MCC PHS 142 M01 Astronomy Homework Ch.10-11
Adj Prof Astronomy: Sam Wormley <sam.wormley@gmail.com>
Web: edu-observatory.org
Background Material
Textbook - Read Chapters 10-11
Textbook - http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0073512184/student_view0/chapter10/
Textbook - http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0073512184/student_view0/chapter11/
(take the Multiple Choice Quiz for for each chapter)
Web - http://edu-observatory.org/eo/constellations.html
Web - http://edu-observatory.org/eo/planets.html
Web - http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.html
Web - http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/mer/
Web - http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/index.cfm
Web - http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/index.cfm
Web - http://www.nasa.gov/ram/35037main_portal.ram
Web - http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
The Constellations and their Stars
The constellations are totally imaginary things that poets, farmers and
astronomers have made up over the past 6,000 years (and probably even
more!). The real purpose for the constellations is to help us tell
which stars are which, nothing more. On a really dark night, you can
see about 1000 to 1500 stars. Trying to tell which is which is hard.
The constellations help by breaking up the sky into more manageable
bits.
The Big Dipper is a prominent pattern of stars within the constellation
Ursa Major. Such patterns are known as asterisms. Merak and Dubhe are
known as the Pointers because the line joining them leads upward toward
Polaris, the north star. There are four galaxies shown in this chart
that includes the Big Dipper--M51, M64, M101 and M106. These galaxies
are all difficult to see in 5-8 inch telescopes, from the MCC campus,
but are a relatively easy under really dark skies.
Homework Problems
Note the answers to the odd (Conceptual Questions, Problems and
Figure-Based Questions) are in the back of your textbook. It is
strongly suggested that you do some of those in every chapter so you
have immediate feedback as how well you are understanding the material.
There are online multiple choice quizzes for each chapter of your
textbook. Goto http://www.mhhe.com/fix then click on
Your book
Student Edition
Choose a chapter
Multiple Choice Quiz
You are expected to do all of your own homework. Statistical patterns
showing copying or collaboration will result in no credit for the
homework assignment for all participants involved. The Code of Academic
Conduct for Iowa Valley Community College District is found in the
Student Handbook.
Physical Science classes require the use of mathematics. If you don't
know algebra, you sould NOT be taking this class. If you need to review,
look at Introduction to Algebra
http://www.math.armstrong.edu/MathTutorial/
WolframAlpha is way faster than a scientific calculator.
http://www.wolframalpha.com
There is little excuse for turning homework in late. You have a whole
week between classes to read the chapters and do the homework. Homework
one week late - half credit. Two or more weeks late - no credit. Do the
homework during the week, not in class! You got homework questions,
email me 24/7. sam.wormley@gmail.com Even if you don't have a homework
question, email me anyway!
Problem 1:
Refresh yourself on the meaning of the terms: opposition and perihelion.
The perihelion (point closest the Sun) distance of Mars' orbit is
given by d = a(1 - e), where a is the semimajor axis and e is the
orbital eccentricity of 0.09 for Mars.
Find the smallest and largest opposition distances in AU.
Hint: Assume that the orbit of the Earth is a circle, so the distance
between the Earth and Mars becomes:
D = a(1 + e) - 1 AU
at the opposition that is maximum distance from Earth. Mars is further
away at its closest approach, so it is small in a telescope. :-(
D = a(1 - e) - 1 AU
at the opposition that is minimum distance from Earth. Mars is closer
at its closest approach, so it is larger in a telescope. :-)
Problem 2:
How fast would a rock need to be blasted outward from the surface of
Mars to escape into space as a meteoroid?
Problem 3:
Mars has nearly the same rotational period as the Earth, yet Mars
has no detectable global magnetic field. What possible difference
between the two planets could account for the absence of a Martian
magnetic field?
Problem 4:
What evidence do we have that Mars was once wetter and hotter than it
is today?
Problem 5:
Describe the way that the scarps of Mercury were probably
produced.
Problem 6:
What evidence do we have that most of the surface of Venus has been
flooded with lava during the last 800 million years?
Problem 7:
The atmospheres of Venus and the Earth may originally been quite
similar. What may have happened to cause their recent evolution to
diverge so strongly?
Problem 8:
Using your star wheel (planisphere) and the table below, find the a)
rise time, b) transit time, and c) set time for Comet 73P/Schwassmann-
Wachmann on your birthday in 2006.
Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann - Some current data
Ref: http://www.birtwhistle.org.uk/Gallery73P-Spitzer.htm
The following ephemeris is at intervals of five days. You may use
values closest to your B'day. Professional astronomers would use
interpolation algorithms to find more exact values for a given date
and time.
