In Quest of the Universe

by Kuhn, Karl F.

• ISBN13: 9780763708108
• ISBN10: 0763708100
• Edition: 4th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-02-01
• Publisher: Jones & Bartlett

Summary

Understanding Life, Third Editionis intended for non-major biology students.--General Biology (non-majors)-Principles of Biology

Table of Contents

Boxed Features	xvii
Preface	xxx
Acknowledgments	xxii
Prologue The Quest	1	(11)
P-1 Science and Its Ways of Knowing	2	(1)
P-2 The View from Earth	3	(2)
Questions, Answers, and Methods	4	(1)
P-3 From Earth to Galaxies	5	(1)
P-4 Units of Distance In Astronomy	6	(1)
P-5 The Scale of the Universe	6	(3)
Simplicity and the Unity of Nature	9	(1)
P-6 Astronomy Today	9	(1)
Conclusion	10	(1)
Study Guide	10	(2)
CHAPTER 1 An Earth-Centered Universe	12	(28)
1-1 The Celestial Sphere	13	(5)
Constellations	14	(2)
Measuring the Positions of Celestial Objects	16	(1)
Celestial Coordinates	17	(1)
1-2 The Sun's Motion Across the Sky	18	(6)
The Ecliptic	19	(1)
The Sun and the Seasons	20	(4)
1-3 Scientific Models	24	(7)
The Greek Geocentric Model	24	(3)
Observations of Planetary Motion	27	(2)
A Model of Planetary Motion: Epicycles	29	(2)
1-4 Criteria for Scientific Models	31	(3)
Model, Theory, and Hypothesis	32	(2)
1-5 Aristarchus's Heliocentric Model	34	(2)
Measuring the Size of the Earth	35	(1)
Conclusion	36	(1)
Study Guide	37	(3)
CHAPTER 2 A Sun-Centered System	40	(24)
2-1 The Marriage of Aristotle and Christianity	41	(1)
2-2 Nicolaus Copernicus and the Heliocentric Model	42	(5)
The Copernican System	43	(3)
Motions of the Planets	46	(1)
2-3 Comparing the Two Models	47	(5)
2-4 Tycho Brahe: The Importance of Accurate Observations	52	(1)
Tycho's Model	52	(1)
2-5 Johannes Kepler and the Laws of Planetary Motion	53	(5)
The Ellipse	54	(2)
Kepler's First Two Laws of Planetary Motion	56	(1)
Kepler's Third Law	56	(2)
2-6 Kepler's Contribution	58	(1)
Conclusion	58	(1)
Study Guide	59	(5)
CHAPTER 3 Gravity and the Rise of Modern Astronomy	64	(34)
3-1 Galileo Galilei and the Telescope	65	(5)
Observing the Moon, the Sun, and the Stars	65	(1)
Jupiter's Moons	66	(2)
The Phases of Venus	68	(2)
3-2 Isaac Newton's Grand Synthesis	70	(3)
Newton's First Two Laws of Motion	70	(2)
An Important Digression-Mass and Weight	72	(1)
Back to Newton's Second Law	72	(1)
Newton's Third Law	73	(1)
3-3 Motion In a Circle	73	(1)
3-4 The Law of Universal Gravitation	74	(3)
Arriving at the Law of Universal Gravitation	76	(1)
3-5 Newton's Laws and Kepler's Laws	77	(4)
3-6 Orbits and the Center of Mass	81	(2)
3-7 The Tides	83	(4)
Rotation and Revolution of the Moon	85	(1)
Precession of the Earth	86	(1)
3-8 The Importance of Newton's Laws	87	(1)
3-9 Beyond Newton: How Science Progresses	88	(1)
3-10 General Theory of Relativity	88	(4)
Space Warp	89	(3)
3-11 Gravitation and Einstein	92	(2)
The Orbit of Mercury	92	(1)
The Correspondence Principle	92	(2)
Conclusion	94	(1)
Study Guide	94	(4)
CHAPTER 4 Light and the Electromagnetic Spectrum	98	(32)
