ASTR 100 (McGaugh)
HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS

The homework assignments for the entire semester are given here. Problems in the boxes refer to problems from the text, Astronomy: The Solar System and Beyond. Extra credit problems are included below the box.

Always put your name and section number at the top of your homework!
Be sure to type or write neatly - we can not give credit for things we can not read.

Homework #1 (25 Points) Due Tuesday Sept. 17

Extra Credit (5 Points): Observe the moon. Report the time, date, and place of your observation, the phase of the moon (waxing crescent; full; waning gibbous; etc.), and its approximate location on the sky (e.g., "about 10 degrees above the southwest horizon"). To receive full credit, make two separate observations, preferably separated by about 24 hours. Comment on any changes in the moon's illumination and position in the sky between your two observations.

Extra Credit (5 Points): Feeling stressed? Slam some asteroids and comets into the Earth and see what happens on the "Solar System Collisions" webpage (Follow the link from the Astronomy Programs page or go directly to the Solar System Collisions page). Describe what happens -- and how often -- for asteroids of several different sizes (small, medium, large, HUGE!). Imagine a rocky asteroid moving at 25 km/s, how big does it have to be to create a magnitude 9.5 earthquake?

Extra Credit (5 Points): Follow one of the SOLAR SYSTEM links from the main class web page (under Material to Help You out). Explore some of the sublinks. Write a paragraph summarizing what you find, and a paragraph describing what you learned (Use your own words!)

Extra Credit (5 Points): Follow one of the STARS & OUR GALAXY links from the main class web page (under Material to Help You out). Explore some of the sublinks, and write a paragraph summarizing what you find, and a paragraph describing what you learned (Use your own words!)

Extra Credit (5 Points): Follow one of the OTHER GALAXIES links from the main class web page (under Material to Help You out). Explore some of the sublinks, and write a paragraph summarizing what you find, and a paragraph describing what you learned (Use your own words!)

Extra Credit (5 Points): Explore the Astronomy JavaLab. Choose one of the Applets there and explore its function. Report on which one you chose and why, as well as what you learned.

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