Pima College-West-Mechler AST 101 Homework & Test Dates

AST 105IN

Homework and Laboratory Due Dates and Test Dates

Homework or Test #

Points

Due Dates

Assignment 1

36
Mon, Jan 30

Assignment 2 – Foundational Assignment

35
Wed, Feb 08

Assignment 3

15
Wed, Feb 15

Test 1

100%
Wed, Feb 22

Assignment 4

21

Assignment 5

7

Test 2

100%

Assignment 6

27

Assignment 7

25

Assignment 8

30

Test 3

100%

Assignment 9

20

Assignment 10 17

Assignment 10 N (Not handed in - will have Answer Sheets linked up) on this "due" date

X

Assignment 11 N X

Test 4 Last class day. The end of class time on this day is the deadline for Assignment 12 and Outside Activity credit. Deadline means there is no later...

100%

Assignment 12

12

Lab Title

Points

Due Date

Surface Gravity Calculations Lab ( Click here for data table.)

15
Wed, Feb 01

Activity #1, "Is it Science?"

Skip the last request ("Explain why...") in Question 3 in Part C.

25
Wed, Feb 8

Activity #2, "The Universe is a Really Big Place"

Important Reminders for this Activity:

1) Remember to show calculation setups. Although for tables, you only need to show the first calculation setup.

2) Note the number of significant figures given in order to estimate how to round off your numerical answers. If you're not sure, ask me.

3) Numbers in decimal form whose absolute value is less than one must be written with a zero in front of the decimal point.

Note:

Part A, Q. 8: Draw circles as well as possible and to scale, Mars orbit relative to Venus's. Your perspective in drawing the orbits is looking straight down on them. Q. 9, 10, solve in AUs.

Part B, Q. 5, convert your answer in yards to inches as well. Q. 7, assume speed the same; calculate time to nearest year from the AU values for both orbits from Earth (not the sun).

Skip Part C in its entirety.

Part D, Q. 3, even tho you didn't work Q. 6 in Part C, all you need from it is Alpha Centauri's distance, expressed in AU and then compare that to the number of AU in a ly, given above.
Q. 5, the reference to "Q. 3" should read "Q. 4".
Q. 6, many are tricked by this. It will be a good idea to draw the situation.

34

Activity #8, "The Importance of Water for Life"

(Skip Questions 7-9 in Part B and Questions 1,2,4d-f, 7 in Part D.)

(Correction in Part D, Question 4c: It will be more realistic to make the range 0 to 30 ^oC. (32 ^oF to 86 ^oF) ALSO: I want to give you the hint that there are two solvents that fill the bill.

The last question is a summary question for the whole lab. It is worth a lot, point wise.
34

Activity #10, "Interstellar Real Estate: Defining the Habitable Zone"

Skip

Part B, Questions 1, 2.

Part C in its entirety

Hints

Part B, Question 6: Assume the life is complex and on the surface. Assess on the basis of four factors.

1) Look at the star's class. You can eliminate some planets immediately from consideration just from this consideration alone.

2) Look at the planet's mass. If over 10 Earth masses, forget about it, probably a Jovian-type planet.

3) Look at the planet's distance from the star and compare to Habital Zone. Is it in or out?

4) Look at the planet's surface gravity. Using that an the guidelines I gave relating surface gravity and Habitable Zone, assess the likelihood of this planet having an atmosphere, allowing for the chance of having oceans of liquid water. Be sure to briefly write down your reasoning for each planet.

Calculate surface gravities for:

the planets in the tables on page 111. Earth's is obvious and you may get these values from your Surface Gravity Lab activity calculations.

Also calculate surface gravity (relative to Earth's) for the hypothetical planets in the table on page 115.

Recall surface gravity relative to Earth = M/R² with M and R in units relative to Earth.

