Simulation 1
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Texas A&M University, Kingsville *
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Course
209
Subject
Astronomy
Date
Dec 6, 2023
Type
Pages
7
Uploaded by BaronEchidnaMaster2030
Name: NAAP – Solar System Models 1/7 C Sun Earth Solar System Models – Student Guide
Background Material Review the Geocentric Model background material. The simulation of Ptolemy’s model demonstrates the dominate model when Copernicus presented his heliocentric model. Thoroughly review the Heliocentric Model background material. Question 1:
Look at the Animation of the Copernican Solar System on the “Heliocentricism” page. What relationship do you notice between how fast a planet moves in its orbit and its distance from the Sun? Question 2:
The table below concerns various elongation configurations for a hypothetical superior planet. Complete any missing elongations, terminology, or lettered labels on the drawing where the Sun and Earth are shown. Location Elongation Term A 180° B Western Quadrature
C D East 120°
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NAAP – Solar System Models 2/7 C Sun Earth Question 3:
The table below concerns various elongation configurations for a hypothetical inferior planet. Complete any missing elongations, terminology, or lettered labels on the drawing where the Sun and Earth are shown. Simulator Exercises Open up the Planetary Configurations Simulator and complete the following exercises. Question 4:
In this exercise we will measure the synodic period of Mercury. Set the observer’s planet to Earth and the target planet to Mercury. The synodic period of a planet is the time it takes to go from one elongation configuration to the next occurrence of that same configuration. However, it makes sense to use an easily recognized configuration like superior conjunction. Drag a planet (or the timeline) until Mercury is at superior conjunction. Now zero the counter, click start animation, and observe the counter. A synodic period is that time until Mercury is once again at superior conjunction. What is the synodic period of Mercury? Location Elongation Term A Superior Conjunction
B Inferior Conjunction
C D West 20°
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NAAP – Solar System Models 3/7 Question 5:
In the previous exercise superior conjunction was used as the reference configuration, but in practice it is not the best elongation configuration to use. Explain why. What is the best elongation configuration to use? (Hint: when is an inferior planet easiest to observe in the sky?) Do you get the same result for the synodic period you got in Question 4? Question 6:
Use greatest elongation as the reference configuration to calculate the synodic period of Venus. (Be careful. There are two different occurrences of greatest elongation for an inferior planet: eastern and western.) Also, record the value of the greatest elongation of Venus Synodic period of Venus: Greatest elongation of Venus: What general trend do you notice between an inferior planet's distance from the Earth and its synodic period? Question 7:
Now use the simulator to find the value of Mercury's greatest elongation. Greatest elongation of Mercury: Compare the values of greatest elongation for Mercury and Venus. What relationship do you notice between the value of greatest elongation of a planet and its distance from the Sun? Can you create a hypothetical 3
rd
inferior planet in the simulator to check your reasoning?
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