PHYS 253 Study Guide for Section II (Chapters: 6, 8, 9,10& 11)
The purpose of this guide is to point out key terms, concepts, and principles that you should know. It is by no means a replacement for you notes or the text book. This guide is not all inclusive. It should serve, however, review for test #2.
General Advice:
1 . Be able to define key terms at the end of each chapter.
2. Be able to point out unique features about every planet or major satellite.
3. Be able to state the major contribution of astronomers, scientists, etc. in every chapter.
4. Be able to answer all the end of the chapter multiple choice self-test questions.
5. Be able to repeat sample problems done in class and similar end of chapter numerical problems and thought questions.
6. Review your notes and end of chapter summaries.
7. Visit the websites linked to this study guide and the syllabus
Ch. 8: An overview of the Solar System
1. Key terms: accretion, asteroid belts, Bode's Law, comets, Oort cloud, Kant
2. Be able to list the components of the solar system.
3. Be able to classify the planets into terrestrial (inner) and Jovian (outer) planets.
4. Be able to list features that make the terrestrial planets different from the Jovian planets. Terrestrial vs Jovian Planets
5. Who suggested the nebular hypothesis for the origin of the solar system?
6. Be able to state the nebular hypothesis for the origin of the solar system and list the observed features of the solar system it is consistent with.
7. How old is the solar system? How is it measured? Watch this video and see how they detrimne % of oxygen in atmosphere etc..
1. Key Terms:
Crust, crust, mantle, inner and outer core, lithosphere, density, gravitationaldifferentiation, greenhouse effect, mid-Atlantic ridge, rifting, subduction, ozonelayer, plate tectonics, continental drift theory, Pangea
2. Be able to state the major contributions of the following pioneers in discoveries related to plate tectonics (continental drift theory).
Francis Bacon, Snider-Pellegrini, F. B. Taylor, Alfred Wegener, Mohorovicic, etc.
3. Be able to explain mountain formation, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, etc. Using plate tectonics theory.
4. Be able to list the major tectonic plates; pieces of evidence for plate tectonics theory.
5. Given the values of g and G and the radius of the Earth, be able to calculate the mass and density of Earth.
6. Be able to give the % composition of the Earth's atmosphere. Watch this video and see how the % oxygen is determined etc.
This demo was done in class.It was recorded using an iPhone.
Ch.9:- The Terrestrial Planets (The Inner Planets)
1. Welcome to the Planets--A Multimedia Presentation from NASA
A. Key Terms: periods of rotation and revolution, craters, Deimos & Phobos,greenhouse effect
B. Astronomers etc.; Schiaparelli, Lowell, Cassini Adams and Leverrier
C. Space Crafts: Mariner 10, Voyager and Pioneer, Viking I and 11, Mars Path Finder
2. Be able to compare the terrestrial planets based on their: relative size, atmospheric composition, temperature, atmospheric pressure, surface features, number and type of satellites, period of rotation and revolution, overall density etc.
Mars Explorer Calendar , Mars Explorer Home
( Study Table 9-1, Figure 9-31)
3. Be able to explain why the dark side of mercury is extremely cold and the day sided of Mercury is extremely hot. Why does, Venus has the same hot temperature day or night?
4. Be able to explain why Venus is the hottest planet.
5. Be able to explain the cause for the fascination with Mars in the past and at the present
6. Is there life on Mars?
Ch. 10: The Jovian Planets (Outer Planets)
1.Key Terms:
The great red spot, the great dark spot, Galilean satellites, shepherding satellites, Roche limit
2. Astronomers: William Herschell, Caroline Herschell, Adams & Leverrier, Tombaugh, Christy Lowell , Tombough and why Pluto in no longer a planet
3. Be able to compare the Jovian I planets based on their: relative size, atmospheric composition, temperature, atmospheric pressure, number of satellites, type of rings period of rotation and revolution, overall density.
4. Be able to point out unit surface features or characteristics for each Jovian planet.
5. Be able to state which satellite of the Jovian planets is the largest, which one has volcanic eruptions, which one has an atmosphere, etc.
6. Be able to explain why the atmospheres for some Jovian planets are reddish while others appear bluish.
Ch. 11: Meteors, Meteorites, Asteroids & Comets
1. Key Terms:
meteors, meteoroid, meteorites, meteor showers, asteroids, asteroid belt, comets, coma, nucleus, Oort cloud, tail, short period comets, long period comets, the period of Halley's comet.
2. Be able to distinguish clearly between asteroids, meteors, meteoroids, meteorites, and meteor showers.
3. Be able to explain: where comets originate? Why we see them periodically.? How they develop a tail when they approach the sun? Etc. Use Halley's Comet as an example.
4. Be able to explain how an asteroid or a comet impact may have been responsible for the extinction of dinosaurs about 65 million year