SHORT PROBLEMS: MARKING SCHEME

1. Several exoplanets have been observed in the Gliese 876 system ( ) as

given in the following table,
Gliese System Mass Semi Major Axis (AU)
Gliese 876 b 2.276 MJ 0.2083
Gliese 876 c 0.714 MJ 0.1296
Gliese 876 d 6.8 M 0.0208
Gliese 876 e 15 M 0.334
where is mass of Sun, is mass of Jupiter ( M J  1.89813  10 27 kg ), and mass of

Earth. Assume that all these planets revolve around Gliese 876 in the same direction. Two planets
are said to be in resonant orbits if the synodic period of one planet with respect to the other
planet is an integer multiple of the orbital period of the second planet.
Find if any of the exoplanets of Gliese 876 system may have resonant orbits.

Answer and Marking Scheme:

1 Determine planet periods

1 1 1 P1 P2
Synodic period of planet 1 and 2 (assume P1 < P2) is    PS 
PS P1 P2 P2  P1
Resonant orbit happens if
P1 P2 P2
PS  mP1   mP1  m  1, integer
P2  P1 P2  P1

Using the data of the Gliesean system we have

Period (Earth, days) 50
3
Gliese System Mass (kg) Semi Major Axis (m) a
P  2
GM G
Gliese 876 star 6.64359  1029
Gliese 876 b 4.31938  1027 3.1161  1010 60.07568
Gliese 876 c 1.35564  1027 1.9388  1010 29.48304
Gliese 876 d 4.079  1025 3.1116  109 1.8956
Gliese 876 e 8.7194  1025 5.0011  1010 122.1432

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2 Calculate resonant orbit for each planet
From the results above we see that
 Gliese 876 c and Gliese 876 b have resonant orbit
Pb 25
m  1.96  2
Pb  Pc
 Gliese 876 b and Gliese 876 e have resonant orbit
Pe
m  1.9679  2 25
Pe  Pb

2 / 22
2. One satellite of a planet has an orbital period of 7 days, 3 hours, 43 minutes, and the semi major
axis is 15.3 times the mean radius of the planet. The Moon has an orbital period of days,
hours, minutes and the semi major axis is times the Earth's mean radius. Assume that the
mass of the moon and the satellite is negligible compared to the mass of the planet. Calculate the
ratio of the planet’s mean density to that of the Earth.

Answer and Marking Scheme:

First Version

1 Kepler third Law for satelite and Moon 30

( )
;

( )
;

2 Express mass in term of mass density: 30

( )

( )
3 Evaluate ratio of mass-density:
𝜌𝐸 × 𝑃𝑆
𝜌𝑃 × 𝑃𝑀 30

10

Second Alternate Version

 The period of the Satellite: ,

 Mean orbital radius of the Satellite : ; : radius of the Planet.
 The period of the Moon: ,
 Mean orbital radius of the Moon : ; : radius of the Earth.
 Mass of the Sun (M)
 Kepler’s Third Law : ( ) 
o Mass of the Planet:
o Radius of the Planet :

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 o Semi major axis of the Planet = Mean orbital radius of the Plant:
o Semi major axis of theSatellite = Mean orbital radius of theSatellite:
o Semi major axis of the Moon = Mean orbital radius of the Moon:
o Mass of the Earth :
o Radius of the Earth:
o Semi major axis of the Earth = Mean orbital radius of the Earth:

Planet – Satellite: ( ) ,  ( ) (1) (5)

The Earth–the Moon: ( ) ,  ( ) (2) (5)

Planet–Sun : ( ) ,  ( ) (3) (5)

Earth–Sun : ( ) ,  ( ) (4) (5)

From equation (1) and (3):

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
(20)

From equation (2) and (4):

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
(20)


( ) ( )
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
( ) ( )
(20)
( ) ( )
( ) ( )


( )
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
( ) ( ) ( )
(20)
( ) ( )
( )

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3. On 27 May 2015 at 02:18:49, the occultation of the star HIP 89931 ( Sgr) by the asteroid 1285
Julietta was observed from Borobudur temple, which was located at the center of the asteroid
shadow path. It lasted for only 6.201 s. Assume that Earth’s orbit is circular and the orbit of
Julietta is on the ecliptic plane and revolves in the same direction as Earth. At the occultation,
Julietta is near its aphelion. At the time of the occultation the distances of Julietta from the Sun
and the Earth are AU and 2.156 AU respectively. Find the approximate diameter of asteroid
Julietta, if the semi major axis of Julietta is AU.

