HW #1 1.

Which of the following places the structures in our own part of the universe in order of increasing (smallest to largest) scale? A) Solar System !ocal "roup #il$y Way "ala%y !ocal Supercluster &) !ocal Supercluster !ocal "roup #il$y Way "ala%y Solar System ') Solar System #il$y Way "ala%y !ocal Supercluster !ocal "roup () Solar System #il$y Way "ala%y !ocal "roup !ocal Supercluster ).*he light+year is defined to ,e the A) time it ta$es light to travel from the Sun to the -arth &) time it ta$es for light to travel from the nearest star to the -arth ') distance light travels in one year () average distance ,etween the -arth and the nearest star ..*he nearest star is at a distance of /./ light+years. "iven that light travels at .00 000 $m1s in space how far away is the nearest star in $ilometers ($m)? A) /.) 2 101. $m &) ).3 2 1014 $m ') ..0 2 105 $m () 6.4 2 101) $m /.7f we were to send a radio signal to an advanced civili8ation in )009 which is located in the 8eta reticuli star system appro%imately .6 light+years away and the signal was immediately replied to when would the reply arrive ,ac$ at -arth? A) )05/ &) )01) ') )0/4 () )0.6

4.A star more massive than the Sun will have A) an identical lifetime as the Sun ,ecause although its overall mass is higher the mass of its nuclear ,urning core is the same &) a longer lifetime ,ecause it has more fuel to ,urn ') a shorter lifetime ,ecause although its overall mass is higher the mass of its nuclear ,urning core is smaller () a shorter lifetime ,ecause its central core is hotter and denser 9.&etween the or,its of the planets #ars and :upiter we find 1A) the ;ort cloud &) ;rion<s ,elt ') the =uiper ,elt () the asteroid ,elt 3. ;ut immediately ,eyond the or,it of the planet >eptune we find A) ;rion<s ,elt &) the asteroid ,elt ') the =uiper ,elt () the ;ort cloud 5. *he most a,undant materials in the solar ne,ula were A) hydrogen compounds li$e water methane and ammonia &) hydrogen and helium gases ') metals () roc$s 6. *he outer :ovian planets most li$ely formed from A) clumps of hydrogen and helium gas spun from a rapidly rotating protosun &) larger collections of hydrogen and helium gas attracting particles of roc$ and ice to them

') the collision and coalescence of clumps of hydrogen and helium gas within the solar ne,ula () planetesimals of roc$ and ice attracting hydrogen and helium gas from the solar ne,ula 10. An isotope of the element #anganese (#n) has an atomic num,er of )4 and a mass num,er of 44. Assuming the atom is neutral this means it has A) 44 protons 44 electrons and )4 neutrons &) )4 protons )4 electrons and .0 neutrons ') )4 protons .0 electrons and )4 neutrons () )4 protons )4 electrons and 44 neutrons 11. *he ?tolemaic model has planets moving in A) elliptical or,its a,out the Sun &) a simple circle a,out the -arth ') a simple circle a,out the Sun () small circles the centers of which move in a larger circle a,out the -arth 1). Stellar paralla% is the apparent A) shift in position of near,y stars as the -arth moves around the Sun &) westward motion of a planet with respect to the ,ac$ground stars ') shift in position of near,y stars as the Sun moves a,out the center of the gala%y () shift in position of near,y stars as the -arth rotates on its a%is )1.. An astronomer surveying the s$y toward a random region of the s$y detects ,y chance the most distant gala%y ever detected. *his is an e%ample of A) nonscience &) discovery science ') hypothesis+driven science

() pseudoscience 'alculate the 'orrect Answer @ 14 points each 1/. *he criminal mastermind ?rofessor #oriarty has ,een arrested for going through a red traffic light in his car and you have ,een called to ,e a Auror in the trial. #oriarty argues that the ,lue shift of light as he was speeding towards the traffic light lead to him seen the red light (9.00 Angstroms) as a green light (4100 Angstroms). *he Audge and fellow Aurors seem swayed ,y the argument+ ,ut you having ta$en AS*1/0 are suspicious. Bsing the relativistic (oppler shift eCuation calculate what speed #oriarty would have to ,e going (in $m1s) for this to have ,een true. 7s this under the speed limit? Show all your eCuations and wor$ to convince your fellow Aurors. (14) .14. A star has a radius of )000 $m and a *emperature of .000 =elvin. 7ts companion star has a radius of 400 $m and a *emperature of 9000 =elvin. Bsing Stefan+&olt8manns !aw calculate which star is more luminous (total energy). -%plain your answer (10). 'alculate also using Weins !aw the pea$ wavelength of the ,lac$,ody emission for each star (in microns) (4) 19. *he planet 41 ?egasi , circles its star 41 ?egasi with a semi+maAor a%is of 0.04) AB. Bsing =epler third law (?) Da . ) calculate the or,ital period of 41 ?egasi , in years and convert this num,er to days (9). /How does this compare with the or,ital period of #ercury in our system (calculate this as well using a semi+maAor a%is for #ercury that you can loo$ in the Appendi% of your te%t,oo$ or online.) (4) !oo$ up in the -%oplanets.org we,site maintained from ?enn State ,y ?rof. :ason Wright (httpE11e%oplanet.org) the or,ital period of 41 ?eg , (go to *a,le and then enter 41p ?eg

