Cosmic Samples and the Origin of the Solar System

This set of flashcards covers key concepts and facts about cosmic samples and the origin of the solar system as discussed in the lecture.

What are planetesimals?

Planetesimals are the building blocks formed from the dust and gas in a disk around a new star.

What phenomena occurs when a larger piece of cosmic material strikes Earth's atmosphere?

It creates a bright fireball.

What visual characteristic do the tracks of meteors in a meteor shower have?

They appear to diverge from a point in the distance.

What event is depicted in the painting shown in the presentation relating to a historical meteor shower?

The great meteor shower or storm of 1833.

Where can the largest iron meteorite in the United States be found?

In the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.

What is the US Antarctic Search for Meteorites (ANSMET) known for?

Recovering meteorites from the Antarctic ice.

What type of meteorite evidence was found in Edward McCain's car?

A meteorite left a hole in the seat cushion.

What materials are identified in the chemical condensation sequence of the solar nebula?

Different materials condense at various temperatures within the solar nebula.

What does the protoplanetary disk around HL Tau indicate about planet formation?

Newly formed planets orbiting a star clear out dust lanes in their paths.

What is significant about the bar graph showing transiting planets by size?

It indicates a high number of planets found that are between the sizes of Earth and Neptune.

How has the detection of exoplanets evolved over the years?

Improvements in technology allowed for the detection of lower mass planets over time.

How do geological stages of terrestrial planets vary by size?

Smaller planets pass through geological stages more quickly than larger ones.

Why are mountains on Mars taller than those on Earth?

Mars has less surface gravity and no moving plates.

What is Olympus Mons?

The largest martian volcano, nearly 500 kilometers wide and over 20 kilometers high.

What is the shape characteristic of small asteroids like Ida?

Small asteroids are generally irregular or elongated due to insufficient gravity to form a spherical shape.