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, The Universe Revealed. 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 Thursday Feb. 15

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): Feeling stressed? Slam some asteroids and comets into the Earth and see what happens on the "Solar System Collisions" webpage (Follow the Computer Programs - Practice link or go directly to the Impact 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 the artificial satellite link and use the resources you find to choose a man-made satellite to observe yourself. Then go out and watch it. (The International Space Station is very striking, if it passes within view.) Record and report the object you observed, the time and date of observation, the weather conditions at the time of observation, and the visual appearance of the object - both its brightness and how it appears to move along the sky.
Note: this requires some planning on your part, and many potentially observable satellites are not so easy to see in the Metro area because of light pollution.

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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