Homework 1: Impacts and cratering in the solar system
(due at the start of class Sept 23/03)
1. The University of Maryland, in collaboration with NASA, is leading the “Deep
Impact” space mission. Log onto the website for “Deep Impact” (the address is
http://deepimpact.umd.edu/) and write a short (<1 page) description of this space
mission. In particular, address the following questions:
a. What is Deep Impact going to do to Comet Tempel 1?
b. What are the scientific questions that the scientists hope to answer?
c. When will it be launched, and how long will the mission survive?
2. The picture below shows a portion of the Moon’s surface featuring both maria
and highlands.
a. Identify which regions correspond to the maria and the highlands.
b. Maria have been dated at 3.2-3.9 billion years old, whereas highlands are a
little bit older, 4-4.4 billion years old. However, the highlands are much
more heavily cratered. What implications does this have for the
bombardment history of the Moon? How does this fit in with our ideas of
solar system formation?
3. Calculate the energy and momentum of the following objects. Compare and
discuss your answers to parts (a) and (c).
a. A 1000 kg car traveling at 10 m/s.
b. A 1 kg basketball traveling at 20 m/s.
c. A 1 g rock traveling at 10 km/s. (Note the units!)