The Cosmic Perspective (9th Edition)
9th Edition
ISBN: 9780134874364
Author: Jeffrey O. Bennett, Megan O. Donahue, Nicholas Schneider, Mark Voit
Publisher: PEARSON
expand_more
expand_more
format_list_bulleted
Textbook Question
Chapter 9, Problem 51EAP
Mystery Planet. It’s the year 2098, and you are designing a robotic mission to a newly discovered planet around a nearby star that is nearly identical to our Sun. The planet is as large in radius as Venus, rotates with the same daily period as Mars, and lies 1.2 AU from its star. Your spacecraft will orbit but not land on the planet.
- Some of your colleagues believe that the planet has no metallic core. How could you support or refute their hypothesis?
- Other colleagues suspect that the planet has no atmosphere, but the instruments designed to study the planet’s atmosphere fail because of a software error. However, the spacecraft can still photograph geological features. How could you use the spacecraft’s photos of geological features to determine whether a significant atmosphere is (or was) present on this planet?
Expert Solution & Answer
Want to see the full answer?
Check out a sample textbook solutionStudents have asked these similar questions
This is a preliminary version of the Mars Project - to think about the time it takes to
complete a Mars mission. Consider the following simplified Earth to Mars transfer:
• Departs Earth
• Enter Mars orbit
• Orbit Mars orbit for some time
•
Exit Mars orbit to return
• Enter Earth orbit
a. What is the flight time, in days, from Earth to Mars? What is the return flight time?
[Answer: 258.83 days]
b. Where does Mars need to be (outbound) to reach it at the end of the Hohmann
transfer (tip: 180° "later").
[Answer: 44.329°]
c. To return to Earth with a Hohmann transfer, the opposite will need to be true:
Earth must be at a specific angle at the time of departure from Mars for the
spacecraft to reach Earth's orbit when Earth is there. What is that angle?
[Answer: -75.097°]
d. When is the first opportunity to return to Earth for that optimal Hohmann transfer?
[Answer: 454.70 days]
e. What is the total round trip time to Mars for this ideal Hohmann transfer?
In Table 2, there is a list of 15 planets, some of which are real objects discovered by the Kepler space telescope, and some are hypothetical planets. For each one, you are provided the temperature of the star that each planet orbits in degrees Kelvin (K), the distance that each planet orbits from their star in astronomical units (AUs) and the size or radius of each planet in Earth radii (RE). Since we are concerned with finding Earth-like planets, we will assume that the composition of these planets are similar to Earth's, so we will not directly look at their masses, rather their sizes (radii) along with the other characteristics. Determine which of these 15 planets meets our criteria of a planet that could possibly support Earth-like life. Use the Habitable Planet Classification Flow Chart (below) to complete Table 2. Whenever the individual value you are looking at falls within the range of values specified on the flow chart, mark the cell to the right of the value with a Y for…
The gravity on Mars is about 38% that of Earth's gravity. Let's say some cargo has a mass of 15 kg here on Earth.
First, what would be the weight of that cargo in kilograms on Mars? Explain your answer.
Second, what would be the mass of that cargo in kilograms on Mars? Explain your answer.
Chapter 9 Solutions
The Cosmic Perspective (9th Edition)
Ch. 9 - Prob. 1VSCCh. 9 - Use the following questions to check your...Ch. 9 - Use the following questions to check your...Ch. 9 - Use the following questions to check your...Ch. 9 - Describe the core-mantle-crust structures of the...Ch. 9 - Summarize the processes by which planetary...Ch. 9 - Why does Earth have a global magnetic field? Why...Ch. 9 - Define each of the four major geological...Ch. 9 - Prob. 5EAPCh. 9 - Why is the Moon so much more heavily cratered than...
