PHYS110-Fall2021-Lab4(1) (2)

Name:__________________________________________ Date:_________________ PHYS 110L Lab # 4 Comparing the Solar System to Extra-solar Planets 1 Equipment: access to http://exoplanet.eu/catalog , Solar System data table (see below), calculator Instructions: Please read and follow the steps described below and answer all questions. For those wanting to make bar charts using Excel, please view the following video: Making a Simple Bar Graph in Excel – YouTube ( https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=_Txpfyn4ipI ). An Excel file containing data from the table below is provided in the “Lab 4” link on Blackboard. Solar System Planetary Data Table Name Mass (M Earth ) Mass (M Jupiter ) Period (Earth-Years) [Earth-Days] Semi-Major Axis Distance (AU) Object Name How many times larger than (or fraction of) Earth’s mass How many times larger than (or fraction of) Jupiter’s mass How many Earth-Years the planet takes to orbit our Sun How many Earth-Sun distances away the planet orbits our Sun Mercury 0.06 0.0002 0.24 [88] 0.39 Venus 0.82 0.003 0.62 [226] 0.72 Earth 1.00 0.003 1.00 [365] 1.00 Mars 0.11 0.0003 1.88 [687] 1.52 Jupiter 318 1.00 11.86 [4,328] 5.20 Saturn 95.2 0.299 29.5 [10,775] 9.54 Uranus 14.5 0.046 84.0 [30,681] 19.2 Neptune 17.1 0.054 165 [60,266] 30.1 Pluto* 0.002 0.00001 249 [90,947] 39.5 Note: Pluto is currently not defined as a planet by the International Astronomical Union, but for this lab we will include Pluto in our analysis. Part #1 Exploration of Solar System Planets 1 Modified from Engaging in Astronomical Inquiry , by S. J. Slater, T. F. Slater, and D. J. Lyons, 2010, W. H. Freeman and Company. 1 Learning Objectives: In this lab assignment you will conduct a series of inquiries to compare/contrast solar system planets orbiting the Sun and planets orbiting other stars (extra-solar planets).

In this section you will construct bar charts based on the table of Solar System data . Note that the data table is available as an Excel file in Blackboard in the Lab 4 link. An example of a bar chart is given below: A bar chart is a diagram in which numbers are represented by vertical or horizontal bars. For example, the bar chart above gives the number of people from a sample who selected their favorite color as either red, blue, green, or yellow. Notice that the number of people that selected red is 17 (as indicated by the left-most vertical bar), 10 people picked blue, 5 people selected green, and 7 people choose yellow. Step 1. Sketch a bar chart using two vertical bars, on the diagram provided below, for the number of planets closer and farther than the Earth’s orbital distance (please use the Solar System data table). 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 Chart Title Step 2. Sketch a bar chart using two vertical bars, on the diagram provided below, for the number of planets with masses less than and greater than the Earth’s mass. 2

Step 4. A correlation diagram is a graph of dots showing how two properties or variables are related. Use the Solar System data table to sketch a correlation diagram of semi-major axis distance (AU) on the vertical y -axis versus period (years) on the horizontal x -axis for planets closer to the Sun than Jupiter (do not include Jupiter). You should have four dots on your plot. 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6 Chart Title Period Distance Step 5. Use the Solar System data table to sketch a correlation diagram of semi-major axis distance (AU) on the vertical y -axis versus period (years) on the horizontal x -axis forplaneequatoand further away from the Sun than Jupiter (include Jupiter). You should have 5 dots on your plot. 4

0 50 100 150 200 250 300 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 Chart Title Periods Distance 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 Chart Title Periods Distance 5

Part #2 Exploration of Extra-solar Planets For this part, you will need to access the Interactive Extra-Solar Planets Catalog ( http://exoplanet.eu/catalog ). Notice that the first column gives the extra-solar planet’s Name , the second column is the Mass (in terms of Jupiter’s mass), the third column is the Radius (in terms of Jupiter’s radius), the fourth column is orbital Period (in Earth days), and the fifth column is the Semi-major Axis (in AU). Step 7. Examine the data table and determine which planet was most recently discovered/updated and record the data (including units) here: Name:______ TOI-4138 b ________________________ Mass:__________.67__of Jupiter___________________ Period:__________3.660028 Days____________________ Semi-Major Axis Length:_____ 0.051 AU __________ Question 2: Is this planet more massive than the Earth? Yes or No? If so, how many times more massive? ______Yes, 212 times bigger_____________ Question 3: Is this planet more massive than Jupiter? Yes or No? If so, how many times more massive? _________No___________ 7

Step 8. Make histograms (bar charts) of extra-solar planet data by selecting Diagrams in the top banner (to the right of Exoplanet.edu ). Click on Histogram plot near the top-right of the webpage. Step 9. In the panel on the right under X axis , select Semi-Major Axis from the drop-down menu. Under the log scale button, set min to 0 and max to 10 (AU). Make sure that the log scale button is unchecked . The displayed plot should have a scale on the horizonal x -axis that ranges from 0 to 10 AU. Question 4: How many extra-solar planets are shown in this data set? To find out, scroll down the page and look under the Statistics heading for Represented planets . Represented Planets:______3097____________ Question 5: How many of the currently known extra-solar planets have orbits larger than Jupiter’s orbit around our Sun? Hint: Change the min value from 0 to 5.20 and record the Represented planets number below. Represented Planets:________187___________ Question 6: What is the percentage of currently known extra-solar planets that have orbits larger than Jupiter’s orbit around the Sun? Hint: To find percentage, divide your represented planets number by the total number in the database and multiply by 100 . Percentage:________3.84 %__________________ Question 7: How many of the currently known extra-solar planets have orbits smaller than Earth’s orbit around the Sun? Hint: Change the min value to 0 and the max value to 1 . Represented Planets:____2469_______________ Question 8: What is the percentage of currently known extra-solar planets that have orbits smaller than Earth’s orbit around the Sun? Percentage:_________50.71%__________________ 8

Question 14: What percentage of the extra-solar planets shown have orbital periods similar to planet Jupiter? Percentage:__________0%___________________ Question 15: Consider the following statement, “Most extra-solar planets discovered take about the same length of time to orbit their star as Earth takes to orbit the Sun.” Would you agree or disagree with this generalization base on the evidence you collected by looking at the range of possible orbital periods? Explain your reasoning. No, they are not the same range of orbital periods. Conclusion. Please provide feedback regarding the lab assignment. Are there things that you liked or disliked? Thanks!! I liked the lab. 10