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1. Why is life like on Earth so rare in our universe? -life needs habitable conditions -we havent been able to examine very many other planets 2. How is Earth so special among other solar bodies? -it supports life!

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3. How is Earth well-suited for the study of astronomy? -our atmosphere is transparent so we can see out -our location in the Milky Way-our view of other galaxies & the rest of the Universe isnt obstructed by the stars in our own galaxy

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4. How do changes in technology and society lead to new and better discoveries? -better technology=better tools for looking at the Universe and taking measurements

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CORIOLIS EFFECTGREENHOUSE EFFECT T he rotation of the planet pushes the air sideways-affects global wind patterns The greenhouse gases absorb heat, then re-emit it in all directions, warming the atmosphere nd land

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ACCRETION The gathering of planetesimals (little planets) and the accumulation of gases in the solar nebula.

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PLANETISMAL PROTOPLANETARY DISC

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NEBULAR THEORY NEBULA the most widely accepted model explaining the formation and evolution of the Solar System an interstellar cloud of dust, hydrogen, helium and other ionized gases.

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PROTOSTARPROTOSUN A contracting mass of gas that represents an early stage in the formation of a star, before nuclear fusion has begun. The gaseous cloud that condensed to form our Sun

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OUTGASSING T he outpouring of gases from the earth's interior

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The Sun and all the objects that orbit it.

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The theory that explains the origin of the Universe.

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Thermal escape-a molecule moves fast enough to escape gravity Bombardment Atmospheric cratering Condensation Chemical reactions

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SIMILARITIES: Sun warms the atmosphere at the equator and creates convection cells Clouds are always present Clouds contain water Rain forms and falls DIFFERENCES: On Venus- Clouds contain Sulfuric acid mixed with the water(both of these are replenished by volcanic eruptions) Rain that falls evaporates long before it hits the ground

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The theory of how the universe was formed Timeline: Universe began as an infinitesimally small point of incredibly hot, dense matter/energy Exploded-a sudden dramatic expansion Matter out numbered antimatter Subatomic particles formed, then elements began to form-this took between 500,000 years for atoms to start creating elements Then 1 billion years to start forming stars/planets. Happened 13.7 billions years ago

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One of the most important is the Cosmic Microwave background Scientists predicted it, then were able to measure it with the COBE (Cosmic background explorer) satellite Satellite was a big success for Big Band theorists- there is some radiation left over from the Big Bang and was as scientists predicted.

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Earth & Venus

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The smallest terrestrial planet Made of: helium, sodium, oxygen No weather-theres not enough atmosphere!

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Made of: mostly Carbon dioxide (96%) and a little Nitrogen (3.5%) Weather-slow winds with no big storms and lots of acid rain from sulfuric acid clouds, but the rain never reaches the ground-it evaporates quickly No seasons because it isnt tilted relative to the Sun Rotates slowly

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Made of: mostly Nitrogen (77%) lots of Oxygen (21%), argon, water vapor, and other trace elements Wind over the whole planet-global wind patterns, storms, hurricanes Movement of winds affected by: Heating of the atmosphere Coriolis effect Clouds made of water vapor Lots of precipitation

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Thin atmosphere, created by bombardment Gravity affects the Earth Creates tides Helps stabilize us in our orbit

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Thin atmosphere Made of: mostly Carbon dioxide (95%), Nitrogen (2.7%) and Argon (1.6%) Weather-some wind and dust storms, but there is very little pressure and the atmosphere is very thin

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Largest planet in the solar system Magnetic field that protects its moons and extends all the way to Saturn Gaseous planet, formed by gas accretion