Solar System Homework 3


Solar System Homework #3

Remember to show all of your work for every problem, and to write your final answers in complete English sentences.

This homework should be a good one for the math anxious, since there's very little math. What I'm concerned about on this homework is that you know where and how we get some of our information, what is required to make certain conclusions or computations about a planet.

1. Why could the mass of Venus not be deduced from Earth-based observations in the same manner as the masses of most other planets? What other planet has this problem? How can we overcome this?

HINT: On this problem, you need to think: how do we compute the masses of planets? What equation do we use? What data are required? Why couldn't we get that information from Venus?
ANOTHER HINT: The answer to this question has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with Venus' thick cloud cover. While this may be the most well-known of Venus' features, it does not determine everything there is to know about the planet.

2. Would you expect Venus to have belts of charged particles surrounding it like the Van Allen Belts around Earth? Explain.

HINT: Again, think about causes: What causes the Earth to have radiation belts, and why wouldn't Venus have them. Trace it back to "root" causes. Once again, Venus' cloud cover has nothing to do with it!

3. Using the information in the book, compute the density of the planet Mars in grams/cubic centimeter. Watch units carefully! Which is Mars closer to in density, the Earth or the Moon? Given the knowledge that the surface of Mars is low density (about 3 gm/cubic cm), what can you say about Mars interior?

HINT: Just like Problem 1 of Homework 1, this is a straightforward application of the Density formula. Use the answers to Homework 1 and Example 1 on the density handout to guide you. Remember, the procedure is the same; only the numbers are different! Confirm your answer by looking up the density of Mars in the text. Don't forget to answer all of the questions!

Updated 7/6/06

By James E. Heath