Jump to study questions from:

Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 | Week 9 | Week 10 | Week 11 | Week 12 | Week 13 | Week 14 |

Study Questions Part 1              Study Questions Part 2                  Study Questions Part 3  

 

STUDY QUESTIONS PART 3

 

Study Questions Week 11

Jovian Planets and moons

  1. Be able to visually identify the Jovian planets.
  2. Describe and compare the  composition of the Jovian planets.
  3. Describe and compare the internal structure of the Jovian planets.
  4. Describe and compare the magnetic fields of the Jovian planets.
  5. Describe and compare the rings of the Jovian planets.
  6. Discuss the possible internal heat sources for the Jovian planets.
  7. What were the main discoveries about Jupiter made by the  Galileo mission?
  8. Describe the characteristics of the Galilean moons. Be able to identify each from a description of its major surface features.
  9. Know the names and approximate dates of the missions to the Jovian Planets.

 

The Cassini Mission

  1. What are the objectives of the Cassini Mission?
  2. What are the main discoveries about Saturn from the Cassini mission?
  3. What did the Hyugens probe do? What discoveries did it make?
  4. Describe what Cassini has learned about Titan.
  5. Describe what Cassini has learned about the rings of Saturn.
  6. Describe what Cassini has learned about Rhea.
  7. Describe what Cassini has learned about Dione.
  8. Describe what Cassini has learned about Enceledus.

Study Questions Week 12

Formation of the solar system

  1. What are the major observed characteristics of our solar system which should be explained by the theory of formation?
  2. What are the irregularities observed in the solar system that a theory of formation will have to allow for?
  3. What is the difference between evolutionary theories and catastrophic theories of formation of the solar system?
  4. Describe the condensation theory.
  5. What is accretion?
  6. Describe or define planetesimal. 
  7. Discuss the standard theory of formation of the solar system.
  8. How do the gas giants form?
  9. What is the evidence that Jupiter formed farther out in the solar system and "migrated" in to its current location? 
  10. Discuss asteroids and comets in the context of the standard model of solar system formation.
  11.  In the context of the standard model, why do rocky planets form in the inner solar system?
  12. What role might "catastrophes" have played in shaping the appearance of the solar system today?

 

 

Study Questions Week 13

Extrasolar Planets

  1. Describe the techniques used to find extrasolar planets.
  2. Know approximately how many extrasolar planets have been found so far.
  3. What are the typical masses of the stars in the known exoplanet systems? Why is this?
  4. What is the range of masses (in terms of the mass of Jupiter) for the known exoplanets? How does this compare with the planets in our solar sytem?
  5. What is the range of orbital radii (in A.U.) of the known exoplanets? How does this compare with the planets in our solar sytem?
  6. What is the range of orbital eccentricity of the known exoplanets? How does this compare with the planets in our solar sytem?
  7. What is meant by the term "hot Jupiter"? (These planets are also called "roasters").
  8. How do the characteristics of the extrasolar planets found so far compare to our solar system?
  9. Why do some astronomers believe that the presence and location of Jupiter in our solar system is necessary for life on Earth?
  10. What is so exciting about the recently discovered planet Gliese 581c?
  11. Why haven't we detected any "Jupiter analogs"....Jupiter mass planets orbiting their stars out at a distance around 10 Au, like Jupiter in our solar system?

 

Systems of Time

  1. Know the terms: local apparent time, local mean time, equation of time, zone time, mean Sun
  2. What is the longitude correction? 
  3. Why do we need the concept of the "mean Sun"? 
  4. Is the Sun always on your meridian at noon? Explain. 
  5. Be able to do the problems similar to the "Time Homework Problems".

 

 

Study Questions Week 14

The Sun

  1. Describe the different regions of the sun. Which parts form the interior? Which parts are considered the atmosphere? What are the main characteristics of each region?
  2. What are the basic properties of the sun: composition, average density, mass and radius compared to Earth, surface temperature, and interior temperature?
  3. What is the solar wind? From where does it originate? ...or...What is a "coronal hole"?
  4. Describe flares and prominences. Which is more energetic?
  5. What are the consequences of solar flares on Earth?
  6. What is the "solar cycle"? How long is it: 11 years or 22 years?
  7. What are the characteristics of sunspots?

Earth-Space

  1. How does the solar wind effect the Earth's magnetic field?
  2. What causes the aurora?
  3. Where are aurora usually seen? Why?
  4. What colors are seen in the aurora? What is the cause of the different colors?