Answer and Marking Scheme:

1 Calculate the Earth revolution speed 20

Earth revolution speed is
2rE 2aE
vE    29805 m / s
TE TE

2 Calculate Julietta revolution speed 25

Julietta revolution is (since the given data is semimajor axis, the orbit of Julietta is ellipse)
 2 1
v J  GM     16742 ,9 m / s
 rJ a 

3 Calculate the approximate dimension of Julietta

From the geometry
rE2  rJ2  rJ2 E
S
cos   0.995
2rE rJ
rE Thus, Julietta’s relative projected speed to Earth
E is
 v J ,rel  vE  v J cos  13984 .16 m / s 40
rJ-E rJ vE

Hence, the approximate dimension of Julietta is

vJ l J  vJ ,rel toccil  86701 .8 m 15
J

5 / 22
4. Let us assume that an observer using a hypothetical, far-infrared, Earth-sized telescope
(wavelength range 20 to 640 m) found a static and neutral supermassive black hole with a mass
of 2.1 x 1010 . Determine the maximum distance at which this black hole can be resolved by
the observer.

Answer and Marking Scheme:

1 Identify the relationship between the telescope’s resolution and the angular size of black hole 25
This problem can be solved by using relationship between the telescope’s resolution and the angular size of
black holes which can be seen in this equation:
 Diameter of event horizon
telescope  black hole  1.2 
Dtelescope Observer Distance to galatic' s the center
 2 R black hole
1.2 
Dtelescope d

2 Identify the relation for determining the distance 50

Then, it is assumed that the radius of black hole is the Schwarszchild radius; and the telescope is also Earth-
sized telescope. Therefore:
 2 RSchwarzchild ,BH
1.2 
2 REarth d
4  RSchwarzchild ,BH  REarth 4  M Black Hole  RSchwarchild ,Sun  REarth
d  d
1.2   1.2  M Sun  
4  2.1  1010 M Sun  RSchwarchild ,Sun  REarth 8.4  1010  RSchwarchild ,Sun  REarth
d  d
1.2  M Sun   1.2  

3 Calculating the maximum-observer distance 25

To find the maximum distance, then we should use the minimum .
Therefore:
8.4  1010  RSchwarchild ,Sun  REarth 8.4  1010  2.95  103  6.3708  106
d max   m  6.6.6
580  10 25 m
1.2  min 1.2  20  10 6

6 / 22
5. An observer is trying to determine an approximate value of the orbital eccentricity of a man-made
satellite. When the satellite was at apogee, it was observed to have moved by in a
short time. When the radius vector connecting Earth and the satellite is perpendicular to the
major axis (true anomaly is equal to 90o), within the same duration of time, it was observed to
have moved by Assume that the observer is located at the center of the Earth.
Find an approximate value of the eccentricity of the satellite’s orbit.

Answer and Marking Scheme:

1 Identify expression for ( ). 30

a 1  e2 
We know that r    . Hence
1  e cos 
a 1  e2 
r  0   a 1  e 
1 e
   a 1  e 
2

r    a 1  e2 
 
2 1  e  0

2 Estimate area of sectors using area of triangles. 20

Estimate the area of swept out sectors as the area of sectors of circles
( ) × × ( ( )) ( ( ))
( ) × × ( ( )) ( ( ))
3 Use Kepler’s second law to find a relation between the ratio and the eccentricity . 30
Use Kepler’s second law to obtain that
( ) ( )
×( ( )) ×( ( ))
Thus,
2
1  1  e2  2'44''
   1  e    0.12843
2

2  1  e  21'17''
4 Obtain an estimate value of the eccentricity. 20
Thus, the eccentricity is e  1  0.12843  0.64163

7 / 22
6. At the start of every observation, a radio telescope is pointed at a point-source calibrator that has
a known flux density of 21.86 Jy outside the Earth’s atmosphere. However, on a certain date, the
measured flux density of the calibrator source was 14.27 Jy. If the calibrator source was at an
altitude of 35 degrees, estimate the zenith atmospheric optical depth, z.