Ch. 9 - Summarize the ways in which a terrestrial world’s...Ch. 9 - Briefly summarize the geological history of the...Ch. 9 - Briefly summarize the geological history of...Ch. 9 - Choose five features on the global map of Mars...Ch. 9 - Why isn’t liquid water stable on Mars today, and...Ch. 9 - Choose at least three major geological features of...Ch. 9 - What evidence tells us that Venus was “repaved”...Ch. 9 - Describe the conveyor-like action of plate...Ch. 9 - Briefly explain how each of the following...Ch. 9 - To what extent do we think the geologies of the...Ch. 9 - Surprising Discoveries? Suppose we were to make...Ch. 9 - Prob. 18EAPCh. 9 - Prob. 19EAPCh. 9 - Surprising Discoveries? Suppose we were to make...Ch. 9 - Prob. 21EAPCh. 9 - Prob. 22EAPCh. 9 - Prob. 23EAPCh. 9 - Prob. 24EAPCh. 9 - Prob. 25EAPCh. 9 - Prob. 26EAPCh. 9 - Prob. 27EAPCh. 9 - Surprising Discoveries? Suppose we were to make...Ch. 9 - Prob. 29EAPCh. 9 - Choose the best answer to each of the following....Ch. 9 - Choose the best answer to each of the following....Ch. 9 - Choose the best answer to each of the following....Ch. 9 - Prob. 33EAPCh. 9 - Choose the best answer to each of the following....Ch. 9 - Choose the best answer to each of the following....Ch. 9 - Choose the best answer to each of the following....Ch. 9 - Choose the best answer to each of the following....Ch. 9 - Prob. 38EAPCh. 9 - Mars Attracts. William Herschel, Giovanni...Ch. 9 - Prob. 41EAPCh. 9 - Prob. 42EAPCh. 9 - Prob. 43EAPCh. 9 - Prob. 44EAPCh. 9 - Dating Planetary Surfaces. We have discussed two...Ch. 9 - Comparative Erosion. Of Mercury, Venus, the Moon,...Ch. 9 - Miniature Mars. Suppose Mars had turned out to be...Ch. 9 - Change in Fundamental Properties. Choose one...Ch. 9 - Predictive Geology. Suppose another star system...Ch. 9 - Mystery Planet. It’s the year 2098, and you are...Ch. 9 - “Coolest” Surface Photo. Visit the Astronomy...Ch. 9 - Surface AreatoVolume Ratio. Compare the surface...Ch. 9 - Doubling Your Size. Just as the surface...Ch. 9 - Lunar Footprints. Assume that the Moon is hit by...Ch. 9 - Geological Proportions. Express the approximate...Ch. 9 - Internal vs. External Heating. In daylight,...Ch. 9 - Prob. 60EAPCh. 9 - More Plate Tectonics. Consider a seafloor...
Knowledge Booster
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, physics and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.Similar questions
- The principle cause of our intense interest in Mars in the decades before the dawn of the space age was that Answers: A. a few astronomers believed that they saw evidence of an intelligent civilization on Mars. B. Mars has seasons just like the Earth and therefore should be inhabitable by humans. C. Mars has an unusual surface color and global dust storms, creating strange weather patterns. D. Mars has unusual orbital properties making our understanding of its motion around the Sun very difficult.arrow_forwardWe think the terrestrial planets formed around solid “seeds” that later grew over time through the accretion of rocks and metals. a) Suppose the Earth grew to its present size in 1 million years through the accretion of particles averaging 100 grams each. On average, how many particles did the Earth capture per second, given that the mass of the Earth is = 5.972 × 10 ^24 kg ? b) If you stood on Earth during its formation and watched a region covering 100 m^2, how many impacts would you expect to see in one hour. Use the impact rate you calculated in part a. You’ll need the following as well: the radius of the Earth is = 6.371 × 10 ^6 m and the surface area of the Earth is 4??^2Eartharrow_forwardFor which of the following reasons (select all that apply), is it useful/important to send rovers to other planetary bodies in our solar system? O a. The engineering innovations developed to produce successful/viable rovers and landers on other planets can help lead to developments in the technology used here on Earth that may have taken far more time to develop without the limitations provided by space travel to foreign worlds. O b. The data collected can help improve our understanding of the evolution/development of our solar system. O. Rovers/landers can be outfitted with various tools and equipment that can be used to inform of us of the geological histories of each of the planets they visit. O d. More direct probes of the planetary surface are possible to detect signs of the building blocks of life. O e. Rock samples can be used to calibrate our estimations of the age of the solar system.arrow_forward
