W7: Exoplanets

Question 1

Exoplanet meaning

Answer 1

planets that exist outside our solar system

Question 2

What year was the first Exoplanet discovery confirmed

Answer 2

1995

Question 3

What is the “habitable zone”?

Answer 3

• distance from the star where water can exist in liquid form.
• temperature are not too hot or too cold, enough to allow liquid water to exist

Question 4

Why is habitable zone important?

Answer 4

• discovering planets within the habitual zone helps contribute to our understanding of planetary conditions that support life

Question 5

How does this zone’s distance relate to a host star?

Answer 5

G Stars
* moderate distance from the planet, allow presence of liquid water and development of life. ex: earth, kepler-452b
K Stars
* cooler, lee luminous, lower energy output, orbit more closely to get sufficient warmth for liquid water. ex: 155cc, 62f
M Stars
* smaller, cooler, less luminous, much closer to stars and planets, increased stellar activity

Question 6

Which planets in our solar system are within the habitable zone of our Sun?

Answer 6

Earth- stable climate and athmosphere
Mars, Kepler-452v

Question 7

Name the two main (most successful) methods used for finding exoplanets.

Answer 7

Transit method
Radial Velocity Method

Question 8

Transit Method

Answer 8

• monitors the light curve of a star to detect recuring transits.
• depth and duration of transit shows the information about the size and orbital characteristics of the exoplanet

Question 9

Radial Velocity Method

Answer 9

• measure periodic shifts in a stars spectral lines providing information about the exoplanets mass and orbital characteristics