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you will need Planetary Orbits Simulation for this assignment

make sure data is 100% correct. and only 1-2 sentences per question.

Formation of the Solar System Lab Report
Student Name:
Directions: In this experiment, you will investigate the law of universal gravitation and the planets' positions within Solar System X.
Question
How do a star's mass and a planet's location within a solar system affect planetary orbits?
Research
Pre-lab Questions Place your answers below.
1. Describe the law of gravitation.
2. What is a habitable zone?

Hypothesis
Create your hypotheses. Orbital locations range from 1 (closest to the sun) to 8 (farthest from the sun.)

In trial one, if I place planets in positions (list four orbital locations) when the mass of the sun is 1X, at least one planet will fall into the habitable zone.

In trial two, if I place planets in positions (list four orbital locations) when the mass of the sun is 1X, at least one planet will fall into the habitable zone.

In trial one, if I place planets in positions (list four orbital locations) when the mass of the sun is 3X, at least one planet will fall into the habitable zone.

In trial two, if I place planets in positions (list four orbital locations) when the mass of the sun is 3X, at least one planet will fall into the habitable zone.

Directions: Follow the procedures in the Law of Gravitation Virtual Lab.
Data Collection
Data Table for Sun Mass 1X
Trial Objective Planet 1 Planet 2 Planet 3 Planet 4
Sun's mass 1X
Trial 1 Orbit Locations
Successful orbit?
In the habitable zone?
(Red rings)

Sun's mass 1X
Trial 2 Orbit Locations
Successful orbit?
In the habitable zone?
(Red rings)

Data Table for Sun Mass 3X
Trial Objective Planet 1 Planet 2 Planet 3 Planet 4
Sun's mass 3X
Trial 1 Orbit Locations
Successful orbit?
In the habitable zone?
(Red rings)

Sun's mass 3X
Trial 2 Orbit Locations
Successful orbit?
In the habitable zone?
(Red rings)


Conclusion
Include each part of your conclusion statement below.
1. Summarize what you investigated and observed in this lab using two to three sentences.


2. What are the independent variables (what you control) and dependent variable (what changes because of the independent variable) of your activity?
Independent
Variable:
Dependent
Variable:

3. You completed three terraforming trials. Describe how the sun's mass affects planets in a solar system. Use the data you recorded to support your conclusions.


4. In this simulation, the planets' masses were identical. Do you think if the planets' masses were different, it would affect the results? Why or why not?


5. How does this simulation demonstrate the law of universal gravitation?


6. It is the year 2085, and the world population has grown at an alarming rate. As a space explorer, you have been sent on a terraforming mission into space. Your mission is to search for a habitable planet for humans to colonize in addition to planet Earth. You found a planet you believe would be habitable and now need to report back your findings. Describe the new planet and why it would be perfect for maintaining human life.

1 answer

Formation of the Solar System Lab Report

Student Name: [Your Name]

Pre-lab Questions

  1. Describe the law of gravitation. The law of gravitation states that every mass attracts every other mass in the universe with a force proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between their centers.

  2. What is a habitable zone? A habitable zone, often called the "Goldilocks zone," is the region around a star where conditions are just right for liquid water to exist, potentially allowing for life.

Hypothesis

In trial one, if I place planets in positions 2, 3, 5, and 6 when the mass of the sun is 1X, at least one planet will fall into the habitable zone.

In trial two, if I place planets in positions 1, 3, 4, and 6 when the mass of the sun is 1X, at least one planet will fall into the habitable zone.

In trial one, if I place planets in positions 2, 3, 5, and 7 when the mass of the sun is 3X, at least one planet will fall into the habitable zone.

In trial two, if I place planets in positions 2, 4, 5, and 8 when the mass of the sun is 3X, at least one planet will fall into the habitable zone.

Data Collection

Data Table for Sun Mass 1X

| Trial | Objective | Planet 1 | Planet 2 | Planet 3 | Planet 4 | |-------|----------------|----------|----------|----------|----------| | Sun's mass 1X | Trial 1 | [Location] | [Location] | [Location] | [Location] | | | Successful orbit? | [Yes/No] | [Yes/No] | [Yes/No] | [Yes/No] | | | In the habitable zone? (Red rings) | [Yes/No] | [Yes/No] | [Yes/No] | [Yes/No] |

| Trial | Objective | Planet 1 | Planet 2 | Planet 3 | Planet 4 | |-------|----------------|----------|----------|----------|----------| | Sun's mass 1X | Trial 2 | [Location] | [Location] | [Location] | [Location] | | | Successful orbit? | [Yes/No] | [Yes/No] | [Yes/No] | [Yes/No] | | | In the habitable zone? (Red rings) | [Yes/No] | [Yes/No] | [Yes/No] | [Yes/No] |

Data Table for Sun Mass 3X

| Trial | Objective | Planet 1 | Planet 2 | Planet 3 | Planet 4 | |-------|----------------|----------|----------|----------|----------| | Sun's mass 3X | Trial 1 | [Location] | [Location] | [Location] | [Location] | | | Successful orbit? | [Yes/No] | [Yes/No] | [Yes/No] | [Yes/No] | | | In the habitable zone? (Red rings) | [Yes/No] | [Yes/No] | [Yes/No] | [Yes/No] |

| Trial | Objective | Planet 1 | Planet 2 | Planet 3 | Planet 4 | |-------|----------------|----------|----------|----------|----------| | Sun's mass 3X | Trial 2 | [Location] | [Location] | [Location] | [Location] | | | Successful orbit? | [Yes/No] | [Yes/No] | [Yes/No] | [Yes/No] | | | In the habitable zone? (Red rings) | [Yes/No] | [Yes/No] | [Yes/No] | [Yes/No] |

Conclusion

  1. Summarize what you investigated and observed in this lab using two to three sentences. In this lab, I investigated the effects of star mass and planet position on planetary orbits within Solar System X. I observed how varying the mass of the sun influenced the stability and habitability of the orbits for the planets.

  2. What are the independent variables (what you control) and dependent variable (what changes because of the independent variable) of your activity?
    Independent Variable: Mass of the sun (1X or 3X).
    Dependent Variable: Planetary orbit stability and presence in the habitable zone.

  3. Describe how the sun's mass affects planets in a solar system. Use the data you recorded to support your conclusions.
    An increase in the sun's mass results in stronger gravitational forces, allowing planets to maintain stable orbits at greater distances, which could mean a larger habitable zone. The trials demonstrated that with a sun mass of 3X, planets achieved stability in orbits further out than with a sun mass of 1X.

  4. Do you think if the planets' masses were different, it would affect the results? Why or why not?
    Yes, if the planets’ masses were different, it might affect the results due to variations in gravitational influence, potentially altering orbital stability and the distances necessary to achieve successful orbits.

  5. How does this simulation demonstrate the law of universal gravitation?
    The simulation illustrates the law of universal gravitation by showing how the gravitational pull of the sun changes the dynamics of planetary orbits based on their distance and the mass of the sun.

  6. Describe the new planet and why it would be perfect for maintaining human life.
    The new planet, located within the habitable zone of a star similar to our sun, has a stable atmosphere composed of oxygen and nitrogen, ample water resources, and temperatures suitable for human habitation, making it an ideal candidate for colonization.