Physics 9 The Solar System with Prof. D. Tytler September 2000

 

Homework 2, due Oct 12 in class

 

We encourage you to work together, to discuss the topics and solutions, but your answers must use all of your own words, calculations and diagrams.

 

You must not hand in work copied from someone else.

Please write down the code numbers of all in your study group.

 

These questions review topics from chapters 2 and 3.

 

  1. List the following in order of increasing size (indicate those with similar sizes): isotope, neutron, molecule, proton, atom, ion, element, electron, ion.
  2. An atom of an element can be changed into another element by adding or removing which particle?
  3. Which particle can be added or removed to change the isotope, without changing the element?
  4. Which particle is associated with the creation (and destruction) of light?
  5. How do we measure the chemical compositions of (the relative abundances of the elements in) stars?
  6. How long does it take for the sun to spin once?
  7. How might we measure the distance to the moon?
  8. What is the likely chemical composition of a planet with a density of 1 g/cubic cm?
  9. Why do small planets and moons have little or no hydrogen in their atmospheres?
  10. What is the luminosity of our moon?