The Cosmic Perspective (9th Edition)
9th Edition
ISBN: 9780134874364
Author: Jeffrey O. Bennett, Megan O. Donahue, Nicholas Schneider, Mark Voit
Publisher: PEARSON
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Textbook Question
Chapter S1, Problem 38EAP
Opposite Rotation. Suppose Earth rotated in a direction opposite to its orbital direction; that is, suppose it rotated clockwise (as seen from above the North Pole) but orbited counterclockwise. Would the solar day still be longer than the sidereal day? Explain.
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Check out a sample textbook solutionStudents have asked these similar questions
Why is a sidereal day shorter than a solar day?
O A. precession of Earth's axis
B. the non-circular orbit of Earth around the Sun
C. the tilt of Earth's axis
D. the combined effect of the rotation of Earth and its orbit about the Sun
E. Earth year being a non-integer number of Earth days
7. Suppose you are on a strange planet and observe, at night, that the stars do not rise and set, but circle parallel
to the horizon. Next, you walk in a constant direction for 8000 miles, and at your new location on the planet,
you find that all stars rise straight up in the east and set straight down in the west, perpendicular to the horizon.
How could you determine the circumference of the planet without any further observations? What is the
circumference, in miles, of the planet? [OER Chapter 2, Figuring for Yourself #43]
BACKGROUND
An ingenious solution to the Earth's circumference occured in 230 BC. Eratosthenes, a Greek
geographer, mathematician, music theorist, poet, astronomer, and philosopher, was reading in the
Library of Alexandria when he noticed an account for a deep well near Syene (now Aswan),
some distance to the south (800 km) in which at high noon on the longest day of the year the
bottom of the well was fully illuminated by the Sun. Eratosthenes exclaimed "Ah-ah!" (or
something like that), "I can solve for the circumference of the Earth!". In his mind's eye,
Eratosthenes could see that at Syene, at the moment when the bottom of the well was fully lit, the
Sun must have been at the Zenith (directly overhead). Yet he knew that at the same moment in
Alexandria vertical objects (like a tower, pole) cast shadows.
Here is the experiment perfomed by Eratosthenes (see the picture below).
• He erected a vertical pole at Alexandria (A) and measured the angle of its shadow at the
moment when the…
Chapter S1 Solutions
The Cosmic Perspective (9th Edition)
Ch. S1 - Prob. 1VSCCh. S1 - Use the following questions to check your...Ch. S1 - Use the following questions to check your...Ch. S1 - Use the following questions to check your...Ch. S1 - Use the following questions to check your...Ch. S1 - Prob. 6VSCCh. S1 - Prob. 7VSCCh. S1 - Explain the differences between a (a) sidereal day...Ch. S1 - Prob. 2EAPCh. S1 - Prob. 3EAP
Ch. S1 - Prob. 4EAPCh. S1 - Prob. 5EAPCh. S1 - Prob. 6EAPCh. S1 - What are declination and right ascension? How are...Ch. S1 - 8. How and why do the Sun’s celestial coordinates...Ch. S1 - 9. Suppose you ire at the North Pole. Where is the...Ch. S1 - 10. Describe the Sun’s path through the local sky...Ch. S1 - 11. What is special about the tropics of Cancer...Ch. S1 - 2. Briefly describe how you can use the Sun or...Ch. S1 - Does It Make Sense? Decide whether the statement...Ch. S1 - Does It Make Sense?
Decide whether the statement...Ch. S1 - Does It Make Sense?
Decide whether the statement...Ch. S1 - Does It Make Sense?
Decide whether the statement...Ch. S1 - Does It Make Sense?
Decide whether the statement...Ch. S1 - Does It Make Sense?
Decide whether the statement...Ch. S1 - Does It Make Sense?
Decide whether the statement...Ch. S1 - Does It Make Sense?
Decide whether the statement...Ch. S1 - Does It Make Sense?
Decide whether the statement...Ch. S1 - Does It Make Sense? Decide whether the statement...Ch. S1 - Choose the best answer to each of the following...Ch. S1 - Choose the best answer to each of the following...Ch. S1 - Choose the best answer to each of the following...Ch. S1 - Choose the best answer to each of the following...Ch. S1 - Choose the best answer to each of the following...Ch. S1 - Choose the best answer to each of the following...Ch. S1 - Choose the best answer to each of the following...Ch. S1 - Choose the best answer to each of the following...Ch. S1 - Choose the best answer to each of the following...Ch. S1 - Choose the best answer to each of the following...Ch. S1 - Transits and the Geocentric Universe. Ancient...Ch. S1 - Geometry and Science. As discussed in Mathematical...Ch. S1 - Northern Chauvinism. Why is the writing on maps...Ch. S1 - Group Activity: Find Your Way Home. You and your...Ch. S1 - Opposite Rotation. Suppose Earth rotated in a...Ch. S1 - Prob. 39EAPCh. S1 - The Sun from Mars. Mars has an axis tilt of 25.2°,...Ch. S1 - Fundamentals of Your Local Sky. Answer each of the...Ch. S1 - Prob. 42EAPCh. S1 - Prob. 43EAPCh. S1 - Prob. 44EAPCh. S1 - Prob. 46EAPCh. S1 - Lost at Sea I. During a vacation, you decide to...Ch. S1 - Prob. 48EAPCh. S1 - Prob. 49EAPCh. S1 - Lost at Sea IV. Repeat Problem 47 for this...Ch. S1 - Orbital and Synodic Periods. Use each object’s...Ch. S1 - Prob. 52EAPCh. S1 - HA=LST-RA It is 4 p.m. on the March equinox. What...Ch. S1 - Meridian Crossings of the Moon and Phobos....Ch. S1 - Mercury’s Rotation Period. Mercury’s sidereal day...
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- H3. A total lunar eclipse is observed on December 31. Predict the next lunar eclipse. A total lunar eclipse will occur when the full moon and the nominal orbit of the moon line up together (The solution of two equations). From the following data algebraic equation for the phase of the moon and nominal orbit of the moon can be formed. A new moon (0%) was observed on December 17 and the full moon (10%) was observed on December 31 along with the nominal orbit of the moon (0%). The brimming orbit of the moon (100%) was observed on November 29. When the two equations are equal a lunar eclipse will occur. How many days from December 31 will next lunar eclipse occur? Given the coming year is a leap year - on what dates will the next 4 total lunar eclipses occur? Show the algebraic solution, any information you use.arrow_forwardWhich of the following groups of moon phases are above the horizon at 8 pm? A. third quarter, waning crescent, and waxing gibbous B. new Moon, third quarter, and waning gibbous O C. waxing gibbous, full Moon, waning gibbous D. waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous O E. None. The Moon is only visible above the horizon during the night time.arrow_forwardSuppose the Moon rotated on its axis just as quickly as Earth. Would we still always see the same side of the Moon from Earth? Explain.arrow_forward
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