Block 2

Tentative Schedule:

            Feb 21

Feb 26,    Feb 28

Mar 4, Mar 6,

Mar 11,  Mar 13

 

Wednesday, February 21st:

Thursday Feb 21st

 

Lab#3: You will be assigned a specific laboratory activity that is consistent with the weather and where you are in the objectives. Check with your instructor before you forge ahead.

Outside:
 

Inside:
To Be Announced
Thurs,  Feb 21

Earth from Apollo 17

The Fundamental Features of the Earth.

Physics of the Earth's Atmosphere, Weather and Global Effects (Global Warming, Ozone Depletion) Note: some of this may carry into next time.
         Textbook:
         1.  Overview Three:    The Earth and Moon

          2.  Chapter Five : The Earth, Sections 5.1 - 5.7,  pg 152 - 175
                Test Yourself Questions, pg 176, 1 - 5

 
          3.  Essay Two: Keeping Time
          Test Yourself Questions, pg 186, 1 - 5Textbook


Objectives: You should be able to:

  • Describe the stages of planetary development including accretion and planetesimals
  • Describe the composition of the Earth and its physical properties
  • Describe the Earth's interior and explain how we know this from seismology
  • Explain the process and source of heating within the Earth's core.
  • Explain how we know the Earth's interior structure.
  • Explain, using theory of plate tectonics, how mountains, continents and volcanoes are formed.
  • Describe the Earth's interior, convection and evidence of the long term motion of the tectonic plates
  • Distinguish between shield and (cinder) cone Volcanoes.
  • Explain how volcanoes form.
  • Explain the Rock Cycle
  • Explain how we know the age of rocks.
  • Use your own words to describe the sequence of processes that result in igneous rocks. Describe a specific example of a sedimentary rock becoming an igneous rock.

  • Use your own words to describe the sequence of processes that result in sedimentary rocks. Describe a specific example of a sedimentary rock becoming a new type of sedimentary rock.

  • Use your own words to describe the sequence of processes that result in metamorphic rocks. Describe a specific example of a sedimentary rock becoming a metamorphic rock.

  • Describe the atmosphere of the Earth, its components and structure and how it changes with altitude
  • Explain what the global warming and Ozone Depletion are.
  • Explain the origin of the Earth's magnetic field
  • describe the magnetics effects in the upper atmosphere and the magnetopause.
  • Explain large scale motion on the Earth of the air and ocean currents
  • Explain what the Coriolis Effect is, its origin and effects.

    • Key Words: You may use for review or SEARCH items:

  • P waves
  • S Waves
  • Seismology
  • Mantle
  • Plate Tectonics
  • Ejecta
  • Subduction Plate
  • Stratosphere
  • Troposphere

    •  

    Tues, Feb 26th

     

     

    The Moon - Physical Characteristics & Orbital Features.

     

         Textbook:

          1. Chapter Six : The Moon, Sections 6.1 - 6.7,  pg 187 - 209
                    Test Yourself Questions, pg 210, 1 - 5

    You've got to try this!

    Objectives: You should be able to:

  • Describe the moon's size, mass, and density in relation to the earth and other terrestial planets.
  • Describe major features of the moon, particularly the Highlands and Mare
  • Articulate differences in the major kinds of rocks found on the surface of the moon, especially anorthosites, breccia and basalts.
  • In the Lunar Lab, compare lunar samples with igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks found on the Earth.
  • Compare the environment of the moon, namely the temperature, magnetic field, atmosphere, and gravity with that of the earth and other terrestial planets
  • Describe the lunar interior and compare it to the Earth's
  • Explain different theories regarding the origin of the moon:
  • Sister Theory
  • Fission Theory
  • Capture Theory
  • Giant-Impact Theory
  • Describe a likely history of the evolution of the Moon.
  • Name major impact craters and Mare.
  • Explain how tides on the Earth are related to lunar orbit.
  • Describe Neap and Spring Tides..
  • Know when Neil Armstrong first stepped on the moon.
    • Key Words: You may use these for review or SEARCH items:

    Your instructor will be gone the rest of this week attending a NASA Space Grant Director's Conference in Washington, D.C. He will visit capitol hill and meet with congress.