- Suppose that, decades from now, NASA is considering sending astronauts to Mars and Venus. In each case, describe what kind of protective gear they would have to carry, and what their chances for survival would be if their spacesuits ruptured.arrow_forwardImpact Energy. Consider a comet about 2 kilometers across with a mass of 4 × 1012 kg. Assume that it crashes into Earth at a speed of 30,000 meters per second (about 67,000 miles per hour). a. What is the total energy of the impact, in joules? (Hint: The kinetic energy formula tells us that the impact energy in joules will be 1 × m × v2, where 2 m is the comet’s mass in kilograms and v is its speed in meters per second.) b. A 1-megaton nuclear explosion releases about 4 × 1015 joules of energy. How many such nuclear bombs would it take to release as much energy as the comet impact? c. Based on your answers, comment on the degree of devastation the comet might cause.arrow_forwardYou are elected as the chief engineer of a project to explore the whole Solar System. Your aim is to design, manufacture and run a satellite -or- a device -or- a spaceship -or- "something" that will travel to each planet in the solar system, explore it and then send the data gained back to Earth. What points you consider as important stages of the project? What kind of travel method(s) you would use to cover whole solar system? How are you going to send back the data you gathered during the exploration?arrow_forward
- Activity #1. Compare and Contrast. Similarities and differences of Venus, Earth and Mars. Do this on a separate sheet of paper. 1. Compare and contrast the three (3) terrestrial planets using table 1. 2. Provide explanations for your observations using table 2. 3. Answer the following guide questions. Guide questions: 1. Does planet size affect gravity? 2. Why do you think Venus has the highest mean temperature among the three planets? 3. Is presence of water a primary factor for a planet to sustain life? Why or why not? 4. Based on your observations using table 2, what are the notable features that makes the earth the only habitable planet among the three terrestrial planets? 5. What conclusions can you make?arrow_forwardPlease help me with this question. A=.2arrow_forwardV5arrow_forward
- For which of the following reasons (select all that apply), is it useful/important to send rovers to other planetary bodies in our solar system? a. More direct probes of the planetary surface are possible to detect signs of the building blocks of life. b. Rovers/landers can be outfitted with various tools and equipment that can be used to inform of us of the geological histories of each of the planets they visit. c. Rock samples can be used to calibrate our estimations of the age of the solar system. d. The data collected can help improve our understanding of the evolution/development of our solar system. e. The engineering innovations developed to produce successful/viable rovers and landers on other planets can help lead to developments in the technology used here on Earth that may have taken far more time to develop without the limitations provided by space travel to foreign worlds.arrow_forwardCO2 and planetary warming: understanding Earth’s complicated atmosphere Mars has an atmospheric pressure of 6 mbar (compared with Earth atmosphere pressure of 1013 mbar), 96% of which is CO2. The average calculated temperature of Mars is -57°C, whereas the actual average temperature is -55°C so that the amount of warming due to CO2 is only 2°C. On the other hand, the average calculated temperature of Earth, with 0.4 mbar of CO2, is -19°C, whereas the actual average temperature is 15°C so that the amount of warming due to CO2 is 34°C, much greater than that on Mars, which has higher CO2 concentration. Explain how this is possible.arrow_forwardUntil recently, the term "planet" had no clear-cut definition. In August of 2006, leading astronomers established new guidelines and declared that Pluto is no longer a planet. Which of the following is either false or least consistent with the new guidelines? Group of answer choices Pluto is by far the largest known object in the Kuiper belt, while Eris is the largest known object in the asteroid belt. A planet must have cleared the neighborhood around its orbit. Pluto is automatically disqualified from being a planet because its oblong orbit overlaps with Neptune's. A planet must have sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a nearly round shape. Pluto and the asteroid Ceres are both now classified as dwarf planets.arrow_forward
arrow_back_ios
SEE MORE QUESTIONS
arrow_forward_ios
Recommended textbooks for you
- Physics for Scientists and Engineers: Foundations...PhysicsISBN:9781133939146Author:Katz, Debora M.Publisher:Cengage Learning
- Foundations of Astronomy (MindTap Course List)PhysicsISBN:9781337399920Author:Michael A. Seeds, Dana BackmanPublisher:Cengage LearningAstronomyPhysicsISBN:9781938168284Author:Andrew Fraknoi; David Morrison; Sidney C. WolffPublisher:OpenStaxAn Introduction to Physical SciencePhysicsISBN:9781305079137Author:James Shipman, Jerry D. Wilson, Charles A. Higgins, Omar TorresPublisher:Cengage Learning
Physics for Scientists and Engineers: Foundations...
Physics
ISBN:9781133939146
Author:Katz, Debora M.
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Foundations of Astronomy (MindTap Course List)
Physics
ISBN:9781337399920
Author:Michael A. Seeds, Dana Backman
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Astronomy
Physics
ISBN:9781938168284
Author:Andrew Fraknoi; David Morrison; Sidney C. Wolff
Publisher:OpenStax
An Introduction to Physical Science
Physics
ISBN:9781305079137
Author:James Shipman, Jerry D. Wilson, Charles A. Higgins, Omar Torres
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Kepler's Three Laws Explained; Author: PhysicsHigh;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyR6EO_RMKE;License: Standard YouTube License, CC-BY