STUDY SHEET FOR
MIDTERM, OCTOBER 1, 2009
Test material is everything we have
discussed thus far in class. This includes most of Chapters 1,
2, 3, 4, and some of Ch 5 and 6 (use class notes as guide).
The
test will be about 20-30 questions, about 50/50 multiple choice and
short written answers required. You do not need a scantron. Test
answers are written on the exam sheets. You can get some idea of the
type of questions from the "Quick Checks" that we
interspersed in the notes. You can use the entire class period for
the test. Please contact me with any questions.
(rwalterb@nmsu.edu)
To study, use lecture notes on web pages
as the main guide to follow-up reading relevant sections in the book.
Depending on your background and familiarity with science in general
and astronomy in particular, you may need to spend more or less time
studying the book. The list below lists most of the major topics we
have discussed. I may have missed one or two but the notes will make
that clear.
Chapters 1, 2, and 3
Make sure you understand the following concepts, ideas, fact points:
A mental image of the distance scale in the solar system
A mental image of the distance scale in the Milky Way and the Universe. Don't mix this up with the much smaller scales in the solar system. The Milky Way is MUCH bigger than the solar system, the universe MUCH bigger than the Milky Way.
Stars, planets, moons. What are the differences between them?
What is a light year? A light minute? What does it measure? Why do we use it?
Look-back time.
What is the age of the Earth and Sun?
The eight major planets in the solar system and the one dwarf planet.
Terrestrial planets
Jovian planets
most likely planets/moons in solar system to search for life
Big Bang
Evidence for Big Bang (3 pieces of evidence, find them all)
Structure of matter: protons, neutrons, electrons, atoms, ions, isotopes, molecules, compounds
nuclear fusion
E = Mc2, what does it have to do with nuclear fusion? What about nuclear fission?
Most common elements that make up the Sun
Process of science
hypothesis, theory, experiment
Early models of our solar system: geocentric, Ptolemy, retrograde motion, epicycles, what was wrong with it?
Copernicus, Brahe, Galileo, Kepler, Newton. What were their roles?
heliocentric model, explanation for retrograde motion
eclipses of Sun and moon, explanations for them in various models
phases of the moon.
rough time line of major developments in our understanding of solar system
Kepler's 3 laws of planetary motion
Newton's laws of motion and the law of gravity. What are they, how do they apply?
what is being weightless? How can we achieve that situation?
Principle of rocket flight
Chapter 4
age of the Earth
early development of earth: formation, cooling down
Earth's geology: sedimentary rocks, volcanic rocks, catastrophic changes versus uniformitarianism
What is the evidence that shows the earth is old?
what is plate tectonics, continental drift, what is the origin of plate tectonics?
what is the age and origin of the moon?
craters on the moon: why so many? what is their origin?
radio-active dating of rocks: how does it work? what is half life?
isotopes: what are they? In what context did we talk about them?
uniformatarianism and catrastrophism as the two major geological viewpoints
atmosphere and greenhouse effect
global warming
creation of oxygen in atmosphere
ozone and ozone hole
fossil record
Chapter 5 and 6
definition and characterization of life
biological evolution: main principles
evidence for evolution
natural selection: what is its role and how does it function in evolution?
mutations
DNA, chromosomes, genes, amino acids
misconceptions about evolution
extremophiles
origin of life on earth
cosmic calendar and crucial events in the earth's history and evolution of life
major mass extinctions and possible causes
If you have
questions before the exam, mail them to me and I will answer you by
e-mail asap. (rwalterb@nmsu.edu)