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1) The Solar System probably started as a disk of material in orbit around the (

ID: 115484 • Letter: 1

Question

1) The Solar System probably started as a disk of material in orbit around the (proto-)Sun, some of which ended up condensing into the planets. Estimate the average (number/meter) density of atoms in this disk under the following assumptions: (i) the total mass was 10 times that of the total mass of the planets, (ii) all atoms are hydrogen, (iii) the inner edge of the disk was at 0.30 A.U., (iv) the outer edge of the disk was at 40.0 A.U., and (v) the thickness of the disk was 0.1 A.U. Note: in the Earth's atmosphere, at sea 26 pre-Solar disk is much lower in density! (Mark s: 6)

Explanation / Answer

The Solar System probably started as a disk of material in orbit around the
(proto-JSun, some of which ended up condensing into the planets. Estimate
the average (nuinbertmeteij) density of atoms in this disk under the following
assumptions: (i) the total mass was 10 times that of the total mass of the
planets, (ii) all atoms are hydrogen, (iii) the inner edge of the disk was at
0.3!] A.U., (iv) the outer edge of the disk was at 40.0 ALL, and {v} the
thickness of the disk was {1] AU. Note: in the Earth 's atmosphere, at sea
tevet, there are approximateh: t it“i atoms per cubic meter. Presumahh; the
pre-Sotar dish is much tower in density! (Marks: 6) 2) Estimate how much energy would be deposited into the Earth if it is hit by a
one tonne meteor traveling on an orbit around the Sun with a semi-major axis
ofl AU. Note: in order to hit the Earth this meteor can not be in a
circutar orbit. Consider two cases: At the point of impact (a) the meteor is traveling parallel and in the same direction as the Earth’s orbit and (b) the
meteor is traveling parallel and in the opposite direction. The velocity of an
orbiting body was given in Module Me). A tonne is IUD-[l kg, the kinetic
energy is given by V: mass 3": vetooily‘? , and the Earth’s orbital velocity is
approximately 30.0 lonts. (Marks: 4) Note on this question — there is no need to get very etahorate in your catcutations, tootdng
in detait at oaths-ton dynamics you witt have tearned in a Physics course. Kinetic energy
is not conserved Momentum is conserved but the change in the Earth ’s vetocitv is
essentiatty zero as a resutt of the cottision fhecause of the enormous di‘ejr-ence in masses).
You can safety dent with this by asking how much tinetic energy, in the ame of the
Earth, is tost in the change in motion of the partictes that make up the meteor