PHYS110-Fall2021-Lab3(1)

Name:__________Bryer Strom ________________________________ Date:_________________ PHYS 110L Lab # 3 Orbital Motion of the Earth-Moon and Jupiter-Io Systems 1 Equipment: access to https://space.jpl.nasa.gov Instructions: Please read and follow the steps described below and answer all questions. Part #1 Computer Simulator Setup: Step 1. Go to the website: https://space.jpl.nasa.gov Step 2. Under the Show me drop-down menu, select …the Moon and under the as seen from drop-down menu, select the Sun . Step 3. Under the Field of View section, click the radio button I want a field of view of and change the number of degrees to 0.5 . Step 4. Under the Options section, select -extra brightness and then click the Run Simulator button. Part #2 Exploration of Earth-Moon System: Step 5. The resulting image from running the simulator is what one would see if looking through a special telescope. Question 1: For this image, where is this special telescope located? 150.593 mil km Question 2: How does the image change if you increase the field-of-view? To answer this, hit the back button on your browser and change the I want a field of view value to be 2 degrees and run the simulator. 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, using a solar system simulator, about the position and motion of the Earth and the Moon and Jupiter and its moon Io.

If you increase the field-of-view, it goes back slightly. Step 6. Now change the field-of-view value back to 0.5 degree and run the simulator. Question 3: What is the exact date of the image given in the upper left-hand corner? 9/30/21 Question 4: Astronomers typically mark images based on the time it currently is in Greenwich, England, called universal coordinated time (UTC). What is the precise time listed on the image? 00.00.00 Question 5: Using a ruler to measure the distance on your monitor or screen between the middle of the Earth and the middle of the Moon. What is the measured distance ? You do not need to know the exact number in kilometers or miles, but simply a ruler measurement ( e.g. inches, mm, etc. ) so that you can compare other measurements you will make later. Record the distance here. Distance:___150.593 mil km_________________ Step 7. Use the browser’s back button to return to the Solar System Simulator homepage. Now, advance the time by one hour and determine the new distance between the Earth and the Moon. Record the distance here. Distance:____150.591 mil km________________ Step 8. Use the browser’s back button to return to the Solar System Simulator homepage. Now, advance the time by one day from when you started and determine the new distance between the Earth and the Moon. Record the distance here. Distance:______150.44__mil km____________ Step 9. Use the browser’s back button to return to the Solar System Simulator homepage. Now, advance the time by three days from when you started and determine the new distance between the Earth and the Moon. Record the distance here. Distance:_______150.316 mil km_____________ 2

Part #3. Exploration of Jupiter-Io System: Step 15. Consider the research question. “How long does it take one of Jupiter’s moons to orbit Jupiter?” Set the Solar System Simulator to observe Jupiter from the Sun, where Jupiter takes up 10% of the image, and measure the distance between Jupiter and its moon Io shown on the simulator image. On the Solar System Simulator homepage, set Show me to be Jupiter and click on the radio button I want the body to take up ___ percent of the image width . Set the percent value to 10% and then click on the Run Simulator button. Measure the distance between the middle of Jupiter and Io and record the distance measurement here. If Io is not visible due to it being behind or in front of Jupiter, please add a day to your starting time and try again. Distance:_____759.670 mil km_______________ Step 16. Use the browser’s back button to return to the Solar System Simulator homepage. Now, advance the time by one day and record the distance between Jupiter and Io. Record the distance here. Distance:______759.622 mil km______________ Step 17. Use the browser’s back button to return to the Solar System Simulator homepage. Now, advance the time by two days from when you started and record the distance between Jupiter and Io. Record the distance here. Distance:______759.524 mil km______________ Step 18. Use the browser’s back button to return to the Solar System Simulator homepage. Now, advance the time by three days from when you started and record the distance between Jupiter and Io. Record the distance here. Distance:____759.378 mil km ________________ Step 19. Use the browser’s back button to return to the Solar System Simulator homepage. Now, advance the time by four days from when you started and record the distance between Jupiter and Io. Record the distance here. 4

Distance:_______759.185 mil km_____________ Step 20. Use the browser’s back button to return to the Solar System Simulator homepage. Now, advance the time by five days from when you started and record the distance between Jupiter and Io. Record the distance here. Distance:______758.943 mil km ______________ Step 21. Use the browser’s back button to return to the Solar System Simulator homepage. Now, advance the time by six days from when you started and record the distance between Jupiter and Io. Record the distance here. Distance:____758.655 mil km ________________ Question 7: “Io orbits Jupiter about every 48 hours.” Do you agree or disagree with this statement based on the evidence you collected by noting the patterns in the time it takes for Io to return to its original position from where it started? Disagree, would take about 4 days. Conclusion. Please provide feedback regarding the lab assignment. Are there things that you liked or disliked? Thanks!! I liked the lab. 5