Homework

 
June 9, 2008:Depends on whether classwork is completed. Finish any unfinished 
Questions on handout, "Locating the Epicenter."

For More on Facts about earthquakes visit 
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learning/facts.php

Monday June 2, 2008:EARTH'S CHANGING SURFACE - HANDOUT 10-1. Building 
Vocabulary. 21 fill-in the blank questions. Do not do questions 9-16 tonight; 
we'll do those later. 
 
Sunday 5/26: Watch the Phoenix spacecraft land on MARS at Approx. 7:50 PM 
Sunday night. CNN might be the best channel for watching. 

Check out Phoenix web site: On May 25th, it lands on Mars. 
http://phoenix.lpl.arizona.edu/

Thursday May 15, 2008: Mineral Hanoud: " What's the Use?"- asks you to figure 
out what mineral is used in each of the pictures and to answer some 
questions: (i.e., is it a Mineral or a rock? Element-one kind of atom or not)
Due Friday. 

Monday May 12, 2008:  Due Wed May 14. (MCAS classes-pass it in the next class 
after Tuesday that I see you) Pick one mineral or birthstone and tell 
me about the mineral's: Shape, cleavage, hardness, density, value, and color. 
All of its properties. Make sure you include a picture of the mineral or 
birthstone mineral on your paper. Tell me some of its uses and why you chose 
or like this mineral. (If you're doing the birthstone;  it chose you..) For a 
hard copy of the instructions visit Photos and DOCs. Birthstone HW or
Mineral HW. (last 2 items)
 
April 30. Due May 1.: HW- Waxing and Waning Moon Phases handout. Back side- 
select any 2 days in April and identify the phase of the moon. Write the day 
and the phase on your paper.

April 28-29, 2008: Comets and Meteors. Fill in the blanks handout. Since you 
don't have the book at home, you can find the pages needed to fill-in the 
blanks on this web site under photos and docs: entitled "Comets_Meteors". 
There are 3 separate pages p123, p124-125, p126. Those who need hard copies 
of the pages (123-126)should get them from me during class. 
(Due date: This is a 2 night assignment..due 4/30 Wed in class)
I suggest you do the comets one night and the Meteors, meteoroids and 
meteorites, on the other.
 
April 7-11: Due Friday April 11- Early Astronomers- Pick 2 of the 7 early 
astronomers. 1 from group A. and 1 from group B listed below: (put this on a 
word document if possible. Title 
page for each astronomer(Name), Your name, Date and Period.)
Theattached web site will help get you started:  
http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr161/lect/index.html

A. Aristotle
A. Ptolemy
B. Nicolaus Copernicus
B. Tycho Brahe
B. Johannes Kepler
B. Galileo Galilei
B. Isaac Newton 

Find out the following information about them.
A. When did they live/die? DOB-Death
B. What Nationality were they?
C. Maybe something interesting about them that not many people know. 
D. What contribution did they make to Astronomy; specifically to how humans 
viewed the soloar system before, and after them.
Note: D is the most important point of the 4 questions. Give this answer 
more of your attention and thus should have more details to its answer.  
Include a picture of the astronomer and his contribution to astronomy. 

March 31-April 4,08: Planet presentations. Students who have completed their 
presentation have no HW. Those who haven't need to continue to work on their 
project until it's complete. All projects will be completed by Friday. 

March 27, 08: Tonight (Thurs) print out a copy of the 19 planet questions 
and have a copy to hand in to me for Friday's class. Planet presentations 
will begin Monday. Students who volunteer to present first will be rewarded 
with bonus points. Check out rubric in photos/Docs for understanding of 
expectations. 
Check out this link for a one stop chart of several different web site of 
all 
the planets (except dwarf) 
http://www.astronomynotes.com/solarsys/plantlnk.htm
(see links)

Mar. 19-24 Planet Project Instructions and questions. 
Instructions: Pick one planet or one dwarf planet – (Pluto, Ceres, or 
Eris).  
Bonus Points for students who select Ceres, Pluto or Eris. (The information 
is harder to find.)
Note to all periods- you only need to select one dwarf planet, not all 3 as 
I 
may have stated in class.  
For Monday 3/24/08:Have a copy (print out) of the questions below. Bring in 
your collected research information on your planet. (ie. magazines, Books 
and 
internet research. Also, between now and Monday read information about your 
planet from the books and magazines and internet printouts. 

Your task is to become the expert on that one planet.
 
Beginning Monday in class you will continue to research your planet and 
begin 
answering the questions below. We will do this for the next 2-3 days or 
until 
I feel we've had enough time to complete our research and answer the 
questions.
  
Beginning Thurs or Friday March 27/28 each of you will report your 
information to the class in a presentation approx. 10 min in length. 
   
You will need to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of your planet 
in one of several ways:  (Present your findings to the class using)
•power point plus video if desired(video must be approved first)
•word Plus video if desired.
•large white oak tag 
•other approved* media. * Approved means you must present your idea to me 
and 
I must approve it before you can use it. 
You will be graded on:  See Rubric under photos and docs.
•Presentation and
•Knowledge of your planet – Written answers to the questions below.

1.Diameter of your planet (how big is your planet?*) =  miles 
_____________km_______________
2. Number of Moons, sizes of each of the top 3-4 largest = (show pictures)
3. Composition of the Atmosphere and % of gases in the atmosphere of  the 
Planet 
4.Distance from Sun in  AU’s _______________ 
miles.______________km_______________
5. Rotational Period = orbital period (How long it takes to spin once?*)   
6.Revolution Period (How long does it take to go around the sun once?
*)                    
7.Gravitational pull: multiply your weight by this # and you’ll find out 
what 
you would weigh on that planet?           Your weight X gravitational pull # 
=  ______________ your weight on the planet? 
8.Temperature: (some have a warm side and a cold side – provide both if 
applicable)      
9.Rings:  (# of rings if any-show picture)
10.Explain what’s behind the name (For ex. Mercury- Explanation:  the Roman 
messenger god or god of speed. Mercury was named this for being the planet 
with the fastest orbital period) 
11.Spin Direction- (Counter-Clockwise or clockwise-see fig. at right) 
12.Axis Inclination- angle of tilt  (show picture) see web pg. (Photos and 
Docs)
(visit my web page and retrieve pictures of both Axis and planet symbol 
under 
photos and docs.)
13.A Distinguishing feature of the planet (planette, red spot) Add any 
Interesting facts or information about the planet that distinguishes it from 
the other planets.
14.Eccentricity – is the path a planet takes around the sun – Some are more 
oval, some are more circular. Each planet has a number 0-1 that describes 
it’s path.  Know your planets eccentricity number and know whether it is 
elliptical or more circular. 
15.Magnetic Field or magnetosphere – Does your planet have one? Be able to 
Explain why it does or doesn’t. A Picture might be helpful. 
16.Has NASA ever sent a probe to your planet? If yes, what is/are the name
(s) 
of the probe. When did the probe visit your planet, and what did they 
discover or what was their Mission purpose, Did it land on the planet or 
just 
orbit it?
17.Does your planet have seasons- axis tilt will tell you the answer to this 
question?
18.Provide Pictures of your Planet. 
19.Turn in the written portion of your work (answers to above questions for 
the knowledge/written portion of your grade) before your presentation 
starts.  [One copy for you and one for me]     
* Note- the planets size, distance and periods of rotation and revolution 
are 
all given in units relative to earth’s
size, distance and periods of rotation and revolution.