Date TT R. A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. Phase m1
2005 12 16 12 12.41 +11 52.2 2.144 2.297 86.1 25.3 19.1 21.1
2005 12 21 12 19.70 +11 31.9 2.040 2.254 89.3 25.9 18.8 21.0
2005 12 26 12 26.97 +11 13.7 1.938 2.211 92.5 26.4 18.6 20.9
2005 12 31 12 34.21 +10 58.1 1.836 2.168 95.7 26.8 18.4 20.7
2006 01 05 12 41.43 +10 45.2 1.736 2.124 99.0 27.2 18.1 20.6
2006 01 10 12 48.61 +10 35.4 1.637 2.079 102.2 27.5 17.8 20.4
2006 01 15 12 55.76 +10 28.8 1.539 2.035 105.4 27.8 17.6 20.2
2006 01 20 13 02.87 +10 25.8 1.444 1.990 108.6 27.9 17.3 20.0
2006 01 25 13 09.94 +10 26.7 1.350 1.944 111.8 28.0 17.0 19.8
2006 01 30 13 16.94 +10 32.0 1.259 1.898 115.0 28.0 16.7 19.6
2006 02 04 13 23.87 +10 42.1 1.170 1.852 118.2 28.0 16.4 19.4
2006 02 09 13 30.73 +10 57.1 1.085 1.806 121.3 27.8 16.0 19.2
2006 02 14 13 37.53 +11 17.4 1.002 1.759 124.3 27.6 15.7 19.0
2006 02 19 13 44.26 +11 43.5 0.922 1.712 127.3 27.3 15.3 18.7
2006 02 24 13 50.92 +12 15.8 0.845 1.665 130.2 27.0 15.0 18.5
2006 03 01 13 57.52 +12 54.6 0.772 1.618 132.9 26.7 14.6 18.2
2006 03 06 14 04.07 +13 40.1 0.701 1.571 135.4 26.3 14.2 17.9
2006 03 11 14 10.63 +14 32.6 0.635 1.523 137.6 26.1 13.8 17.6
2006 03 16 14 17.28 +15 32.2 0.571 1.476 139.5 26.0 13.3 17.3
2006 03 21 14 24.11 +16 39.4 0.511 1.429 140.9 26.1 12.9 17.0
2006 03 26 14 31.26 +17 54.3 0.454 1.383 141.8 26.5 12.4 16.7
2006 03 31 14 38.98 +19 17.4 0.400 1.337 142.0 27.4 11.9 16.4
2006 04 05 14 47.66 +20 49.0 0.349 1.292 141.6 28.8 11.4 16.0
2006 04 10 14 57.94 +22 29.9 0.300 1.248 140.4 30.8 10.8 15.7
2006 04 15 15 10.90 +24 22.2 0.255 1.205 138.3 33.6 10.2 15.3
2006 04 20 15 28.39 +26 29.5 0.211 1.164 135.3 37.4 9.6 15.0
2006 04 25 15 53.93 +28 55.6 0.170 1.125 131.0 42.4 8.9 14.6
2006 04 30 16 34.81 +31 37.0 0.133 1.088 124.7 49.6 8.2 14.2
2006 05 05 17 45.71 +33 41.0 0.101 1.055 114.5 60.5 7.4 13.8
2006 05 10 19 42.02 +31 07.6 0.0814 1.024 98.0 77.5 6.7 13.8
2006 05 15 21 49.81 +19 43.4 0.0818 0.998 78.5 96.9 6.5 14.5
2006 05 20 23 15.92 +07 19.2 0.102 0.976 66.5 108.0 6.9 15.5
2006 05 25 00 06.01 -00 35.4 0.134 0.958 62.4 110.5 7.4 16.2
2006 05 30 00 37.22 -05 09.8 0.170 0.946 62.2 108.6 7.8 16.6
2006 06 04 00 58.75 -07 51.5 0.209 0.940 63.5 105.0 8.2 16.8
2006 06 09 01 14.99 -09 28.6 0.248 0.940 65.5 100.7 8.6 17.0
2006 06 14 01 28.08 -10 26.8 0.286 0.945 67.7 96.0 8.9 17.1
2006 06 19 01 39.14 -11 01.0 0.324 0.956 70.1 91.3 9.3 17.2
2006 06 24 01 48.73 -11 20.7 0.360 0.972 72.7 86.6 9.6 17.3
2006 06 29 01 57.10 -11 32.1 0.394 0.993 75.4 82.0 9.9 17.3
