W2 SOLAR SYSTEM

Question 1

ORBIT

Answer 1

Orbits result from a balance between gravity pulling inward and momentum of the object

Question 2

KEPLER’S 1ST LAW

Answer 2

• planets move in ellipses with the sun at one focus

Question 3

KEPLER’S 2ND LAW

Answer 3

• Speed of orbit varies in relation to distance from the sun
• Orbits are much faster closer too the sun, and much slower far from the sun.

Question 4

KEPLER’S 3RD LAW

Answer 4

*Time period of orbit(how long a planet completes full orbit) is related to the distance from the sun
* Outer planets take longer to orbit vs inner planets are faster

Question 5

ECCENTRICITY

Answer 5

*Eccentric orbits are long thin ellipses in which the largest diameter is very much greater than the smallest diameter
* The length of the long axis in relation to the length of the short axis of an ellipse; a measure of the difference between the ellipse and a perfect circle.

Question 6

NUCLEAR FUSION

Answer 6

• The sun uses nuclear fusion for its continuous energy source
  ○ Releases 4hydrogen atoms to one helium atom, produces energy in the form or electromagnetic radiation

Question 7

EARTH’S AVAILABLE ENERGY

Answer 7

1 solar enery 74tw

#2 geothermal energy 58w
#3 tides 3w

Question 8

WHERE DOES SOLAR RADIATION GO?

Answer 8

• albedo 52tw
• re radiated as radiation
• water phase changes 40tw
• captured by living things 40tw

Question 9

comets

what are they, composition

Answer 9

• Small bodies in highly eccentric elliptical orbits
• Compositions similar to Jovian planets
• May represent samples of early solar system

Question 10

asteroids and meteors

composition

Answer 10

rock and iron

Question 11

jovian planets

composition

Answer 11

hydrogen rich atmosphere and interior
-hydrogen under pressure becomes metallic liquid
-made of gas but are liquid and solid bc of temp and pressure

Question 12

venus

Answer 12

• covered in non water dense clouds
• thick atmosphere
• no impact craters
• lots of volcanoes, still geologically active
• has motion in crust

Question 13

mercury

Answer 13

• lots of craters
• made out of rock
• very dense, bigger core, part solid and liquid

Question 14

mars

Answer 14

• once had water on it

similar to the moon

Question 15

order of planets from sun

Answer 15

mercury, venus, earth, mars

Question 16

milankovitch cycles

Answer 16

• Repetitive variations in obliquity, axis orientation and elliptical orbit shape, that cause climate forcing.

Question 17

obliquity

Answer 17

• earth’s 20% tilt on the axis
• causes seasons and extremes of climate
• december solstice: pole is facing away from the pole and is winter in northern hem
• not constant

Question 18

eccentricity

Answer 18

• change in orbit shape
• has small changes in the energy received by earth
  -the quantity of the difference between the shape of the orbit and a perfect circle

Question 19

aphelion

Answer 19

pole away from the sun
-northern winter- january

Question 20

perihelion

Answer 20

-pole pointing towards the sun
-northern summer- june solstice
-cycle of 100,000 years

Question 21

axial precession

Answer 21

-spinning top of the earth’s axis, points in diff directions at different times
-changes the timing of equinoxes
=precession of equinoxes
-26k year cycle