Download Mid-Term Project

ASTR 1105 MIDTERM – Project Packet (200 points total)
MAY 2017
Dr. Shawn T. Cruzen
SHORT ANSWER
5 points each (Questions 1-15)
1.
Define and describe the steps of the scientific method.
2.
Describe the method by which Eratosthenes first measured the
circumference of the Earth.
3.
State completely each of Newton’s three laws of motion. Give an example
of each one from everyday life.
4.
Describe six properties of objects in space that can be measured using
spectroscopy.
5.
What two effects, caused by the tilt of Earth’s axis, are responsible for our
seasons?
6.
What are solstices and equinoxes and when do they occur?
7.
Define the term “exoplanet.” How many exoplanets currently have been
confirmed to exist? What were the first confirmed exoplanets orbiting?
What was the first confirmed exoplanet orbiting a main sequence star?
What is a “main sequence” star?
8.
Describe five types of lunar surface features, and describe the process by
which each was formed.
9.
Describe in detail three major surface features on the planet Mars.
10.
Describe briefly the leading model for the process of the formation of the
Moon.
11.
Describe the factors that determine whether a planet will have a
significant magnetic field? What is the name given to the process that
generates these fields? Why are magnetic fields on planets important to
us as humans that might visit other worlds? Which of the eight planets in
our solar system do NOT have substantial magnetic fields? For each one,
explain why.
12.
What happened to all the water on Venus and why does it not have
oceans like the Earth? (Remember, it wasn’t always as hot as it is today!)
13.
Describe in detail the formation of the Jovian planets (including two major
phases), emphasizing how their formation differs from the terrestrials.
14.
Why was Pluto’s “planet-hood” downgraded in 2006? Describe three new
discoveries on Pluto from the New Horizons mission.
15.
Describe the basic classifications of asteroids and meteors.
SHORT ESSAY 10 points each (Questions 16-25)
16.
Describe the telescopic discoveries made by Galileo explaining how EACH
one supported the Copernican model and contradicted the Aristotelian
model.
17.
State completely each of Kepler's Three Laws of Planetary Motion. Draw a
diagram illustrating each one.
18.
Describe Solar Nebula theory and the formation of our solar system in as
much detail as you can using terminology from the notes or text.
19.
Draw and label a diagram with the Sun, Earth and Moon that
demonstrates the lunation cycle. Include the appropriate names of the
lunar phases (as viewed from Earth) for each of the eight positions of the
Moon described in the notes. Then, in a small box next to each phase,
sketch a drawing of how the Moon would appear if photographed from
Earth during that phase. Label all of the sketches with the directions East
(E) and West (W).
20.
Draw and label diagrams with the Sun, Earth and Moon that demonstrate
the geometry of both a total lunar eclipse and a total solar eclipse. Include
both umbral and penumbral regions.
21.
Describe in detail the Runaway Greenhouse Effect on Venus. Use a
diagram to illustrate the process.
22.
Define high tides, low tides, spring tides and neap tides. Draw and label
diagrams with the Sun, Earth and Moon that demonstrate the geometry of
both spring and neap tides.
23.
Describe ten physical properties of the planet Mercury describing how
each is either like or unlike the Moon.
24.
Describe recently acquired evidence for the presence of water on or near
the surface of Mars.
25.
Illustrate and label the main components for three basic telescope
designs.
NUMERICAL PROBLEMS: SHOW ALL OF YOUR WORK!! 5 points each
26.
The orbital eccentricity of the planet Neptune, which has a nearly circular
orbit, is e = 0.0097. The radius of its orbit is approximately 30.1 AU. (a)
What is the major axis of Neptune's orbit in Astronomical Units (AU)? (b)
What is the distance between the center of the Sun and the second focus
of Neptune’s orbit in kilometers? (c) Is this distance greater or less than
the distance between the Earth and the Sun? Remember: 1 AU = 1.5 x
1011 meters and e = (Distance Between Foci)(Major Axis)
27.
The orbit of Comet Cruzen (ha!) has a period of 100 years.
a) Use Kepler's 3rd Law in the form P12 P22 = R13 R23 to find the
semimajor axis of the comet's orbit in Astronomical Units (AU).
b) Convert the answer into meters. (Hint: 1 AU = 1.5 x 108 km)
28.
Two planets orbit a distant star. One revolves at a distance of 12AU and
one at a distance of 3AU. The planet at 3AU from the star has a period of
72,000 hours.
(a) Is the star more or less massive than our Sun? Why?
(b) What is the period of the 12AU planet?
29.
Use Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation to calculate what your weight
would be on the surfaces of all eight planets in our solar system plus the
Moon and the dwarf planet Pluto. (Jovian planets obviously don’t have
surfaces, so use their given diameters from the textbook.)
30.
(a) The focal length of a refracting telescope is 275 cm and it has a 25mm eyepiece. What is the magnification this instrument?
(b) If the diameter of a refracting telescope is increased by 50%, what is
the change in the light gathering power?
(c) For a wavelength of 6500 Angstroms, how much better is the resolving
power of a 200-cm telescope than a 75-cm telescope.
m = (F.L. Telescope)  (F.L. Eyepiece)
Surface Area = r2
R.P. = 2 x 10-3 (/d)