Download Exam 1 Review

Exam 1 Review
This review sheet has a list of questions that you can ask yourself to get a feel for
your own comfort level on the different topics that we’ve covered in class. You should
use these questions as a guide while you study from the textbook and the notes you took
during lectures.
Overview of Science and Astronomy
Do you understand the goals of science? Do you understand how the scientific method is
used to further our understanding of nature? Do you understand the goals of astronomy
and what the major limitations are in studying celestial objects?
Do you understand the effects that the precession of Earths’ rotational axis has?
Do you have a good understanding of the following terms:
 Rotation vs. Revolution vs. Precession
 Facts, Laws, Theories, Models
Do you understand the basic properties of the following objects?
Stars
Star Clusters
Moons (Satellites)
Galaxies
Planets
the Universe
Exoplanets
Planet Properties:
Are you comfortable with the following properties of planets? Can you use a table of
planetary properties to compare the characteristics of the planets of the Solar System?
Semi-Major Axis
Eccentricity
Orbital Inclination
Rotational Inclination
Average Density
Albedo
Orbital Period
Rotation Period
Equatorial Radius
Oblateness
Surface Gravity
Escape Velocity
What are the general properties of the Terrestrial Planets and the Jovian Planets?
How well do you understand Kepler’s Laws of Planetary Motion?
How well do you understand Newton’s Laws of Motion and the Law of GravityEarth
Can you describe the basic structure of the Earth’s geology? Do you understand how
scientists know the properties of the Earth’s interior? Do you know what types of
geologic formations are located above the three different plate boundaries?
Can you describe the basic structure of the Earth’s atmosphere?
Do you understand how the ozone layer prevents UV photons from getting to the surface
of the Earth?
Can you describe how the Greenhouse Effect keeps the surface of the Earth at a
temperature of about 17 degrees Celsius?
Describe how the carbon dioxide cycle acts as a temperature regulation system for the
Earth.
Do you understand how the magnetic field of the Earth is generated and how that
magnetic field protects Earth from the Solar Wind and creates aurora?
Moon:
Can you describe the general properties of the Moon in terms of its geologic structure,
surface features, and atmosphere? Do you know how craters are formed? Do you know
how the relative ages of the lunar highlands and mare can be determined?
Do you understand how the Moon affects the tides of the Earth?
Do you know the different types of eclipses that occur and what conditions that need to
be met in order for an eclipse to occur.
The Solar System
The best advice I can give (without giving away all the questions on the exam) is that you
should be able to compare all the major properties of each planet that were covered in
class. To help you do this, I’ve posed a few questions that you can ask yourself when
studying each individual planet.

Are there any interesting surface features? If so, how were they formed? How
are the surface features of different planets observed? How do the surface
features of one planet compare to similar surface features on other planets (in
terms of size, formation, etc.)? Knowing the names of surface features will be
useful.

What are the surface conditions like on each planet? What makes the surface
conditions the way they are?

Is there anything significant about the atmosphere of each planet? How does the
atmosphere of one planet compare/contrast to the atmosphere of other planets?
Be sure to learn important aspects such as composition, air pressure, temperature,
weather/storms.

Are there any interesting facts about a planet’s orbit/rotation?

What historical/social aspects were covered for each planet?

How do the ring systems of the Jovian planets compare?

What evidence, if any, can be used to imply that Pluto may not be a planet?

What are the interesting aspects of the major moons (listed below) that were
covered?
Io
Phobos/Deimos
Europa
Titan
Ganymede
Charon
Callisto
Janus/Epimetheus
Solar System Debris
Do you understand the three criteria that an object in the solar system must satisfy in
order to qualify as a planet?
What are the properties of Pluto that made astronomers not consider it a planet ever since
its discovery?
Can you describe the similarities and differences between comets and asteroids
(composition, orbits, origins, etc.)?
Do you know interesting properties of the following asteroids: Ceres, Ida, Eros, Itokawa?
Do you understand how two different tails form from a comet and what the differences
are between the tails?
What is the connection between a meteoroid, a meteor, and a meteorite? What is the
most common source for meteoroids? What are other sources?
Are you familiar with the evidence that supports the idea that a large asteroid impact is
the cause of the extinction of the dinosaurs? Do you know how the size of an asteroid is
related to how frequently they strike Earth and how much damage they can do? What is
the current state of affairs in terms of defense of asteroid impacts?