Take Home Test

Answer TWO questions from each unit.  Each question is worth 10 points.  Share your answers with me as a shared GOOGLE DOC.  If you require an oral accommodation for this test, please let me know.

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 and for the development of elements?

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.

Last thoughts on Expanded Universe

Read and Discuss

http://hubblesite.org/hubble_discoveries/hubble_deep_field/

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/%E2%80%8Chbase/astro/hubble.html

http://skyserver.sdss.org/dr1/en/astro/universe/universe.asp

Friday, 10/11/13

Please read through the ppt.

Make summary statements on the following:

1.  What do you 'get' about general relativity?
2.  Why does 'special relativity' matter in the study of light?
3.  How do we use Einstein's idea of gravitational lensing?
4.  How do we find new planets using light?
5.  Why is finding inhabitable planets so tough?
6.  What is the Big Bang?  How do Penzias and Wilson figure into it?
7.  What is the structure of the universe?
8.  How many generations of stars have lived and died?  How do we know?
9.  Do you believe there are aliens?  Why or why not?







Please do the exercises found here
http://spiff.rit.edu/classes/phys230/lectures/planets/Lens_Nav.swf

Unit 4 Notes

Einstein quiz

http://www.astrophysicsspectator.com/topics/generalrelativity/GravitationalLensPointSim.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Einstein_ring

Understanding HR stars

Complete questions 1,-5 and  11-14 of http://astro.unl.edu/naap/hr/naap_hr_sg.pdf

 TO do that please use this:   http://astro.unl.edu/classaction/animations/stellarprops/hrexplorer.html



Take a look at http://astro.unl.edu/naap/hr/hr_background1.html to help you understand the value of spectra, and black body curves.  Write a one paragraph summary.

Explain what luminosity is for a star:  http://astro.unl.edu/naap/hr/hr_background2.html

Why is the instability strip important?   http://astro.unl.edu/naap/hr/hr_background3.html

Take Home Test

1.  Based on what we have learned about telescopes, tell me if the James Webb telescope should be built, and if it can replace the work done by Wilson observatory and Chandra and one other telescope of your choosing that we studied.  DO NOT copy your logic from other, as I can tell. Explain your reasoning.

2. Describe the contributions of Annie Jump Cannon to astronomy in terms of spectra, stellar analysis, and the value of patterns.  Also comment on why you believe that astronomers historically recognized in science (that we have studied thus far) have been mostly white males, and why.  For the second part, you may wish to reference
 http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/06/magazine/why-are-there-still-so-few-women-in-science.html?hp&_r=1& or
 http://www.sdsc.edu/ScienceWomen/cannon.html

3.  The story of neutrinos tells us  a lot about the process of scientific discovery, which includes success, disappointments, experiment tweaking, and collaboration.   Tell me why neutrinos matter to our world, how neutrino oscillation almost defeated Ray Davis, and how neutrinos are produced in fusion.

4. We have spoken a lot about light as a tool in the study of stars.  Explain how four different types of wavelengths have impacted what we have discovered in our universe, including dust clouds, galaxies, coronal mass explosions, and communication with satellites or space probes.

Unit 4: HR Diagrams and Galaxies

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?

Technology and Telescopes

You will have a presentation to do that examines the evidence for three claims that you make regarding these problem statement:

1. Why do we need telescopes?
2. How many do we need them?
3. Where do we need to put them?

Support your work with evidence that you have gathered in your notes.  You will create a presentation to support your work.

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Review Sheet 3

Telescopes and What They Find

http://www.kidsastronomy.com/telescopesB.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telescope