Why is the expansion of the universe not measurable inside a classroom?
Why is the expansion of the universe not measurable inside a classroom?
The Sun moves in a roughly circular orbit around the center of our galaxy (Milky Way), at a distance of 26, 500 light-years. The orbital speed is ~ 230 km/s. Calculate the Sun's total orbital period and estimate the mass of the galaxy?
According to Stefan's law, how much energy is radiated into space per unit time by each square meter of the Sun's surface? If the Sun's radius is 700,000 km, what is the total power output of the Sun?
Comparing the energy of a gamma ray to a radio photon.
What is the energy (in Joules) of a 450-nm blue photon? How many times more energy does a 0.0001-nm gamma ray have than a 10-MHz radio photon?
Calculating Venus's diameter given the distance from Earth and its angular size.
Given that the angular size of Venus is 53" when the planet is 44 million km from Earth, calculate Venus's diameter (in kilometers).
Calculating the aphelion distance of Halley's comet from the sun.
Halley's comet has a perihelion distance of 0.6 A.U. and an orbital period of 76 years. What is its aphelion distance from the Sun?
Moon and its seismic activity in comparison to Earth.
In view of the preservation of ancient craters and the lack of folded mountain ranges on the Moon, would you predict the Moon to have more or less seismic activity than the Earth? Why?
Comparing the ages of the Earth and Moon.
If the ages of the Earth and Moon are nearly identical, as believed, why are most rocks found on the Moon so much older than earth rocks?
Understanding why carbon dioxide is a major constituent of the atmosphere of Venus.
Venus and Earth are about the same size and mass, and degassing volcanoes on each probably produced both CO2 and H20 gas. Why is CO2 a major constituent of the atmosphere only on Venus, while H20 is not a major constituent of the atmosphere on either planet? (Please cite all references and supply urls)
Two large planets have the same size and mass but different orbits. a. Which would you expect to have more hydrogen? Why? b. If they have had different amounts of volcanism, which would you expect to have more carbon dioxide? Why?