Use the surface gravity values when judging the habitality of planets ̶NOT the lab manual's masses and sizes separately.
You simply want to see a surface gravity of at least 0.5 g for distances in the outer half of the HZ and a surface gravity of at least 0.8 g for distances in the inner half of the HZ.
A table of HZ dimensions is given to you in class. If you work on this outside of class and do not have this table, just click here for it.

30

Activity #11, "Wobbling Stars: How Planets are Discovered"

Notes
Part A, Question 8 - Use observer perspective of Figs. 1 & 2, too.
Part B, Question 6 - Estimate times to nearest quarter year.

Skip
Part C, Questions 9-11 30 Tues, Nov 08

Activity #12, "The Rare Earth"

Skip

Part A, Q. 16

Part B, Q. 4,7,8

Part C, Q. 3,5

Hints

Part A, Q. 4: The first mention of the "stellar luminosity axis" should read "stellar mass axis"

xxxxxxxQ. 9: M_max goes here

xxxxxxxQ. 10: L_max goes here

Part B, Q. 2: "frequency" should read "wavelength"

xxxxxxxQ. 3: See me for help on this one.

Part C, Q. 1: "Graph 1" should read "Graph 2"

xxxxxxxQ. 4: again, "Graph 1" should read "Graph 2"

xxxxxxxQ. 8: ambiguous wording leads me to tell you that here xxxxxxxxxxxxyou just multiply your answer(s) to Q. 7 by 70%

32

Activity #4, "The Evolving Earth: Geologic and Biologic Time"

Skip

Part E, Q. 7,8

Notes

Part E, Q. 1: Must use 4,500 Ma, not 4,600 Ma as stated.

xxxxxx Q. 4: In filling out the time frame represented by each hour, note xxxxxxxxxxxxthat the next-to-the-last time frame represents 375 Ma ago.

xxxxxx Q. 6: Use 200,000 years for the time of Homo Sapiens.

35

Activity #13: "The Drake Equation"
Skip
Part B
Part C, Q. 2,6-8,11

Notes
Part A, Q. 1: ID the 50-m craters with circles, preferably not with pencil or black pen. Note that some craters are quite eroded.
25?

Activity #14: "Is There Anybody Out There?"

?

Homework or Test #	Points	Due Dates
Assignment 1	36	Mon, Jan 30
Assignment 2 – Foundational Assignment	35	Wed, Feb 08
Assignment 3	15	Wed, Feb 15
Test 1	100%	Wed, Feb 22
Assignment 4	21
Assignment 5	7
Test 2	100%
Assignment 6	27
Assignment 7	25
Assignment 8	30
Test 3	100%
Assignment 9	20
Assignment 10	17
Assignment 10 N (Not handed in - will have Answer Sheets linked up) on this "due" date	X
Assignment 11 N	X
Test 4 Last class day. The end of class time on this day is the deadline for Assignment 12 and Outside Activity credit. Deadline means there is no later...	100%
Assignment 12	12

