Question

Questions 9 & 10

Tasks to complete:

1. Fill out Table 2, using the Habitable Planet Classification Chart once Table 2 is completely filled in, answer the questions 9 and 10. To fill in the table:
   • For Star Type, you will need to reference the star temperatures addressed in the write-up above. If the star temperature of the planet is within the range of an F, G, or K type star, it gets a “Yes” in that column.
   • For Planet Habitable Zone, you will need to reference the Orbital Distance (Habitable Zone) write-up above and answer yes or no for each planet.
   • For Planet Size, you will assign a yes to planets with radii large enough to retain atmospheres. This is accomplished comparing the planet’s radius in Earth radii (provided in the table) to the range stated in the section above, Planetary Mass and Size.
   • Planets which have yes to all three columns are potentially habitable to Earth-like life and so they get a “yes” in the final column.

Habitable Planet Classification Flowchart

Star Type: F, G, K (3700 – 7000 K)                                 NO

YES

Zone of Habitability:                                                                                                                                   Approximately 0.9 – 1.5 AU                                          NO

YES

Planet Radius: 0.8 – 2.2 x Earth                                     NO

YES                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   EARTH-LIKE LIFE LIKELY                                                                                                               NOT POSSIBLE

•PLANET APPEARS TO BE IN THE HABITABLE ZONE                                            

•IT IS POSSIBLE THAT LIQUID WATER EXISTS AT PLANET’S SURFACE               •EARTH-LIKE LIFE IS POSSIBLE

Table 2: Candidate Habitable Exoplanets (fill in yes or no for the criteria based on the information provided in the write-up above. Planets which are a “yes” for all three of Star Type, Distance from star, and Radius are the best candidates and get a “yes” in the final column. Planets 1, 8, and 15 have been done for you as examples.)

Planet #	Star Temperature (K)	Star Type: Is it one of F, G, or K (Y/N)	Distance from star (AU)	Planet in Habitable Zone (Y/N)	Planet Radius in Earth Radii (RE)	Planet Size: Is the planet large enough to retain atmosphere (Y/N)	Potentially habitable to Earth-like life (YES/NO)
1	5,624	Y	0.84	N	4.1	N	No
2	5,384		0.63		4.4
3	8,237		0.94		13.4
4	5,356		0.54		2.7
5	5,665		0.57		3.7
6	3,143		0.22		1.9
7	5,802		0.95		1.8
8	5,688	Y	1.80	N	2.1	Y	No
9	4,869		0.45		1.7
10	9,288		0.47		4.3
11	4,312		0.32		5.7
12	6,072		1.05		9.6
13	6,103		0.91		2.1
14	8,595		0.69		4.2
15	2,050	N	0.24	N	2.2	Y	No

[Confused? Re-read the instructions and follow the flow chart provided above, if you are still stuck please ask about it in the forum for this assignment]

Question 9 [6 marks]

In table 2, which planets in the table are Potentially Habitable to Earth-like Life?

Answer 1

If all three are yes which is possible in two cases,Planet 7 and 13 are potentially habitable.