Due to friction with Earth's atmosphere
Question # 00107870
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Updated on: 09/25/2015 10:03 PM Due on: 10/25/2015
1. Due to friction with Earth's atmosphere, a large static electric charge could build up on our
plummeting asteroid fragment. Would you expect our fragment to generate a magnetic field?
Explain why or why not. (15 points)
2. Upon entering Earth's atmosphere, a fragment is heated to high temperature by frictional
forces. What would happen to any ice contained within a fragment? What type of phase change
would this be? Is this type of change considered a chemical change or a physical change?
Explain. (10 points)
3. As the fragment falls through the atmosphere, it is heated and some of the material is
vaporized. Explain how you could determine the composition of this hot vaporized material from
the light it emits. (15 points)
4. If the asteroid fragment contains carbon, it may burn when entering Earth's atmosphere. What
is the most likely compound to result from this process? Which type of chemical bond would
result from this process? Of the types chemical reactions studied in this course, which type
would this be? Be sure to fully explain all of your answers. (20 points)
5. Asteroids can be classified into two broad groups based on their composition and location:
carbon-rich asteroids dominate the outer part of the asteroid belt, whereas metal-rich asteroids
dominate the inner part of the belt. Analysis of the fragment we have discussed in this project
reveals that it contains nearly equal amounts of metals and carbon. Can you conclude that the
original whole asteroid had a similar composition? Can you conclude with a high degree of
confidence that the asteroid originated in the middle regions of the asteroid belt? Explain your
reasoning. If you would need more data from the asteroid analysis, what would you like to
see? (20 points)
6. The Law of Conservation of Energy tells us that “energy cannot be created nor destroyed.” At
the center of our Solar System is the Sun, and the Sun is constantly generating energy allowing
our Earth to have habitable conditions for life to exist. What is the source of the Sun’s energy?
Does the Law of Conservation of Energy apply here? Explain your answer.
plummeting asteroid fragment. Would you expect our fragment to generate a magnetic field?
Explain why or why not. (15 points)
2. Upon entering Earth's atmosphere, a fragment is heated to high temperature by frictional
forces. What would happen to any ice contained within a fragment? What type of phase change
would this be? Is this type of change considered a chemical change or a physical change?
Explain. (10 points)
3. As the fragment falls through the atmosphere, it is heated and some of the material is
vaporized. Explain how you could determine the composition of this hot vaporized material from
the light it emits. (15 points)
4. If the asteroid fragment contains carbon, it may burn when entering Earth's atmosphere. What
is the most likely compound to result from this process? Which type of chemical bond would
result from this process? Of the types chemical reactions studied in this course, which type
would this be? Be sure to fully explain all of your answers. (20 points)
5. Asteroids can be classified into two broad groups based on their composition and location:
carbon-rich asteroids dominate the outer part of the asteroid belt, whereas metal-rich asteroids
dominate the inner part of the belt. Analysis of the fragment we have discussed in this project
reveals that it contains nearly equal amounts of metals and carbon. Can you conclude that the
original whole asteroid had a similar composition? Can you conclude with a high degree of
confidence that the asteroid originated in the middle regions of the asteroid belt? Explain your
reasoning. If you would need more data from the asteroid analysis, what would you like to
see? (20 points)
6. The Law of Conservation of Energy tells us that “energy cannot be created nor destroyed.” At
the center of our Solar System is the Sun, and the Sun is constantly generating energy allowing
our Earth to have habitable conditions for life to exist. What is the source of the Sun’s energy?
Does the Law of Conservation of Energy apply here? Explain your answer.
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Rating:
/5
Solution: Due to friction with Earth's atmosphere