STUDY SHEET FOR SECOND MIDTERM, APRIL 08
Material for exam: Chapters 4 through 9.
- Use notes as guide to focus on areas to study. Note
that Chapter 4 notes are in the "Notes1" link on the main page and the
other chapters in the "Notes2" link on the main page.
- Look at the "Questions you have turned in" link on the
main course page as these discuss many things that were brought up by
you in class.
- 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 use the entire class
period for the test. Please contact me with any questions.
(rwalterb@nmsu.edu)
- Use lecture notes on web pages as the main guide for
followup study
from 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.
- Don't forget to study the two sets of notes that Liz
made for the classes she taught; you can find them by clicking on her
web page link on the main course page!
Chapter 4 (see "Notes 1"!)
- evidence the earth is old
- plate tectonics, continental drift
- age and origin of the moon
- craters on the moon
- radio-active dating of rocks
- isotopes
- uniformatarianism and catrastrophism
- atmosphere and greenhouse effect
- global warming
- creation of oxygen in atmosphere
- ozone and ozone hole
- fossil record, evidence for mass extinctions
Chapter 5 and 6
- definition and characterization of life
- biological evolution
- evidence for evolution
- natural selection and main principals of natural
selection
- mutations
- DNA
- 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
Chapters 7-9
- most likely places outside Earth in solar system to
find life?
- tidal forces
- planetary rings
- greenhouse effect
- other heat source(s) for planets
- properties of terrestrial planets in context of
likelihood of life
- space exploration: robotic missions versus manned
missions (advantages and risks and relative cost of each)
- telescopes and most important properties of them
- space exploration: fly-by's, orbiting space craft,
landers
- Where are we looking?
- the case for Mars
- Why on Jupiter's moon Europa?
- Why is Earth located "just right'?