Answer and Marking Scheme:

1 Atmospheric optical depth A can be determined from the measured flux, that is:
Smeas = exp(-A) Sreal
14.27 = exp(-A) × 21.86  exp(-A) = 14.27/21.86 = 0.65

Then
A = −ln(0.65) = 0.43 50

2 Now we have:
A = Z sec z
z = A cos z
= 0.43 × cos (90 − 35)° = 0.25
where z is zenith angle. 50

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7. A galaxy at the boundary of a galaxy cluster of radius 10 Mpc is expected to escape from the
cluster if it has an initial velocity of at least 700 km/s relative to the center of the cluster. Calculate
the density of the cluster.

Answer and Marking Scheme:

1 We have the total energy of the escaping galaxy: 15

2 Where V is velocity of galaxy and R radius of galaxy cluster 10

Galaxy will escape from galaxy cluster if the total energy,
3 15

4 Escape velocity 20
 4 3 
2G  R 
V 
2  3 
R
5 Density of cluster 15
3V 2

8 GR2
6 V=700 km/s 25
R=10 Mpc
G=6.637810-11Nm2kg
=9.2012110-27kg/m3

9 / 22
8. A strong continuum radio signal from a celestial body has been observed as a burst with a very
short duration of 700 μs. The observed flux density at a frequency of MHz is measured to be
kJy. If the distance from the source is known to be 2.3 kpc, estimate the brightness
temperature of this source.

Answer and Marking Scheme:

10 -6 7
1 During 700 μs, the radio wave travels about r = c t = 3 × 10 × 700 × 10 = 2.1 × 10 cm. The region 10
from where the burst originates must be no larger than the distance that light can travel during the
7
duration of the burst. So we estimate that r is the size of the source. (r = 2.1 × 10 cm, R = 2.3 kpc)

Flux density observed at 1660 MHz is

10
S1660MHz = 0.35 kJy
3 -23 -1 -2 -1
= 0.35 × 10 × 10 ergs s cm Hz
-21 -1 -2 -1
= 3.5 × 10 ergs s cm Hz

2 The solid angle subtended by this source of radiation is 30

2 7 3 18 2
Ω = π (r/R) = 3.14 (2.1 × 10 /2.3 × 10 × 3.086 × 10 )
-29
= 2.75 × 10 sr

3 The flux density is related to the total brightness by the relation:

S1660MHz = B1660MHz Ω 20
while at this frequency, the total brightness can be approximated from the Rayleigh-Jeans formula:

B1660MHz = 2kTb /c
2 2
20
where Tb is the brightness temperature. Then we have:
2 2
Tb = S1660MHzc /2k Ω
−21 10 2 −16 6 2 −29
Tb = [3.5 × 10 × (3 × 10 ) ]/[2 × (1.38 × 10 ) × (1660 × 10 ) × (2.75 × 10 )] 10
26
= 1.5 × 10 K

10 / 22
9. Assume that the Sun is a perfect blackbody. Venus is also assumed to be a blackbody, with
temperature TV, and it is in thermal equillibrium (i.e. it is radiating about as much energy as it
receives from the Sun) at its orbital distance of 0.72 AU. Suppose that at closest approach to Earth,
Venus has an angular diameter of about 66 arcsec. What is the flux density of Venus at the closest
approach to Earth as observed by a radio telescope at an observing frequency of 5 GHz?

Answer and Marking Scheme:

1 Solar luminosity is
2 4
L = 4πR σT

10 2 -5 4
= 4 × 3.14 × (6.96 × 10 ) (5.67 × 10 )(5780) ergs/sec
33
= 3.9 × 10 ergs/sec
10
2 Flux of the Sun intercepted by Venus is

LV = (AV(projected)/A(sphere,0.72au)) × L

Also,
2 4
LV = 4πRV σTV
So,
2 4 2 2 2
4πRV σTV = (πRV /4πd ) × L = (πRV /4πd ) × 4πR σT
2 2 4 30

3 Therefore,
4 2 2 4 5 2 6 2 4
TV = (R /4d ) × T = [(6.957 × 10 km) /4 × (0.72 × 149.6 × 10 ) ] × (5780)
4 11 16 4
= (483998490000/46407499776000000) × (5780) = (4.84 × 10 /4.64 × 10 ) × (5780)
= 1.0429316216908190111241385226915e-5 × 1114577187760656
-5 15
= 1.04 × 10 × 1.11 × 10
10
= 11624277939.308134327737156481455 = 1.1624 × 10
TV = 328.5 K 20

