lecture ch 06 [compatibility mode] ast 201

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Chapter 6 The Solar System

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Page 1: Lecture Ch 06 [Compatibility Mode] Ast 201

Chapter 6

The Solar Systemy

Page 2: Lecture Ch 06 [Compatibility Mode] Ast 201

Units of Chapter 6

An Inventory of the Solar System

Planetary Properties

Computing Planetary Properties

The Overall Layout of the Solar System

Terrestrial and Jovian PlanetsTerrestrial and Jovian Planets

Interplanetary DebrisInterplanetary Debris

Page 3: Lecture Ch 06 [Compatibility Mode] Ast 201

Units of Chapter 6, cont.

Spacecraft Exploration of the Solar System

Gravitational “Slingshots”g

How Did the Solar System Form?Th C t f A l M tThe Concept of Angular Momentum

Page 4: Lecture Ch 06 [Compatibility Mode] Ast 201

6.1 An Inventory of the Solar System

Earl astronomers kne Moon stars Merc rEarly astronomers knew Moon, stars, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, comets, and meteorsmeteors

Now known: Solar system has 135 moons, one star nine planets (added Uranus Neptune andstar, nine planets (added Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto), asteroids, comets, and meteoroids

Page 5: Lecture Ch 06 [Compatibility Mode] Ast 201

6.2 Planetary Properties

Page 6: Lecture Ch 06 [Compatibility Mode] Ast 201

6.2 Planetary Properties

• Distance from Sun known by Kepler’s laws

• Orbital period can be observed

Radius known from angular size• Radius known from angular size

• Masses from Newton’s laws

• Rotation period from observations

• Density can be calculated knowing radius and• Density can be calculated knowing radius and mass

Page 7: Lecture Ch 06 [Compatibility Mode] Ast 201

6.4 Terrestrial and Jovian Planets

Terrestrial planets:

Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars

Jovian planets:

Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus,Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune

Pluto is neitherPluto is neither

Page 8: Lecture Ch 06 [Compatibility Mode] Ast 201

6.4 Terrestrial and Jovian PlanetsDifferences between the terrestrial planets:Differences between the terrestrial planets:

• Atmospheres and surface conditions are very di i ildissimilar

• Only Earth has oxygen in atmosphere and liquid water on surfacewater on surface

• Earth and Mars rotate at about the same rate; Venus and Mercury are much slower and Venus rotates in theand Mercury are much slower, and Venus rotates in the opposite direction

• Earth and Mars have moons; Mercury and VenusEarth and Mars have moons; Mercury and Venus don’t

• Earth and Mercury have magnetic fields; Venus and y g ;Mars don’t

Page 9: Lecture Ch 06 [Compatibility Mode] Ast 201

6.6 Spacecraft Exploration of the Solar Systemy

Sojourner was deployed on Mars in 1997:

Page 10: Lecture Ch 06 [Compatibility Mode] Ast 201

6.7 How Did the Solar System Form?N b l iNebular contraction:

Cloud of gas and dust contracts due to gravity; conservation of angular momentum means it spins faster and faster as it contracts

Page 11: Lecture Ch 06 [Compatibility Mode] Ast 201

6.7 How Did the Solar System Form?

Condensation theory:yInterstellar dust grains

help cool cloud, and act as condensation nuclei

Page 12: Lecture Ch 06 [Compatibility Mode] Ast 201

Summary of Chapter 6

• Solar system consists of Sun and everything orbiting it

• Asteroids are rocky, and most orbit between orbits of Mars and Jupiterp

• Comets are icy, and are believed to have formed early in the solar system’s lifeformed early in the solar system s life

• Major planets orbit Sun in same sense, and all but Venus rotate in that sense as wellbut Venus rotate in that sense as well

• Planetary orbits lie almost in the same plane

Page 13: Lecture Ch 06 [Compatibility Mode] Ast 201

Summary of Chapter 6, cont.

• Four inner planets – terrestrial planets – are rocky, small, and densey

• Four outer planets – jovian planets – (omitting Pluto) are gaseous and largePluto) are gaseous and large

• Nebular theory of solar system formation: cloud of gas and dust gradually collapsed undercloud of gas and dust gradually collapsed under its own gravity, spinning faster as it shrank

C d ti th d t i t d• Condensation theory says dust grains acted as condensation nuclei, beginning formation of larger objectslarger objects