Download 3 Exam #1

PH 104 – Study Guide for Exam2 (Saturday 5/26/12)
As you prepared for test1, insure you are able to answer the following questions or terminologies.
Please note: In effort to make questions from each chapter, I did not get enough time to generate
sufficient questions from chapters 6, 7, and 8. please answer the review question for chapters 4-8 at end
of each chapter.
Definitions
Comparative Planetology
Jovian planets
Asteroid
Astronomical Unit
Nebular Hypothesis
Kuiper Belt
Comet
Orbital Period
Terrestrial planets
Greenhouse effect
Meteor
Density
Solar system questions
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What are the properties which distinguish the inner planets from the outer planets?
What are the systematic properties of the solar system?
How is the solar system organized? That is, what general properties does it have?
Describe the exceptions to the pattern of systematic motion in the solar system.
How is the term "solar system" defined? What sorts of objects exist in the solar system?
Compare the properties of the terrestrial and giant planets.
Define and explain the concepts of density and temperature.
Define the term "solar system". How is it different from the universe?
In general, how can we tell if a newly discovered object is a part of the solar system?
Earth and Moon
10. What is the appearance of Earth when it is viewed from distant space
11. Describe the structure and material of the interior of Earth.
12. What is the difference between an S and a P wave? What does their arrival (or lack thereof) tell us about the
interior of Earth?
13. Why do we suspect that the very center of Earth is solid even though the outer layers of the core are liquid?
14. Explain in general why convection occurs? Describe the process of convection in the context of Earth’s
mantle.
15. What are the sources of energy which keep the center of Earth warm?
16. Describe the structure of the core and mantle of Earth.
17. How is crust created and destroyed on Earth?
18. What are the two different (although related) processes that create mountains on Earth?
19. What are the primary chemical constituents of Earth’s atmosphere? What is unusual about its composition,
compared to other planets?
20. Earth’s atmosphere is described as consisting of 4 layers. What are these 4 layers? Describe a distinguishing
characteristic for each layer.
21. What controls the temperature of Earth’s atmosphere? Describe both the physical principle and the sources
of energy.
22. What role does carbon dioxide play in affecting the surface conditions on Earth? How have human activities
affected its concentration in our atmosphere?
23. How does the greenhouse effect work to trap heat? Why is a change in wavelength of light important to the
process? What are the two most important greenhouse gases in Earth’s atmosphere?
24. What is ozone? Why is important to us? What role do CFC’s play in affecting it?
25. Describe how the Moon formed according to the currently accepted theory. How does it explain the
properties of the Moon?
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26. Why do we believe that the core of the Moon is very small?
27. How do we know that most of the Moon’s craters formed very early in its history?
28. Why are all the maria on the side of the Moon that faces Earth?
29. Describe the processes which occur during the formation of a crater.
30. Explain how tides are formed.
31. Why do we only see one side of the moon? Is the other side the “dark side” of the moon?
Terrestrial Planets:
32. Compare volcanism as it occurred on Mars to that which is observed on Earth and the Moon. How do we
know that all the volcanoes on Mars are extinct?
33. How can we determine the relative age of a planetary surface from remote observation? How old are the
surfaces of Mercury, Venus, and Mars?
34. Describe the physical properties (temperature, pressure, composition) of the atmospheres of Venus and
Mars (the terrestrial planets).
35. For each of the terrestrial planets (plus the Moon), compare the relative size of the core.
36. What two factors determine whether or not a planet will be able to retain an atmosphere? Explain how they
compete with each other.
37. For each of the processes mentioned (cratering, volcanism, tectonics & erosion), describe a planet which has
been strongly affected by the process.
Jovian Planets:
38. Describe in very general terms the surface appearance of each of the gas giant planets.
39. Explain why the giant planets radiate more energy than they receive from the sun. What observation of Saturn
confirms a part of the explanation?
40. What is chemical differentiation and what effect has it had on the planets?
41. Why are planets that formed close to the sun made of rocks and iron while those that formed far from the sun
mostly gaseous?
42. What role does rotation play in explaining the properties of planets that form in a solar system?
43. What role does temperature play in explaining why planets close to the sun are small and dense?
44. In general, how do planets form from the material that surrounds a forming star?
45. The giant planets undergo a second process that allows them to become even bigger. Describe this process and
explain how it affects the nature of the planet.
46. How do dust grains grow to form small planets?
47. What are the ranges of properties of stars, for radius, surface temperature, brightness, and mass?
48. What is the distinction between apparent brightness and true brightness? Which is more useful for studying the
properties of stars, and why?
49. Describe the observable properties of most common type of star, in comparison to the sun.
50. How are distances measured in astronomy? Why is a knowledge of the distance to a star important?
51. How are distances measured in astronomy? Why is a knowledge of the distance to a star important?
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