Instructions:
This exam is open notes meaning open Internet. You have until
noon on Thursday July 27th to complete it. At that time the link
to the exam will be deleted. As before, you are to use the
Mail to Nuts feature in Netscape to return your answers. If you
do this from Gladstone, your email address will automatically
be your identifier. If not, don't forget to include your name
in the response.
All of the questions this time are essay type with point values
indicated. This exam will take longer than one hour to complete
so plan your time accordingly. If you are spending more than
15 minutes on any one question that is probably too long. Some
of these question can be answered in 5 minutes or less. Hunting
around forever on the Internet to find an answer is somewhat
counterproductive.
Your results will be emailed to you later as well as your course
grade.
The exam represents a mixture of easy, moderate and difficult
questions and it will cover all the topics we have discussed this
term although most of the emphasis will be on the later half.
Make sure you include the question number in your returned
answer. Good Luck:
1. Identify the 10 worlds that make up the masthead to the
Astronomy 121 main class page. (1 pts for each correct identification)
Submit Answer to Question 1.
2. Excluding the Sun, rank order from highest mass to lowest mass the
10 most massive objects in the Solar System. (1 pts for each correct
ranking)
Submit Answer to Question 2.
3. What is the lowest density object in the Solar System? Give
a brief argument on why this object has such a low density (10 pts)
Submit Answer to Question 3.
4. What properties of the Galilean Satellite System are similar
to the overall properties of planets in the Solar System (15 pts)
Submit Answer to Question 4.
5. Explain what is meant by a planetary surface which is saturated
with impact craters (5 pts)
Submit Answer to Question 5.
6. Which moon of Saturn is most similar to the Earth's moon in terms
of surface features and overall size (5 pts)
Submit Answer to Question 6.
7. What is unique about Titan (5 pts)
Submit Answer to Question 7.
8. Give a brief summary of the geological history of the moon (10 pts)
Submit Answer to Question 8.
9. Explain why there are no lunar maria on the Far side of the Moon (5pt)
Submit Answer to Question 9.
10. List three of the youngest geological surfaces in the Solar System
(5 pts)
Submit Answer to Question 10.
11. Explain what would happen to the orbital velocity of the earth
if the Sun were to suddenly double in mass (5 pts)
Submit Answer to Question 11.
12. Explain the physical processes that led to the formation of
the asteroid belt (10 pts)
Submit Answer to Question 12.
13. Which planets have rings? (5pts)
Submit Answer to Question 13.
14. The following is a description of a satellite in our Solar System: It has
a very smooth surface which is devoid of craters and its diameter is larger than 2000 km. Which object is this likely to be? (5pts)
Submit Answer to Question 14.
15. A new object is discovered in the Solar System. Its orbital period
is 20 years. Approximately how far from the sun is this object located?
(5pts)
Submit Answer to Question 15.
16. What are the principle differences between the Satellite System
of Saturn and the Galilean Satellites of Jupiter? (10 pts)
Submit Answer to Question 16.
17. What is the likely origin of the moons of Mars? (5 pts)
Submit Answer to Question 17.
18. Describe the atmospheric conditions on Venus. (10 pts)
Submit Answer to Question 18.
19. What is the main erosive agent on Mars? (5 pts)
Submit Answer to Question 19.
20. Briefly describe a compelling scientific reason for a manned
mission to Mars
Submit Answer to Question 20.