You may use whatever method you wish to learn the answers to these questions: you may talk with anyone else you wish, you may research them in any book, and you may even ask me or another professor about these questions. However, I will not proofread a draft answer.
1. Discuss how astronomers search for planetary systems around other stars and what
results have been found to date. Be sure to specifically address:
a.) the observational methods used to search for planets around
other stars,
b.) how the detected planetary systems differ from the Solar System,
c.) how the observational methods which have successfully detected
planets are likely to be biased.
2. Compare the Earth to the other planets in the Solar System, in terms of surface properties, composition, interior structure, magnetic field, and atmospheric properties. Discuss the reasons for the differences in these properties between Earth and the other planets. You may compare Earth to the Jovian planets as a group, but you should be more specific about individual terrestrial planets. Be sure to include reasons for differences related to the formation history of the solar system.
3. Discuss the role of gravity in the formation, structure, and evolution of the
Solar System. Be sure to address the following questions:
a.) Why do the planets orbit the Sun rather than falling into
the Sun?
b.) What role did gravity play in the formation of the Sun
and the planets?
c.) What is the role of gravity in tidal stresses, orbital resonances, and the
formation of rings?
Last updated: May 23, 2005