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Astrophysics: Decoding the Cosmos

ISBN: 978-0-470-31948-2

April 2007

446 pages

Description
Astrophysics: Decoding the Cosmos is an accessible introduction to the key principles and theories underlying astrophysics.

This text takes a close look at the radiation and particles that we receive from astronomical objects, providing a thorough understanding of what this tells us, drawing the information together using examples to illustrate the process of astrophysics. Chapters dedicated to objects showing complex processes are written in an accessible manner and pull relevant background information together to put the subject firmly into context.

The intention of the author is that the book will be a ‘tool chest’ for undergraduate astronomers wanting to know the how of astrophysics. Students will gain a thorough grasp of the key principles, ensuring that this often-difficult subject becomes more accessible.

About the Author
Dr Judith Ann Irwin, Department of Physics, Queen’s University, Kingston Ontario, Canada
Features
  • An accessible student-friendly guide to the key theories and principles of astrophysics
  • Includes numerous illustrations and examples to enhance student understanding
  • Focuses on the how of astronomy- how densities, temperatures, masses, energies are actually determined
  • Each chapter focuses on a physical process that is illustrated with relevant examples and shows how the information we receive either in particles or waves provides us with an understanding of the astronomical object
  • Key background information is provided putting the subject firmly into context
  • Gives the physics first and moves on to provide examples of the theory in practice
  • Includes further reading and problems at the end of each chapter.