to show a list of star choose 41 ?eg). 7s the actual period for 41 ?eg different than the one you calculated? 7f so why? (/)

HW #. 1. 7f originally there were F atoms ofradioactive isotope present and now there are only F119 atoms how many half+lives have elapsed? ). A roc$ sample contains 11) microgram ofthe parentradioactive isotope B+).4 and 11) microgram ofits daughterisotope ?,+)03. 7fthe half+life ofthis decay is 300million years how old isthisroc$? A) 1/00million years &) )100million years ') 300 million years () .40 million years .. ?lanetary scientists use crater countsto estimate the A) ha,ita,ility of planetary surfaces &) ages of planetary surfaces ') temperatures of planetary surfaces () chemical compositions of planetary surfaces /. (uring the Hadean -on life A) could have e%isted and survived regardless ofimpacts &) may have e%isted ,ut pro,a,ly could not have survived for long periods due to sterili8ing impacts ') pro,a,ly survived and e%isted until the late heavy ,om,ardment during which it was destroyed () could not have e%isted at all 4. ;ne o,servation that suggeststhat the -arth has a dense central core isthat

A) the -arth has plate tectonics &) surface roc$s have the same density asthe overall density ofthe planet ') surface roc$s have a lower density than overall density ofthe planet () surface roc$s have a higher density than the overall density ofthe planet 19. (ifferentiation is a process ,y which A) denser materialsli$e iron san$ to the center ofthe -arth while less dense materialsli$e roc$ rose to the surface &) the -arth<ssurface separated into continents and oceans ') convectionmi%ed up the materialsin the interior ofthe -arth () less densematerialsli$e roc$ san$ to the center of the -arth while denser materialsli$e iron rose to the surface 3. ?late tectonics operates A) on the -arth Genus and #ars &) on all of the terrestrial planets ') on the -arth and Genus () only on the-arth 5. *he #oon #ercury and #ars do not have plate tectonics ,ecause A) they have cooled so rapidly that they do not have enough internal convection to ,rea$ up their thic$ crusts &) they have no oceansforsu,duction and seafloorspreading to occurin ') impacts have filled in the plate ,oundaries essentially turning the process off () their crusts have dried up and thic$ened so the crust cannot ,e ,ro$en up into plates 6. *he -arth<slithosphere has ,ro$en up into plates ,ecause of A) earthCua$es &) tidal forces due to the #oon

') tidal forces due to the Sun () mantle convection 10. *he greenhouse effect isthe A) generation of heat in the outerlayer ofthe -arth<s atmosphere due to a,sorption of short wavelength radiation &) generation of heat in the o8one layer due to the a,sorption of ultraviolet radiation ') release of heat ,y volcanismalong tectonic plate ,oundaries () trapping ofinfrared radiation from the-arth<ssurface ,y greenhouse gasesli$e car,on dio%ide methane and water 11. #ost ofthe -arth<s car,on dio%ide A) has dissolved in the oceans and isloc$ed up in sedimentary car,onate roc$sli$e limestone &) is present in the atmosphere ') has escaped into space () has ,een destroyed in the atmosphere ,y solar radiation )1). What isthe most importantrole that the car,on dio%ide cycle playsin the regulation of the -arthHs climate? A) it removes car,on dio%ide from the atmosphere produced ,y respiration &) it regulatesthe surface temperature ,y varying the amount of car,on dio%ide in the atmosphere ') it provides car,onate mineralsin the oceansfor aCuatic life forms () it provides car,on dio%ide in the atmosphere for photosynthesis 1.. 7f the temperature ofthe -arth warms up how doesthe car,on dio%ide cycle respond? A) itslowsthe formation of car,onate mineralsin the oceans thus pulling less

