Notes:
No reading or other assignment due.
Assignment due:
Read the class web page at http://newton.uor.edu/facultyfolder/julie_rathbun/phys102/index.html.
Look at all the links. Read the class rules. Then, send me an
e-mail message using the link on the page. This e-mail is due by noon
on Wednesday, January 15th and should include your name, major, and why
you decided to take this course. Finally, check the Blackboard site and
post to the disscusion sections. There are two discussion boards, one
(located in GROUPS) that only your section can see, and the general
one that both sections can participate in. We will use the section
specific boards
for the Missions assignment next week and this is your only
opportunity to test the system.
Reading assignment due:
CP: 2.3 (sections on eclipses is optional), 9.5 (only the subsection titled: The Moon)
http://www.nineplanets.org/luna.html
http://www.badastronomy.com/bitesize/solar_system/moon.html
To turn in:
Ch 2: Problem #11a&b
Ch 9: Review Question # 16
Additional questions:
What are the two primary types of terrain on the moon?
What are tides and how have they affected the orbital properties of the Earth and Moon?
Be prepared to discuss:
Ch 2: Review question #9, Time out to think question on p. 52
Describe the similarities and differences between the two primary
types of terrain on the Moon.
How might the tides have influenced the Earth in other ways?
Today class will meet in the Armacost Library to begin research for project #1.
The following web pages may help you in your decision (browse the
links, too) and are required reading:
http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/history/history.htm
http://www.thespaceplace.com/history/space.html
http://www.solarviews.com/eng/history.htm
recommended:
http://www.retroweb.com/apollo_retrospective.html
Reading assignment due:
Pale Blue Dot, Ch 13
Be prepared to discuss:
How does Sagan feel about the Apollo missions? Supportive? Unsupportive? Why?
What does he believe was the major motivating factor?
What does Sagan think is science's role in exploration?
What do you think?
What does Sagan call "The gift of Apollo"? Why?
Project #1 due.
The same file as a Microsoft Word
Document.
Reading assignment due:
http://www.badastronomy.com/bad/tv/iangoddard/moon01.htm
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/2.09/moon.land_pr.html
http://www.badastronomy.com/bad/misc/apollohoax.html
Plus at least 2 additional websites - one on each side of this issue (can use links from the page above).
Be prepared to discuss the following questions:
What are main arguments given by each side of the issue?
How does each side respond to criticisms of the opposing view?
Are there any claims we can test in the lab?
Reading assignment due:
Recommended:
To turn in:
Be prepared to discuss the following questions:
Verschuur, G. (June 1998) Impact Hazards: Truth and Consequences. Sky and Telescope, pages 26-34.
Morrison, D. (February 2002) Target Earth. Astronomy, pages 46-51.
http://impact.arc.nasa.gov/torino/
Comet Busters by Peter Tyson. Technology Review, v.98 (Feb/Mar 1995) p.22-30.
Impact threat comes with silver lining by David L. Chandler. Astronomy v.30 no7 (July 2002) p.22.
http://www.badastronomy.com/bad/movies/di2.html
Morrison, D. (October 1995) Target: Earth. Astronomy, pages 34-41.
A rocky bicentennial by Ron Cowen. Science News v. 160 no4 (July 28 2001) p.61-63.
http://lasp.colorado.edu/~colwell/astr3750-f00/dec12notes.html
1. After reading the above articles and watching the movie Deep
Impact, are you worried about impact hazards? Explain your position
in one paragraph and give two reasons to support your position. Use
proper references. Your answer is due at the beginning of class.
However, you may want to keep a copy of your answer for use in the
class discussion that will occur.
2. Based on the assigned readings and using correct referencing,
list at least three techniques that can be used to change the orbit
of a NEO and prevent impact.
How dangerous is an impact?
What are the odds of an impact occuring?
How are we combating this problem?
What is the torino scale?
What is the "silver lining" discussed in "Impact threat comes with silver lining"?
Reading assignment due:
The Cosmic Perspective (CP): 12.1-12.4, 12.6
Recommended:
chapter 8
This page has a cool image of comet jets: http://www.lowell.edu/Research/Projects/hyakutake_research/hyaimRCCN24ani.gif
Since we are not reading the book in order, some terms may be unfamiliar to you. You should look for these terms in the glossary and/or index at the back of the book. Some terms in chapter 12 are: AU, planetesimal, density, spectroscopy, differentiation, jovian, terrestrial, tidal forces
Along with this assignment, I want you to check the class web page:
http://newton.uor.edu/facultyfolder/julie_rathbun/phys102/index.html
Then, send your homework to me as an e-mail using the link on the page. This e-mail is due by noon on Monday, February 3rd.
