Download Study Guide for Exam 2

Antelope Valley College
ASTR 101
Study Guide – Exam 2
The second exam will cover material in Chapters 4-6 & 9-10. In addition to reading the chapters,
reviewing lecture notes, and homework assignments, you should emphasize in your study the following
concepts covered in lecture:
------Newton’s Law of Motion and be able to give an example of each.
Types of Energy: Kinetic, Gravitational Potential, Thermal
Law of Gravity – Make sure to go back over the lecture slide questions on this topic.
Reasons for the Tides; Spring tides; Neap tides
The structure of the atom
The seven types of electromagnetic radiation. Know their order by wavelength, speed, and energy.
Photon absorption; Photon emission; Continuous thermal emission
The Two Laws of Thermal Radiation (p116)
Kirchoff’s Laws of radiation; Be able to give an example of each.
Doppler effect
Solar nebula theory and how it is used to explain some of the orbital characteristics of the solar system?
Know the characteristics of terrestrial and jovian planetary types.
What are ‘hot Jupiters’? Know the Doppler and transit technique for discovering extra solar planets.
What are the differences between comets, meteoroids, meteors, meteorites, and asteroids?
Potential short answer questions
1. What is a better deal? Buying a pound of chocolate on the Earth or on the Moon. Explain.
2. What are neap tides and spring tides and how are they related to the lunar cycle?
3. What changes occur to the motion of the Earth and the Moon due to tidal friction?
4. State the two ways in which hotter objects emit light differently than cooler objects.
5. Explain how Wien’s Law is used to determine the temperature of a star.
6. What are the advantages for placing telescopes in space as opposed to on the ground?
7. How does the solar nebula theory explain the common direction of orbit and rotation of objects
in the solar system?
8. Where is Pluto located and why is it no longer considered a planet?
9. How many tails does a comet have and how are they formed?
10. What is an extrasolar planet and why is direct detection of them so difficult?
11. Choose one indirect method of extrasolar planet detection. Name it and explain how it works.
12. State at least three differences between terrestrial and jovian planet. Choose one of these
differences and provide a scientific explanation as to why the difference exists.
13. Use Newton’s laws to explain why the Voyager spacecraft continues to speed away decades after
it was launched.
----If a particular topic is not mentioned here do not assume it will not be on the test.
I have posted an extensive list of study questions to MateringAstronomy. The test will be part multiple
choice (30 questions), part true/false (10 questions), and part short answer (4 questions). Bring a
scantron. Good luck.