Babes-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca
Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science
Study Cycle: Master
SUBJECT

Code	Subject	
MMM1009	Topics in Mechanics and Astronomy (for teachers education)	

Section	Semester	Hours: C+S+L	Category	Type	
Didactic Mathematics	3	2+1+1	speciality	compulsory	

Teaching Staff in Charge	Assoc.Prof. BLAGA Cristina Olivia, Ph.D., cpblaga@math.ubbcluj.ro	
Aims	The aim of the course is the acquirement of the principles of the motion of celestial bodies from the solar system. Another task is the description of the astronomical instruments for observation from the Earth surface. In the end we introduce some elementary knowledge about stars, galaxies and metagalaxy. 	
Content	I. Motion of celestial bodies motion in the solar sistem. The two-body problem. 
1. Solution of the equations of motion in the two-body problem. Conic sections in polar coordinates. Planetary orbits. Cometary and small bodies orbits.
2. Dynamics of the artificial Earth satellites. Geostationary satellites. Hohmann orbits.
3. Ephemerids. The elements of an orbit. Their determinations from observations.  
II. Geocentric planetary motion.
1. Planetary configuration. The synodic period. Measurement of planetary distances.
2. Geocentric motion of a planet. Stationary points.
3. The phase of a planet.   
III. Many-body problem. Prime integrals and special cases of the many-body problem. Perturbations.
IV. Refracting and reflecting telescopes. Image formation through an optical instrument. Characteristics of refracting and reflecting telescopes. Radiotelescopes.
V. Stars. Stellar extrinsec (brightness, aparent magnitude) and intrinsec (luminosity, absolute mangitude) characteristics. Stellar distances. Sun as a star.
VI. Star clusters. Galaxies. Our Galaxy. Cluster of Galaxies. Metagalaxy.
VII. Elementary notions about formation and evolution of Universe as a whole, stars and solar system.	
Bibliography	1. BLAGA C. Sistemul nostru solar, Editura Albastra, Cluj-Napoca 2001.
2. DREIZLER R.M., LUEDDE C.S. Theoretische Physik I, Theoretische Mechanik, Springer 2003.
3. POP V., BLAGA C. Astronomie Observationala, Ed.Risoprint, 2005.
4. ROY A.E., CLARKE D. Astronomy: Principles and Practice, IOP, 2003.
5. ROY A.E., CLARKE D. Astronomy: Structure of the Universe, Adam Hilger, 1990.
6.URECHE V.: Universul, Astronomie, vol I, Ed.Dacia, 1982.
7.URECHE V.: Universul, Astrofizica, vol. II, Editura Dacia, Cluj-Napoca, 1985.
8.WEIGERT A., WENDKER H.J., WISOTSKI L. Astronomie und Astrophysik, Wiley-VCH, 2005. 
	
Assessment	The mark is a weighted mean between the mark obtained for the activity during the semester (50%) and the mark obtained at the written exam at the end of semester (50%). For the evaluation of the activity during the semester we will take into account the active participation of the students to the didactical activities (25%) and the implementation of their assignments (25%).