car,on dio%ide out ofthe atmosphere &) it increasesthe rate of volcanic eruptions thusincreasing the rate of car,on dio%ide production ') it reducesthe rate of volcanic eruptions thusreducing the rate of car,on dio%ide production () itspeeds up the formation of car,onate mineralsin the oceans thus pulling more car,on dio%ide out ofthe atmosphere 1/. 7f the temperature ofthe -arth cools how doesthe car,on dio%ide cycle respond? A) it increasesthe rate of volcanic eruptions thusincreasing the rate of car,on dio%ide production &) itslowsthe formation of car,onate mineralsin the oceans thus pulling less car,on dio%ide out ofthe atmosphere ') itspeeds up the formation of car,onate mineralsin the oceans thus pullingmore car,on dio%ide out ofthe atmosphere () it reducesthe rate of volcanic eruptions thusreducing the rate of car,on dio%ide production 14. Why can<t the car,on dio%ide cycle easily correct forthe increasing amounts of car,on dio%ide introduced into our atmosphere ,y industriali8ation? A) it operatesfar too slowly to correct for any short+term changes &) pollution hasstopped the car,on dio%ide cycle from operating ') the car,on dio%ide cycle only influences car,on dio%ide produced ,y natural sources () it operatesfartoo Cuic$ly to correct for any short+term changes 19. Which ofthe following starsisthe hottest? A) #3 &) A0

') "9 () &/ 13. What isthe spectral type ofthe Sun? A) =6 &) ") .') I3 () A) 15. What isthe most common class ofstarin our gala%y? A) "+type &) ;+type ') # type () A+type 16. "+ =+ and #+type stars A) do not contain enough heavy elementsto form planets &) have lifetimeslong enough for planetsto form and forsimple life to appear ,ut not long enough for advanced life to develop ') have lifetimestoo shortfor planetformation () have lifetimes long enough for advanced life to evolve )0. 7n most e%trasolar planetary systemsthe center of massisli$ely to ,e located A) midway ,etween the star and its most massive planet &) close to the center of the parent star ') e%actly at the center ofthe parentstar () close to the center ofthe most massive planet )1. Which ofthe followingmethods has ,een the #;S* successful in detecting

e%trasolar planets around otherstarsystems? (,oth & and ' are accepta,le answers formally ') A) regular changesin the positions ofthe parentstars with respect to more distantstars as theymove acrossthe s$y &) detection of ,rightness changesin a star as a planet passesin front ofit ') detection of (oppler shifts in the spectra of the parent stars () detection ofreflected starlight )). *he end ofthe last snow,all -arth phase roughly coincides with A) the ,eginning ofthe 'am,rian period which produced an e%plosion in diversity of life &) the appearance of modern hominids ') migration oflife from the oceans onto land () the appearance ofthe dinosaurs ).. *he currently accepted theory forthe formation of the #oon isthe A) co+formation model in which the #oon formed from a rotating dis$ of gas and dust around the -arth &) fissionmodel in which the #oon wasspun outfrom a rapidly rotating -arth ') giantimpact model in which material was ,lasted from the-arth after an impact with a ,ody the si8e ofthe planet #ars () capture model in which the #oon formed elsewhere and waslater captured into or,it ,y the -arthHs gravity)/. *he strongest of evidence that supportsthe giant impact modelforthe formation of the #oon is that the A) #oon has no glo,al magnetic field &) #oon islarger compared to the -arth than other moons

') overall composition of #oon roc$sreturned from the Apollo program is similarin composition to roc$sfound on the surface ofthe -arth () overall composition of #oon roc$s returned from the Apollo program issimilar to the composition of-arth<s mantle material e%ceptfor the lac$ of volatile elements )4. *he wavelengths ofradiation from a starthat is moving away from us A) can ,e longer orshorter depending on the distance to the star &) are shorter than if the star were not moving ') are the same asif the star were not moving () are longer than if the star were not moving HW #3

1. *he Acronym S-*7 stands for A) Search for -%tra*errestrial 7ntelligence &) Simply -%treme *errestrial 7ntelligence ') So -asy *o find 7ntelligence () >one of the A,ove ). How is intelligence defined in the (ra$e -Cuation? A) a civili8ation that has developed language &) a civili8ation willing and a,le to communicate over interstellar distances ') a civili8ation that communicates using telepathy () a civili8ation capa,le of spaceflight .. Which of the following factors in the simplified (ra$e eCuation is ,est $nown today? A) >hp the num,er of ha,ita,le planets in our gala%y

