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EXCOS 1X > The Solar System Part 2 > Flashcards

The Solar System Part 2 Flashcards

Lecture 5 - 7

1
Q

What does the moon preserve an early record of? (3 factors)

A
  • Geological evolution of a terrestrial planet
  • Inner Solar System Bombardment
  • Solar and Galactic environment throughout the last 4.5 billion years
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2
Q

What is the moon’s diameter?

A

3500km

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3
Q

What is the mass of the moon in comparison to the Earth?

A

0.01 times mass of the Earth

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4
Q

What is the surface gravity of the Moon?

A

0.167 Earth gravity

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5
Q

What is the surface temperature of the Moon?

A
  • 170 degrees to +130 degrees
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6
Q

What is the Albedo of the moon? (the light reflected in number form)

A

0.07

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7
Q

List the 4 Moon phases in order

A

New Moon, Waxing Crescent, Full Moon, Waning Crescent

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8
Q

How many days is the period of the Moon?

A

29.5 days

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9
Q

How many days is the orbit of the Moon?

A

27.3 days

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10
Q

(Perigee and Apogee) What apparent change takes place to the Moon when it is nearest and furthest away from the Earth?

A

It changes size

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11
Q

Why is the Moon locked to it’s orbit? (I.e. Why does the same side always face the Earth?)

A

Gravitional tidal resonance

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12
Q

How many rotations of axis does the Moon undergo per orbit around the Earth?

A

1

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13
Q

Why is it possible to see more than half of the Moon from Earth? What is this known as?

A
  • Because the Moon’s orbit is elliptical

- Known as Libration

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14
Q

What are Dark Plains of the Moon otherwise known as?

A

Maria

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15
Q

Name two types of impact craters that demonstrate the typical features of an impact crater

A

Copernicus and Tycho

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16
Q

Name three typical features of/and around a crater on the Moon

A
  • Central peak where the rock has rebounded
  • Material thrown out of crater is called ejecta
  • Rays of light coloured material which was part of the ejecta which has been thrown several kms away
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17
Q

Typically, what are the four stages of the formation of a crater?

A
  • A body strikes the surface of the moon
  • It buries itself below the surface
  • It then explodes and the crater is formed
  • The rocks in the centre rebound.
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18
Q

What do large impact from craters cause?

A

Fissures in the crust that allow lava to flow towards the surface

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19
Q

What does the far side of the Moon have more of than the near side? (2 factors)

A
  • More mountains

- Much more heavily cratered

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20
Q

Why is the far side of the moon more cratered?

A

It does not have the Earth in the way to block comets

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21
Q

In the interior of the Moon, what does the low density of the Moon rule out?

A

Iron core more than a few hundred km in diameter

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22
Q

How deep is the Moon’s crust on the side facing Earth?

A

60-100km deep

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23
Q

As the Moon cooled rapidly and is so small, what does this tell about the core? (Two factors)

A
  • That there is no liquid core

- It has no large-scale magnetic field

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24
Q

What factor could be considered as a reason for the Moon having no atmosphere?

A

The gravitional field is too weak to retain gas molecules

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25
Q

Why is this an unsatifactory theory: The creation of the Moon was formed as the Moon spun off the Earth by fast rotation.

A

The rotation rate would need to be extremely high

26
Q

Why is this an unsatifactory theory: The Moon was formed at the same time as the Earth

A

The density is too low

27
Q

Why is this an unsatifactory theory: The moon is a body that formed elsewhere and was captured by Earth

A

The chance of it being captured is very small

28
Q

The large impact theory suggests the impact was a bit off-centre, what happened next? (two factors)

A
  • The impact stripped much the mantle of the body from it’s core
  • Removed much of the Earth’s mantle
29
Q

What is the Large Impact Theory?

A

The Earth was struck by a smaller body around the size of Mars

30
Q

What is the smaller body that struck Earth in the formation of the moon called?

A

Theia

31
Q

What does the Large Impact Theory explain (Four factors)

A
  • Why the moon has low density because most of it’s core fell onto Earth
  • Why the chemical composition of the Moon’s crust is similar to the Earth’s crust.
  • Why the moon is quite dry because the heat of the impact drove away water
  • Why the near and far side are different thickness due to the heat received from the Earth
32
Q

Where does the observational evidence come from for the Large Impact Theory?

A

Through studying lunar meteorites.

33
Q

What is the diameter of Mercury?

A

4800km

34
Q

What is the surface temperature of Mercury?

A

-170 degrees to +480 degrees

35
Q

What is the surface gravity of Mercury compared to that of the Earth?

A

38%

36
Q

What is the orbital period of Mercury? (year length)

A

88 days

37
Q

What is the rotational period of Mercury? (day length)

A

58 days

38
Q

What did the Arecibo radio telescope discover about Mercury?

A

The surface temperature

39
Q

How long is a solar day of Mercury?

A

2 years

40
Q

How many times does Mercury rotate in 2 years?

A

3 times

41
Q

How many orbits did The Messenger probe successfully achieve around Mercury?

A

4104

42
Q

What could have caused the “Weird Terrain” on the surface of Mercury?

A

Shock waves traversing Mercury

43
Q

How large is the diameter of the Caloris Basin on Mercury?

A

1550km

44
Q

How long ago was the Caloris Basin created?

A

3.8 billion years ago during the bombardment

45
Q

What is an explanation for the Lobate Scraps (wrinkles) on the surface of Mercury?

A

Mercury shrank when it cooled so the surface wrinkled

46
Q

What can be found in the Prokoviek crater on Mercury?

A

Water and Ice

47
Q

What is the core of Mercury made of?

A

Iron

48
Q

What is the weak magnetic field strong enough to deflect on Mercury?

A

Solar winds

49
Q

What is the most dominant element of Venus?

A

Carbon Dioxide

50
Q

How percentage of Venus is carbon dioxide?

A

96%

51
Q

How many moons does Jupiter have?

A

Around 79

52
Q

Jupiter is the what brightest object in the sky? (1st, 2nd, 3rd etc)

A

3rd

53
Q

How many times the mass is Jupiter compared to the Earth?

A

318 times

54
Q

What is Jupiter mostly composed of?

A

Hydrogen & Helium gasses

55
Q

Jupiter may not be made entirely of gas. What is believed to be at it’s core?

A

A dense, rocky core

56
Q

On Jupiter, what is the “Great Red Spot” presumed to be?

A

A hurricane that is twice the size of the Earth

57
Q

On Jupiter, Zones are presumed to be what kind of pressure?

A

High pressure

58
Q

On Jupiter, Belts are presumed to be what kind of pressure?

A

Low pressure

59
Q

How many clouds layers are there on Jupiter?

A

3 layers

60
Q

What colour is the first layer of Jupiter’s clouds and what is it made of?

A

White, ammonia ice crystals

61
Q

What colour is the second layer of Jupiter’s clouds and what is it made of?

A

Tawny / Orange - ammonium hydrosulfide

62
Q

What colour is the third layer of Jupiter’s clouds and what is it made of?

A

White, water ice clouds

EXCOS 1X (6 decks)

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