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Labs
Labs(2)/Formation of the Earth(3)
Formation of Earth
Formation of Earth(2)/Earth in Space(3)
Earth in Space
100
Explain the Earth’s reference grid: latitude and longitude, and latitudinal geographic zones and time
Latitude is an angular distance north or south of the equator measured from the center of the earth. Runs West-East. Longitude is an angular distance east or west of a point on the Earth's surface, measured from the center of the Earth. Runs North-South Latitudinal geographic zones are called regions. Lower Latitudes are nearer the equator and Higher Latitudes are nearer the poles. Arctic Circle, Tropic of Cancer, Equator, Tropic of Capricorn, Antarctic Circle
100
Describe the differences between the characteristics of a globe and those that result when a flat map is prepared.
All of the qualities you see on a globe cannot be reproduced on a flat surface. You can see the empty spaces that open up between sections (gores) of the globe. Filling in the spaces will create distortion to your map of the globe.
100
How did first-generation stars differ from ours?
The contained a lot more of Hydrogen and Helium (only what the solar system originally had) and were much more dense. Without heavy elements, the clouds could not reach as low a temperature as today and had to be more massive to collapse (--first generation that is)
100
Explain the origin of the Moon.
At the time Earth formed 4.5 billion years ago, other smaller planetary bodies were also growing. One of these hit earth late in Earth's growth process, blowing out rocky debris. A fraction of that debris went into orbit around the Earth and aggregated into the moon.
100
Explain the different tides in relation to the location of the moon and sun
Tides are created because the Earth and the moon are attracted to each other, just like magnets are attracted to each other. The moon tries to pull at anything on the Earth to bring it closer. But, the Earth is able to hold onto everything except the water. Since the water is always moving, the Earth cannot hold onto it, and the moon is able to pull at it. Each day, there are two high tides and two low tides. The ocean is constantly moving from high tide to low tide, and then back to high tide. When the sun and moon are aligned, there are exceptionally strong gravitational forces, causing very high and very low tides which are called spring tides, though they have nothing to do with the season. When the sun and moon are not aligned, the gravitational forces cancel each other out, and the tides are not as dramatically high and low. These are called neap tides.
200
Define a great circle, great circle routes, and a small circle. In terms of these concepts, describe the equator, other parallels and meridians.
A great circle is any circle of the earth's circumference whose center coincides with the center of the Earth. (Equal halves) A small circle is any circle that does not coincide with the center of the Earth. (Unequal halves) The equator parallel is a great circle. Each pair of meridians forms a great circle. All other parallels form small circles.
200
How do you read a topographic map?
Topographic maps give you a three dimensional element to a two dimensional map. Contour lines create the allusion of increasing elevation, each line representing a different elevation height. They always go in equal intervals. Closed contour lines represent one tier of elevation. Small "v" shaped nicks in the graph illustrate where a river or stream would be.
200
What are the main processes that occur in stars like ours? How do they produce energy? What else do they produce?
Most stars begin their life cycle by hydrogen fusion. Taking 2 Hydrogen atoms and turning them into Helium. The excess material created from this process is a photon in the form of a gamma ray (a very high energy form of light). If there is enough mass of the star it will create a Supernova.
200
What are meteorites? What do meteorites tell us about our solar system?
Meteorites are calcium aluminum contugions. They are the first things that were formed during the creation of our solar system. They are "samples" of the original chemical composition of our solar system that teach us about its earliest phases.
200
Explain the location of the tropics and Arctic/Antarctic circles.
The Tropic of Cancer is the circle marking the latitude 23.5 degrees north, where the sun is directly overhead at noon on June 21, the beginning of summer in the northern hemisphere. The Tropic of Capricorn is the circle marking the latitude 23.5 degrees south where the sun is directly overhead at noon on December 21, the beginning of winter in the northern hemisphere. The equator is the circle where the sun is directly overhead at noon on the equinoxes. The Arctic and Antarctic Circles are located at +/-66.5 degrees latitude. This means that on December 21, when the sun is directly over the Tropic of Capricorn at noon, it will not be visible from the Arctic Circle. So above the Arctic Circle, there is a period during the winter when the sun remains below the horizon. The same is true of the Antarctic Circle during Southern Hemisphere winter. On June 21st, when the sun is directly over the Tropic of Cancer at noon, it is not visible from below the Antarctic Circle.
