Download mayreview2

Review for Exam 2
Chapters 5,6,7,8
PHYS 1050
May, 2002
Purpose
• This document is a study guide,
NOT a comprehensive list of all topics
included on the exam.
• The exam will cover material from both
the text, class notes, and lecture
demonstrations.
• SUMMARY and REVIEW AND
DISCUSSION at the end of the text
chapters are also good sources of
information and comprehension
assessment.
Equations and Constants
•
•
•
•
F = ma
Fgrav = Gm1m2/r2
P2 = a3 or (M+m) P2 = a3
M = rv2/G where M=mass of planet, r=radius of moon’s orbit, v=circular
orbit speed
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
circumference of circle = 2  x radius = 2  r
diameter = D = 2 x radius OR D = 2r
area of circle =  r2 =  (D/2)2
volume of sphere = 4/3  r3 = 4/3  (D/2)3
density = mass/volume
distance = speed x time
3600 in a circle
light gathering power proportional to area of objective (or D2)
angular resolution proportional to wavelength of light studied and
inversely proportional to diameter of objective.
•Properties of Telescopes
– light gathering power proportional to area of primary or (diameter)2
– resolution as a function of diameter of the objective
and the wavelength of light imaged
•Types of Telescopes and Detectors:
– understand advantages/disadvantages of each type
•reflectors (mirrors, large size)
•refractors (lenses)
•space-based telescopes
– Earth’s atmosphere interferes with ground based observations
– wavelengths absorbed, reflected, transmitted
– turbulence
•radio telescopes
•infrared, ultraviolet, and high energy telescopes
– design of telescope
•detectors
– eye
– photographs (chemical recorders)
– CCDs (electronic recorders)
•Solar System
– Age of the solar system: ~ 4.6 billion years old
– Know the ordering of the planets from the Sun.
– Know which planets are the terrestrial planets, which are the jovian planets,
and which fit neither category.
– Be aware of and understand the primary differences between terrestial and
jovian planets. Use TABLE 6.2 in your textbook.
– Know the approximate relative sizes and masses of the planets.
Look at the appropriate columns in TABLE 6.1.
– Know how the average densities of the planets compare
(see "DENSITY" in TABLE 6.1)
– Know the approximate rotational period of the planets -- know which are
"slow", which are "medium", and which are "fast" rotators.
– Understand physical differences between comets, asteroids, and meteoroids.
– Know which planets have been visited by spacecraft and on which objects
have spacecraft actually landed. Develop a sense of how each planetary
exploration mission changed our perspective and understanding of the
properties of each planet.
• for example: What did Magellan add to our knowledge of Venus?
What about Viking with respect to Mars ?
•Formation of Planetary Systems
– List the main features of our solar system that a theory of the
formation of the solar system must explain.
– Outline the process by which planets are formed as a normal
by-product of star formation.
•Condensation theory
–Role of dust
–Accretion
–Fragmentation
–Formation of giant planets
–Temperature and distance from the Sun
– Differentiation
•Entire solar system
•Individual planets
– Extra-solar planets
•Method of discovery
•Comparison with our solar system
•PLANET EARTH
– Know the basic “spheres" into which planetary scientists have divided up the
Earth:
• lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, magnetosphere, biosphere
• composition, density, temperature trends in each region
• Interactions between spheres
– Know the different regions of the Earth's atmosphere:
• names, main features, ordering with altitude
• temperature variation with altitude
– Define P-waves and S-waves.
• What information is derived from studying seismic waves?
– Understand the term "plate tectonics".
• Know what process drives plate tectonics.
• Know that most geological activity (e.g., earthquakes, volcanoes) is associated with
plate boundaries.
• New crust is created at plate boundaries by upwelling mantle material.
• Old crust is returned to the mantle in subduction zones.
• Lighter continental crust "floats" on the more dense crust of the ocean basins.
– Know the definition of a "half-life" for a radioactive element.
– Know where the Earth's magnetosphere exists and what effect it has on
atomic particles blowing past Earth in the solar wind.
– Understand the source of the tides and their effect on the the Earth's rotation.
•THE MOON
– Understand the difference between the highlands and maria on the moon.
• Which is the older feature?
• How do we know which is older?
– Know that the Moon rotates once about its axis for each orbit about Earth.
• Understand why this must be true if we see only one side of the moon.
• How is the Earth-Moon separation changing? Why is it changing?
• What is the final relative orbital and spin rate for the Earth and Moon?
– Know the relative size and mass of the Earth and Moon.
– Know the distance to the Moon.
– Understand the origin of lunar craters, and their relative
distribution on the lunar surface.
• Are there more craters on the maria or highlands?
– Know if the Moon has an atmosphere.
– Understand the current concept of the lunar interior.
• depth of the crust,
• nature of the Moon's mantle,
• nature of the Moon's core.
– Understand the phases of the Moon as seen from Earth.
– Compare spheres of Moon to those of the terrestrial planets.
•MERCURY
– Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun.
– Describe the rotation and orbital period of Mercury.
•seasons, elliptical orbit, spin-orbit resonance
– Describe the surface of Mercury: craters? volcanoes? oceans?
•Know what is meant by "scarps" on Mercury; how they may have
formed.
– How is Mercury’s surface different/similar to that of the Moon.
– How does the density of Mercury compare to that of the Earth? Moon?
– Does Mercury have an atmosphere? magnetic field?
•Explain.
– Does Mercury have a magnetic field?
•Explain.
– Compare the spheres on Mercury to those of other terrestrial planets
and Earth’s Moon.