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Foundations of Astronomy

Michael A. Seeds

Chapter 4

The Origin of Modern Astronomy - all with Video Answers

Educators

Chapter Questions

00:49

Problem 1

Draw and label a diagram of the eastern horizon from northeast to southeast and label the rising point of the sun at the solstices and equinoxes. (See page 25 and Figure $4-1$.)

Chris Johnson
Chris Johnson
Numerade Educator
02:18

Problem 2

If you lived on Mars, which planets would exhibit retrograde motion? Which would never be visible as crescent phases?

Andrew Duncan
Andrew Duncan
Numerade Educator
06:52

Problem 3

Galileo's telescope showed him that Venus has a large angular diameter (61 seconds of arc) when it is a crescent and a small angular diameter (10 seconds of arc) when it is nearly full. Use the small angle formula to find the ratio of its maximum distance to its minimum distance. Is this ratio compatible with the Ptolemaic universe shown on page $61 ?$

Sheryl Ezze
Sheryl Ezze
Numerade Educator
03:01

Problem 4

Galileo's telescopes were not of high quality by modern standards. He was able to see the moons of Jupiter, but he never reported seeing features on Mars. Use the small-angle formula to find the angular diameter of Mars when it is closest to Earth. How does that compare with the maximum angular diameter of Jupiter?

Sarah Mccrumb
Sarah Mccrumb
Numerade Educator
02:09

Problem 5

If a planet has an average distance from the sun of 4 AU, what is its orbital period?

Claire Hammond
Claire Hammond
Numerade Educator
01:01

Problem 6

If a space probe is sent into an orbit around the sun that brings it as close as $0.5 \mathrm{AU}$ and as far away as $5.5 \mathrm{AU}$, what will be its orbital period?

Eve Rafferty
Eve Rafferty
Numerade Educator
02:09

Problem 7

Pluto orbits the sun with a period of 247.7 years. What is its average distance from the sun?

Claire Hammond
Claire Hammond
Numerade Educator