Chapter 6- Birth and Evolution of Planetary Systems

Question 1

Interstellar medium

Answer 1

Gas and dust between the stars

Question 2

Nebulae

Answer 2

Vast clouds of gas and dust- stars are formed within nebulae. Equilibrium between gravitational attraction (trying to collapse the cloud) and gas pressure (trying to expand the cloud)

Question 3

Kelvin- Helmholtz contraction

Answer 3

Gravitational potential energy is converted into kinetic energy. Heat is kinetic energy on a molecular scale.

Question 4

Conservation laws in collapse:

Answer 4

Collapsing cloud heats up (Kelvin Helmholtz contraction)

Conservation of angular momentum (spinning and flattening)

Question 5

Accretion

Answer 5

dust grains>chunks>planetesimals>protoplanets>terrestrial planets

Question 6

Nice Model

Answer 6

Gas planets formed closer in where there was more material and migrated outward

Question 7

Techniques for observing extraterrestrial planets

Answer 7

Spectroscopy- radial velocity method
Transit method
Kepler spacecraft
Microlensing
Direct observation