2006 07 04 02 04.42 -11 39.1 0.426 1.019 78.2 77.6 10.3 17.4
2006 07 09 02 10.73 -11 44.7 0.455 1.049 81.3 73.3 10.6 17.5
2006 07 14 02 16.06 -11 51.0 0.481 1.082 84.5 69.2 10.9 17.5
2006 07 19 02 20.36 -11 59.7 0.505 1.118 87.9 65.3 11.2 17.6
2006 07 24 02 23.56 -12 11.9 0.526 1.157 91.6 61.4 11.6 17.6
2006 07 29 02 25.59 -12 28.2 0.545 1.198 95.5 57.6 11.9 17.6
2006 08 03 02 26.38 -12 48.7 0.561 1.240 99.7 53.8 12.1 17.7
2006 08 08 02 25.87 -13 13.2 0.576 1.284 104.3 50.0 12.4 17.7
2006 08 13 02 24.03 -13 41.2 0.590 1.329 109.0 46.1 12.7 17.7
2006 08 18 02 20.83 -14 12.1 0.604 1.374 114.1 42.2 13.0 17.7
2006 08 23 02 16.24 -14 44.7 0.618 1.421 119.4 38.3 13.2 17.8
2006 08 28 02 10.32 -15 17.4 0.633 1.468 125.0 34.3 13.5 17.8
2006 09 02 02 03.19 -15 48.2 0.649 1.515 130.7 30.3 13.8 17.8
2006 09 07 01 55.05 -16 15.3 0.669 1.562 136.4 26.4 14.0 17.8
2006 09 12 01 46.12 -16 36.9 0.692 1.609 142.0 22.6 14.3 17.8
2006 09 17 01 36.69 -16 51.4 0.719 1.656 147.4 19.1 14.6 17.8
2006 09 22 01 27.07 -16 57.9 0.750 1.703 152.1 16.0 14.8 17.9
2006 09 27 01 17.60 -16 55.5 0.787 1.750 155.7 13.6 15.1 18.0
2006 10 02 01 08.57 -16 44.2 0.830 1.797 157.9 12.1 15.4 18.1
2006 10 07 01 00.24 -16 24.7 0.878 1.844 158.1 11.7 15.7 18.3
2006 10 12 00 52.78 -15 57.8 0.932 1.890 156.5 12.2 16.0 18.5
2006 10 17 00 46.30 -15 24.6 0.992 1.936 153.6 13.3 16.3 18.7
2006 10 22 00 40.87 -14 46.2 1.057 1.981 149.8 14.7 16.6 18.9
2006 10 27 00 36.49 -14 03.6 1.127 2.026 145.5 16.1 16.9 19.2
2006 11 01 00 33.14 -13 17.8 1.202 2.071 141.1 17.5 17.1 19.4
2006 11 06 00 30.77 -12 29.5 1.282 2.115 136.6 18.8 17.4 19.6
2006 11 11 00 29.30 -11 39.6 1.366 2.159 132.1 19.9 17.7 19.8
2006 11 16 00 28.66 -10 48.5 1.454 2.203 127.7 20.8 18.0 20.1
2006 11 21 00 28.78 -09 56.5 1.546 2.246 123.3 21.6 18.2 20.3
2006 11 26 00 29.58 -09 04.0 1.641 2.289 119.0 22.2 18.5 20.4
2006 12 01 00 31.00 -08 11.2 1.738 2.331 114.8 22.6 18.7 20.6
2006 12 06 00 32.96 -07 18.4 1.838 2.373 110.7 22.9 18.9 20.8
2006 12 11 00 35.41 -06 25.7 1.940 2.414 106.6 23.0 19.2 20.9
2006 12 16 00 38.29 -05 33.1 2.044 2.455 102.7 23.0 19.4 21.1
2006 12 21 00 41.55 -04 40.9 2.149 2.495 98.7 22.9 19.6 21.2
2006 12 26 00 45.17 -03 48.9 2.255 2.535 94.9 22.7 19.8 21.4
2006 12 31 00 49.08 -02 57.3 2.362 2.575 91.1 22.4 20.0 21.5
2007 01 05 00 53.27 -02 06.2 2.469 2.614 87.3 22.1 20.2 21.6
2007 01 10 00 57.70 -01 15.7 2.576 2.653 83.6 21.6 20.4 21.7
2007 01 15 01 02.33 -00 25.6 2.683 2.691 79.9 21.1 20.6 21.8
2007 01 20 01 07.17 +00 23.8 2.790 2.729 76.3 20.5 20.8 21.9