Download Homework 7

Astronomy 100
Name:
Homework 7
Due Friday, November 22, 2013 at 5 p.m., either electronically or on paper.
1. How does solar nebula theory explain the dramatic density difference
between the terrestrial and Jovian planets?
2. Why are carbonaceous chondritic meteorites thought to be the oldest
pristine material from the inner solar system?
3. How does the Doppler shift allow us to discover extrasolar planets?
Specifically, what light are we looking at, when an extrasolar planet is discovered
using the Doppler shift?
4. For stars, what does luminosity measure that is different from what
absolute visual magnitude measures?
5. Examine the following table of made-up stars and their properties:
Star
Arya
Bran
Catelyn
Daenerys
Eddard
Spectral type
G2 V
B1 V
G2 Ib
M5 III
DZ
mv
5
8
10
19
15
Which star is the brightest in apparent magnitude? Which star is most
luminous? Which star is the largest star? Which star is furthest away? For
each choice, state the information from the table that was most useful in making
the choice.
6. How can Kepler’s Third Law be used to figure out the combined masses of
two stars in a binary system?