ASTR 1000 Homework 12 – Due 12/13/24 Homework will assess your understanding

ASTR 1000 Homework 12 – Due 12/13/24

Homework will assess your understanding of the concepts we have covered, how they relate to one another, and whether you can use them to comprehend and assimilate new information into that framework. Therefore, you will receive credit for full sentences, complete thoughts, and non-conversational style. You may ask me questions, collaborate with other students, reference the text or lecture slides, but do not copy and paste google/AI searches.

In this homework you will describe an imaginary planetary system, consistent with the rules of planetary science we have learned about this semester. There must be at least one object in your planetary system which has a surface and atmosphere, but this need not be a terrestrial planet. (minimum one paragraph per question)

Question 1

Describe the starting composition of the planetary nebula. What percentage of rock/metal, hydrogen compounds (ices), and gas (H, He) are present in your nebula? How could these percentages become possible? What kind of star do your objects orbit, is it hotter or colder than the Sun?

Confidence:  2.0x        1.5x           1.0x        0.75x        0.5x        

Question 2

Describe what types of planets are found in your system. How many terrestrial planets, gas giants, and where are they located? How did they form? Did anything happen to them that caused them to be different than might be expected after formation in a disk?

Confidence:  2.0x        1.5x           1.0x        0.75x        0.5x        

Question 3

Describe what types of small bodies are found in your system. How many asteroids, comets, moons, and where are they located? How did they form? Did anything happen to them that caused them to be different than might be expected after formation in a disk?

Confidence:   2.0x        1.5x           1.0x        0.75x        0.5x        

Question 4

Describe the surface geology of one of your objects that has a surface and atmosphere. How large is it, what is it made of, how old is it, how far away does it orbit its star, and how fast does it rotate? What features do you expect to find on its surface? Present this information in terms of the four primary geologic processes.

Confidence:  2.0x        1.5x           1.0x        0.75x        0.5x        

Question 5

Describe the atmosphere of one of your objects that has a surface and atmosphere. How large is it and what is it made of? How does the atmosphere affect the ability for life to be present? What features are similar or different from Earth?

Confidence:  2.0x        1.5x           1.0x        0.75x        0.5x