Astrophysics is the study of the physics of stars and stellar systems and interstellar materials.

The laws of
physics are applied to astronomical systems to help us understand how these systems came into being,
how they work with the other systems and how they cease. The Laws of Newton give an accurate model for
the dynamic system of stars. This is the known as the study of stellar dynamics.

Newton not only studied dynamics but also calculus in order to further understand the way the planets
moved. He came up with a mathematical model that still holds today. His model is still fundamental to the
study of star clusters, galaxies and the solar system.

Newtons equation still holds as a good start to model many of the astrophysical systems such as the solar
systems, star clusters and galaxies. The reason that Newtons equation still holds today is due to gravity.
Gravity is a long-range force in the universe that has an attraction force in everything in the universe.
Gravity was in Newtons early equation and therefore makes the equation valid for a large amount of
astrophysics studies.

In stellar dynamics, gravity plays a role as a long-range force. Electromagnetism is also a long-range force
but is not considered important in the large scale because the positive and negative charges cancel each
other out.

There are short-range forces like gas pressure that may have some effect on small scales like inside of
stars. Within large scales, pressure is not an issue.

With some middle size stellar systems, gas pressure can pay a role when there are big gas clouds that exert
pressure and magnetic fields are exerted. These have some bearing in the middle size stellar systems but
in gigantic or small systems, gas pressure is usually not considered.

Having gravity a constant in our universe makes it easy for simulation and for relatively simple equations
to be used in astrophysics. Generally complicated math equations and physics principles are not necessary
when used in plasma astrophysics, radioactive transfer or nuclear astrophysics.

Stellar dynamics is the study of the effect of Newtons equation in astrophysical environments. Newton
had studied the motion of the planets. Celestial mechanics is the study of coming up with analytical
approximations of the motion of the planets.

Our solar system is a very predictable and consistent system. The planets move around the sun in the
same direction and in an ecliptic pattern. The planets are spaced apart with virtually no close encounters
possible.

With our galaxies and other star clusters, close encounters are possible. There is not a set direction that
stars can move. Stars can move in any direction. Analytic approximations are more difficult to determine
with the less constant system of stars. For some galaxies, analytic as well as semi-numerical models are
used. But to be more precise, numerical simulations are used. Strong computers have added significantly
to this study.

There are two subfields of stellar dynamics namely, collisional and collisionless stellar dynamics.
Collisional stellar dynamics is the aspect of gravitational meetings with pairs of stars. Sometime people
tend to think that collisional stellar dynamics refers to the stars actually colliding with each other, but that
is not accurate.

In very dense systems of stars, you can have physical collision of stars but collision stellar dynamics is
referring to the role that gravity plays with stars. In dense systems of stars, motion is dominated by the
gravitational forces put out by the very large number of stars. This is known as a collisionless stellar
dynamic.

The long-term effects of close star encounters involves a slow diffusion of heat from inside the star to the
edge of the star. Heat is transported through the close encounter of pairs of stars. There is actually little
heat exchanged during the close encounter.

Global clusters are the embodiment of idealizations of collision stellar dynamics. They are almost
spherical because they dont rotate very much. They are pretty much isolated from influences of the
galactic disk.

To get an idea of a globular cluster, imagine that you are at its very core. The stars that would be normally
seen in the night sky would be brought closer by a factor of 102 and each star would become brighter by a
factor of 104. The brightest star would be comparable to the light of the full moon. You could not directly
look at the stars because they would be too bright.
Astrophysics is the branch of astronomy that employs the principles of physics and chemistry "to ascertain the
nature of the heavenly bodies, rather than their positions or motions in space."[1][2] Among the objects studied are
the Sun, other stars, galaxies, extrasolar planets, the interstellar medium and thecosmic microwave
background.[3][4] Their emissions are examined across all parts of the electromagnetic spectrum, and the properties
examined includeluminosity, density, temperature, and chemical composition. Because astrophysics is a very broad
subject, astrophysicists typically apply many disciplines of physics,
including mechanics, electromagnetism, statistical mechanics, thermodynamics, quantum
mechanics, relativity, nuclear and particle physics, andatomic and molecular physics.
In practice, modern astronomical research often involves a substantial amount of work in the realms
of theoretical and observational physics. Some areas of study for astrophysicists include their attempts to determine:
the properties of dark matter, dark energy, and black holes; whether or not time travel is possible, wormholes can
form, or the multiverse exists; and the origin and ultimate fate of the universe.[3] Topics also studied by theoretical
astrophysicists include: Solar System formation and evolution; stellar dynamics and evolution; galaxy formation and
evolution; magnetohydrodynamics; large-scale structureof matter in the universe; origin of cosmic rays; general
relativity and physical cosmology, including string cosmology and astroparticle physics.