Lab Title	Points	Due Date
Surface Gravity Calculations Lab ( Click here for data table.)	15	Wed, Feb 01
Activity #1, "Is it Science?" Skip the last request ("Explain why...") in Question 3 in Part C.	25	Wed, Feb 8
Activity #2, "The Universe is a Really Big Place" Important Reminders for this Activity: 1) Remember to show calculation setups. Although for tables, you only need to show the first calculation setup. 2) Note the number of significant figures given in order to estimate how to round off your numerical answers. If you're not sure, ask me. 3) Numbers in decimal form whose absolute value is less than one must be written with a zero in front of the decimal point. Note: Part A, Q. 8: Draw circles as well as possible and to scale, Mars orbit relative to Venus's. Your perspective in drawing the orbits is looking straight down on them. Q. 9, 10, solve in AUs. Part B, Q. 5, convert your answer in yards to inches as well. Q. 7, assume speed the same; calculate time to nearest year from the AU values for both orbits from Earth (not the sun). Skip Part C in its entirety. Part D, Q. 3, even tho you didn't work Q. 6 in Part C, all you need from it is Alpha Centauri's distance, expressed in AU and then compare that to the number of AU in a ly, given above. Q. 5, the reference to "Q. 3" should read "Q. 4". Q. 6, many are tricked by this. It will be a good idea to draw the situation.	34
Activity #8, "The Importance of Water for Life" (Skip Questions 7-9 in Part B and Questions 1,2,4d-f, 7 in Part D.) (Correction in Part D, Question 4c: It will be more realistic to make the range 0 to 30 ^oC. (32 ^oF to 86 ^oF) ALSO: I want to give you the hint that there are two solvents that fill the bill. The last question is a summary question for the whole lab. It is worth a lot, point wise.	34
Activity #10, "Interstellar Real Estate: Defining the Habitable Zone" Skip Part B, Questions 1, 2. Part C in its entirety Hints Part B, Question 6: Assume the life is complex and on the surface. Assess on the basis of four factors. 1) Look at the star's class. You can eliminate some planets immediately from consideration just from this consideration alone. 2) Look at the planet's mass. If over 10 Earth masses, forget about it, probably a Jovian-type planet. 3) Look at the planet's distance from the star and compare to Habital Zone. Is it in or out? 4) Look at the planet's surface gravity. Using that an the guidelines I gave relating surface gravity and Habitable Zone, assess the likelihood of this planet having an atmosphere, allowing for the chance of having oceans of liquid water. Be sure to briefly write down your reasoning for each planet. Calculate surface gravities for: the planets in the tables on page 111. Earth's is obvious and you may get these values from your Surface Gravity Lab activity calculations. Also calculate surface gravity (relative to Earth's) for the hypothetical planets in the table on page 115. Recall surface gravity relative to Earth = M/R² with M and R in units relative to Earth. Use the surface gravity values when judging the habitality of planets ̶NOT the lab manual's masses and sizes separately. You simply want to see a surface gravity of at least 0.5 g for distances in the outer half of the HZ and a surface gravity of at least 0.8 g for distances in the inner half of the HZ. A table of HZ dimensions is given to you in class. If you work on this outside of class and do not have this table, just click here for it.	30
Activity #11, "Wobbling Stars: How Planets are Discovered" Notes Part A, Question 8 - Use observer perspective of Figs. 1 & 2, too. Part B, Question 6 - Estimate times to nearest quarter year. Skip Part C, Questions 9-11	30	Tues, Nov 08
Activity #12, "The Rare Earth" Skip Part A, Q. 16 Part B, Q. 4,7,8 Part C, Q. 3,5 Hints Part A, Q. 4: The first mention of the "stellar luminosity axis" should read "stellar mass axis" xxxxxxxQ. 9: M_max goes here xxxxxxxQ. 10: L_max goes here Part B, Q. 2: "frequency" should read "wavelength" xxxxxxxQ. 3: See me for help on this one. Part C, Q. 1: "Graph 1" should read "Graph 2" xxxxxxxQ. 4: again, "Graph 1" should read "Graph 2" xxxxxxxQ. 8: ambiguous wording leads me to tell you that here xxxxxxxxxxxxyou just multiply your answer(s) to Q. 7 by 70%	32
Activity #4, "The Evolving Earth: Geologic and Biologic Time" Skip Part E, Q. 7,8 Notes Part E, Q. 1: Must use 4,500 Ma, not 4,600 Ma as stated. xxxxxx Q. 4: In filling out the time frame represented by each hour, note xxxxxxxxxxxxthat the next-to-the-last time frame represents 375 Ma ago. xxxxxx Q. 6: Use 200,000 years for the time of Homo Sapiens.	35
Activity #13: "The Drake Equation" Skip Part B Part C, Q. 2,6-8,11 Notes Part A, Q. 1: ID the 50-m craters with circles, preferably not with pencil or black pen. Note that some craters are quite eroded.	25?
Activity #14: "Is There Anybody Out There?"	?