Final Take Home Test (due Sunday, 10/21)

You must complete at least one question from each unit.   9/16 total questions must be answered, with most answers taking 1-2 paragraphs.  Each question is worth 15 points.

Submit to me as a shared Google Doc from a Google Drive folder.

UNIT 1

1.  Comment on the evolution of astrology to astronomy over the past 2000 years, using evidence from at least three astronomers.

2.  Explain the significance of the Zodiac, the 88 accepted constellations, and the polar stars to helping us in understanding of Earth's place in the universe.

UNIT 2

3. Why are the phases of the moon a type of time clock?  Give three examples of how this could benefit you in the wilderness if the moon wasn't new and wasn't full.

4. Why bother to study other planets in our solar system and beyond?

5. How does our Sun function and create energy for us to live?  What ramifications does that have for Earth?

UNIT 3

6.  Why is Galileo's telescope and discoveries using it (the moon, the sun, and the moons of Jupiter) such a turning point for science, and what did he find with each discovery?

7.  What have large space telescopes (Chandra, Spitzer, Hubble, SOHO, GOES) told us, and what should be done about such telescopes in the future?

8.  What is the role of ground-based telescopes like SDSS and VLAO in the study of space?

UNIT 4

9.  Tell me about galaxies and their significance in the universe.

10.  What is the role of mass in the life cycles of stars.  Contrast at least two stars in your answer as evidence.

11. When a HR diagram is created of a neighborhood cluster of stars, what is it telling me about that region of space?

UNIT 5

12. How does the concept of spectral lines and red-shifting affectour understanding of planets, galaxies, and the universe as a whole?  Edwin Hubble must be included in your answer.

13. What is the likelihood of discovering alien life, based on our research towards finding new planets, our understanding of the Drake equation, and the interstellar missions we have undertaken?

14. Think of the contributions of Einstein:  E=mc^2, general relativity, special relativity, and the photoelectric effect, and suggest ways each has affect the study of astronomy.

UNIT 6

15. Space is honking big. So is the ability of human beings to understand it.  What critical thinking skills have you gained in this class to help you move forward in your future studies?

16.  Throughout this class, we have experienced the concept of science as a human endeavor, where fallible people do their best to help advance the cause of science, often with surprising benefits.  Skeptics still remain, and a manufactured conflict between some factions in religion and science remains.  What can you do about that as you move into your life as a literate science citizen.

10/16 How do we find new planets?

Please read slides 33-end of PowerPoint five, located a couple posts below.

At the end of this, summarize how we can find other planets.  Also explain to me why planets are dark matter and what the Goldilocks zone is.

Planets are being found all the time:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/10/121011-diamond-planet-space-solar-system-astronomy-science/

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,2120548,00.html

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,2106061,00.html

are just a few of the planets found.  But we need to ask, what exactly does it mean?  Is their life out there?  Do we know, or care?

The NOVA Origins video, hour 4, explains many of these quandries.   You may either watch the video or read the following/watch the interactives:

1. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/space/drake-equation.html
2. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/space/alien-life.html
3. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/space/seti-search-et.html
4. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/evolution/liquid-of-life.html
5. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/space/ever-find-et.html

When you get done, I want a 1 1/2 to 2 page summary telling me your thoughts about distance planets, alien life, and the possibility of us encountering the aliens in our lifetime, based upon the Drake equation and the distance between planets.   

Origins of the Big Bang

Universe Begins

Drake Equation

How were these concepts explored in HOUR 1 of Nova ORIGINS

10/10 Special Relatiivty

FYI:   http://www.spaceweather.com

The background

Tutorial 1

Tutorial 2

Tutorial 3

Tutorial 4

Tutorial 5

Tutorial 6

GO through each tutorial and then summarize in one or two paragraphs.

Each of these tutorials focuses on a specific concept.  When you get done, you should be able to explain
*the twin paradox
*simultaneity
*length dilation
*time dilation
*special relativity

Hand in the paragraphs and the definitions INDIVIDUALLY when you are finished.

http://what-if.xkcd.com/1/

10/9

Please read through this presentation.  As you do so, I want you to keep a list of questions you have.  Hand them in at the end of the hour.

Then, read this article on Einstein's theory of general relativity.   In it, you will find evidence of the first experiment, and where it took us from there.

Finally, watch this video on atomic clocks, which we depend on in our modern lives.

SDSS

Read the activity found here    (this should take 20 min)


Read the opening paragraph of the Wikipedia article on the Sloan Digital Survey.   (this should take 5 min)

Today, you will be doing a digital scavenger hunt with a partner.  The activity is found here. (this should take 50-60 min, so take your time with the reading)


Note:   the magnitudes are listed using 5 different filters-- u, g, r, i ,z    Each of the filters is tracking different wavelengths.  At this point, just write them down.

You will probably not get all 18 of the questions answered.   That's ok.   Do your best.

Galaxy Intro

How accurate is Eric Idle's song?  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galaxy_Song


Seeing Galaxies takes some practice, so going to here will be a good start.   It should take about 20 minutes to read through and see the galaxy types.

Next, go to the SDSS database, which took pictures for the first web site.   You will be learning about galaxies, and going through the first 2 exercises and the first 4 questions.  Take the time to collect the data on paper, and hand in what you have completed at the end of the hour.

4 Questions to Answer

Black holes:
http://www.seasky.org/celestial-objects/black-holes.html
http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/sciencetech/understanding-black-holes-universe/6800




Please answer 4 of the following questions.  Each answer should be at least 1/2 page long.  Illustrations, as appropriate, may be included.  Consider this a take-home test.

1.  Will there ever reach a point in astronomy where we can stop spending money on telescopes and NASA?  Consider the issues of space travel, human civilization, and distance and  life cycles of stars.  Provide at least 5 pieces of evidence, not just opinion, for your point of view.

2.  Why is Annie Cannon a revolutionary person in the study of stellar spectra, and is luminosity more closely related to magnitude or absolute magnitude?  What does the catalogue tell us about stars and the universe?

3.  How is the HR diagram related to the formation and life cycle of stars?  What does a HR diagram of a stellar cluster tell us about that area of space?

4.  Compare three end points of a star  (supernova, black hole, white dwarf, or neutron star) and tell me
how to recognize them, and why their original mass doomed them to their fate.

5.  What role does the balance between gravity and pressure play in the formation and life cycles of stars, and how does this affect the formation of elements in the periodic table?

Stellar Life Cycle

Questions to Consider
*what is the life cycle of our star?
*what is the HR diagram?
*what are characteristics of each of the stellar stages?
*how do gravity and pressure affect one another through the life cycle of a star? How does the balance change through each stage?
* What is the main sequence?
* How does the brightness of our star change over its lifetime?
* How does the temperature of our star change over its lifetime?


How is the work of Annie Cannon connected to this system?

Stellar Evolution by mass

The pieces

Stellar Chemistry

10/1 Astro Unit 4

Go to Stellarium and locate 15 stars from the circumpolar constellations. Make a list of

Star name

Constellation

Magnitude

Absolute Magnitude

Distance

Spectral Classification

Data Upload Link