AST-Asteroid density homework
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Homework Assignment 2
Asteroid Density and Diameter Plots
64 Pts.
a.
1. (30) The diameter and density of an object can often tell us much about its
composition.
This can also tell us something about where or how it may have originated
within the bounds of our Solar System. Take a look at the list of objects below.
Using
your text and online sites research the diameter (in kilometers) and densities (in gm/cm
3
)
of the asteroids and input the data into an Excel spreadsheet (some of the objects appear
in the tables at the end of the lab but the data for all may be incomplete).
Some data may
be given in a range; if so, please use the average. For comparison, the density of Earth is
about 5.52, Mars is about 3.95, Jupiter is about 1.33 and Saturn is about 0.69.
Using the
functions in Excel, calculate the MIN, MAX, AVERAGE and STDEV for the densities
and diameters. Then use the data create an Excel scatter plot of diameter vs density of the
objects.
Label the x- and y-axes, give the plot a title and save the spreadsheet with plot to
submit with this lab.
I will give you a demonstration in class about the plotting and have
provided two short MiniLectures on the topic to help outside of class.
Based on the plots you create answer the following:
1.
(6) Which are the largest and smallest asteroids (list their diameters too)?
How much
variation is there in the size of all the asteroids listed?
(Think about percent difference
here)
-
The largest asteroid is Ceres at 940 km.
-
The smallest asteroid is 2000 UG11 at 0.429 km.
-
The variation would be over 100%
2.
(6) Which are the densest and least dense asteroids (list their densities too)?
How much
variation is there in the densities of the asteroids listed? (Think about percent differences
here.)
-
The densest asteroid is 804 Hispania at 4.9 g/cm
3.
-
The least dense asteroid is Halley’s Comet at 0.6 g/cm
3.
-
The variation would be around 1-2%
3.
(2) Most of the objects listed have a range of densities shown by a +/- value.
This figure
is added or subtracted to
the density listed providing a maximum and minimum value for
the density of the object.
Why do you suppose these objects don’t have specific density
values?
-
I suppose it is because we mostly have to guess as we can only take these
measurements from a distance rather than physically measuring it. As I assume it
is measured from a picture so it can be truly hard to grasp the true density as we
cannot weigh it and assume by the elements it is made up from as well.
4.
(4) Is/Are there any outliers in this data set?
If so, describe it/them and suggest a reason
for why it/they is/are different.
-
There are a few outliers, the main one is Ceres as that one is the furthest away
because of its diameter being the biggest. Then 804 Hispania and 704 interamnia
as well, as their outliers are due to their high density.
5.
(4) Is there a correlation between the diameter and density of asteroids?
If so, or if not,
give an example from the data set.
-
I feel as if some are similar and some aren’t such as Halley’s comet is on the
larger side at 128 km, but its density is 0.6 g/cm
3.
This is very different from each
other as well as the highest density asteroid is about the same size of Halley’s
comet. This asteroid is 804 Hispania as its density is 4.9 g/cm
3
, but its diameter is
122 km, making it actually a bit smaller than Halley yet the heaviest density. So,
no I don’t think there is a correlation.
6.
(4) What does this suggest about the nature of asteroids? Are they all made of the same
thing?
-
This suggest to me that they are not made out of the same things and that each and
every one is different, which can be made out of different and multiple
compounds. These compounds can range from so many types of elements to make
up may different asteroids.
7.
(4) Do you think this information might suggest anything about where the asteroids
originated within our Solar System?
Why, or why not?
-
I think it does suggest where they might originate as we can hopefully test and see
what compounds and elements make up some if not most asteroids and trace that
back to where others come from or where they have found similar elements from.
8.
(4) Read about the varying characteristics of asteroids in your book and briefly
summarize the information here.
-
Asteroids are broken up into three classes such as: C-type, S-type, and M-type.
-
C types are known as Chondrites, and they are the most common with a make of
clay and silicate rocks.
-
S-types are known as stony, and its compounds is made of silicate materials and
nickel-iron. These are the rarest.
-
M-types are metallic made out of nickel-iron. These are the second hardest to
find.
Immediately below is the list of objects to use for this homework assignment.
Below this list are
two others that contain
some
of the information you will need to create the database.
You can
find the rest of the info in your book or online.
Asteroid Name
617 Patroclus
854 Frostia
4492 Debussy
15 Eunomia
45 Eugenia
1313 Berna
90 Antiope
253 Mathilde
2000 UG11
87 Sylvia
2000 DP107
762 Pulcova
121 Hermione
16 Psyche
1999 KW4
22 Kalliope
1089 Tama
243 Ida
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433 Eros
2 Pallas
11 Parthenope
10 Hygiea
20 Massalia
4 Vesta
704 Interamnia
804 Hispania
3 Juno
Charon
19 Fortuna
107 Camilla
Ceres
Halley’s Comet
This lab based on materials from
http://dawn.jpl.nasa.gov/DawnClassrooms/light_curves/
Asteroid Densities
Using the information below in the two lists compile the diameter and density data into an Excel
file.
Create a table with three columns labeled Object, Diameter and Density. Each object may
not have both the data needed in the tables, you will have to look up one or the other to complete
the data needed.
Next, create plots for both diameter and density for all the objects in order to
complete the lab.
Asteroid
Density
+/-
1 Ceres
2.12
0.04
2 Pallas
2.71
0.11
4 Vesta
3.44
0.12
10 Hygiea
2.76
1.20
11 Parthenope
2.72
0.12
15 Eunomia
0.96
0.30
16 Psyche
2.00
0.60
20 Massalia
3.26
0.60
22 Kalliope
2.50
0.30
45 Eugenia
1.20
0.40
87 Sylvia
1.62
0.30
90 Antiope
1.30
121 Hermione
1.96
0.34
243 Ida
2.60
0.50
253 Mathilde
1.30
0.20
433 Eros
2.67
0.03
704 Interamnia
4.40
2.10
762 Pulcova
1.80
0.80
804 Hispania
4.90
3.90
1999 KW4
2.39
0.90
2000 DP107
1.62
1.05
2000 UG11
1.47
0.95
854 Frostia
0.89
0.13
1089 Tama
2.52
0.30
1313 Berna
1.21
0.25
4492 Debussy
0.90
0.10
617 Patroclus
0.80
0.15
References:
Britt, D. T.; Yeomans, D.; Housen, K.; Consolmagno, G.
Asteroid Density, Porosity, and Structure
in Asteroids III, W. F. Bottke Jr., A. Cellino, P. Paolicchi, and R. P. Binzel (eds), University of Arizona Press, Tucson,
p.485-500 (2002)
File densbest.tbl obtained from http://www.psi.edu/pds/resource/density.html
Behrend, R. and 48 others
Four new binary minor planets: (854) Frostia, (1089) Tama, (1313) Berna, (4992) Debussy
Astronomy & Astrophysics 446, 1177-1184 (2006)
Marchis, F. and 17 others
A low density of 0.8 g cm^-3 for the Trojan binary asteroid 617 Patroclus Nature 439, 565-567 (2006
http://astrostatistics.psu.edu/datasets/asteroid_dens.html
http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~nowack/geos105/lect19-dir/lecture19.htm
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