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Chapter 6: Problem 8

Spacecraft are the most effective way to study planets in our Solar System because a. planets move too fast across the sky for us to image them well from Earth. b. planets cannot be imaged from Earth. c. they can collect more information than is available just from images. d. space missions are easier than long observing campaigns.

Short Answer

Expert verified
c. they can collect more information than is available just from images.

Step by step solution

01

Analyze each option

Review each provided option to determine its validity. Understand that the correct answer should explain why spacecraft are more effective for planetary study.
02

Evaluate Option a

Consider whether the movement of planets across the sky makes it impossible to image them from Earth. Despite their movement, this factor alone does not justify the necessity of spacecraft.
03

Evaluate Option b

Analyze whether planets cannot be imaged from Earth at all. This statement is incorrect, as many planets have been imaged from Earth-based telescopes.
04

Evaluate Option c

Assess if spacecraft can collect more information than just images. Spacecraft are equipped with various instruments that can gather data about a planet's atmosphere, surface, magnetic field, etc., providing more comprehensive information than images alone.
05

Evaluate Option d

Consider whether space missions are necessarily easier than long observing campaigns. This statement is generally not true as space missions are highly complex and resource-intensive.
06

Choose the best option

Based on the evaluation, it is clear that option c is the most accurate. Spacecraft can gather diverse forms of data, making them highly effective for planetary study.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

planetary observation
Planetary observation is crucial for understanding the universe. It involves studying planets using various techniques to gather detailed information about their characteristics.
Observations can be done through:
  • Telescopes: Both space-based and Earth-based
  • Spacecraft: Sending probes to planets
These methods help gather data about the planet's atmosphere, surface, rotation, and even magnetic fields. This data is essential for scientific research, enabling us to learn more about the origins and potential habitability of planets.
space missions
Space missions are journeys undertaken by spacecraft to explore areas beyond Earth. These missions can be manned or unmanned and play a significant role in planetary observation.
They provide a closer look at celestial bodies by:
  • Sending probes and rovers to planets
  • Orbiting satellites capturing detailed images
  • Gathering samples and analyzing the planetary surface
Space missions are complex and expensive but indispensable for detailed planetary study. They offer insights that are impossible to obtain with ground-based observations alone.
data collection in space
Data collection in space is the process of gathering scientific information from celestial bodies. This can include:
  • Imaging: Capturing photos and videos of planets
  • Spectroscopy: Analyzing light to determine the composition of the atmosphere and surface
  • Magnetic Field Measurement: Studying the magnetic properties
  • Surface Sampling: Collecting soil and rock samples
Spacecraft carry advanced instruments to perform these tasks, providing comprehensive data. This wealth of information helps scientists make new discoveries and improve our understanding of the cosmos.
Earth-based telescopes
Earth-based telescopes are powerful tools used to observe planets from the ground. They are equipped with advanced optical systems to observe celestial events and features.
Some benefits and limitations include:
  • High-resolution imagery from advanced lenses
  • Limited by Earth's atmosphere causing distortions
  • Less expensive compared to space missions
  • Accessibility for regular monitoring
While they can't match the detailed data from space probes, they remain essential for long-term observation and tracking of planetary changes.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

The resolution of the human eye is about 1.5 arcmin. What would the aperture of a radio telescope (observing at 21 \(\mathrm{cm}\) ) have to be to have this resolution? Even though the atmosphere is transparent at radio wavelengths, humans do not see light in the radio range. Using your calculations and a little logic, explain why.

The largest astronomical refractor has an aperture of 1 meter. List several reasons why it would be impractical to build a larger refractor with twice this aperture.

The diameter of the full Moon in the focal plane of an average amateur's telescope (focal length 1.5 meters) is \(13.8 \mathrm{mm}\) How big would the Moon be in the focal plane of a very large astronomical telescope (focal length 250 meters)?

Which of the following can be observed from Earth's surface? a. radio waves b. gamma radiation c. far UV light d. X-ray light e. visible light

You are shopping for telescopes online. You find two in your price range. One of these has an aperture of \(20 \mathrm{cm},\) and the other has an aperture of \(30 \mathrm{cm} .\) If aperture size is the only difference, which should you choose, and why? a. The \(20 \mathrm{cm}\), because the light-gathering power will be better. b. The \(20 \mathrm{cm}\), because the image size will be larger. c. The \(30 \mathrm{cm}\), because the light-gathering power will be better. d. The \(30 \mathrm{cm}\), because the image size will be larger.
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