300
What does timekeeping have to do with longitude? Explain this relationship.
A meridian is a line connecting all points along the same longitude. We used the prime meridian to establish a universal time. A time zone of 1 hour is established spanning 7.5 degrees on either side of the central meridian. This is how we have a consistent and universal way to establish time around the globe.
300
Explain the Doppler effect. What does this effect tell us about our universe? How?
The Doppler effect is when the frequency of a sound wave changes with distance Longer wavelength=Light-Red Shift; Sound-Low Pitch Shorter wavelength=Light-Blue Shift; Sound-High Pitch The Doppler effect explains Hubble's observation in 1929 that everything in the universe is moving away from us (Big Bang)
300
Explain the role of supernovae in the evolution of the Universe as we know it today? How does this work?
Supernovas are formed from stars that are hot enough, dense enough, and have enough mass. Supernovas have a greater energy than the Sun and can spin material into space which is then recycled into new nebule/planets/solar systems.
300
Why do all of the planets (and most of their satellites) all revolve around the sun in the same direction?
All the planets in our solar system orbit in the same direction as the rotation of the Sun — anticlockwise — because our planets formed from the same disc of dust around a star.
300
Explain why it is hotter during the summer than in the winter.
When the north pole is tilted toward the sun, the north is experiencing warmer weather, or summer. The south is then colder, experience winter. Gradually, as the earth continues in its orbit, the south pole orients toward the sun. There is warm weather in the south, and winter in the north.
400
What and where is the prime meridian?
The prime meridian is a meridian designated at 0 degrees. It is located in Greenwich, London, England.
400
Describe the basic major events that led to the creation of chemically enriched solar systems?
400
Explain the formation of a planetary disk?
It is a natural result of star formation. Gravity causes the cloud to contract, and slight variations in the motion of different parts of the cloud build up into a net rotation. Since the cloud is spinning, the physical principle known as "conservation of angular momentum" causes it to flatten into a disk. Material in the core of the disk starts forming a new star. The remaining disk surrounding the star is full of tiny dust grains of graphite and silicates, with outer coatings of water ice or frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice).
400
Explain what gives rise to the different phases of the moon
The lunar phases are created by changing angles (relative positions) of the earth, the moon and the sun, as the moon orbits the earth. First Quarter, Full Moon, Laster Quarter, New Moon
400
What is blackbody radiation? What produces it? What’s an example of it from your everyday life?
A black body is an object that absorbs all electromagnetic radiation. Its color is dictated only by its temperature. Different temperatures bounce atoms around at different intensities which correspond to respective wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation being produced. E.g. Furnace
500
What is a map scale?
A map is a generalized view of an area. A scale is the ration of an image on the map to its real world size.
500
What role did gravity play in the formation of early solar nebula?
Gravity (the mutual attraction exerted by the mass of an object upon all other objects) was the key force in this condensing solar nebula. As the nebular cloud organized and flattened into a disk shape, the early protosun grew in mass at the center, drawing more matter to it. Small accretion eddies swirled at varying distances from the center of the solar nebula; these were called protoplanets.
500
Explain accretion and its role in creating planets.
Accretion: The gradual addition of new material 1. Gravity attracts planetisma to the protoearth 2. Planetismals accelerate on their journey gaining Kinetic Energy (=[1/2]mv^2) 3.They strike the protoearth at a high speed 4. Kinetic Energy is then converted into thermal energy.
500
Explain why we never see the back side of the moon? What is the main force that has caused it? Explain the influence of this force on our own day length
The Moon both revolves around the Earth and rotates on its axis in a counterclockwise direction (when viewed from above Earth's North Pole). It does both of these motions in the same amount of time. The moon's speed varies slightly during the month, or exactly 50% at any one moment-always the same side
500
Why can’t we see all wavelengths of light?
The shortest wavelength is violet and the longest wavelength is red. Waves that have a wavelength just a bit shorter than violet are considered ultraviolet. They are stronger than visible light and can't be seen. Waves that are just a bit longer than red are called infrared. Infrared waves are weaker than visible light and cannot be seen.