Assignment Instructions in the Assignments folder on Learning System for general instructions on how to complete assignments in this course.
1. Take an informal poll of ten people you know (friends, family, etc.) and ask them the following questions:
a. Do you believe the Earth has been visited by aliens?
b. Do you think there is life elsewhere in the universe?
c. Do you think scientists will find conclusive evidence of extra-terrestrial life during this century?
Be sure to ask for (and tabulate) yes/no answers to each question, but try also to assess how strongly held these beliefs are. Briefly summarize your findings, and comment on how these opinions relate to what you have learned in this course. Note: I will compile the numerical results of these polls, and we will discuss them in class later in the term.
2. In class, we identified a list of six main scenarios and corresponding strategies for finding life beyond Earth. Which of these strategies do you think has the best chance of finding conclusive scientific evidence of extra-terrestrial life during this century? In addition to clearly justifying your choice, be sure to briefly address your reasons for not choosing the other options. For full marks, your answer should be well written and about 500 - 1000 words in length. Be sure to cite any references you use.
3. The New Horizons spacecraft left the Earth in 2006 at a speed of about 58,000 km/h, setting a record for the highest launch speed ever. At this speed, how long would it take this spacecraft to travel to
a. Venus?
b. Europa?
c. Your favourite exoplanet? For your favourite exoplanet, you are welcome to choose any exoplanet you have read about.
Be sure to show your calculations in each case. You should also clearly state the distance to each destination (in suitable units), and cite your source. For simplicity, you may use either the average distance between the Earth and your destination, or the shortest possible path. Comment on how these travel times affect our ability to search for life at these locations (in particular, comment on the feasibility of sending manned and/or unmanned spacecraft to investigate these locations).