Formation of the Solar System (Ch. 8)_ Guided Reading Questions
pdf
keyboard_arrow_up
School
Pennsylvania State University *
*We aren’t endorsed by this school
Course
1
Subject
Astronomy
Date
Apr 3, 2024
Type
Pages
3
Uploaded by CommodoreFlowerSeal74
Mackenzie Jackson
1. What happened to the shape and to the temperature of the solar nebula as it
started spinning faster?
When the nebula started to spin faster, it flattened out and created a disk but it also
started to become more dense and increased in temperature in the middle which
causes it eventually to turn into a star which later became the Sun.
2. What explains the orderly motions of our solar system today?
The orderly motions of the solar system can be explained by the fact that the solar
system began in a flattened spinning cloud of dust and gas.
3. (p. 221) What sort of radiation do we detect from nebulae that are forming new
star systems?
We expect infrared radiation from the gas emitting thermal radiation.
4. Figure 8.4 (p221) What do we call such a disk? What are the concentric gaps in
the disk (not the bright parts of the disk)?
We call the areas or concentric gaps around the the disks the probable planet forming
location.
5. Why are there two major types of planets? Your explanation should include the
“frost line”.
The two major types of planets are terrestrial and jovian planets. The main difference
between these two types is that terrestrial planets were formed in the warmer inner part
of the disk while jovian planets were formed in the colder outer regions. The frost line
indicates where the warmer region ends and where the colder outer regions begin.
6. (p. 222) What is condensation and how is this related to forming planets?
Condensation is the process by which a solid or liquid forms from a gas. This only
matters when talking about the formation of planets because the closer or more inner a
planet was forming explains the gas concentration while planets that were formed
outside of the frost line due to cooler temperatures, were able to condense and rocks
and hydrogen compounds were formed forming planets
7. (Table 8.1) Look at the four categories that the ingredients of the solar nebula
fall into. Which category is dominant and why do you think that is?
The category that is dominant is hydrogen and helium gas and this is because stars
need hydrogen and helium to burn to emit light and thermal radiation so it required the
atmosphere around nebulae to be very abundant in hydrogen and helium.
8. (p. 223) Why did terrestrial planets end up being so small?
These planets tend to be much smaller because the amount of metal and rock make up
such a small portion of the original nebula.
9. (p. 223 and Fig. 8.6) What is accretion?
The process of smaller items coming together to make larger objects while explains the
formation of terrestrial planets
10. (p. 224) Why are Jovian planets so large?
This is because Jovian planets contain large parts of hydrogen and helium gasses
which are very abundant in the original nebula.
11. (p. 225) What happened to the material in the Solar nebula that was not
incorporated into planets, asteroids or comets?
It was cleared away by high energy radiation from the Sun and a solar wind that blew
outwards in all directions.
12. (p. 226) Where are most asteroids found? Where are most comets found?
Most asteroids are found grouped in the asteroid belt while comets end up in the Kuiper
belt or the Oort cloud.
13. (p. 226) Why do we see craters on the Moon?
We see craters on the Moon because they’re proof of the heavy bombardment and this
was when many leftover planetesimals collided with other planets and left scars.
14. (p. 226) How did our Moon form? What size was the object that collided with
Earth? How do we know this?
A Mar sized object collided with the Earth and this blasted Earth’s outer layers into
space. Some debris rains back down on Earth while some other debris accrete and
become the Moon.
15. (p. 231) What does radiometric dating tell us?
It is the method on how we measure the age of a rock and it's based on the number of
atoms and isotopes a rock has.
16. (p. 232) How old is the solar system and what is this number based on?
The solar system is said to be approximately 4.5 billion years old and this is due to the
dating of the oldest isotopes.
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help