Astronomy

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On-line Study Guide

eleventh edition

http://wps.prenhall.com/esm_tarbuck_escience_11

tenth edition

http://wps.prenhall.com/esm_tarbuck_escience_10

ninth edition

http://cw.prenhall.com/bookbind/pubbooks/tarbuck3/

Tentative Objectives:   These objectives may change as I teach them. Do not print these objectives until I remove the word tentative at the end of the unit.

Introduction to Earth Science

After reading, studying, and discussing Chapter 1, students should be able to:

·         What are the sciences that make up Earth Science?

·         What are the four "spheres" that comprise Earth's natural environment?

·         What are the principal divisions of the solid earth?

·         Why should the earth be thought of as a system?

·         What are the sources of energy that power the Earth system?

·         What are some of Earth's important environmental issues?

·         Be able to differentiate hypothesis, theory and law. 

 

Chapter 15 - The Nature of the Solar System

After reading, studying, and discussing this chapter, you should be able to:
  • Describe the geocentric theory of the universe held by many early Greeks.

 

  • List the contributions to modern astronomy of Nicolaus Copernicus, Tycho Brahe, Johannes Kepler, Galileo Galilei, and Sir Isaac Newton.

     

  • What are the two groups of planets in the solar system? What are the general characteristics of planets in each group?

     

  • How is the solar system thought to have formed?

 

  • What are the major features of the lunar surface?

 

  • What are some distinguishing features of each planet in the solar system?

 

  • What are the minor members of the solar system?

These items are not covered in the text:

  1.  What causes moon phases? How do scientists think the moon formed?
  2. Why does the moon rise and set at different times throughout the month.
  3. What causes solar and lunar eclipses.
  4. Do we always see the same side of the moon? Why or why not?

 


 

Beyond the Solar System

After reading, studying, and discussing this chapter, you should be able to:

  • Discuss the principle of parallax
  • List and describe the major intrinsic properties of stars. Know how the properties relate to each other.
  • Describe the different types of nebulae.
  • Describe stellar evolution and list the stages in the life cycle of a star.  Apply these stages to our sun.
  • Describe the possible final states that a star may assume after it consumes its nuclear fuel and collapses.
  • List and describe the major types of galaxies.
  • Give evidence for the Big Bang theory of the origin of the universe.

Key Terms
 

absolute magnitude Hubble's Law red giant
apparent magnitude light-year stellar parallax
Big Bang main-sequence stars super nova
black hole nebula white dwarf
reflection nebula neutron star H-R Diagram
dark nebula planetary nebula protostar
emission nebula