4 The flux density of Venus at closest approach to Earth at an observing frequency of 5 GHz:
−6
(1” = 4.84 × 10 rad)

S5GHz = B5GHz Ω = (2kTb /c ) Ω

2 2
(Tb = TV)
−16 9 2 −6 2 10 2
= (2 × 1.38 × 10 × 328.5 × (5 ×10 ) × π (66 × 4.84 × 10 ) )/ (3 × 10 )
−22 -1 -2 -1
= 8.07 × 10 ergs s cm Hz
40
= 80.7 Jy

11 / 22
10. A molecular hydrogen cloud is known to have a temperature T = 115 K. The hydrogen atoms
(assumed spherical) have (covalent) radius and the separation centre-to-
centre distance between the two atoms is . Assume that the molecules are
in thermal equilibrium. Estimate the frequency at which they will radiate due to molecular
rotational excitation.

Answer and Marking Scheme:

1 The molecules rotate with angular velocity ω and for spherical molecules, their moment of inertia is

30

For molecule, yield

,
Thus
×

2 In thermal equilibrium(only 2 rotational degrees of freedom), we have:

30
3 So we can estimate:

√ ( × × × × ) ×

× 40

12 / 22
11. The mass density of an object is inversely proportional to the radial distance from the center of
the object with a factor of proportionality  × ⁄ . If the escape velocity at the
surface of the object is × ⁄ , calculate the total mass of the object.

Answer
1 GmM 2GM 20
1
2
mv02  0R
R v02
2 m(r )   4 r 2 r  4 r r  M  2 R2 30
(dm(r )   4 r dr  4 rdr  M  2 R )
2 2

3 4G2 M 2 v04 30
M   2 R2   2  M 
v04 8 G2
4 v04 (1.5 104 ms 1 )4 20
M   9.11021 kg
8 G 2
8 (5 1013 kgm2 )(6.67 1011 kg1m3s2 )2

13 / 22
12. A proton with a kinetic energy of propagates out from the surface of the Sun towards the
Earth. Neglecting the magnetic field of the Sun, calculate the travel time of the proton as seen
from the Earth.

Answer
1 20
2 20

√
3  30
4 × 30
×( × ) ⁄

14 / 22
13. Volcanic activity on Io, whose rotation period synchronizes with its orbital period, was proposed
to be the result of tidal heating mainly from Jupiter. The resultant tidal force on a body is the
difference in gravitational force experienced by the near and far sides of that body due to another
body. Measurements of the surface distortion of Io via satellite radar altimeter mapping indicate
that the surface rises and falls by up to 100m during one-half orbit. Only the surface layers will
move by this amount. Interior layers within Io will move by a smaller amount, and thus we
assume that on average the entire mass of Io is moved through 50m. Assume that Io is considered
as two hemispheres each treated as a point mass. Calculate the average power of the tidal
heating on Io.

Hint: you can use the following approximation 1  x   1  nx for small x.

n

The mass of Io is
mIo  8.931938  1022 kg

The perijove distance is rperi = 420000 km

The apojove distance is rapo = 423400 km
The orbital period of Io is 152853 s
The radius of Io is RIo = 1821.6 km.

Answer and Marking Scheme:

1 Calculate the tidal force

The tidal force (assuming the point mass of hemisphere is located at RIo/2):
( ) ( )

[ ]
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

( )
[ ] 40
( )

15 / 22
 2
R 
The term  Io  is too small and it can be ignored , so that
 r 
10

2 Calculate the difference of the tidal force

The difference in the tidal force experienced at perijove (closest to Jupiter) and apojove
(furthest from Jupiter)
| ( ) ( )| 15

[ ] × 15

3 Calculate the average power of work done

Hence, the average power of the work done on the rock during one-half orbit is
̅
10

̅ × 10

Alternate solution

If assume the mass of the hemisphere is located at the center of mass of a solid hemisphere, 3RIo/8,
then

1 Calculate the tidal force

The tidal force (assuming the point mass of hemisphere is located at 3RIo/8):
( ) ( )

[ ]
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

( )
[ ] 40
( )

16 / 22
 2
R 
The term  Io  is too small and it can be ignored , so that
 r 
10

2 Calculate the difference of the tidal force

The difference in the tidal force experienced at perijove (closest to Jupiter) and apojove
(furthest from Jupiter)
| ( ) ( )| 15

[ ] × 15

3 Calculate the average power of work done

Hence, the average power of the work done on the rock during one-half orbit is
̅
10

̅ × 10

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14. Suppose we live in a static and infinitely large universe where the average density of stars is
and the average stellar radius is equal to the solar radius. Assume that standard
Euclidean geometry holds true in this universe. How far, on average, could you see in any
direction before your line of sight strikes a star? Please write your answer in Mpc.

