Questions from the lecture on Thursday, July 28

(133)

What are the Kirkwood gaps? Explain how they are formed. As part of your answer, address the following: Why would an asteroid in one of the gaps be affected so radically by Jupiter while an asteroid just to one side or the other of a gap isn't affected?

(134)

Explain what "dynamic heating" is and how Jupiter is likely responsible for the formation of the asteroid belt and also the relatively small size of Mars.

(135)

Explain the origin of meteor showers. Why do meteor showers occur at the same times each year?

(136)

What is the radiant of a meteor shower? Explain how meteor showers are named.

(137)

Use a simple diagram of the Earth and its orbit around the Sun (a top view) to help explain why the best time to observe a meteor shower is in the few hours before dawn.

(138)

Briefly explain the two (related) sources of Io's internal heating. A diagram would help here.

(139)

What makes the surface of Europa so young (such a low crater density, bright coloring)? Explain why we think Europa is one of the most likely objects in the solar system besides Earth to have life as we know it.

(140)

What observational evidence tells us that the rings of Saturn are made up of millions of tiny independently orbiting particles rather than a solid sheet of matter? Explain. As part of your answer, describe (or show) what the evidence would look like if Saturn's rings were a solid sheet of matter.

(141)

What is the Roche Limit? Explain why the debris that makes up Saturn's rings doesn't coalesce to form a moon.

(142)

How do we know that Saturn hasn't always had a ring system? Explain the process by which we think Saturn acquired a ring system.