Solar System Formation lab report done
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Formation of the Solar System
Lab Report of Findings Name: Amal Shammet
Date: ________________
Based on what astronomers have observed in our solar system, they have developed a theory of how the solar system formed. The theory is outlined in the pre-lab materials; refer to these if you have forgotten the basics. A
good overview (including some thoughts on how a planet is defined!) is here: http://www.pbs.org/video/2365621408/
The observations below are some of the reasons the theory was developed and offer support for it. However, not all the bodies in the solar system "follow the rules". Your job in Part I
is to sort solar system bodies based on whether or not they support the observations. If they seem to contradict the basic observations, it will be important to see if there might be reasons that can explain it, or whether it might be necessary to add features to the theory. Evaluate each one to see if it fits the current theory, or would need further explanation. Potential objects include (go to the website below):
http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/factsheet/
Other fact sheets are also available from its parent site NSSDCA Planetary Home Page
, and Wikipedia
is a good source for most of basic facts organized by planetary object. And of course, search of the internet for specific aspects of planetary objects is also often fruitful, especially for comparative analysis.
Part I: Making & Documenting Principal Observations
Here are some of the observations that went into development the current theory of solar system formation. Fill in the table below with various solar system bodies (you won’t be able to do all of the moons for example, so choose ones that provide interesting and possibly contradictory data). Indicate whether they support or challenge the current theory, and in either case give an explanation in the final column. Earth is listed as an example.
Observation 1
– Most bodies in the solar system orbit the Sun (or in the case of Moons their planet) in the same direction (counter clockwise as see from the north pole of the Sun, above the plane of the orbits)
Observation 2
– Most of these bodies also move in the same plane (more or less), sort of like marbles rolling on a plate. For Moons you might expect them to move in their planet’s equatorial plane.
Observation 3
– Most solar system bodies also rotate on their own axes in the same direction (counter clockwise as seen from above the north pole of the Sun
Observation 4
- Small rocky planets and objects are closer to the Sun
Observation 5
– Larger gas giants and the small icy bodies lie outside the “frost line”
Solar system body
Supported
Not Applicable
Explanation of observations that don’t fit this object
Other observations or interesting facts
Include questions that the object raises for you.
Earth
All
Earth’s density is higher than either
Mercury's or Venus’ yet it apparently formed farther out? Why?
Mercury
All
Mercury is the closest to the sun, 1
yet it is not the hottest planet, why?
Venus
1,2,4,5
3
Venus does not fit observation 3 because it rotates in a retrograde motion which means it is moving backwards or inverse to the planets.
Why is Venus rotating in retrograde motion from East to West?
Mars
All
Why does Mars not have an atmosphere?
Jupiter
All
Has the shortest day of all the eight
planets – 9 hours and 55 minutes.
Saturn
All
Saturn has the fastest winds than any other planet in our solar system. They have been measured roughly around 1800 km per hour.
Uranus
1,2,4,5
3
Like Venus, Uranus also does
not fit under observation 3 as it also moves in retrograde motion.
Commonly referred to as an “ice giant”, Uranus has an icy mantle that surrounds its iron and rock core.
Neptune
All
Neptune also has a storm on the red
planet similar to the Great Red Spot Jupiter. Neptune’s storm is commonly known as the Great Dark Spot and is about the size of Earth.
Pluto
1,3
2,4,5
Pluto’s orbit does not lie on the same plane as the other 8 planets, it is inclined by an angle of 17 degrees. Its orbital path is mostly oval and the most eccentric planet in the solar system.
The composition of Pluto is 70% rock and 30% ice, making it hard to pin down as
a rocky or icy planet.
Most astronomers refer to it as an overgrown comet. It is a
small body and one would expect it to be closer to the sun, but it is far out – which explains the ice.
Is it possible that Pluto is actually just a former moon of Neptune.
Toutatis (asteroid)
1,3
2,4,5
Observation 2 is partially supported. While most bodies
move in roughly the same plane, some asteroids like Toutatis may have more inclined or eccentric orbits compared to the major planets. Observation 4 is not applicable. Toutatis is an asteroid and thus does not fall
Toutatis is a potentially hazardous asteroid with a complex, tumbling rotation. It follows a highly elliptical orbit that brings it close to
Earth periodically, making it one of
the objects closely monitored by astronomers for potential impact hazards. Its irregular shape and tumbling motion make it an intriguing object for scientific 2
into the category of small rocky planets. Observation 5 is not applicable because Toutatis is an asteroid and not
a larger gas giant or small icy body.
study, offering insights into the dynamics and evolution of asteroids in the solar system.
Pallas (asteroid)
All
Pallas is one of the largest asteroids
in the asteroid belt and is notable for its irregular shape, resembling a
heavily cratered potato. It has a mean diameter of about 544 kilometers (338 miles) and is the third most massive asteroid in the asteroid belt.
Hale-Bopp (comet)
All
Hale-Bopp, a comet, is one of the most widely observed and studied comets in history due to its exceptionally bright appearance in 1997.
Mneme (moon of Jupiter)
1,2,3
4,5
Mneme orbits Jupiter, not the Sun.
Mneme is one of Jupiter's smaller moons, with a diameter of only about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles). It is part of the Pasiphae group, which consists of irregular retrograde moons orbiting Jupiter at a great distance. These moons are believed
to be captured objects, possibly asteroids, that were pulled into orbit around Jupiter.
Ganymede (Moon of Jupiter)
1,2,3
4,5
Ganymede orbits Jupiter, not the Sun.
Ganymede, also a moon of Jupiter, is the largest moon in the solar system and even larger than the planet Mercury.
