Homework Set 5
DUE: Tuesday, June 25
Some of these questions entail looking up concepts and numbers in the book. Answers to these questions may also be sought by looking in astronomy books in the library, and at the astronomy links given on the course Web site.
1. Why does Venus have such a thick atmosphere compared to the Earth? Please be thorough but brief with your answer.
2. Come up with five differences that you can think of between the properties of comets and those of asteroids. This includes the bodies themselves and their orbits.
3. How close is Venus during its nearest approach to Earth? How many times farther is this than the distance to the Moon? How close is Mars during its nearest approach to Earth, and how many times farther is this than the distance to the Moon?
4. Compare photos of craters on Mars and on the Moon
a. Which body has smoother-edged craters, and why?
b. What does this say about the lunar versus Martian environments?
5. Since all planetary material condensed from the same nebula, why do meteorites have different chemical and geological properties than rocks you might find in your yard?
6. Use the theory of the origin of the solar system to explain the solar system characteristics listed in Table 14-1 of your book.
6/21/96