Space and Space Travel ESS 102 Space and

Space and Space Travel ESS 102

Space and Space Travel Lecturers: Prof. Walt Harris e-mail: wmharris@ u. washington. edu Dr. Jeremy Thomas Sections AD, AE e-mail: jnt@ u. washington. edu Teaching Assistants: Michael Kokorowski Sections AA-AC e-mail: mkoko@ u. washington. edu Race Roberson Sections AF-AH e-mail: raceman@ u. washington. edu

Space and Space Travel Course Grading: 1) Weekly Assignments based on text and lectures. 2) Weekly Hands-On Concepts Lab (127 JHN) 3) Weekly Computer Lab (21 JHN) 4) 3 Quizzes. 5) Water Rocket Competition 6) Writing Project (Scientifically Correct Fictional News Article) } } 30% 40%

Space and Space Travel Learning Materials: 1) Textbook “Sun Earth & Sky” by K. R. Lang 2) Course Web Site www. ess. washington. edu/Space/ESS 102/ 3) Weekly Web Site(s) of Interest: 4) Lectures:

Space and Space Travel Early Announcements: 1) Lab Sections DO NOT MEET this week (January 4) 2) There will be a tutorial on the math required for this class Friday, January 5 th at 5: 30 PM (JHN 102) Tuesday, January 9 th at 5: 30 PM (JHN 102)

Space and Space Travel Course Expectations: 1) Basic Understanding of Physics and Chemistry: (Atoms, Molecules & their Parts, Energy, Waves, and Momentum) 2) Ability to use Basic Mathematical Techniques: (Algebra, Geometry, and Scientific Notation) 3) Computer Literacy: (Internet, E-mail, and Calculator) 1) Attendance and On-Time Submission of Assignments: (Assignments submitted after the week due cannot be accepted without valid excuse) 2) 5) Original Work: 3) (Plagiarism and duplicate assignments will receive a zero grade)

Space and Space Travel Course Objectives: 1) To Describe the Properties of the Space Environment and the Sun. 2) To explore how the Earth and planets interact with space, and how this interaction affects their local environment. 3) To Examine the Methods, Challenges, and Future of Space Exploration for both Human and Robot Probes. 4) To Introduce the Explorable Inventory of the Solar System and the Targets of Current Interest.

A POP QUIZ!!! 1) Astronauts are weightless because there is no gravity in space. False!!! (They are falling) 2) The only significant source of energy at the Earth is visible sunlight (99. 999%) True!!! 3) The most difficult challenge in human space flight is the lack of air. False!!! (radiation and weightlessness) 4) The Earth’s magnetic field is essential for the existence of life. False!!! (we’ve lived without one!) 5) Taller people are more ‘electric’ than shorter ones. True!!! (the Earth’s electric field is 100 V/m, even on a clear day!)

A POP QUIZ!!! 6) Rockets work by pushing off from the launch pad and air. False!!! (It’s conservation of momentum) 7) The major source of heat underground is radioactive decay. True!!! (it’s from Uranium!) 8) The major limitation to space travel is the mass of experiments. False!!! (it’s the fuel) 9) The Sun is brighter today than when the dinosaurs lived. True!!! (it’s about 10% brighter)

Space and Space Travel Perspective: 1) Why study space and traveling in space? 2) Historical Perspective on Space Travel. 3) A Brief Inventory of the Solar System and our reasons for studying it. 4) Physical Perspectives on the Scale of the Solar system. • • • How Big? How Far? How Hot? How Much? How Long? 5) The Nature of Light and Light Propagation.

Space and Space Travel Why do we care about the Space Environment? 1) Space is lethal and our changing atmosphere and space environment are out cocoon. • X-Rays and UV radiation are (usually!) stopped in our atmosphere. • Cosmic Rays (from Sun and Space) enter our atmosphere. • 8% of our radiation exposure comes from Cosmic Rays • An airplane flight is equivalent to 1/2 a chest X-Ray • Cosmic Rays produce atmospheric electric fields and lightning. • Cosmic Rays may produce mutations and be important for evolution.

Space and Space Travel Why do we care about the Space Environment? 2) Planetary Hazards: • Space is crowded over billions of years (impacts-supernovae) 3) Technology depends on space: • Communications Satellites • Weather Prediction (Galveston-1900, Children’s Blizzard-1881) • Global Location with GPS • Global Remote Sensing (deforestation, fires, pollution, ozone) • WIFI world (XM, Sirius, Direct. TV, etc. )