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 10

Jovian Planets and moons

  1. Describe and compare the atmospheric composition of the Jovian planets.
  2. Describe and compare the internal structure of the Jovian planets.
  3. Describe and compare the magnetic fields of the Jovian planets.
  4. Describe and compare the rings of the Jovian planets.
  5. Discuss the possible internal heat sources for the Jovian planets.
  6. Describe the characteristics of the Galilean moons.
  7. What are the distinguishing characteristics of Titan, Mimas and Iapetus?
  8. List the 5 major moons of Uranus.
  9. What is thought to have happened to Miranda?
  10. Describe the surface of Triton.
  11. Be able to visually identify the Galilean moons, Titan, Mimas, Miranda, and Triton. Know which planet they each orbit.
  12. Be able to visually identify the Jovian planets.
  13. Know the names and approximate dates of the missions to the Jovian Planets.

 

Study Questions Week 11

The Cassini Mission

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

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. What role does dust play in the formation of the solar system? 
  5. Describe the condensation theory.
  6. What is accretion? Explain the relation between accretion and fragmentation.
  7. Describe or define planetesimal. 
  8. Discuss the standard theory of formation of the solar system.
  9. How do the gas giants form?
  10. What is the evidence that Jupiter formed farther out in the solar system and "migrated" in to its current location? 
  11. What is the role of heat in the formation of the solar system?
  12. Discuss asteroids and comets in the context of the standard model of solar system formation.
  13.  In the context of the standard model, why do rocky planets form in the inner solar system?
  14. What role might "catastrophes" have played in shaping the appearance of the solar system today?

 

Study Questions Week 12

Extrasolar Planets

  1. Describe the techniques used to find extrasolar planets.
  2. Describe the characteristics of the first extrasolar planets that were discovered.
  3. Describe the general characteristics of the known exoplanets.
  4. What is meant by the term "hot Jupiter"?
  5. What are the characteristics that define the group of planets referred to as hot Jupiters?
  6. What mechanisms are proposed for the formation of the hot jupiters?
  7. How do the characteristics of the extrasolar planets conflict with the standard theory of formation of the solar system?
  8. What technique is used to discover extrasolar planets? What information is actually measured?
  9. What is the range of masses (in terms of the mass of Jupiter) for the known exoplanets?
  10. What is the range of orbital radii (in A.U.) of the known exoplanets?
  11. What can you say about the orbital radii of the exoplanets with nearly circular orbits, compared to the exoplanets with elliptical orbits?
  12. What are the typical masses of the stars in the known exoplanet systems? Why is this?
  13. Describe the biases in the current search for exoplanets.

 

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 13

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 "helioseismology"?
  4. What are solar oscillations?
  5. What information about the sun can be learned by studying solar oscillations?
  6. What is "granulation"? How is it related to energy transport in the sun?
  7. What is the solar wind? From where does it originate?
  8. Describe flares and prominences. Which is more energetic?
  9. What are the consequences of solar flares on Earth?
  10. Discuss the solar cycle. It is 11 years or 22 years?
  11. What are sunspots?
  12. How is energy produced in the sun?
  13. What are solar neutrinos?
  14. Why are neutrinos expected form the sun?
  15. How are neutrinos detected?
  16. Since neutrinos are observed to be coming from the sun, what is the "solar neutrino problem"?
  17. What are the two main possible explanations of the problem? Which seems to be the correct answer?

 

Study Questions Week 14

Earth-Space

  1. How does the solar wind effect the Earth's magnetic field?
  2. What is the magnetosphere of a planet?
  3. What is a geomagnetic storm?
  4. What are examples of the effects of solar activity on Earth?
  5. What causes the aurora?
  6. What do auroras look like from space?
  7. What is the auroral oval? Where is it usually found?
  8. Where are aurora usually seen? Why?
  9. What colors are seen in the aurora? What is the cause of the different colors?