Io (moon of Jupiter)
1,2,3
4,5
Io orbits Jupiter, not the Sun.
Io, a moon of Jupiter, is known for its intense volcanic activity due to tidal heating caused by Jupiter's gravitational forces.
Earth’s Moon
1,2,3
4,5
The Moon orbits Earth, not the Sun.
Earth's Moon is the fifth largest moon in the solar system and is the only celestial body beyond Earth that humans have visited. It has a significant influence on Earth's tides and has been a subject of fascination and study for millennia.
One curious aspect is that the Moon is gradually moving away from Earth at a rate of about 3.8 centimeters (1.5 inches) per year due to tidal forces.
Titania (Moon of Uranus)
1,2,3
4,5
Titania orbits Uranus, not the Sun.
Titania is the largest moon of Uranus and the eighth largest moon
in the solar system. It has a heavily cratered surface, indicating a long 3
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history of impacts. One interesting feature is that Titania has a massive
canyon system named Messina Chasma, which stretches over 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) across
its surface.
Prospero (Moon or Uranus)
1,2,3
4,5
Prospero orbits Uranus, not the Sun.
Prospero is a small moon of Uranus
discovered in 1999 using the Hubble Space Telescope. It is named after the magician Prospero from William Shakespeare's play "The Tempest." Little is known about Prospero due to its small size
and distance from Earth, but its discovery adds to our understanding of the moons of Uranus and the dynamics of the Uranian system.
Write the numbers of all supported observations in the appropriate box. Explain if there are observations not supported - for example, you might say the planet has an orbit highly inclined to the plane of orbit of most of the planets. Not all observations will be applicable to each object and in some cases, the data is missing. If so, write the number in the NA box. Finally, if you see something else interesting or curious about the object, write it in the final box. Earth is given as an example.
Part II: Analysis & Interpretation of Findings
Answer the following questions:
1.
Consider how the solar system objects you examined fit with the current nebular theory
a.
List the objects that supported all relevant observations
-
Earth, Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune
b.
Discuss the Observations that seemed most strongly supported -
Observation 1: This observation is strongly supported by the vast majority of celestial
bpdies, including planets, moons, asteroids, and comets. The counterclockwise direction of orbit, as seen from the north pole of the Sun, is a fundamental characteristic of the solar system.
-
Observation 3: This observation is also strongly supported by the majority of the celestial bodies. The consistency in the direction of rotation indicated a common origin and shared dynamics within the solar system.
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2.
Which of the objects raised significant questions? Come with an alternative explanation for each, what might have been different for this object without contradicting the nebular theory in general?
a.
Venus really stumbled me because all of the other 3 terrestrial planets all support the nebular theory except Venus. Rather than prograde motion, Venus moves in a retrograde motion – which begs the question why is Venus rotating in retrograde motion from East to West?
-
According to the current theory, astronomers and scientists alike believe that at the same point Venus spun in the same direction as the other terrestrial planets, it just flipped its axis 180 degrees. Scientists have argues that it was actually the Sun’s gravitational pull on the atmosphere of the very dense planet that caused strong atmospheric tides. These tides in conjunction with friction between the mantle and core may have caused the flip.
Part III: Application
1.
In light of what you saw in the first two parts, discuss an object you found that needs further explanation
to account for its motion or characteristics in addition to the basic nebular theory. For example, Earth’s large moon is probably the result of a collision between Earth and another small planet early in solar system history. That would help explain why Earth’s density is a little higher than the other terrestrial planets, while the moon’s density is a little lower. -
Pallas follows all the observations except observation 2. It is similar to any other typical asteroid except it is highly eccentric and this eccentricity seems to vary from time to time. I believe I need more information to understand what causes the shift and randomness to Pallas’ orbit and plane.
2.
There has been talk recently of a Planet X in the Kuiper Belt that has so far not been observed but might
be affecting the motion of other small planets beyond the orbit of Pluto. What if the Object X were observed and found to be moving in a highly eccentric orbit that is also in the opposite direction from the motion of the known solar system planets? Would this be a serious problem for the nebular theory or not. Explain in a paragraph or two.
-
This would be a major problem for the nebular theory specifically for observations 2 and 3. The Nebular Theory ascertains that bodies orbit the Sun on relatively the same plane. Basically, think about marbles rolling around a plate. However, if Object X is highly eccentric, this poses as a contradiction to that part of the nebular theory. Also, Object X moves in the opposite direction from the motion of the known solar system planets – essentially moving in a retrograde fashion. This, too, violates the nebular theory as most bodies will rotate on their axes in the same direction (counter-
clockwise). Since Object X is moving in the opposite direction this poses as another problem for support of the nebular theory.
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3.
How would you expect the solar system and its bodies to be different if the frost line had been beyond the orbit of Jupiter?
-
The frost line actually exists between Mars and Jupiter and is the distance where it was cold enough for hydrogen compounds to condense into ice. Now if the frost line was farther out, like somewhere beyond the orbit of Jupiter, then Jupiter would most likely be considered a terrestrial planet. Temperature differences are what led to the formation of the different types of planets, as this determines how the different elements of each planets condense. Jupiter would be a lot smaller since it takes a higher temperature to condense rock and metal.
4.
How would you expect the solar system and its bodies to be different if the gas and dust had persisted for much longer than we think it did in the solar system?
-
If gas and dust were able to persist longer in the solar system than they do now, our solar system would most likely take a significantly longer time to form. The first step in solar system formation is the collapse of gas and dust with the gravitational influence of the many other gas and dust particles pulling cool gas and dust closer together.
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