Explorations: An Introduction to Astronomy (Arny), 7th Edition

Chapter 11: Small Bodies Orbiting the Sun

Thought Questions

1
Explain the difference between the "tail" of a meteor and the "tail" of a comet. Are both of them hot gas and debris?
2
You see a meteor about 45 degrees above the horizon. If the meteor is 100 km above the ground when you see it (fig 11.2), what is the farthest distance that away you think another person could be and also see it? You may find making a sketch helpful.
3
The total mass of the asteroid belt is much less than the mass of any of the planets. If there were many, many more asteroids, do you think they could form a planet?
4
The coast guard is monitoring satellite pictures of the ocean, looking for vessels traveling at night in faint moonlight. The images do not have enough detail to resolve the boats— they appear as a single dot in the image. If they see a dot, how can they estimate the size of the boat? How would this depend on the color of the boat? How would infrared images help determine the size of the boat? Compare this situation to the visual and infrared study of asteroids described in this chapter.
5
Compare the compositions of asteroids with the compositions of Mars and of Jupiter. How does the composition of bodies across the asteroid belt support the solar nebular theory?
6
Why do some astronomers think that Pluto should be considered a planet? Do you agree? What happens if you apply this logic to Sedna and Eris?
7
Examining the images of the nuclei of comets shown in section 11.4, do you think any of the crater-like depressions were caused by impacts like the ones that cause craters on asteroids? Explain your reasoning.
8
If an asteroid were heading toward a possible future impact with Earth, what might be some advantages and disadvantages of setting off a nuclear explosion on it to deflect it to a different path?
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