GS107Homework1_22(3)
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Rogue Community College *
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Course
107
Subject
Astronomy
Date
Dec 6, 2023
Type
docx
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Uploaded by SuperHumanOxideBison32
Name: Derek Greene
GS 107 Homework #1
Summer 2022
(10 points each for 50 total points)
1.
Multiple Choice (submit these in the designated separate location)
A.___Of these which is the closest to us?
a. Mars
b. The Moon
c. The Sun
d. The center of the Milky Way e. The closest spiral galaxy
B. ___ For scientists, an element (like gold) is defined by
a. the number of protons in its nucleus
b. the number of molecules it can form
c. how many neutrons are orbiting its nucleus
d. the cost for one pound of the element
e. none of the above
C.
___ What is the constellation on the ecliptic when the Sun crosses it on
15 July?
a. Cancer
b. Leo
c.
Gemini
d.
Aquarius
D. ___ The zenith is best described as
a.
Right above the North Pole
b.
Right above the observer
c.
Half-way between the North Pole and the observer
d.
At the horizon of the observer
E.
___ Galileo
a.
Invented the telescope
b.
Made improvements on the existing telescope design
c.
Was the first person (that we know of) to use the telescope to record
some of the moons of Jupiter.
d.
b & c
e.
None of the above
1
2.
Biochemical molecules are mostly made up of lots of hydrogen and a bunch
of carbon along with some nitrogen and oxygen.
There are often a few
atoms of other elements such as iron (e.g., hemoglobin in blood).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biochemistry#Starting_materials:_the_chemic
al_elements_of_life
Are biochemical molecules more or less likely to form
in space compared to other molecules common on Earth such as table salt
(NaCl) or whatever mixture a given soil may have?
Justify your response
using information in Chapters 1-2.
Include section/table/figure/page
numbers to identify evidence for your justification.
Note: Helium (He) and
neon (Ne) are noble gases and thus do not bond with other atoms.
Biochemical molecules are more likely to form in space compared to the formation
of other molecules common on Earth. The reason for this is due to the simple
atomic structure of molecules like Hydrogen with one proton. With so much
“space” between atoms in space, it is far more likely for clusters of simpler atoms
with less protons to exist. The complex molecules present on earth such as table
salt are largely a result of the presence of water and the processes of carbon based
life.
(source: page 19 | 1.6 A Tour of the Universe)
2
3.
Which non-Earth planet would you most like to visit and why?
Justify your response using information in Chapters 1-2.
Include
section/table/figure/page numbers to identify evidence for your justification.
If I was able to visit a non-Earth planet, I think it would be fun to visit Mars. This
is mostly due to the fact that it is the only planet that we would be able to
withstand the temperature of and also due to the low gravity of Mars. I believe
jumping on mars would almost feel like flying.
(source: page 48 | 2.3 Astrology and Astronomy)
3
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4.
A.
The distance between the Earth and the Sun is, on average, 1
astronomical unit (1 AU) which is 1.50 x 10
11
meters.
The speed of light is
3.00 x 10
8
meters/second.
Given that speed is distance over the time it takes
to travel that distance (v = d/t), how long does it take light from the surface
of the Sun to the surface of the Earth?
(We’ll see later that it takes over
100,000 years for a photon to get from the center of the Sun to the surface of
the Sun due to the fusion process.) (8 points)
B.
The distance from the Sun to Saturn is about 7 AU.
How long does it
take light from the surface of the Sun to reach Saturn? (2 points)
4
5.
Explain how the observed phases of the Moon gives us evidence that the
Earth is round.
The observed phases of the moon provide clear evidence that Earth is round.
We can conclude this by observing the shape of the shadow cast by earth on the
moon; this oval shaped shadow also confirms the Earth is spherical.
5