    What could happen in Minnesota

    Thursday February 28th

    The Solar System - Its Contents and Cosmogony

    For I dipped into the Future, far as human eye could see; saw the vision of the world, and all the wonder that would be. -Alfred Lord Tennyson, 1842

      Textbook:

               1. Overview Four:  The Solar System

               2.  Chapter Seven : Survey of the Solar System, Sections 7.1 - 7.3,  pg 222 - 238
                      Test Yourself Questions, pg 240, 1 - 5


    Video:    Some of the videos in this section take a long time to download. Additionally there are three different formats, dependent upon the player you prefer to use. All three are essentially the same video.

      cosmogny.avi (10MB!)
      cosmogny.mov (3.9MB) - Apple QuickTime Movie
      cosmogny.mpg (1.5MB)
    Objectives: You should be able to:
    1. Contrast how the Catastrophe and Tidal Theories result in the condensation of the solar nebula.
    2. Consider what this might predict as to the number of planetary systems in existence.
    3. Describe the contents and scale of the solar system (including terrestial and gas planets, asteroids, comets, etc) and how they are arranged in the solar system. A dynamical model of the solar system must explain these features.
    4. List some chemical properties that also must be explained by a solar system model of origin and evolution.
    5. Describe a process of nebular formation
    6. Explain how the Conservation of Angular Momentum constrains the evolution and structure of the solar system
    7. Describe the process of Planetary Accretion
    8. Explain why the Terrestial Planets are closer in and the Gas Planets further out.
    9. Explain how "Bode's Law" describes the orbits of the planets
    Key Words: You may use these for Review or SEARCH items:
    1. Nebular Collapse
    2. Conservation of Angular Momentum
    3. Bode's Law
    4. Gravitational Collapse
    5. Accretion
    6. Planetesimal
    7. Protoplanet

    The Solar System - you should check this out!!!

    Tuesday   Mar 4th

    Note:  




    Thursday, March 6th
    jupiter.avi (10MB!)
    jupiter.mov (1.7MB) - Apple QuickTime Movie
    jupiter.mpg (221KB)


     

    Textbook:
    1.  Chapter Nine : The Outer Planets, Sections 9.1 - 9.5,  pg 273 - 297
                    Test Yourself Questions, pg 298, 1 - 5


    Activities:    Visit NASA's Interactive On-line Galileo Project

     

    Astronomy Laser Disc:

  • Chapter 18: Jupiter
  • Chapter 19: Saturn
  • Chapter 20: The Outer Planets
    • And Then There was Voyager videotape

    Visit NASA's Interactive On-line Galileo Project

    Objectives: You should be able to:

  • Explain the purpose of and accomplishments of the Voyager Mission.
  • Explain the purpose of and accomplishments of the Galileo Mission.
  • Explain why the outer planetswhy the outer planets are so large.
  • Explain what the Red Spot is.
  • Describe the four Galilean Moons of Jupiter.
  • Describe the interiors of the Giant Gas planets
  • Explain what the Rings of Saturn and the other gas planets are made of.
  • Explain why Uranus and Neptune are so blue
  • Compare the outer planets in mass, size and rotational period to the Earth
  • Explain what is unusual about Uranus's rotation axis and how it might have gotten that way.
  • Articulate the recent discovery that hints at the possibility of life on Europa.
  • Explain the Roche Limit and its relevance to planetary rings
  • Compare Jupiter and Saturn with Uranus and Neptune
    • saturn.avi (10MB!)
    saturn.mov (1.8MB) - Apple QuickTime Movie
    saturn.mpg (206KB)
    Key Words: You may use these for Review or SEARCH items:
  • Great Red Spot
  • Zones and Belts
  • Galilean Satellites
  • Roche Limit
  • Shepard Satellites
  • Cassini's Division
  • Titan
  • Great Dark Spot

    • Lab#4 You will be assigned a specific laboratory activity that is consistent with the weather and where you are in the objectives. Check with your instructor before you forge ahead.

    Outside:

     
  • Orientation to Night Sky and Observatory
  • You'll have to look for these sights yourself: On March 2the Moon will be NEW at 08:35 CST. How soon after the New Phase can you begin to see a sliver of a waxing crescent?
  • Constellations/Asterisms
    •  
  • Ursa Major/Big Dipper
  • Casseopieia
  • Perseus and Algol, the Demon Star
  • Taurus
  • Orion
  • Nebulae-
    •  
  • M45
  • M42
    • Inside: Nah! Never mind - It will be clear!! I ordered good weather! Dress warm! Bring binoculars, flashlights.

     

     

    Tues Mar 11th

     

    Other Members: Meteors, Comets , Asteroids , Pluto and Kuiper Belt Objects (KBOs)

     

     
  •  
  • Asteroids
  • Comets
  • Meteorites
    • Other Members: Meteors, Comets & Asteroids

     

    Textbook:
     
      1.  Chapter Ten : Meteors, Asteroids, and Comets, Sections 10.1 - 10.4,  pg 301 - 320
                      Test Yourself Questions, pg 321, 1 - 5

     

    Objectives: You should be able to:

     
  • Describe the orbital properties of asteroids
  • List features of typical asteroids in the asteroid belt
  • Discuss the probablity of a collision of an asteroid with the Earth
  • Describe a probable scenario of the demise of the dinosaurs
  • Explain the origin of and probably location of comets
  • Describe the structure and composition of a comet
  • Distinguish between meteors, meteorites and meteoroids

  • Everything you wanted to know about observing meteors.

