Exploring the Solar System: Understanding Space and Space Travel, Study notes of Environmental Science

Download Exploring the Solar System: Understanding Space and Space Travel and more Study notes Environmental Science in PDF only on Docsity! ESS102:Space and Space Travel http://www.ess.washington.edu/Space/ESS 102 Exploring our Star System Why Do It? 1) What powers the solar system? 2) How is our solar system evolving? 3) What is required to move around in the solar system? 4) How is this going to be achieved? 5) What do you get when you have easy access to the solar system? 6) How much is this going to cost? Using Scientific Notation: To multiply numbers using scientific notation we add the exponents. 103 x 10-9 = 10(3) + (- 9) =10-6 102 x 105 = 10(2) + (5) =107 (2x102) x (3x105) = 2x3x10(2) + (5) =6x107 Using Scientific Notation: To divide numbers using scientific notation we subtract the exponents. 103 ÷ 10-9 = 10(3) - (- 9) =1012 105 ÷ 102 = 10(5) - (2) =103 (4x105) ÷ (2x102) = (4÷2)x10(5) - (2) =2x103 Using Scientific Notation: To add or subtract numbers using scientific notation we must set the numbers to the same exponent. 3.0x102 + 2.6 x105 =0.003x105 + 2.6x105 =2.6000+0.003x105 = 2.603 x105 1.0x105 - 7.0x102 =1.0x105 - 0.007x105 = (1.0 - 0.007) x105 = 0.993x105 Comparing the Sun and Earth Compared to the Sun, the planets are nearly inconsequential….. 1) The sun contains 99.9% of all the mass in the solar system (Jupiter has most of the remaining 0.1%) 2) The sun dominates energy (and light) production at all frequencies (except in radio waves where human activity is stronger!) 3) Solar energy determines the effective (or blackbody) temperatures of every object in the solar system. 4) Material from the Solar Atmosphere is the dominant component of interplanetary space. Any study of the solar system must start with the Sun….. Comparing the Sun and Earth Size: 1) The radius of the Earth is R = 6371 km. 2) The radius of the Sun is R = 7x105 km. R Comparing the Sun and Earth Mass: 1) The mass of the Sun is M = 2 x 1030 kg 2) The mass of the Earth is M = 6 x 1024 kg 3) The ratio of Sun to Earth = 3 x 105 If the Sun weighed as much as the aircraft carrier independence……… The Earth would only weigh as much as two members of its crew….