Physics 1513, Astronomy 1
Final Examination - Summary

Important Principles and Information

This test will cover material in Chapters 1 through Chapter 15. However, since you have been tested on Chapters 1 through 6 in the mid-term test, the emphasis on this test will be on the Chapters 7 through 15. These later chapters are much more descriptive than the earlier ones. But much of the physics learned in the first few lessons are needed to understand the features of the planets.

Below in a list of the more important principles and information in Chapters 7 through 15. Read the list for the mid-term test in addition to this one. Re-reading the Summaries at the ends of Chapters 1 through 15 for the Final Exam is a good way to review.

Know:

1. The origin of the tidal force
2. The qualitative effect of the Moon and Sun on the tides in the oceans of the Earth
3. The make-up of the interior of the Earth (layers and material contained)
4. The method of learning of the nature of the Earth's interior
5. The structure and circulation of the atmosphere
6. Why the sky is blue during the daytime
7. The character and effects of the Earth's magnetosphere
   (solar winds, particles, aurora, etc)
8. Radioactive Decay of heavy elements and determination of the age of rocks
9. Effects of tectonic activity on the Earth's surface
10. Relationships of mountains, volcanoes, oceans to tectonic activity
11. How craters are formed on the Moon and Mercury
12. Why Mercury has a rotational period commensurate with its period of revolution around the Sun
13. Why only one side of the Moon is seen from the Earth
14. Why Mercury is difficult to observe from Earth
15. The relative sizes of the various parts of the interiors of Moon, Mercury and Earth
16. How to estimate the relative ages of craters
17. The origins of the maria on the Moon
18. The origins of the ringed structures on Mercury
19. The accepted theory on the origin of the Moon
20. How Venus' Rotation is different and commensurate with its synodic period
21. What Venus looks like in the sky and where to look for it.
22. What is the atmosphere of Venus like (temperature, density and constituents)
23. What kind of surface has been mapped on Venus and how it was mapped.
24. The general types of features on Venus
25. The formation, changes and history of Venus's Surface
26. The cause of 'favorable' versus 'unfavorable' oppositions of Mars
27. What Mars' atmosphere is like (temperature, density, and composition)
28. Some of the prominent features on Mars (Olympus Mons, Valles Marinaris, etc)
29. How life was determined not to exist on Mars
30. Why the polar caps change with the seasons on Mars
31. The theory of the history of Mars's surface (water on Mars)
32. The general character of the satellites of Mars
33. The rotation rate, interal constituents, and shape of Jupiter
34. Why there are different colored clouds on Jupiter
35. The circulation of Jupiter's atmosphere and temperature at the top of the clouds
36. The type of material in the core of Jupiter and connection with its huge magnetosphere
37. The interaction of the magnetosphere with the solar winds and nearby satellites
38. A general discription of the larger satellites of Jupiter
39. The difference between groups of smaller satellites of Jupiter
40. The theory of the volcanoes on Io.
41. The differences of surface features on the Galilean satellites
42. The relative difference between Saturn and Jupiter as giant planets
    (atmosphere, size and density, shape, temperature and emission of radiation)
43. The circulation and features of Saturn's atmosphere
44. General type of the rings of Saturn and their constituents
45. What the rings look like from Earth and how their appearance
    change with relative position of Saturn and the Earth
46. What is the expected origin of the rings
47. How orbital resonances with nearby satellite produce narrow rings and ring gaps
48. Compare the satellites of Saturn with those of Jupiter
49. Describe the atmosphere of Titan and its existence
50. Some of the interesting features on some of the satellites of Saturn
51. Who discovered Uranus, the first planet discovered with a telescope
52. How did the existance of Uranus help in the discovery of Neptune
53. Compare relative sizes and make-up of Uranus and Nepture with Jupiter-Saturn
54. Atmospheres of Uranus and Neptune (winds, relative abundances of H₂ and He)
55. What the rings are like on Uranus and Nepturne
    How were the ones on Uranus first discovered
56. Compare the temperatures and atmospheres of Uranus and Nepture and
    with Jupiter and Saturn
57. General types of satellites around Uranus compared with those around Neptune
58. What is unique about Triton and Miranda
59. The history of the discovery of Pluto
60. What is the general size and rotation of Pluto - of Charon
61. Compare the nature of Pluto with the other outer planets versus
    the satellite Triton and the asteroids
62. The distribution of minor planets in the solar system
    (inner, outer, and middle solar system)
63. The size and composition of asteroids
64. How are comets different from asteroids
65. Orbits of comets
66. What the effects of the planet motions are on the asteroid motions (Kirkwood Gaps)
67. The features of comets near the Sun and their constituents
68. Origin of comets
69. The features of Comet Shoemaker-Levy and its impact with Jupiter
70. The origin of meteor showers
71. The time of prominent meteor shower (Why the Leonids might be numberous)
72. How to watch meteor showers (direction in sky, time of day, character)
73. Types and composition of meterites found and where are they found
74. Identify the differences and similarities of different objects of the Solar System
75. Contraction theory of the planetary nebula
76. Conservation of angular momentum and rotation of solar system
77. Role of gas and dust in the formation of planets and satellites
78. The effect of heat on the differentiation of materials in the solar system
79. Effect of catastrophic collision on certain properties of objects

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