
3.1 Astronomical broad-band spectra
3.2 The physics of ideal thermal radiators
3.3 Line spectra
3.4 Stellar spectral types
4 Using astronomical observations
Student learning outcomes
4.1 The luminosity of the Sun
4.2 Hertzsprung-Russell diagrams
Resources
Books
Other resources

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