Answer and Marking Scheme:

1. To decide how far one can see on average in a universe filled with spherical objects of radius 50
R, it is simplest to think of a long cylinder along the line of sight. If an object is closer than R to
the line of sight, then the line of sight intersects its surface. For a distance , the cylindrical
volume which would contain such objects is . If the density of objects is n, then the
volume that will on average contain one object is defined by and the average
distance to which we see before our vision is blocked is

2. The average radius R in Mpc 25

×
×
×

3. Then 25
×
( × ) ( )

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15. An airplane was flying from Lima, capital of Peru ( and ) to Yogyakarta ( and
th
), near the venue of the 9 IOAA. The airplane chooses the shortest flight path from
Lima to Yogyakarta. Find the latitude of the southernmost point of the flight path.

Answer and Marking Scheme:

1st version

1 Determine coordinates of Lima and Yogyakarta. 15

Assume that the equator is the plane and the Earth is a unit sphere.
The Cartesian coordinates of the Lima is
( )
( ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ))
( )
The Cartesian coordinates of the Yogyakarta is
( ) ( ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ))
( )

2 Determine the normal of the plane defined by Lima, Yogyakarta, and center of the Earth. 20
The normal of the plane containing the two places and the center of the Earth is
× ( ) ( )

3 Find the equation of the (shortest flight) path from Lima to Yogyakarta. 25
Let the equation of the place be or equivalently

where and
. For the sake of simplicity, from now
let us denote and as and , respectively.
Intersection of the Earth and the plane is the large circle
( ) or equivalently
( ) ( )
It is also the equation for the shortest flight path from Lima to
Yogyakarta.
4 Determine the z-value of the southernmost point of the path (at the point, the 30
discriminant of the equation
( ) ( )
equals zero).

The plane , it intersects the large circle at at either at one or two points. The number
of intersection point at the highest or at the lowest point is one, i.e. when the discriminant
is zero.
( ) ( )

19 / 22
 The discriminant is
( ) ( )[( ) ]
( )
Therefore , if √ . Then choose

5 Determine the latitude of the southernmost point. 10

Thus, the latitude of the point is

2nd version (using the Law of Cosines for sides)

Answer and Marking Scheme:

1 Determine length of the sides of the triangle 20

( )
( )

Using Law of Cosines for sides

( )( ) ( )( )( )
to obtain .rad

2 Determine the angles of the triangle 30

Then use
( )( ) ( )( )( )
to obtain rad. Similarly, use Law of Cosines
( )( ) ( )( )( )
to get that rad.
3 Use Law of Cosines for sides to construct an equation in . 20
If P is the southernmost point, then the angle is a right
angle, , the Law of

Thus,

Then substitute it to get

20 / 22
 √ ( )

4 Solve the equation 20

Let . Then

√ ×

Multiply both sides by to get

√ ×

√ ×

( ) ( )×( )

which is a quadratic equation of . The roots are and .

5 Determine the Latitude 10

Thus,

or

The latitude is or . The second one is impossible because it higher then the
latitude of Lima. Thus the answer is

3rd version (using Napier’s rule)

Answer and Marking Scheme:

1 Determine length of the sides of the triangle 20

( ) (
)

Using Law of Cosines for sides

( )( ) ( )( )( )
to obtain .rad

2 Determine the angles of the triangle 30

Then use

21 / 22
 ( )( ) ( )( )( )
to obtain rad. Similarly, use Law of Cosines
( )( ) ( )( )( )
to get that rad.
3 Find the latitude of the point 50
Let be the southernmost point on the flight path. Since the triangle has a right triangle at
P, then use one of Napier’s rules

to get . Therefore, the latitude of

is

22 / 22