6.01 Formation of the Solar System Lab Report
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Missouri State University, Springfield *
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KIN-545
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Astronomy
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Apr 3, 2024
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6.01 Formation of the Solar System Lab Report
Instructions: In this virtual lab, you will investigate the law of universal gravitation by manipulating the star's size and the planets' positions within Solar System X. Record your hypothesis and results in the lab report below. You will submit your completed report.
Name and Title:
Include your name, the instructor's name, the date, and the name of the lab.
Title of Lab
Formation of the Solar System
Student Name
Krish Ferwani
Instructor
Mrs. Holt
Date
12/4/2023
SPACE COMMAND
Objective(s):
To learn how a star's mass and the planets' location within the solar system affect planetary orbits.
SPACE ACADEMY
Observations
Record your observation statements from Space Academy.
When the mass of the sun is larger, Earth moves around the sun at a Faster
(faster, slower) pace.
When the mass of the sun is smaller, Earth moves around the sun at a Slower
(faster, slower)
pace.
When Earth is closer to the sun, its orbit becomes Faster
(faster, slower).
When Earth is farther from the sun, its orbit becomes Slower
(faster, slower).
SPACE EXPLORER
Hypothesis:
Please include the if/then statements you developed during your lab activity in this section. These statements reflect your predicted outcomes for the experiment.
If the mass of the sun is 1x, at least one planet will fall into the habitable zone if I place a planet in orbits 1, 5, 2, and 6, and all planets will orbit the sun successfully.
If the mass of the sun is 2x, at least one planet will fall into the habitable zone if I place a planet in orbits 1, 3, 7, and 4, and all planets will orbit the sun successfully.
If the mass of the sun is 3x, at least one planet will fall into the habitable zone if I place a planet in orbits 4, 6, 5, and 8, and all planets will orbit the sun successfully.
Data:
For each trial, record the orbit number of each planet from the sun. After each trial, indicate the number of planets in the habitable zone. Create a different configuration of planets for each trial.
An example has been supplied for you.
Orbit Number
Planet One
Orbit Number
Planet Two
Orbit Number
Planet Three
Orbit Number
Planet Four
Number of
planets in the habitable zone
Number of planets left
in successful orbit
Example: sun's mass 1x
1
3
5
6
1
2
sun's mass 1x—
Trial One
1
6
2
5
2
2
sun's mass 1x—
Trial Two
1
4
3
7
0
0
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sun's mass 2x—
Trial One
1
4
3
7
2
3
sun's mass 2x—
Trial Two
5
4
8
6
2
4
sun's mass 3x—
Trial One
4
5
8
6
2
4
sun's mass 3x—
Trial Two
2
1
4
3
0
0
Conclusion:
Your conclusion will include a summary of the lab results and an interpretation of the results. Please write in complete sentences.
1.
Summarize what you investigated and observed in this lab using two to three sentences.
I observed that the bigger the mass of the sun is then the faster the earth moves around the sun but the smaller the mass of the sun then the slower the earth moves around the sun.
2.
What are the independent variables (what you control) and dependent variable (what
changes because of the independent variable) of your activity?
Independ
ent
Variable:
The mass of the sun and the initial location of each planet in relation to the sun.
Depende
nt
Variable:
The planets’ final location and motion and the location of the habitable zone.
3.
You completed three terraforming trials. Describe how the sun's mass affects planets in a solar system. Use the data you recorded to support your conclusions.
A larger sun and distant planets meant they weren't in habitable zones. Some planets couldn't stay in orbit because the greater mass of the sun made it risky for them to be too close due to gravitational forces.
4.
In this simulation, the planets' masses were all the same. Do you think if the planets' masses
were different, it would affect the results? Why or why not?
I think the mass would be different because the mass of the planets will affect the gravity.
5.
How does this simulation demonstrate the law of universal gravitation?
Gravity's force varies between objects in space based on their distance from each other.
6.
It is the year 2085, and the world population has grown at an alarming rate. As a space explorer, you have been sent on a terraforming mission into space. Your mission to search
for a habitable planet for humans to colonize in addition to planet Earth. You found a planet you believe would be habitable, and now need to report back your findings. Describe the new planet, and why it would be perfect for maintaining human life.
This planet resides within the habitable zone, conducive to sustaining liquid water. Its orbit around the sun strikes a balance, not too close to cause excessive heat and yet not too distant to deprive life of essential liquid water—a vital necessity for human survival.
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