4-1 Temperature Scales	99	(2)
4-2 The Wave Nature of Light	101	(6)
Characteristics of Wave Motion	103	(1)
Light as a Wave	104	(3)
4-3 The Electromagnetic Spectrum	107	(2)
4-4 The Colors of Planets and Stars	109	(4)
Color from Reflection-The Colors of Planets	109	(2)
Color as a Measure of Temperature	111	(2)
4-5 Types of Spectra	113	(1)
Kirchhoff's Laws	113	(1)
4-6 The Bohr Model of the Atom	114	(7)
Emission Spectra	116	(2)
Absorption Spectra of the Stars	118	(3)
4-7 The Doppler Effect	121	(4)
The Doppler Effect In Astronomy	122	(1)
The Doppler Effect as a Measurement Technique	123	(1)
Other Doppler Effect Measurements	124	(1)
Relative or Real Speed?	125	(1)
4-8 The Inverse Square Law of Radiation	125	(1)
Conclusion	126	(1)
Study Guide	126	(4)
CHAPTER 5 Telescopes: Windows to the Universe	130	(32)
5-1 Refraction and Image Formation	131	(3)
5-2 The Refracting Telescope	134	(2)
Chromatic Aberration	134	(2)
5-3 The Powers of a Telescope	136	(5)
Angular Size and Magnifying Power	136	(2)
Light-Gathering Power	138	(1)
Resolving Power	139	(2)
5-4 The Reflecting Telescope	141	(8)
Large Optical Telescopes	142	(3)
Telescope Accessories	145	(4)
5-5 Radio Telescopes	149	(3)
5-6 Interferometry	152	(2)
5-7 Detecting Other Electromagnetic Radiation	154	(2)
5-8 The Hubble Space Telescope	156	(1)
Conclusion	157	(1)
Study Guide	158	(4)
CHAPTER 6 The Earth-Moon System	162	(40)
6-1 Measuring the Moon's Distance and Size	163	(5)
The Distance to the Moon	163	(1)
The Size of the Moon	164	(2)
The Small-Angle Formula	166	(1)
Summary: Two Measuring Techniques	167	(1)
The Moon's Changing Size	167	(1)
6-2 The Moon's Phases	168	(3)
6-3 Lunar Eclipses	171	(4)
Types of Lunar Eclipses	172	(3)
6-4 Solar Eclipses	175	(4)
The Partial Solar Eclipse	176	(1)
The Annular Eclipse	177	(2)
6-5 Earth	179	(7)
The Interior of the Earth	179	(1)
Plate Tectonics	180	(2)
Earth's Atmosphere	182	(1)
Data Page: The Earth	183	(1)
Earth's Magnetic Field	184	(2)
6-6 The Moon's Surface	186	(4)
6-7 Theories of the Origin of the Moon	190	(5)
Data Page: The Moon	192	(2)
The Large Impact Theory	194	(1)
6-8 The History of the Moon	195	(1)
Conclusion	195	(2)
Study Guide	197	(5)
CHAPTER 7 A Planetary Overview	202	(36)
7-1 Sizes and Distances In the Solar System	203	(4)
Measuring Distances In the Solar System	205	(2)
7-2 Measuring Mass and Average Density	207	(3)
Calculating Average Density	209	(1)
7-3 Planetary Motions	210	(1)
7-4 Classifying the Planets	211	(5)
Size, Mass, and Density	211	(3)
Satellites and Rings	214	(1)
Rotations	214	(2)
7-5 Planetary Atmospheres	216	(3)
Gases and Escape Velocity	216	(2)
The Atmospheres of the Planets	218	(1)
7-6 The Formation of the Solar System	219	(6)
Evidential Clues from the Data	219	(1)
Evolutionary Theories	220	(1)
Catastrophe Theories	221	(1)
Present Evolutionary Theories	221	(3)
Explaining Other Clues	224	(1)
7-7 Planetary Systems Around Other Stars	225	(8)
Planetary Data Comparison: The Solar System	230	(3)
Conclusion	233	(1)
Study Guide	233	(5)