To turn in:
Ch 12 review questions: 4, 7, 13, 19
Be prepared to discuss:
What is an NEO?
What is an asteroid?
What is a comet?
What is the difference between the two?
Which is more dangerous when it comes to impact hazards?
Reading assignment due:
Pale Blue Dot, chapters 17 & 18.
Be prepared to discuss the following questions:
What is SL9?
What happened to it in 1994?
What do you think about a manned mission to an asteroid?
How are asteroid impacts the proverbial "marsh of Camarina"?
Which do you think is more worrisome: accidental impact or purposeful impact?
Should we develop the technology to change asteroid orbits?
Sagan states, "...the only foreseeable solution is a combination of ... and effective public education... This is a job for NASA". Is NASA doing this job?
Do you think that we should continue to search for NEOs?
Do you agree with Sagan's "future involvement with near-Earth asteroids" timeline on pages 323-324?
How does Sagan's timeline from Pale Blue Dot compare with Solem's timeline as stated on p.30 of "Comet Busters"? Do you agree with either?
One of the newest deflection techniques involves the Yarkovsky effect. We have the technology to employ this technique now. How does this fact affect your opinion on development of deflection techniques as discussed by Sagan in chapter 18 of Pale Blue Dot? Since we have the technology, does this increase the risk of a madman sending an impact down on earth?
Reading assignment due:
CP: ch 1 (up to page 28) & secs 6.1 - 6.4
http://www.uwgb.edu/dutchs/CosmosNotes/cosmos1.htm
Recommended: 6.4, remainder of ch 1 and Cosmos, chapter 1
To turn in:
Ch 1: Review Questions # 8, 13 (AU only) Problem # 1, 3, 5, 15
Ch 6: Review Questions # 2, Problem #6
Be prepared to discuss:
Ch 1: RQ# 7, 11 Problems #10 a, c, d, f, g
Ch 6: RQ# 3, 9, 11
Reading assignment due:
CP: sec 7.6, pages 198-201 & ch 9
To turn in:
Ch 7: Review Question # 18, Problems #7, 8
Ch 8: Review Question # 3
Ch 9: Review Questions # 1, 3, 7, 15
Problems # 5, 9
Be prepared to discuss:
Ch 7: RQ # 19 Discussion Question #2
Ch 8: RQ # 1
Ch 9: RQ # 9, 19, 20, 21
Discussion Questions # 2, 3
Reading assignment due:
CP: 13.1-13.5
http://www.nineplanets.org/earth.html
Recommended: PBD: 5
To turn in:
CP: ch 13 Review Questions #3, 5, 9, Problems #1 and 2, plus
1. What way of getting rid of the heat of planetary interiors helps to
drive plate tectonics?
2. Is all continental crust above sea level?
3. How are the Hawaiian volcanoes similar to the Yellowstone
volcanoes?
4. Where is the Earth's carbon dioxide?
Be prepared to discuss:
RQ #4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 14, 18, 19, 20 Discussion Question #1,
Problem #9, and Time out to think questions on pages 356, 364, 365,
366, 372, and 374
Reading assignment due:
PBD: ch 14
Be prepared to discuss:
Contrast the textbook's definition of planetology with Sagan's
description of planetology.
What was Sagan's point in this chapter? What was he trying to do?
Did it work? How does it compare to section 13.5 of the text?
What are the potential environmental catastrophe's Sagan discusses and
on what planet were they first discovered?
Reading assignment due:
PBD: ch 11
CP: secs 10.1, 10.2, 10.6 (Venus only), and review 9.5 Venus
Magellan Reveals Venus by Cordula Robinson. Astronomy Feb 1995 p 32-41.
http://www.nineplanets.org/venus.html
http://www.solarviews.com/eng/venus.htm
Recommended: Cosmos 4, PBD 10
Homework questions can be found in a separate pdf file.
Reading assignment due:
PBD: 12
CP: review relevant parts of sections 9.3 & 9.4
Recommended: http://www.geology.sdsu.edu/how_volcanoes_work/
To turn in:
1. According to the textbook (CP), what are the 3 most important
sources of internal heat for planets?
2. How does Sagan describe these in Pale Blue Dot? (Quote the passage)
3. What is the largest volcano in the solar system? Where is it
located?
