Author Question: Which of the following best describes the development of astronomical telescopes over the past 60 ... (Read 62 times)

theo · **on:** Jul 27, 2018

Which of the following best describes the development of astronomical telescopes over the past 60 years?

A) Over the 60-year period, telescopes have gradually gotten bigger and more powerful.
B) Although there have been advances in cameras and computing power, telescopes themselves have not changed much in the last 60 years.
C) The world's most powerful telescope remained the same for most of this period, but in the past 20 years many new and more powerful telescopes have been built.
D) The only major change in telescope power has occurred because of our ability to launch telescopes into space rather than operating them only from the ground.

Question 2

Does it make sense that there are such noticeable differences in the jovian planets? Why or why not?

What will be an ideal response?

Gabe · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 27, 2018

Answer to Question 1

C

Answer to Question 2

All four formed in the outer solar system where it was cold enough for hydrogen ices to form. Because those compounds are so much more abundant than rock and metal, some of the ice-rich planetesimals grew to great size. Once they were big enough, they could draw in the hydrogen and helium gases surrounding them. Their differences stem from having captured different amounts of those gases. Those that formed farther from the Sun originated from particles that were more widely spread out, so it took them longer to form. Since all of them stopped accreting gas at the same time, the more distant ones had less time to capture gas and ended up smaller in size.