Astronomy/Geology 1070: Earth: Its Physical Environment

University of Wyoming

Eleventh Homework Assignment, Due November 19, 2009
10 points

To receive credit, your completed assignment must be submitted to me by the beginning of class on Thursday, November 19.

Do one, and only one, of the following:

1. Solar eclipse lesson plan.

Write a lesson plan to explain how solar eclipses occur. Make sure it covers why it is so uncommon to see a total solar eclipse.

The lesson plan does not need to include all the elements described in the “Incidental Activities” assignment. Just describe what you would teach and identify any props or materials you would need.

2. Phases of the Moon.

Solar and lunar eclipses only occur during certain phases of the Moon. Identify these phases and explain why eclipses occur only then.

3. Sliver of the New Moon.

Almost all of the times when there is a “new” Moon, at least a tiny sliver of the illuminated Moon can be seen from Earth. Draw a diagram illustrating why this is so and write a paragraph explaining the diagram.

4. Explain the Solar System.

Here are some interesting facts about the Solar system:

• All of the planets revolve around the Sun in approximately the same plane, in the same direction.
• Most of them rotate about their axes in that same direction as well.
• Their satellites mostly revolve in the same direction around them.

Explain how this could have happened, and what it tells us about the history of the Solar System.

Your answer should include a reconstruction of how the Solar System formed, and how it has changed (evolved) since its early days. For each of the facts about the motion of the Solar System listed above, explicitly explain how the history of formation explains the fact.

5. Argue Pluto’s classification.

Your eight-grade niece has been assigned to argue in a debate at school that either:

• Pluto is now correctly classified as a dwarf planet rather than as a planet, or
• Pluto should still be classified as a planet.

Write her a letter detailing, as appropriate, either the reasons for the current classification, or the shortcomings of the current classification.

One source that you may find useful is a children’s book, The Planet Hunter: the real story of what happened to Pluto, which I have placed on reserve at Coe Library.

Take your choice of these tasks. Do not submit answers to more than one of them. Just choose one, and submit it. Your answer should thoroughly address all points of the question. An adequate answer will be several paragraphs long.

If you wish to submit your homework as an HTML file, go for it. I will accept HTML files submitted up to the start of class on the 19th. I’ll also be happy to answer questions you have about HTML.

Warning: Do not turn in paper that has ragged edges! If you write your work in a spiral-bound notebook, trim the edge before submitting it. Papers with ragged edges will be returned unmarked.