Course Review - First Midterm

Overview of the Universe and Solar System

• hierarchy of the Universe: solar system, stars, galaxies, galaxy groups, universe.
• basic scale of solar system and universe
  
• cosmic timeline/calendar
• motions of the Earth 

Observing the Sky

• the celestial sphere: definitions, angles, motion in the sky, the ecliptic
• seasonal changes
• lunar phases and rotation
• connection between lunar phase and rise/set time.
  
• eclipses: solar, lunar
• motion of the planets: retrograde motion
• epicycles and the development of the heliocentric model of the solar system.
• Copernicus, Tycho, Kepler
• Kepler's Laws
• orbits are ellipses
• equal areas in equal times
• P²=a³ for objects going around the Sun, with P in years and a in AU.
  
• Galileo's observations
  

Motion, Energy, and Gravity

• definitions: velocity, acceleration, momentum, etc.
• weight and weightlessness
• Newton's Laws of motion
• Newton's version of Kepler's 3rd law:
• P² = a³/M for any orbit, with P in years, a in AU, and M in Sun masses.
• types of energy: potential, kinetic, thermal, radiant
• conservation of energy
• law of gravity: F = GM₁M₂/r²
  
• orbits and energy; escape velocity
• tidal forces and tides
• tidal friction and the Earth/Moon system
  

Light and Matter

• interaction between light and matter
• light: photons and waves
• the electromagnetic spectrum: wavelength, energy, and color/type
• atomic structure (protons, neutrons, electrons), isotopes, molecules
  
• phases of matter (solid, liquid, gas, plasma)
  
• how energy is stored in atoms
• types of spectra (continuous, absorption, emission)
• chemical fingerprints
  
• thermal radiation
• the Doppler effect

Telescopes

Chapter 6

• main job of telescopes: light collection, angular resolution
• refracting and reflecting telescopes: how they focus light, advantages/disadvantages
  
• effects of the Earth's atmosphere, and why we put telescopes on mountains and in space
  
• telescopes at wavelengths other than optical
  

Night Sky Interludes

• know your bright stars and prominent constellations