Download Study Guide for Quiz #2

Study Guide for Quiz #1
Astronomy 311: The Solar System
In studying for the quiz you should concentrate on your notes and exercises. I would
suggest that you do not just read them over, but test yourself on your mastery of the
material. You can use the questions below to aid in this process.
2: A Brief History of Planetary Science
Can you define these key words?
Geocentric Model
Retrograde Motion
Epicycles
Heliocentric Model
Can you answer these key questions?
How did ancient people distinguish solar system objects from other things in the sky?
Why did ancient people observe the sky?
What were the major contributions of the ancient Greeks to astronomy and how did they
achieve them?
How did Eratosthenes determine the size of the Earth?
Describe the geocentric model of the solar system. When was it developed? What were
its strengths and weaknesses?
Describe the heliocentric model of the solar system. When was it developed? What were
its strengths and weaknesses?
Describe the work of Tycho, Kepler and Galileo. How did their work support the
heliocentric model?
Describe some of the advances in planetary science of the last 10-15 years.
Can you use these equations and understand what all the variables are?
Tan  = L/H
Arctan (L/H) = 
C = (360/) x D
Can you do the “Eratosthenes’s Experiment Exercise”?
3: Observing and the Sky
Can you define these key words?
Polaris
Diurnal motion
Annual motion
Horizon
Zenith
Meridian
Solstice
Equinox
Equator
Tropics
Arctic circles
North Celestial Pole
Celestial Equator
Right Ascension
Declination
Ecliptic
Zodiac
Precession
Pseudoscince
Latitude
Longitude
Can you answer these key questions?
Describe diurnal and annual motion. How do the two compare? What is the relationship
between how far the sky moves in an hour compared to a month?
How would you describe the location of an object in the sky with respect to the zenith,
horizon and cardinal points?
What causes the Earth’s seasons?
What happens on an equinox or at solstice time and when do they occur?
Why (and how) does the length of the day change over the course of the year?
Discuss the important lines found on a globe and their astronomical meaning.
Describe the celestial coordinate system.
What is the ecliptic? What is the zodiac?
Why is astrology not a science?
Can you do the “Determining Time from the Motion of Stars Exercise”?
4: Observing the Moon and Eclipses
Can you define these key words?
New
Quarter
Full
Crescent
Gibbous
Waxing
Waning
Sidereal Period
Synodic period
Line of Nodes
Umbra
Penumbra
Total lunar Eclipse
Partial lunar eclipse
Penumbral Lunar eclipse
Total solar eclipse
Partial solar eclipse
Annular solar eclipse
Can you answer these key questions?
Describe the various phases of the moon. What positions must the Earth, Moon and Sun
be in order for us to see each phase?
Discuss the difference between synodic and sidereal period.
How are the Earth, Moon and Sun positioned during a solar eclipse and a lunar eclipse?
What is the line of nodes and how does it affect eclipses?
Describe the umbra and penumbra. How do they affect eclipses?
Describe the different types of lunar eclipses. Describe the different types of solar
eclipses.
Why do the Sun and Moon have close to the same apparent diameter?
Can you do the “Moon Exercise”?
5: Kepler’s Laws and Motion
Can you define these key words?
Tycho Brahe
Johannes Kepler
Ellipse
Focus
Semimajor axis
Astronomical unit
Aristotle
Galileo
Acceleration of Gravity
Isaac Newton
Inertia
Force
Action/Reaction
Gravity
Conservation of Angular momentum
Can you answer these key questions?
Describe each of Kepler’s three laws.
How did Galileo's laws of motion compare with Aristotle’s laws of motion?
Describe Newton’s three laws of motion.
In Newton’s law of gravity how does the force relate to the masses and distance
involved?
How do Newton’s laws explain Kepler’s laws?
How did Newton’s ideas change the way people thought about the natural world?
Can you use these equations and understand what all the variables are?
P2 = a3
F = ma
Can you do the “Kepler’s Laws Exercise”?
6: Solar System Physics
Can you define these key words?
Tides
Tidal effects
Spring tide
Neap tide
Tidal locking / Synchronous rotation
Dynamo effect
Dipolar magnetic fields
Solar wind
Magnetosphere
van Allen belts
Aurora Borealis
Can you answer these key questions?
How do the planets in the solar system affect each other gravitationally?
Explain how a planet can change shape due to tidal forces.
Draw a diagram showing the relative locations of the moon and the positions of high and
low tides on the Earth.
How does the sun effect tides on Earth? Describe Spring and Neap tides.
Why do we always see the same side of the moon?
How should you determine if a theory is accurate?
What does a magnetic field exert a force on?
What can a magnetic field do?
Describe how a planet produces a magnetic field.
What is the solar wind? What is the magnetosphere?
How are auroras and the Van Allen belts produced?
Can you use these equations and understand what all the variables are?
F = (Gm1m2/r2)
Can you do the “Solar System Physics Exercise”?
7: Telescopes and Spacecraft
Can you define these key words?
Lens
Refraction
Focus
Focal length
Eyepiece
Objective
Refracting telescope
magnification
Reflecting telescope
Primary mirror
Secondary mirror
Cassegrain telescope
Photon
Wavelength
Electromagnetic spectrum
Radio and Millimeter
Infrared (IR)
Optical
Ultraviolet (UV)
X-ray
Gamma Ray
Fly-by
Orbiter
Lander
Least Energy Orbit
Can you answer these key questions?
How do we learn about the solar system?
What do telescopes do? What is the most important attribute of a telescope?
Describe how light is refracted by a lens.
What are the eyepiece and objective of a telescope? How do you compute the
magnification?
What are the problems with building large refracting telescope? Why are reflecting
telescopes easier to make?
Draw a diagram illustrating the lens placement and path of light through a refracting
telescope. Draw a diagram illustrating the mirror placement and path of light through a
Cassegrain telescope.
How is wavelength and color related to photon energy?
Describe the electromagnetic spectrum form long to short wavelength.
How is each type of electromagnetic radiation observed?
How do spacecraft get to other planets from the Earth?
Can you compute the time needed to get to a planet on a least energy orbit?
Can you use these equations and understand what all the variables are?
mag.= f.l. objective / f.l. eyepiece
Can you do the Telescope Exercise?
8: Origin of the Solar System
Can you define these key words?
Key Words
Star
Disk
Solar Nebula
Gas
Dust
Planetesimals
Volatile
Ices
Refractory
Silicates
Inner or Terrestrial region
Outer or Gas Giant region
Trans-Neptunian or Cometary Region
Can you answer these key questions?
How old is the solar system? What did it form out of?
Describe how a cloud of gas forms a star and a disk.
How does a circumstellar disk form into planets?
What was the solar nebula made of? How was material sorted with regards to distance
form the sun?
How does temperature effect the formation of planets?
How do planetesimals form into planets?
Describe the different formation mechanisms of gas giants and terrestrial planets.
Describe the Trans-Neptunian region. Why does it exist?
Can you do the Origin of the Solar System Exercise?