CHAPTER 8 The Terrestrial Planets	238	(44)
8-1 Mercury	239	(7)
Mercury as Seen from Earth	239	(1)
Mercury via Mariner-Comparison with the Moon	240	(2)
Size, Mass, and Density	242	(2)
Mercury's Motions	244	(1)
Data Page: Mercury	245	(1)
8-2 Venus	246	(10)
Size, Mass, and Density	247	(1)
Venus's Motions	247	(1)
The Surface of Venus	248	(4)
The Atmosphere of Venus	252	(1)
A Hypothesis Explaining Venus/Earth Differences	253	(15)
Data Page: Venus	268
8-3 Mars	256	(20)
Mars as Seen from Earth	256	(1)
Size, Mass, and Density	257	(1)
Mars's Motions	258	(1)
Life on Mars?	258	(1)
Invasion and Its Results	259	(2)
The Surface of Mars	261	(3)
Atmospheric and Surface Conditions	264	(4)
Data Page: Mars	268	(4)
The Moons of Mars	272	(2)
Planetary Data Comparison Page: The Terrestrial Planets	274	(2)
8-4 Why Explore?	276	(1)
Conclusion	277	(1)
Study Guide	277	(5)
CHAPTER 9 The Jovian Planets	282	(42)
9-1 Jupiter	283	(14)
Jupiter as Seen from Earth	283	(1)
Jupiter as Seen from Space	284	(3)
The Composition of Jupiter	287	(1)
Jupiter's Interior	288	(2)
Energy from Jupiter	290	(2)
Jupiter's Moons	292	(3)
Data Page: Jupiter	295	(1)
Summary: The Galilean Moons	296	(1)
Jupiter's Ring	297	(1)
9-2 Saturn	297	(9)
Size, Mass, and Density	297	(1)
Saturn's Motions	298	(1)
Pioneer, Voyager, and Cassini	299	(1)
Saturn's Excess Energy	300	(1)
Titan	300	(2)
Planetary Rings	302	(1)
Data Page: Saturn	303	(1)
The Origin of Rings	304	(2)
9-3 Uranus	306	(6)
Uranus's Orientation and Motion	308	(3)
Data Page: Uranus	311	(1)
9-4 Neptune	312	(7)
Neptune's Moons and Rings	314	(1)
Data Page: Neptune	315	(2)
Planetary Data Comparison: The Jovian Planets	317	(2)
Conclusion	319	(1)
Study Guide	319	(5)
CHAPTER 10 Pluto and Solar System Debris	324	(611)
10-1 Pluto	325	(4)
The Discovery of Pluto	325	(1)
Pluto as Seen from Earth	326	(1)
Pluto and Charon	326	(2)
Data Page: Pluto	328	(1)
A Former Moon of Neptune?	329	(1)
10-2 Solar System Debris	329	(1)
10-3 Asteroids	329	(4)
The Orbits of Asteroids	331	(2)
The Origin of Asteroids	333	(1)
10-4 Comets	333	(6)
Cometary Orbits-Isaac Newton and Edmund Halley	334	(1)
The Nature of Comets	334	(3)
Comet Tails	337	(2)
10-5 The Oort Cloud and the Kuiper Belt	339	(2)
The Origin of Short-Period Comets	340	(1)
10-6 Meteors and Meteor Showers	341	(4)
Meteors	342	(1)
Meteoroids	342	(1)
Meteor Showers	343	(2)
10-7 Meteorites and Craters	345	(3)
10-8 The Importance of the Solar System Debris	348	(4)
Planetary Data Comparison: Pluto and Solar System Debris	354
Conclusion	352	(1)
Study Guide	353	(582)
CHAPTER 11 The Sun	935
11-1 Solar Properties	359	(3)
Data Page: The Sun	360	(2)
11-2 Solar Energy	362	(5)
The Source of the Sun's Energy	363	(1)
Solar Nuclear Reactions	364	(3)
11-3 The Sun's Interior	367	(7)
Pressure, Temperature, and Density	368	(1)
Hydrostatic Equilibrium	369	(1)
Energy Transport	370	(1)
The Neutrino Problem	371	(3)
11-4 The Solar Atmosphere	374	(8)
The Photosphere	376	(2)
The Chromosphere and Corona	378	(3)
The Solar Wind	381	(1)
11-5 Sunspots and the Solar Activity Cycle	382	(6)
