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THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW ENGLAND
UNIT NAME:
ASTY 221
PAPER TITLE:
Introduction to Astronomy
PAPER NUMBER:
First and Only
DATE:
Tuesday 19th June 2007
TIME ALLOWED:
Two (2) hours plus fifteen minutes reading time
NUMBER OF PAGES IN PAPER:
006332
TIME:
FOUR (4)
NUMBER OF QUESTIONS ON PAPER:
EIGHT (8)
NUMBER OF QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED:
STATIONERY PER CANDIDATE:
OTHER AIDS REQUIRED:
9:30AM TO 11:30AM
SIX (6)
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6 LEAF A4 BOOKS
o
ROUGH WORK. BOOK
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12 LEAF A4 BOOKS
o
GRAYHPAPERSHEETS
NIL
POCKET CALCULATORS PERMITTED:
TEXTBOOKS OR NOTES PERMITTED:
YES
(SILENT TYPE)
NIL
INSTRUCTIONS FOR CANDIDATES:
•
Candidates MAY make notes on this paper during the fifteen minutes reading time
•
Candidates MUST answer any SIX (6) questions out of the EIGHT (8) questions offered
•
Each question is worth 20 marks
•
Marks for sections of questions are shown in the right-hand margin.
These marks are
indicative of the detail required in each part
•
Candidates may retain this examination question paper
THE UNIVERSITY CONSIDERS IMPROPER CONDUCT IN EXAMINATIONS TO BE A SERIOUS OFFENCE.
PENALTIES FOR CHEATING ARE EXCLUSION FROM THE UNIVERSITY FOR ONE YEAR AND/OR CANCELLATION
OF ANY CREDIT R,ECEIVED IN THE EXAMINATION FOR THAT UNIT.
ASTY221 Semester 1,2007
QUESTION 1.
(a)
(b)
(c)
Describe how each of the following distance units in Astronomy is defined
(i)
a light year
(2 marks)
(ii)
the Astronomical Unit
(2 marks)
(iii)
a parsec.
(2 marks)
What special names are given to the following terrestrial features when
projected onto the celestial sphere? illustrate with relevant diagrams
(i)
the north pole
(ii)
the equator
(iii)
lines of terrestrial latitude
(iv)
lines of terrestrial longitude
(8 marks)
Describe a method that can be used to measure the diameter of the Earth.
(6 marks)
QUESTION 2
(a)
Describe the accretion model of the Solar System.
(b)
Explain how this model accounts for differences between
(i)
planets close to and far from the Sun
(ii)
the orbital properties of the major and minor planets.
(10 marks)
(10 marks)
QUESTION 3
(a)
Explain what is meant by the following characteristics of a wave:
(i)
period
(ii)
intensity.
(5 marks)
(b)
Describe and explain the Doppler effect, using wave concepts and appropriate
diagrams.
(9 marks)
(c)
Briefly discuss two examples of the application of the Doppler effect to
astronomy.
(6 marks)
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ASTY221 Semester 1, 2007 .
QUESTION 4
(5 marks)
(a)
Explain what is meant by the cosmological constant.
(b)
Describe how Hubble's law can be used to obtain an estimate of the age of the.
universe, and explain why this might or might not be an upper limit. (7 marks)
(c)
(i)
Distinguish between the appearance of a partial, total and annular solar
(3 marks)
eclipse.
(ii)
Since the period of the moon is about a month, one might expect that we
would also see a lunar eclipse every month. Explain with reference to
(5 marks)
the moon's orbital nodes, why this is not the case.
QUESTIONS
(a)
Outline the historical development of the calendar and .its relevance to
Astronomy.
(10 marks)
(b)
Trace the major developments in the models of the Solar System, from the time
of the Babylonians throughto the work of Isaac Newton.
(10 marks)
QUESTION 6
Describe the evolution of a star like the Sun, using the following plan:
•
Outline possible processes leading to the formation of the star and the ignition of
nuclear fusion.
•
Describe the main-sequence lifetime of the star and explain how it is possible to
estimate the length of time spent on the main sequence.
•
Postulate the probable evolution of the star once it leaves the main sequence.
(20 marks)
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ASTY221 Semester 1, 2007
QUESTION 7
(a)
(b)
(2 marks)
(i)
Explain the meaning of the term "orbital eccentricity".
(ii)
Sketch an ellipse that might represent the orbit of a planet having a
(1 marks)
relatively high orbital eccentricity.
(iii)
Indicate clearly on the ellipse you have drawn, the approximate positions
of the foci, the position of the Sun, the semi major axis, and the positions
of the planet when at aphelion and perihelion.
(4 marks)
(iv)
A friend tells you that using her large new telescope, she has found that
Neptune is further from Earth than Pluto. You reply that she must be
wrong, as any astronomy text will show you that Pluto is over 9 AU
more distant from the Sun than Neptune. Can your friend possibly be
correct? If so explain how.
(3 marks)
(i)
State and explain Kepler's Second and Third Laws of Planetary Motion.
(7 marks)
(ii)
Imagine that a new planet having an approximately circular orbit was
discovered beyond Pluto at a distance of 50 AU. Given Pluto's orbital
period as 249 Earth years and its semi major axis as 39 AU, find the
orbital period of the new planet.
(3 marks)
QUESTION 8
(a)
List the nine planets of the Solar System in order of average distance from the
Sun. Classify each as Terrestrial, Jovian, or icy.
(4 marks)
(b)
Describe two other groups of objects also considered to be members of the Solar
System.
(6 marks)
(c)
Compare and contrast the properties of the Terrestrial planets with those of the
(10 marks)
Jovian planets.
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