# Assessment Instructions: Problem Set 06 — The Chandrasekhar Mass for a Helium-Core White Dwarf

## Inputs to Inspect
Student submission, this problem set, the solution key, the corresponding lecture slides/notes, and the referenced dataset(s) under `materials/ASTR330/data/`.

## Grading Standard
Award credit for correct method and units first, then for the specific numeric result. A student who shows correct reasoning with a small arithmetic slip should receive most of the available credit; a student with a correct-looking number but no visible derivation steps should not. Because this is a 300-level quantitative course exceeding ASTR 310's own rigor, full marks require a genuine derivation (not just formula substitution) wherever the problem set asks for one.

## Problem-Level Criteria
- Problem 1: 20 points — correct arithmetic and identification that helium and carbon-oxygen give identical mu_e.
- Problem 2: 15 points — correct arithmetic and correct mu_e^-2 scaling direction.
- Problem 3: 15 points — correct percentage arithmetic and recognition of the identical result.
- Problem 4: 20 points — correct percentage arithmetic and stability conclusion.

## Resubmission Policy
Students may resubmit within one week of receiving feedback. A resubmission must show a corrected derivation, not only a corrected final number, and should reference the specific feedback comment it addresses. Regrade to a maximum of 90% of the original point value unless the error was a grading mistake.

## Common Errors to Flag
- Assuming helium-core and carbon-oxygen white dwarfs must have different Chandrasekhar masses without checking their mu_e values are actually the same.
- Getting the direction of the mu_e^-2 scaling backwards in Problem 2.
- Forgetting to use the correct (carbon-oxygen) Chandrasekhar mass for Problem 4, mixing it up with Problem 1’s helium value.