4. How are the channels on Venus formed?
5. What is Io? What is so special about it?
6. According to Sagan, what are the volcanoes on Io made of?
Be prepared to discuss:
Compare the passage in PBD (#2) to the description in the textbook (#1).
How many years can a mountain exist before it is washed to the sea?
How are the effects of a volcanic eruption similar to those of an
impact event?
What are the different types of volcanoes?
Reading assignment due:
PBD: ch 15
CP: 13.4, 13.6, 10.6 (Mars only), and review 9.5 Mars
http://www.nineplanets.org/mars.html
Recommended: Cosmos 5, PBD 16, and http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/
Homework questions can be found in a separate pdf file or microsoft word file.
Reading assignment due:
To turn in:
Be prepared to discuss:
CP: Review 6.1, 6.3 & 6.4
Read 6.5
Ch 6: Problem # 8
Ch 6: RQ # 9, 11, 15
Reading assignment due:
Recommended: Remainder of ch 8
Be prepared to discuss:
CP: pages 135-142 and section 8.7
The planet of 51 Pegasi by Alan M. MacRobert and Joshua Roth. Sky & Telescope Jan 1996, p. 38-40
Cautionary Tales. Sky and Telescope Jan 1996, p. 40
Hunting planets beyond by Geoff Marcy and Paul Butler. Astronomy Mar 2000, p.42-47.
CP: ch 5: RQ# 13, problems #3, 13
ch 8: RQ# 22, problems #1,2 (if interested in math, try problems 18 & 19)
Plus:
What's a barycenter?
What's reflex motion?
Quiz 4 in pdf and microsoft word.
Reading assignment due:
Be prepared to discuss:
http://www.howstuffworks.com/planet-hunting2.htm
Does the Earth orbit the Sun?
Are there planets around other stars?
How do we know?
Are they systems like ours?
What are the planets like?
What was the most interesting thing you learned about extrasolar planets?
What questions about ExtraSolar planets would you like to see answered?
Reading assignment due:
CP: 11.1-11.3, 11.5-11.6
To turn in:
Ch 11: Problems #2, 4, 5, 6, and 10
Be prepared to discuss:
CP: ch 11: Review Questions #1, 2, 3 7, 12, 13, 16, 17, 19 and 23, and
Time out to Think question on page 294
Reading assignment due:
PBD: ch 6
http://www.nineplanets.org/jupiter.html
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/galileo (surf around)
Recommended: Cosmos 6
Homework questions can be found in a separate pdf or microsoft word file.
Reading assignment due:
CP: review pages 302-311
http://www.nineplanets.org/io.html
Galileo's closest look at Io by John Spencer. Sky & Telescope May 2001 p 40-46.(This issue is on reserve at the library.)
To turn in:
CP: ch 11 Problem 13, plus
1. What are the volcanoes on Io made of?
2. What is the energy source for Io's volcanism?
3. Is there water on Io?
4. Pick an image of Io's surface (either from the Sky & Telescope
article or from the web) and briefly describe it. What surface
geologic process formed it? Why do you find it interesting? If it's
a picture from the web, print it out and include it with your hw.
Reading assignment due:
CP: review 11.6
http://www.nineplanets.org/saturn.html
http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/ (follow links to be able to answer the questions below)
Cassini's nuclear risk by David Grinspoon. Astronomy Aug 1999 p 44-47.
To turn in:
CP: ch 11 Review Question #22, Problem #14, and:
1. What is the main gap in Saturn's rings called?
2. When will Cassini reach Saturn?
Be prepared to discuss:
Time out to Think questions on pages 316 & 319.
Review Questions 23, 24, 25
The launch of Cassini was successful. Was it safe? What do you think Sagan would say?
How thick would Saturn's rings be in our scale model solar system?
Describe the Cassini mission to Saturn.
In what ways is Cassini human-like?
What's the latest status of Cassini?
What will Cassini do when it gets to Saturn?
Reading assignment due:
CP: review 11.5
http://spacescience.nasa.gov/missions/JIMO.pdf
http://spacescience.nasa.gov/missions/prometheus.htm
http://www.nineplanets.org/europa.html
http://www.nineplanets.org/ganymede.html
http://www.nineplanets.org/callisto.html
http://www.nineplanets.org/enceladus.html
http://www.nineplanets.org/rhea.html
http://www.nineplanets.org/miranda.html
http://www.nineplanets.org/triton.html
PBD: 7
Homework questions can be found in a separate pdf file or microsoft word file.
Optional assignment: image identification in pdf and microsoft word
There will be questions on the exam very similar to these, so try it out. Solutions in pdf and microsoft word.
