29:52 Homework Set #3

Assigned:  March 1, 2004

Due: March 10, 2004

 

Confused? Don’t go around miserable and despondent! Ask for help and explanation from me. Even better, work on these problems with one or two of your classmates.

 

 

  1. A spacecraft visits the planet Agrippina,  which has not previously had detailed observations of its surface.  The spacecraft returns the picture shown below.  Given what we have discussed in this class, what can you say about the geological history of this object?  . 

 

  1. Scientists interested in the origin of life on Earth would dearly love to get their hands on some Earth rocks from the first 500 million to one billion years after the formation of the solar system,  to see if such rocks hold any hints.  The problem is that all such rocks have vanished due to the tectonic activity of the Earth.  Recently,  the very clever suggestion has been made by John Armstrong of the University of Washington (U of I graduate)  that Earth rocks blown off the Earth in the age of bombardment probably landed on the Moon (and Mars).  Assume you are in command of a mission to go to the Moon and search for such rocks.  What part of the Moon would you explore?   
  2. Let’s continue in the space commander mode.  Look at the Moon map linked to the lecture on February 16.  If you could choose to land a spacecraft anywhere on the Moon,  where would you choose, and for what scientific reasons?  Use terms and concepts developed in class.
  3. This question is about the End-Permian Extinction Event.  Assume that you are describing this extinction event to a friend,  and you mention that a cosmic impact might have caused this extinction.  Your friend asks what sort of evidence might one  look for to prove (or disprove) this suggestion.  What do you say?  I only require that you use ideas, terms, and results developed in class,  but use of other sources would be great. 
  4. Find a picture of a Martian Valley Network Channel,  either in the textbook or online.  Compare it in size to rivers here in Iowa or the Midwest.  I only want an approximate analysis, but be sure to describe what you are doing. 
  5. Below is a picture of Mars showing Valles Marineris (the big, ugly crack in Mars).  Estimate its length and width. 

 

 

7.  The solar elongation of Venus,  or angle on the sky between the Sun and Venus is presently about 45 degrees.  Using this number, and data from the book,  calculate how far away Venus is from Earth.  You may use a graphical method by making an accurate diagram and making measurements from this diagram.  You will see that there are two possible distances;  Venus is currently at the closer of the two.