RANDY L. PHELPS

This is the Planet Formation Module

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Procedure

1.  For this module, please look through the "lecture" notes for "Planet Formation".  These notes contain the material, in condensed form, that I will expect you to become familiar with.  I am sure you will have questions about the material, especially since it is presented in the form of lecture notes.  To help you fill in the blanks, I have added web links that you can follow, in order to gain further insight into the material.  ________________________________________________________________________________

Upon completing this assignment, you should be able to answer these, and similar questions

General Concepts

• How old is the Earth? What objects are used to establish its age?
• How does radiometric dating of rocks work?
• What is the significance of the Allende meteorite?
• What is the difference between formation age, and relative formation age?
• What is the Angular Momentum Problem, and how might it be solved?
• What is a planetesimal?

Applications

• Describe the conditions under which materials condense out of the Solar nebula? How does this account for the observed characteristics of the planets as we move farther out into the Solar System?
• What processes might allow for accretion of particles and/or planetesimals to occur?
• Describe how giant planets might be able to form?
• Describe how planetary satellites might be able to form, and why their characteristics might differ in the inner and outer Solar System?
• Describe how comets might be able to form?

These questions, and similar ones, will form the basis of  the exam material for this section of the course.  If you have problems with the material, please see me.   If you are unable to answer some of the questions, I will help you before the date specified on the syllabus, provided you show me the results of your inquiry into the material.

That is, you must provide me the answers you we able to obtain for all questions, including your attempts at problem questions, before I will help you with any of them!   

In other words, for me to provide you with help with the questions, you must show me that you have undertaken a good-faith-effort to find the answers yourself, in a timely manner.

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