Reading assignment due:
http://www.nineplanets.org/uranus.html
http://www.nineplanets.org/neptune.html
PBD: Ch 8 & 9
Be prepared to discuss:
Who discovered Saturn? Venus? Uranus?
How has numerology affected science? Does it still have an affect?
How has patronage affected science? Does it still have an affect?
If you were alive in 1781, how much do you think the discovery of Uranus would have affected you?
In what ways is Uranus different from the other Jovian planets?
How are Uranus' moons named? If you discovered a new moon of Uranus, what would you call it and why?
When will Neptune be back in the location it was in when it was discovered in 1846?
What is the Great Dark Spot? How has it changed in 10 years? Compare it to the Great Red Spot.
Why do some planets have rings and other's don't? Which planets have rings?
What is the Kuiper Belt?
Are there other Solar Systems?
Are the Voyager spacecraft still in our Solar System? What will become of them?
No class today, just extra office hours so you can prepare for this evening's exam.
Reading assignment:
CP: 12.5 & review 12.4
http://www.nineplanets.org/pluto.html
http://www.nineplanets.org/kboc.html
http://www.nineplanets.org/overview.html#classification
http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,31500-1066604,00.html
http://www.gps.caltech.edu/~chad/quaoar/
http://www.cnn.com/2002/TECH/space/10/07/ice.object/
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2002/07oct_newworld.htm
Pluto's not so alone out there, It appears by Usha Lee McFarling. LA Times 10/8/02 p. A17
What's round and reflective? Maybe it's a planet, maybe not by Usha Lee McFarling. LA Times 10/8/02 p. A17
Is Pluto a Planet? By Rex Graham. Astronomy July 1999 p. 42-47.
Pluto Reconsidered by J. Kelly Beatty. Sky & Telescope May 1999 p. 48-52.
Pluto debate resurfaces. Sky & Telescope Nov 2000 p.34.
Pluto: The planet that never was by Govert Schilling. Science Jan 8, 1999 p. 157.
Letters. Science Feb 12, 1999 p. 937. (Only the letter about Pluto from Millis et al.)
On the edge of the solar system by Rodney Gomes. Science Nov 19, 1999 p. 1487-1488. (Note that the previous 2 papers are well referenced.)
Is Pluto a planet? / Counterpoint by Alan Stern and Stephen James O'Meara. Odyssey Apr 2002 P. 15-18.
Pluto or Bust by Charles W. Petit. U.S. News & World Report Nov 11, 2002 p. 76.
Recommended:
http://www.lowell.edu/users/buie/pluto/pluto.html
http://mips.as.arizona.edu/~stansber/Planet.html
http://www.ifa.hawaii.edu/~jewitt/kb/pluto.html
http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/cfa/ps/icq/ICQPluto.html
http://www.lowell.edu/Press/19990202.html
Pluto or bust by Andrew Cheng. Astronomy May 2002 p. 46-49.
Nine planets, or eight? Probing Pluto's place in the solar system by Ron Cowen. Science News Jun 9, 2001 p. 360.
Writing assignment:
Pick at least five articles (maximum of 9) about the debate on Pluto's planetary status. Write an annotated bibliography for these articles including the complete source, which side of the debate the author sides with, what arguments are given to support their opinion, and how convincing you found those arguments. Be certain that your sources cover both sides of the issue. At the end of the bibliography, state your position on the debate in one paragraph. The articles can be from the required or recommended reading or an article you find yourself (no web pages that I haven't mentioned).
Be prepared to discuss:
CP: Review questions 14, 15, 16, Problem 6, Time out to think question on page 340
What is Quaoar?
In what ways is Pluto different?
What spacecraft is heading to Pluto? What type of spacecraft is it?
Summarize the arguments on both sides of the Pluto debate.
How would the authors of the articles you've read reconsider their position based on the discovery of Quaoar?
Reading assignment due:
CP: 3.1-3.4
http://www.pantheon.org/miscellaneous/origin_days.html
http://seds.lpl.arizona.edu/nineplanets/nineplanets/days.html
To turn in:
CP: ch 3 Review Questions # 3, 6 Problems # 1, 2, 5
Be prepared to discuss:
CP: Ch 3 RQ # 1, 5, 7, 13, 14, 15
Discussion Questions 1 & 2
Time out to think questions on pages 92, 105, and 106
What would the order of the days of the week be if they were organized in terms of size of the body they are named after, biggest first?
The class will be broken up into two sections and will debate Pluto's planetary status.
