Course Icon

Astronomy

Chapter 10 Homework

SO Icon

Homework

Scholars Online Astronomy - Chapter 10: The Moon

Homework

Reading Preparation

Reading: Astronomy, Chapter 10: The Barren Moon

Study Notes: notes on your assigned reading from the text

Key Formulae to Know

  • Tidal forces F Tidal   = F Near      F Far    =    2 G M Earth md r 3   =   2 G M Earth r 3     A r 3   d   =   2 G M Earth Ad r 6  

Web Lecture

Read the following weblecture before chat: Earth's Moon

Study Activity

Stellarium:

  • Set Stellarium to January 3, 2023, at 4:45 pm (16:45p). Find the moon in the easterm sky and zoom in. It will be almost full. What features can you identify?
  • Find Venus on the western horizon and do a "Contol-G" to move to Venus as your viewing location. Swing the sky around until you can find Earth (near the western horizon from this viewing location. Double-click on Earth to center it and then zoom in until you can see the Moon. Double-click on the Moon to center it and zoom in. You should see the same face more or less as you did from Earth, since the Moon is near full.
  • Advance the date to January 17, when the Moon is near new relative to the Earth. You should now see the "far side" of the Moon from Venus. What features do ou notice? How are the two sides of the Moon different?

In The Nine Planets Solar System Tour (web application), load the application, then click on Earth. Back out and click on the Moon, then on "Visit". The model will show the Moon's current position. Can you determine the Moon's phase at the time you observe it from its position relative to Earth and the Sun? Can you determine the Moon's phase from the portion of lunar surface in sunlight?

From above the surface of the Moon, investigate the following locations:

  • Mare Tranquilitatis (Sea of Tranquility)
  • Tycho crater (near side)
  • Crookes crater (far side)

See how many features mentioned in the text you can identify, including surface features and core (if the application supports structure diagrams).

Tides

Use the simulator at the Earth Space Lab to explore Earth's ocean tides as a result of lunar motion.

Optional Website

Google Maps has a Moon site that is fun to explore, especially if you want to "walk around" the Apollo landing sites.

Chat Preparation Activities

Chapter Quiz

Lab Work

Read through the lab for this week; bring questions to chat on any aspect of the lab, whether you intend not perform it or not. If you decide to perform the lab, be sure to submit your report by the posted due date.