Start each question on a new page. It allows me to make comments and generally keeps me in a better mood. Write legibly. Explain what ideas you are using and what you are trying to do. There are 6 questions. No whining. I hate whining. Good luck.
(1) What is the Schwarzschild Metric? Explain its mathematical content. If you remember the approximate mathematical form, write it down and talk about the significance of the various terms.
(2) Define what is meant by the term interval in General Relativity. Explain the concept of the light cone. What is the significance of the light cone?
(3) Write down the expression for the effective potential acting on a mass 
in a close binary star system with stars of mass 
and 
. Even if you don't immediately remember this expression, you should be able to ``scope it out''.
(4) What is the argument as to why the temperature of an accretion disk is higher closer to the primary than it is further out?
(5) We speak of ``tidal disruption'' as a process in which tides can pull an object apart. Explain what properties of tidal stresses can cause this disruption.
(6) In class, we discussed a theory for the retention of planetary atmospheres. In the case of Mars, this analysis indicates that Mars should have completely retained a CO
atmosphere over the 4.5 Gyr history of the solar system. However, there is independent evidence that the atmosphere of Mars may have been much denser billions of years ago. What is a possible reconciliation of these two statements?