Due: October 25, 2022 (write-up suggestions)
Since 1995 more than 5,000 extra-Solar planets have been discovered in more than one-thousand extra-Solar planetary systems. Here, we investigate some things these systems teach us about our Solar System and how planetary systems work in general. To see some properties of extra-Solar planets (e.g., how they are arranged in terms of mass and distances from their stars, their orbital eccentricities, the relation between their orbital periods and their orbital sizes [the semi-major axes of their orbits], ...), go to the Exoplanets website and use their plotting tool.
1. Use the Plots Tool on the website to create Scatter plots of the extra-Solar planetary properties. Produce and then print the following three graphs.
Based upon the properties of the planets in our Solar System, do your 4 plots (1a-1d) of the properties of the newly discovered extra-Solar planets, appear as you would have expected. Give reasons as to why the plots do or do not conform to your expectations.
2. To decide whether a planet was Jupiter-like or Earth-like in nature, what quantities would you look at to help you decide whether a planet was Jupiter-like or Earth-like?
3. What quantities are the best guides to use in determining whether a planet is Jupiter-like or Earth-like. What is your choice? Based on your choice, how many Jupiter-like and Earth-like planets are known? For this question, use the Plots Tool on the website to make Histogram plots of the data for your chosen criteria. For example, if you choose the mass as the relevant criterion, make a histogram that shows the number of planets that fall in particular mass ranges.
4. What are mini-Neptunes? What are super-Earths? Circle the region of mini-Neptunes and super-Earths on your plot for Question 1a. Estimate the combined total number of mini-Neptunes and super-Earths _______ . How does this number compare to your estimate of the number of Jupiter-like planets? Turn in the histogram you used to arrive at your estimates for the number of mini-Neptunes and super-Earths.
5. What is a Hot Jupiter? Circle the region of Hot Jupiters on your plot for Question 1a. Estimate how the number of hot Jupiters compares to the number of normal Jupiters.