Understanding Our Universe
3rd Edition
ISBN: 9780393614428
Author: PALEN, Stacy, Kay, Laura, Blumenthal, George (george Ray)
Publisher: W.w. Norton & Company,
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Chapter 9, Problem 33QAP
To determine
The reason why should we be concerned about the possibility of collisions of comet and asteroids.
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Why is the composition of a comet typically dominated by volatile materials (frozen ices)?
choose one of the following:
a.
rock and metal could not condense out of the solar nebula at extreme distances from the sun
b.
most of the metal in the solar system is locked up inside the terrestrial planets
c.
metals are not stable in the outer solar system
d.
elements that form ices (as opposed to rock & metals) are more abundant in our solar system
A comet has a period of 75.3 years and moves in an elliptical orbit in which its perihelion (closest approach to the Sun) is 0.640 AU. Find the semimajor axis of the comet and an estimate of the comet's maximum distance from the Sun, both in astronomical units.
(a)
the semimajor axis of the comet (in AU)
(b)
an estimate of the comet's maximum distance (in AU) from the Sun
A comet has a period of 70.3 years and moves in an elliptical orbit in which its perihelion (closest approach to the Sun) is 0.620 AU. Find the semimajor axis of the comet and an estimate of the comet's maximum distance from the Sun, both in astronomical units.
(a) the semimajor axis of the comet (in AU)
(b)an estimate of the comet's maximum distance (in AU) from the Sun
Chapter 9 Solutions
Understanding Our Universe
Ch. 9.1 - Prob. 9.1CYUCh. 9.2 - Prob. 9.2CYUCh. 9.3 - Prob. 9.3CYUCh. 9.4 - Prob. 9.4CYUCh. 9.5 - Prob. 9.5CYUCh. 9.6 - Prob. 9.6CYUCh. 9 - Prob. 1QAPCh. 9 - Prob. 2QAPCh. 9 - Prob. 3QAPCh. 9 - Prob. 4QAP
Ch. 9 - Prob. 5QAPCh. 9 - Prob. 6QAPCh. 9 - Prob. 7QAPCh. 9 - Prob. 8QAPCh. 9 - Prob. 9QAPCh. 9 - Prob. 10QAPCh. 9 - Prob. 11QAPCh. 9 - Prob. 12QAPCh. 9 - Prob. 13QAPCh. 9 - Prob. 14QAPCh. 9 - Prob. 15QAPCh. 9 - Prob. 16QAPCh. 9 - Prob. 17QAPCh. 9 - Prob. 18QAPCh. 9 - Prob. 19QAPCh. 9 - Prob. 20QAPCh. 9 - Prob. 21QAPCh. 9 - Prob. 22QAPCh. 9 - Prob. 23QAPCh. 9 - Prob. 24QAPCh. 9 - Prob. 25QAPCh. 9 - Prob. 26QAPCh. 9 - Prob. 27QAPCh. 9 - Prob. 28QAPCh. 9 - Prob. 29QAPCh. 9 - Prob. 30QAPCh. 9 - Prob. 31QAPCh. 9 - Prob. 32QAPCh. 9 - Prob. 33QAPCh. 9 - Prob. 34QAPCh. 9 - Prob. 35QAPCh. 9 - Prob. 36QAPCh. 9 - Prob. 37QAPCh. 9 - Prob. 38QAPCh. 9 - Prob. 39QAPCh. 9 - Prob. 40QAPCh. 9 - Prob. 41QAPCh. 9 - Prob. 42QAPCh. 9 - Prob. 43QAPCh. 9 - Prob. 44QAPCh. 9 - Prob. 45QAP
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Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, physics and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.Similar questions
- How might a crater made by the impact of a comet with the Moon differ from a crater made by the impact of an asteroid?arrow_forwardWhat evidence indicates that a comets nucleus is rich in ices?arrow_forwardHow do the risks of dying from the impact of an asteroid or comet compare with other risks we are concerned about, such as dying in a car accident or from heart disease or some other natural cause? (Hint: To find the annual risk, go to the library or internet and look up the annual number of deaths from a particular cause in a particular country, and then divide by the population of that country.)arrow_forward
- Why do most short-period comets have prograde orbits near the plane of the Solar System?arrow_forwardWhat is the difference between a meteoroid and an asteroid? Is there a sharp distinction?arrow_forwardWhy are meteorites of primitive material considered more important than other meteorites? Why have most of them been found in Antarctica?arrow_forward
- The calculation in Example 13.1 refers to the known Oort cloud, the source for most of the comets we see. If, as some astronomers suspect, there are 10 times this many cometary objects in the solar system, how does the total mass of cometary matter compare with the mass of Jupiter?arrow_forwardRefer to Example 13.1. How would the calculation change if a typical comet in the Oort cloud is only 1 km in diameter?arrow_forwardHow do asteroids and comets differ?arrow_forward
- Give at least two reasons today’s astronomers are so interested in the discovery of additional Earthapproaching asteroids.arrow_forwardRefer to Example 13.1. How would the calculation change if a typical comet in the Oort cloud is larger-say, 50 km in diameter?arrow_forwardA comet with a 2km diameter will make a crater about 20 km in diameter. If the comet has a mass of 4.5 x1012kg and impacts the surface at 35 km/sec, what is the kinetic energy of the comet in Joules?arrow_forward
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