&) fciv fraction of life+,earing planets where intelligent civili8ations have arisen at any time ') fnow on them now () flife fraction of life+,earing ha,ita,le planets /. Suppose there are a million ha,ita,le planets in our gala%y that one in ten are ha,ita,le that one in a thousand planets with life had at some point had an intelligent civili8ation and that one in a hundred civili8ations that has ever e%isted is in e%istence now. "iven this how many civili8ations are in e%istence now? A) 10 &) 1 ') 1000 () 100 4. *he adoption of very similar streamlined ,ody shapes ,y ,oth shar$s and dolphins provides evidence for 1A) &) ') () cross+,reeding convergent evolution genetic mutations life originating in the oceans 9. An organism with an -ncephali8ation Juotient (-J) of / is e%pected to ,e of A) a,ove+average intelligence &) average intelligence fraction of civili8ation+,earing planets that have intelligent civili8ations

') the lowest possi,le intelligence () ,elow+average intelligence 3. *he fact that -ncephali8ation Juotients (-Js) of organisms have generally increased with time provides evidence for A) cross+,reeding ,etween organisms &) artificial selection ') genetic mutations () convergent evolution toward intelligence 5. *he 1/)0 #H8 ()1 cm) radio line generated ,y neutral hydrogen atoms is a good choice for interstellar communications ,ecause A) it is the easiest radio freCuency to generate &) it is the only radio freCuency that is not ,loc$ed ,y interstellar matter ') all intelligent civili8ations should ,e aware of its universal significance and would pro,a,ly also thin$ of sending and receiving signals at this freCuency () it is the only freCuency to which radio telescopes can ,e tuned 6. 7f we were to detect radio and *G signals that had lea$ed out into space from another civili8ation this would ,e an e%ample of A) a signal used for communication ,etween a civili8ation<s home world and another star system &) a signal used for communication ,etween a civili8ation<s home world and another planet in its own planetary system ') a signal used for local communication in the world where the intelligent ,eings e%ist () an intentional signal ,eacon 10. Appro%imately how soon might we e%pect an immediate response from a civili8ation that received the signal we sent to the glo,ular cluster #1. ()1 000

light+years away) in 163/? A) 5/ 000 years &) )1 000 years ') 10 400 years () /) 000 years )11. 7n the novel 'ontact ,y 'arl Sagan an e%tremely advanced civili8ation has

constructed a la,yrinth of wormholes throughout the gala%y. A civili8ation capa,le of such a feat would most li$ely ,e classified as what $ind of civili8ation? A) *ype 777 &) *ype 77 ') *ype 7G () *ype 7 1). *he -arth<s escape velocity is defined to ,e the A) minimum or,ital speed for the #oon to escape from the -arth<s gravity &) minimum or,ital speed for the -arth to escape from the Sun<s gravity ') minimum velocity reCuired for an o,Aect to escape the -arth<s gravity () velocity that o,Aects are pulled toward the -arth<s surface ,y gravity 1.. Appro%imately what mass ratio is reCuired for a roc$et to leave the -arth<s gravity? A) 90 &) 66 ') )4 () .6 1/. *he mass ratio of a roc$et is defined to ,e the A) mass of the empty roc$et without fuel divided ,y the mass of the payload &) mass of the fully fueled roc$et divided ,y the mass of the roc$et after the fuel

is ,urned ') mass of the roc$et after the fuel is ,urned divided ,y the mass of the fully fueled roc$et () mass of the fuel in the roc$et divided ,y the mass of the roc$et payload 14. What mass ratio is reCuired to launch a roc$et from the surface of #ars (escape velocity D 4.0 $m1s) if its engines produce an e%haust velocity of ..0 $m1s? A) 1.5 &) 4.. ') 9.6 () 3./ 19. *he !uyten 3)9+5 ,inary system is appro%imately 6 light+years away. 7f we send a spacecraft to visit this system traveling at 60K of the speed of light how long will a one+ way trip ta$e as measured from the -arth? A) it<s impossi,le to tell unless we $now the spacecraft<s method of propulsion &) more than 10 years ') 10 years () less than 10 years 13. 'onsider a spacecraft that travels round+trip to the 8eta reticuli star system (distance .6.4 light+years) at 66K of the speed of light. 7f the round+trip travel .time as measured from -arth is 36.5 years how much time would pass for passengers on the spacecraft? A) .6.6 years &) 36.5 years ') )).9 years () 11.. years 15. Which $ind of interstellar spacecraft collects its fuel during its passage?