Modeling the Sunspot Cycle and the Sunspots	383	(3)
Solar Flares and Coronal Mass Ejections	386	(2)
Conclusion	388	(1)
Study Guide	388	(4)
CHAPTER 12 Measuring the Properties of Stars	392	(32)
12-1 Stellar Luminosity	393	(3)
Apparent Magnitude	393	(3)
12-2 Measuring Distances to Stars	396	(3)
Absolute Magnitude	398	(1)
12-3 Motions of Stars	399	(2)
12-4 Spectral Types	401	(8)
The Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram	403	(1)
Spectroscopic Parallax	404	(2)
Luminosity Classes	406	(1)
Analyzing the Spectroscopic Parallax Procedure	407	(1)
Luminosity and the Sizes of Stars	407	(2)
12-5 Multiple Star Systems	409	(4)
Visual Binaries	410	(1)
Spectroscopic Binaries	411	(2)
Eclipsing Binaries	413	(1)
Other Binary Classifications	413	(1)
12-6 Stellar Masses and Sizes from Binary Star Data	413	(3)
12-7 The Mass-Luminosity Relationship	416	(1)
12-8 Cepheid Variables as Distance Indicators	416	(3)
Conclusion	419	(1)
Study Guide	420	(4)
CHAPTER 13 Interstellar Matter and Star Formation	424	(22)
13-1 The Interstellar Medium	425	(7)
Interstellar Dust	425	(3)
Interstellar Gas	428	(3)
Clouds and Nebulae	431	(1)
13-2 A Brief Woodland Visit	432	(1)
13-3 Star Birth	433	(9)
The Collapse of Interstellar Clouds	433	(3)
Protostars	436	(1)
Evolution toward the Main Sequence	436	(5)
Star Clusters	441	(1)
Conclusion	442	(1)
Study Guide	443	(3)
CHAPTER 14 The Lives and Deaths of Low-Mass Stars	446	(30)
14-1 Brown Dwarfs	447	(2)
14-2 Stellar Maturity	449	(3)
Stellar Nuclear Fusion	449	(1)
The Stellar Thermostat	450	(1)
Main Sequence Life of Stars	450	(2)
14-3 Star Death	452	(2)
14-4 Very Low Mass Stars (less than 0.4M) 452
14-5 Beyond the Very Low Mass Stars: The Red Giant Stage	454	(1)
14-6 Moderately Low Mass Stars (0.4-4M)	455	(10)
Electron Degeneracy and the Helium Flash	455	(3)
Stellar Pulsations	458	(1)
Mass Loss from Red Giants	459	(1)
Planetary Nebulae	460	(2)
Data Page: Planetary Nebulae	462	(3)
14-7 White Dwarfs	465	(4)
The Chandrasekhar Limit	465	(1)
Characteristics of White Dwarfs	466	(1)
Novae	467	(2)
14-8 Type I Supernovae	469	(2)
Conclusion	471	(1)
Study Guide	472	(4)
CHAPTER 15 The Deaths of Massive Stars	476	(34)
15-1 Moderately Massive and Very Massive Stars (>4M)	477	(3)
15-2 Type II Supernovae	480	(3)
Detecting Supernovae	482	(1)
15-3 SN1987A	483	(3)
15-4 Neutron Stars	486	(2)
Theory: Collapse of a Massive Star	486	(1)
Observation: The Discovery of Pulsars	486	(2)
15-5 The Lighthouse Model of Neutron Stars/Pulsars	488	(5)
Theory: The Emission of Radiation Pulses	488	(2)
Observation: The Crab Pulsar and Others	490	(3)
15-6 Moderately Massive Stars-Conclusion	493	(1)
15-7 General Relativity	494	(4)
A Binary Pulsar	496	(2)
15-8 The Fate of Very Massive Stars	498	(6)
Black Holes	498	(1)
Properties of Black Holes	499	(1)
Detecting Black Holes	500	(4)
15-9 Our Relatives-The Stars	504	(3)
Conclusion	507	(1)
Study Guide	507	(3)
CHAPTER 16 The Milky Way Galaxy	510	(30)
16-1 Our Galaxy	511	(7)
Globular Clusters	514	(4)
