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Space Physics Assessment 1

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6 views2 pages

Space Physics Assessment 1

Uploaded by

mahreenanaum1894
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Assessment 1

1. What is the approximate time taken by the Earth to complete one full rotation on its axis?
2. Explain the cause of changing seasons on Earth in quantitative terms.
3. Describe the apparent daily motion of the Sun as observed from Earth.
4. Calculate the average orbital speed of a planet with an average radius of 300 million kilometers and an
orbital period of 5 Earth years.
5. List the four primary seasons and explain the astronomical events associated with each season.
6. How is the strength of the gravitational field at the surface of a planet related to its mass?
7. State Kepler's third law of planetary motion and explain how it affects the orbital speeds of planets in the
Solar System.
8. What are the differences between terrestrial planets and gas giants? How do these differences relate to the
accretion model for Solar System formation?
9. Calculate the time it takes for light to travel from Earth to Mars when they are at their closest approach
(approximately 56 million kilometers apart). Use the speed of light as 299,792 kilometers per second.
10. Why do planets, minor planets, and comets have elliptical orbits? Describe the positioning of the Sun
within these elliptical orbits.
11. Analyze the data for Earth's average orbital distance, orbital duration, density, surface temperature, and
surface gravitational field strength.
12. Compare the surface temperatures of Venus and Mars. Why is there such a difference in their
temperatures despite both being relatively close to the Sun?
13. What information does the average density of a planet provide about its internal composition?
14. Based on the planetary data, which planet in the Solar System has the longest orbital duration, and how
long does it take to complete one orbit around the Sun?
15. Explain the significance of Earth's axial tilt in relation to the changing seasons.
16. Calculate the average speed at which a point on Earth's equator moves due to the planet's rotation on its
axis. Assume Earth's radius is approximately 6,371 kilometers and the rotational period is 24 hours.
17. Describe the apparent daily motion of the Sun at the Equator during the equinoxes.
18. How does the length of day and night change at different latitudes on Earth throughout the year? Provide
an explanation based on the axial tilt and the position of the Sun in the sky.
19. Define a solstice and an equinox in quantitative terms.
20. Calculate the angle of the Sun's rays at noon on the summer solstice at a location with a latitude of 40
degrees North. (Assume the axial tilt is 23.5 degrees).
21. Compare the lengths of daylight at the Arctic Circle (66.5 degrees North) during the summer solstice and
the winter solstice. Use the axial tilt and the latitude of the Arctic Circle to explain the difference in daylight
hours.
22. Describe the difference between a waxing crescent and a waning crescent moon in terms of illumination
and visibility from Earth.
23. Explain the main factor causing the different phases of the Moon as seen from Earth.
24. If the Moon's orbit were perfectly circular, how would this affect the appearance of the Moon's phases
from Earth?
25. Calculate the average orbital speed of a comet with an average radius of 200 million kilometers and an
orbital period of 10 years.
26. Explain how the average orbital speed of a planet changes as its distance from the Sun increases.
27. Define an astronomical unit (AU) and explain its significance in measuring distances within the Solar
System.
28. Compare the average surface temperature of Venus to the average surface temperature of Earth. Use the
concepts of the greenhouse effect and proximity to the Sun to explain the temperature difference.
29. Describe the role of gravity in the formation of the Solar System, specifically in the creation of the
accretion disk.
30. Discuss how the presence of heavy elements in the inner regions of the solar nebula contributed to the
composition of the terrestrial planets.
31. Compare the rotation periods of the gas giants to those of the terrestrial planets and explain the
relationship to the accretion model.
32. Explain how the conservation of energy is related to an object's speed in an elliptical orbit.
33. Discuss the significance of the position of the Sun within an elliptical orbit for comets.
34. Compare the density of Saturn to that of Earth and explain the relationship between their densities and
their internal compositions.
35. Calculate the average orbital speed of Mars, given its average orbital distance from the Sun is 1.52 AU.
36. Interpret the variation in surface temperature among the planets in the Solar System based on their
distances from the Sun and their atmospheric compositions.
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