A) interstellar ar$ &) matter+antimatter roc$et ') solar sail () interstellar ramAet 16. *he first :ovian moons were discovered ,y A) "alileo &) *ycho ') Huygens () 'assini )0. *he largest :ovian moon that appears to have ,een captured is A) *itania the moon of Branus &) 7o the moon of :upiter ') *riton the moon of >eptune () *itan the moon of Saturn )1. ?erhaps the #;S* convincing piece of evidence suggesting that -uropa has a su,surface ocean is the A) fact that the magnetic field of :upiter is a,le to induce a magnetic field in -uropa consistent with a salty ocean ,eneath its crust &) fact that calculations suggest that there is enough internal heat to $eep the ice melted ,eneath the crust ') lac$ of impact craters on its surface () o,servation of ice,erg+li$e features on its surface )). A pro,e placed in or,it a,out -uropa would ,e a,le to confirm the presence of a su,surface ocean using a A) spectrometer to detect the spectral signature of liCuid water at and ,eneath the surface

&) camera to o,serve the formation and ,rea$up of ice,ergs on the surface ') proAectile to ,rea$ the thin icy crust to reveal the water ,elow () laser altimeter to detect the regular ,ulging of the thin icy crust on top of the ocean due to tidal forces /).. #ethane should ,e rapidly destroyed in *itan<s atmosphere yet it is still present in apprecia,le amounts. How can this ,e? A) on the surface of *itan live cows that are constantly producing methane gas &) larger hydrocar,ons li$e ethane and propane are ,eing ,ro$en down ,y ultraviolet light into methane ') methane may ,e continually evaporating from the surface and the interior () comet impacts are constantly supplying the atmosphere with fresh methane )/. *itan is roughly the same si8e as #ercury yet *itan has an atmosphere while #ercury does not. How can this ,e? A) Although *itan is roughly the same si8e as #ercury it is much denser ma$ing its gravitational field stronger &) Bnli$e #ercury *itan is constantly ,eing ,om,arded ,y icy comets that evaporate and maintain its atmosphere ') ;n its surface *itan has volcanism that is constantly replenishing its atmosphere while #ercury does not () -ven though *itan<s gravity is wea$ it is much colder allowing molecules to ,e trapped in its atmosphere )4. Saturn<s icy moon -nceladus(note two accepta,le answers. Was hoping for ( ,ut ' is am,iguous and will give you credit if you pic$ed ') A) has an ancient heavily cratered surface reminiscent of the #oon &) is small and irregular in shape li$e an asteroid ') has a smooth icy surface criss+crossed with dar$ crac$s

() has fountains of ice particles and water vapor spraying out from its surface )9. *he fact that many of the larger :ovian moons or,it nearly in the eCuatorial plane of their host world moving in the same direction as their planet<s spin suggest that they A) formed from a rotating dis$ of gas and dust li$e a miniature solar system &) were spun out from the rapidly spinning host world as it formed ') formed elsewhere in the solar system and were later captured () were formed from a giant impact ,etween the host world and another ,ody )3. !i$e our own moon many :ovian moons e%hi,it what is called synchronous rotation. *his means that they rotate at the same rate A) that their host planet rotates &) as all other moons around the host planet ') that the host planet or,its a,out the Sun () that they or,it their host planet )5. (ue to its elliptical or,it #ars is closer to the Sun on average during summer in the Southern Hemisphere. *his means Southern Summer on #ars will ,e A) short and hot &) long and hot ') long and mild 4() short and mild )6. (ue to its elliptical or,it #ars is closer to the Sun on average during winter in the >orthern Hemisphere. *his means >orthern Winter on #ars will ,e A) short and hot &) long and mild ') long and cold () short and mild

.0. Which was the only ,iology e%periment on the Gi$ing positive result? A) !a,eled Lelease &) "as 'hromatograph1#ass Spectrometer ') 'ar,on Assimilation () "as -%change

landers which gave a

.1. *he positive result from the !a,eled Lelease e%periment was inconsistent with the results from which other ,iology e%periment or e%periments? A) 'ar,on Assimilation &) "as -%change ') "as 'hromatograph1#ass Spectrometer () it was inconsistent with all of them .). What is the most intriguing piece of evidence that suggests that the #artian meteorite A!H5/001 may have once contained life? A) molecules of (>A were found inside &) o%ygen gas was found trapped inside the meteorite ') amino acids were found inside () highly magnified images of car,onate grains found inside reveal rod+shaped structures that loo$ much li$e terrestrial nano,acteria ... Stardust is an e%ample of which $ind of mission? A) lander &) fly,y ') sample return () or,iter