16-2 Components of the Galaxy	518	(4)
Galactic Motions	520	(1)
The Mass of the Galaxy	521	(1)
16-3 The Spiral Arms	522	(3)
16-4 Spiral Arm Theories	525	(3)
The Density Wave Theory	526	(2)
The Self-Propagating Star Formation Theory	528	(1)
16-5 The Galactic Nucleus	528	(4)
16-6 The Evolution of the Galaxy	532	(3)
Age and Composition of the Galaxy	532	(2)
The Galaxy's History	534	(1)
Conclusion	535	(1)
Study Guide	536	(4)
CHAPTER 17 Diversity of Galaxies	540	(40)
17-1 The Hubble Classification	541	(6)
Spiral Galaxies	541	(2)
Elliptical Galaxies	543	(1)
Irregular Galaxies	544	(2)
Hubble's Tuning Fork Diagram	546	(1)
17-2 Measuring Galaxies	547	(9)
Distances Measured by Various Indicators	547	(3)
The Hubble Law	550	(3)
The Hubble Law Used to Measure Distance	553	(2)
The Tully-Fisher Relation	555	(1)
17-3 The Masses of Galaxies	556	(4)
Clusters of Galaxies; Missing Mass	556	(4)
17-4 The Origin of Galactic Types	560	(1)
The Cloud Density Theory	560	(1)
The Merger Theory	560	(1)
Look-Back Time	561	(1)
17-5 Active Galaxies	561	(10)
Quasars	564	(2)
Competing Theories for the Quasar Redshift	566	(1)
Seyfert Galaxies	567	(1)
Quasars and Gravitational Lenses	567	(3)
Quasars, Blazars, and Superliminal Motion	570	(1)
17-6 The Nature of Active Galactic Nuclei	571	(3)
Conclusion	574	(1)
Study Guide	575	(5)
CHAPTER 18 Cosmology: The Nature of the Universe	580	(40)
18-1 The Search for Centers and Edges	581	(1)
Einstein's Universe	582	(1)
18-2 The Expanding Universe	582	(7)
What Is Expanding and What Is Not?	585	(1)
The Cosmological Redshift	585	(3)
Olbers's Paradox	588	(1)
18-3 Cosmological Assumptions	589	(1)
18-4 The Big Bang	590	(7)
Evidence: Background Radiation	592	(3)
Additional Evidence for the Big Bang	595	(1)
The Age of the Universe	596	(1)
18-5 The Future: Will Expansion Stop?	597	(6)
Evidence: Distant Galaxies and High-Redshift Type Ia Supernovae	598	(4)
The Density of Matter in the Universe	602	(1)
18-6 The Inflationary Universe	603	(2)
The Flatness Problem	603	(1)
The Horizon Problem	604	(1)
18-7 The Grand Scale Structure of the Universe	605	(11)
Conclusion	616	(1)
Study Guide	616	(4)
CHAPTER 19 The Quest for Extraterrestrial intelligence	620	(11)
19-1 Radio Searches and SETI	621	(1)
19-2 Communication with Extraterrestrial Intelligence	622	(1)
19-3 Letters to Extraterrestrials	623	(2)
The Pioneer Plaques	623	(1)
The Voyager Records	624	(1)
Will the Message Be Found?	625	(1)
19-4 The Origin of Life	625	(1)
19-5 The Drake Equation	626	(1)
19-6 Where Is Everybody?	627	(1)
Conclusion	628	(1)
Study Guide	629	(2)
Appendixes	631	(4)
Appendix A Units and Constants	631	(1)
Appendix B Solar Data	632	(1)
Appendix C Planetary Data	632	(1)
Appendix D Planetary Satellites	633	(3)
Appendix E The Brightest Stars	636	(1)
Appendix F The Nearest Stars	637	(1)
Appendix G The Constellations	638	(3)
Appendix H Answers to Selected Questions, Calculations, and Try One Yourself Exercises	641
Glossary	635	(22)
Index	657	(11)
Photo Credits	668	(3)
Star Charts	671