Astronomy 10: concept list for Final Exam, Chapters 16-20


solar nebula theory - evolutionary in nature, evidence for it

role of catastrophic events in formation of solar system

terrestrial planets (MVEM), Jovian/gas giant planets (JSUN), and Pluto - know basic characteristics (comparative planetology)

terrestrial - core/mantle/atmosphere

Jovian - core/liquid metallic hydrogen/liquid hydrogen/atmosphere

asteroids vs. comets vs. meteoroids

meterooids vs. meteors vs. meteorites

dirty snowball model of comets - Type I vs. Type II tails

age of Solar System and how we use radioactive dating to get it

planetesimals, condensation, accretion -> protoplanets

differentiation, outgassing, heat of formation

clearing of the solar nebula

4 stages of planetary development

structure of Earth, P & S waves

plate tectonics

changes in Earth's atmosphere, Greenhouse effect

Moon - maria vs. highlands

4 hypotheses for origin of moon and why large-impact hypothesis is favored

Galilean moons - Io (active), Europa (water?), Ganymede, Callisto

Ring separations of Saturn from shepherd satellites and gravitational resonance

Oort cloud vs. Kuiper belt

Why asteroids & comets are cleanest remnants of solar nebula

physical basis for life - information

Rough history of life on Earth

Life zone of a star

Problems with the Drake equation

Be able to use all formulas but concentrate on Newton's law of gravity and Kepler's third law since they relate to the solar system

Memorize speed of light, volume and surface area of a sphere, density = mass/volume, and density of water =1 g/cm^3


Back to Astronomy 10 main page.