  • Summarize the features of Pluto and Charon that make the system different from the other planets.
  • Suggest possible origins of Pluto
    • Key Words: You may use these for Review or SEARCH items:
     
  • Ida and Dactyl
  • Coma
  • Nucleus
  • Ion Tail
  • Dust Tail
  • Halley's Comet

    • Tuesday,  March 13th

    Exam (Opportunity to Excel, of course!!)
     
    Covers Units on the Solar System

        This exam will be conducted on the Internet. You will be able to take it from anywhere you have access to the WWW, even the beach! Your instructor has already assigned your ID and password to you. Do not forget this or you will not be able to take the exam. The exam is stored at:   http://eclipse.stkate.edu Do NOT try to start the exam without allotting enough time to take it completely. There are 50 questions. If you take one minute per question, it will take the better part of an hour to complete. Some people can complete it in less time. You cannot do part of it and come back later. The exam is closed book, closed notes, closed search engines, etc. You are on your honor to take this independently.

    When you access blackboard.com you will find a "STUDENT" box located in the upper right hand quandrant of the page. From here you can "search" for our course. It is titled PHYS104. If you type this in, it will take you to a link to the course. You here indicate that you are a student enrolled in this course. (No other people may access our exams but our class.) You will be asked for your USER Name and Password.Once you are logged in it will lead you to a page with a lot of buttons on the left hand side. Select the one called "ASSIGNMENTS" When you do, a folder labeled "QUIZZES" will appear on the screen. When you click on the word QUIZZES the option of taking Astro Test 2 will appear. This is our second exam. Take the exam, selecting the Best answer. Some of the misleads may not be totally wrong, but may not be the BEST answer. You can go back and change your answers. When you are satisfied with your test, SUBMIT the exam. It will grade and give you immediate feedback. You will not be able to retake the exam. Plan enough time for the exam.

     

     

     

     

    Lab#6 You will be assigned a specific laboratory activity that is consistent with the weather and where you are in the objectives. Check with your instructor before you forge ahead.

    Outside:

     
  • Orientation to Night Sky and Observatory
  • Venus is moving lower and lower in the morning sky. It is getting dimmer as well, heading closer to the Sun. Now it is less than 1/2o from Neptune. This is one way to find Neptune.
  • Constellations/Asterisms
    •  
  • Ursa Major/Big Dipper
  • Casseopieia
  • Perseus and Algol, the Demon Star
  • Taurus
  • Orion
  • Nebulae-
    •  
  • M45
  • M42

    • Inside: Nah! Never mind - It will be clear!! I ordered good weather! Dress warm! Bring binoculars, flashlights.

     

      Everybody's Irish for a day!

    March 17- March 26

    Physics Holiday! No Class! (Hah! Actually, It's SPRING BREAK)
    Are we having fun yet !!! 
     
     

     


    Come on back, ready to study the nature of stars, their structure and evolution.

    Tuesday,  March 20th, 2008 at 05.48 (CDT)

    http://www.equinox-and-solstice.com/html/vernal_equinox.html

    Today  we have the occurence of the Vernal Equinox. Far from being an arbitrary indicator of the changing seasons, March 20 (March 21 in some years) is significant for astronomical reasons. OAt this time, the Sun will cross directly over the Earth's equator. This moment is known as the vernal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere. For the Southern Hemisphere, this is the moment of the autumnal equinox.The Sun is actually in Pisces (as seen from the Earth - remember, it is the Earth that is moving, not the Sun) as it moves to this point.The Astronomical Definition is well known. Have you ever heard of trying to stand an egg on end during the equinox? What a cool weekend activity. Naaah! The position of the equinox has changed over the millennia with respect to the fixed stars. The vernal equinox which is both a time and a direction in space is called the first point of Aries. Find out why it is in Pisces now and when last it was in Aries. Noruz is the oldest continuously celebrated human holiday. The Vernal equinox was in Taurus when this celebration began 5,000 years ago. Find out when we will really enter the age of Aquarius.

    Friday, March 21st  is Good Friday


    Sunday , March 23rd is Easter Sunday
    Since the date of Easter (East comes from the Greek anatole' meaning "the place of the risings") is defined astronomically, you should be able to explain how the date of Easter is determined.