Back
to ASTR120 Home Page
Start this homework by finishing the relevant reading: the Preface, Chapter 1, and Chapter 2. I also recommend testing yourself on the "Review Questions" at the end of each chapter. This is an excellent way to see if you understood the reading. Put in good effort each week, and you'll do better on the homeworks assignments and will not have to cram as much for exams.
W15. Go to the Earth's Seasons
website at http://janus.astro.umd.edu/astro/seasons.
Run the defaults for College Park (latitude 39
degrees). a) How many hours of sunlight do we get in mid summer? Mid
winter? b) How do these numbers change in Anchorage Alaska at latitude
60 degrees? c) What happens if you are on the equator? d) What is
special about the Arctic Circle and the Tropic of Cancer? d) Under
what conditions would Earth's Arctic Circle be south of its Tropic of
Cancer? Does this happen on other planets (hint: click the help
button)? Play with the simulation and have fun!
Need help with Scientific Notation? Try the tool at http://janus.astro.umd.edu/astro/scinote/ and practice until you can do this type of problem in your sleep!