The Cosmic Perspective (8th Edition)
8th Edition
ISBN: 9780134059068
Author: Jeffrey O. Bennett, Megan O. Donahue, Nicholas Schneider, Mark Voit
Publisher: PEARSON
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Chapter 8, Problem 53EAP
Lucky to Be Here? Considering the overall process of solar system formation, do you think formation of a planet like Earth was likely? Could random events in the early history of the solar system have prevented our being here today? What implications do your answers have for the possibility of Earth-like planets around other stars? Defend your opinions.
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Students have asked these similar questions
Kepler-444 is one of many stars with terrestrial planets that is over 10 billion
a) What do you think the spectral type of Kepler-444 might be?
b) How do stars of this spectral type end their lives?
c) If evolution followed a similar course on a habitable pranet around a star similar to
Kepler-444, it would be 5 billion years more advanced than we are. Let’s try to project
our future and see what happens. In particular, suppose our civilization gets motivated
enough to colonize another planet. Kepler indicates that most stars have potentially
habitable (and colonizable) planets, so roughly how far away is the typical “nearest"
planet?
d) The New Horizons probe on its way to Pluto took 9 years to travel 30 AU. If we could
send colony ships with the same average speed, roughly how long would it take to reach
the typical nearest planet?
уears
old.
Considering what you learned from the solar nebula theory, how likely do you think it is to find habitable planets in other solar systems? Visit NASA’s Kepler mission to learn more about this search, and write a ½ page summary on the mission.
Compare and contrast the terrestrial planets to the gas giant planets. Be sure to include differences in size, density, and any special information about any of the planets.
Chapter 8 Solutions
The Cosmic Perspective (8th Edition)
Ch. 8 - Prob. 1VSCCh. 8 - Prob. 2VSCCh. 8 - Prob. 3VSCCh. 8 -
Briefly describe the four major features of our...Ch. 8 - What is the nebular theory, and why is it widely...Ch. 8 - What do we mean by the solar nebula? What was it...Ch. 8 -
4. Describe the three key processes that led the...Ch. 8 - List the approximate condensation temperature and...Ch. 8 - What was the frost line? Which ingredients...Ch. 8 - Briefly describe the process by which terrestrial...
Ch. 8 - How was the formation of jovian planets similar to...Ch. 8 - What is the solar wind, and what roles did it play...Ch. 8 - How did planet formation lead to the existence of...Ch. 8 - What was the heavy bombardment, and when did it...Ch. 8 - What is the leading hypothesis for the Moon’s...Ch. 8 - Prob. 13EAPCh. 8 - How old is the solar system, and how do we know?Ch. 8 - Surprising Discoveries? Suppose we found a solar...Ch. 8 - Prob. 16EAPCh. 8 - Surprising Discoveries? Suppose we found a solar...Ch. 8 - Prob. 18EAPCh. 8 - Prob. 19EAPCh. 8 - Prob. 20EAPCh. 8 - Prob. 21EAPCh. 8 - Prob. 22EAPCh. 8 - Prob. 23EAPCh. 8 - Prob. 24EAPCh. 8 - Choose the best answer to each of the following....Ch. 8 - Choose the best answer to each of the following....Ch. 8 - Choose the best answer to each of the following....Ch. 8 - Prob. 28EAPCh. 8 - Choose the best answer to each of the following....Ch. 8 - Choose the best answer to each of the following....Ch. 8 - Prob. 31EAPCh. 8 - Choose the best answer to each of the following....Ch. 8 - Choose the best answer to each of the following....Ch. 8 - Choose the best answer to each of the following....Ch. 8 - Explaining the Past. Is it really possible for...Ch. 8 - Prob. 36EAPCh. 8 - A Cold Solar Nebula. Roles: Scribe (take notes on...Ch. 8 - Prob. 38EAPCh. 8 - Prob. 39EAPCh. 8 - Prob. 40EAPCh. 8 - Prob. 41EAPCh. 8 - Prob. 42EAPCh. 8 - Prob. 43EAPCh. 8 - Prob. 44EAPCh. 8 - Prob. 45EAPCh. 8 - Prob. 46EAPCh. 8 - Prob. 47EAPCh. 8 - Prob. 48EAPCh. 8 - Prob. 49EAPCh. 8 - Be sure to show all calculations clearly and state...Ch. 8 - Prob. 51EAPCh. 8 - Prob. 52EAPCh. 8 - Lucky to Be Here? Considering the overall process...Ch. 8 - Prob. 54EAPCh. 8 - Prob. 55EAPCh. 8 - Prob. 56EAP
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- 2arrow_forwardIf there was a planet orbiting a first generation star, which planet in our solar system would it resemble most? Would it be likely for such a planet to have life?arrow_forwardWe think the terrestrial planets formed around solid “seeds” that later grew over time through the accretion of rocks and metals. a) Suppose the Earth grew to its present size in 1 million years through the accretion of particles averaging 100 grams each. On average, how many particles did the Earth capture per second, given that the mass of the Earth is = 5.972 × 10 ^24 kg ? b) If you stood on Earth during its formation and watched a region covering 100 m^2, how many impacts would you expect to see in one hour. Use the impact rate you calculated in part a. You’ll need the following as well: the radius of the Earth is = 6.371 × 10 ^6 m and the surface area of the Earth is 4??^2Eartharrow_forward
- How can a planet’s atmosphere affect the width of the habitable zone in its planetary system?arrow_forwardHow do we know when the solar system formed? Usually we say that the solar system is 4.5 billion years old. To what does this age correspond?arrow_forwardDescribe the solar nebula, and outline the sequence of events within the nebula that gave rise to the planetesimals.arrow_forward
- Planetary migration is a new process that has been added to the nebular theory of solar system formation. What type of planet, that does not exist in our solar system, made this change to the theory necessary? super-Earths Jovian planets beyond the "frost line" mini-Neptunes O hot Jupiters terrestrial planets in the habitable zonearrow_forwardHow would the solar system be different if the solar nebula had cooled, with a temperature half its actual value? [select all that apply] options: There would be more comets. Life would have been very unlikely to evolve here. There would be no comets. There would be fewer asteroids. There would be more asteroids. Jovian planets would have formed closer to Sun. Terrestrial planets would be largearrow_forwardGiven what you know about the solar nebula theory, how likely is it that additional solar systems will yield inhabited planets? Visit NASA's Kepler mission and write a half-page description of the project.arrow_forward
- Theory and Observation. Discuss the interplay between theory and observation that has led to our modern theory of solar system formation. What role does technology play in allowing us to test this theory?arrow_forward1) How massive would Earth had been if it had accreted hydrogen compounds in addition to the sme properties listed in table 7.1? (Assume the same properties of the ingredients as listed in the table) 2) Now imagine that Earth had been able to capture hydrogen and helium gas in the same proportions as listed in the table. How massive would it have been?arrow_forwardDescribe the Doppler Method of searching for exoplanets.arrow_forward
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