ASSIGNMENT #1-
Like siblings, the planets of our solar system have similarities, but also distinct differences. The terrestrial planets and Jovian planets almost seem like half-siblings, their differences are so pronounced. In a 2-3 paragraph essay, list some of the most notable ways the two groups differ, and describe how the nebular theory explains them.
ASSIGNMENT #2-
The outer planets are sometime collectively called the "gas giants." That name is perhaps a bit misleading, given how we think of gas in earth-based situations. However, the most abundant gas in the solar nebula - hydrogen - is certainly the primary ingredient of all four Jovian planets.
In a 2-3 paragraph essay, outline some of the major differences among the Jovian planets. Describe the process of gas capture that helped to build them, and use it as a basis to explain these differences.
ASSIGNMENT #3-
Astronomers refer to the balance of inward and outward forces inside a star as hydrostatic equilibrium. Use layman's terms to explain, in a 2-3 paragraph essay, what these forces are, and how they keep a star from either blowing up or collapsing.