MCC PHS 142 M01 Astronomy Homework Ch.8-9 Adjunct: Sam Wormley <swormley1@mchsi.com> Web: edu-observatory.org/eo/mcc.html Background Material Fix - Read Chapters 8-9 (Earth & Moon), Appendices 1-6 Web - http://www.mhhe.com/physsci/astronomy/fix/ Web - http://edu-observatory.org/eo/aurora.html Web - http://edu-observatory.org/eo/earth.html Web - http://edu-observatory.org/eo/moon.html Web - http://edu-observatory.org/eo/eclipses.html Web - http://edu-observatory.org/eo/telescopes.html Web - http://edu-observatory.org/eo/observing.html Web - http://co-ops.nos.noaa.gov/restles1.html Web - http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/physics/StellarAberration.html Web - http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ The Earth in PerspectiveThere is a better reproduction of this EarthRise image on page 184 of your textbook. Galileo, Johannas Kepler and Isaac Newton changed our view of the Universe forever. They showed that we were no longer at the center of everything. Just as profound is this image of the Earth rising above the Moon's surface as the Apollo 8 Astronauts came around the Moon. From the perspective we get on Earth, our planet appears to be big and sturdy with an endless ocean of air. From space, astronauts often get the impression that the Earth is small with a thin, fragile layer of atmosphere. And it is! That little blue marble is us. We had better learn how to get along with each other, and how to take care of our planet. 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. Problem 1: The "best" telescope is the one that you will use the most. There are many tradeoffs: cost, quality, stability, satifaction, portability, ease of use, etc.
There are three basic types of telescopes -- Refractors (a), Newtonian reflectors (b,c,d), and Catadioptrics (e,f). All these designs have the same purpose, to collect light and bring it to a point of focus so it can be magnified and examined with an eyepiece, but each design does it differently. All designs can perform satisfactorily if properly and responsibly manufactured and all have their own special virtues. Advice for First Time Telescope Buyers http://www.rocketroberts.com/astro/first.htm http://findascope.com/ Telescope basics from Celestron http://www.celestron.com/education/tel4ast.htm The magnification is simply the focal length of the telescope divided by the focal length of the eyepiece. Magnification = Telescopes F.L. / Eyepiece F.L. For example a 25 mm eyepiece with 1040mm focal length telescope provides a magnification of 1040/25 = 41.6x. So if you were looking at the moon, it would appear about 42 times bigger. It would look 42 time closer! Below is a table of typical eyepieces one might use with 1200 mm and 1040 mm focal length telescopes. Calculate the magnification for the missing entries. Eyepiece FL 160mm f/7.5 1200mm 130mm f/8 1040mm FoV Relief ______________________________________________________________________ 40mm 30x (2.33°) ______ (2.7°) 70° 20mm 30mm 40x (1.75°) 35x (2.0°) 70° 20mm 25mm 48x (43') 42x (50') 35° 38mm 20mm 60x (70') ______ (81') 70° 20mm 14mm 86x (48') ______ (57') 70° 20mm 10mm 120x (35') ______ (40') 70° 20mm 7mm 171x (24') ______ (28') 70° 20mm 5mm 249x (17') 210x (20') 70° 20mm 3.5mm 343x (12') 297x (14') 70° 20mm Problem 2: Lets say you wanted to buy a nice eyepiece good for hunting comets. A good choice might be one with not too much magnifications, say 20x. Calculate what focal length you would need to get 20x with this 1040 mm focal length telescope. Problem 3: Two proofs of the Earth's rotation are shown in Figure 8.4 (the Foucault pendulum) and Figure 8.6 (the Coriolis effect). The Earth also orbits our sun. The "aberration of starlight" is omitted from many introductory textbooks, but our author has included it as the very first proof that the Earth actually moves about the Sun. See: http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/physics/StellarAberration.html
Because of aberration, telescopes have to slightly shift their pointing angles to correct for the aberration of starlight. What do you think would happen to the size of the shift due to aberration if the speed of light were ten times slower than it is? Problem 4: Using Figure 8.20, find the type of plate boundary that lies between the Indian Australian and Antarctic plates. What kind of plate boundary lies between the Eurasian plate and the Arabian plates? Between the Indian Australian and the Eurasian plate?. Problem 5: What is the angular diameter of the Earth (in either degrees or arc minutes) as seen from the Moon? Hint: The angular diameter of the Moon as viewed from the Earth is about half a degree (30 minutes). Since the Earth has a bigger diameter than the Moon, it's angular diameter must appear larger. Hints: Drawing a picture often helps. Essential data, such as the Earth's and Moon's diameters are found in Appendix 6-7. Could the "small angle formula" be of use? Problem 6: Using Table 9.2, is there an eclipse season in which there were or will be three eclipses in a row (every two weeks)? Problem 7: When does the First Quarter Moon rise compared to when the Sun rises or sets? Hints: The Moon rises about 50 minutes later each night. The Full Moon rises at sunset because it is on the opposite side of the Earth from the Sun, Right? Problem 8: When does the New Moon rise? Problem 9: Using your star wheel (planisphere), determine what times the star Vega sets and rises on your birthday? Problem 10: Using your star wheel (planisphere), determine how many hours and minutes the star Vega is above the horizon on your birthday.