Winter 2019 ERSC 1P94 Assignment 3: Geologic Events & Exoplanets

This assignment solution for ERSC 1P94, part of a Winter 2019 course, addresses the relative sequencing of geologic events, the search for life, and the analysis of exoplanets. Part 1 focuses on cross-cutting relationships to determine the relative order of geologic events (Problem 1, 2, 3). Part 2 explores the Drake equation and examines candidate habitable exoplanets, analyzing their characteristics like temperature, star type, distance from the star, and planet radius. The solution includes filling in tables and answering questions to identify the best candidates for life. Part 3 involves selecting a planet, describing its conditions (orbital period, equilibrium temperature), and identifying suitable extremophiles (psychrophile, anaerobe) for survival. The assignment concludes with a discussion on the conditions required for life and the potential for life on other planets.

ERSC 1P94 Assignment 3, Winter 2019
Part 1: Relative Sequencing of Geologic Events: Cross-cutting Relationships
(12 marks total)
Problem 1 (A,B,C)
(3 marks)
Problem 2 (A,B,C,D)
(4 marks)
Problem 3 (A,B,C,D,E)
(5 marks)
Youngest-A Youngest-C Youngest-D
C A C
Oldest- B D B
Oldest-B E
Oldest-A
Part 2: The Search for Life
Table 1: Fill in the blank boxes (4marks)
Variable Drake’s Values (1961) Astronomical Society of the Pacific (2011)
N = number of civilizations 10 3500
Question 1 (2 marks):
fi (fraction of planets with life that develop intelligent life) remains the most uncertain parameter. The value of
this parameter changed up to 100 times between Drake’s value and Astronomical Society of the Pacific
(1/.01=100).

Table 2: Candidate Habitable Exoplanets (15 marks)
Planet
#
Star
Temperature
(K)
Star
Type F,
G, K
(Y/N)
Distance
from star
(AU)
Planet in
Habitable
Zone
(Y/N)
Planet
Radius
in Earth
Radii
(RE)
Planet Large
Enough to
Retain
Atmosphere
(Y/N)
Potentially
habitable to
Earth-like
life (YES/NO)
1 5,624 G 0.84 N 4.1 N N
2 5,384 G 0.63 N 4.4 N N
3 5,802 G 0.95 Y 1.8 Y Y
4 5,356 G 0.54 N 2.7 N N
5 5,665 G 0.57 N 3.7 N N
6 3,143 N 0.22 N 1.9 Y N
7 8,237 N 0.94 Y 13.4 N N
8 5,688 G 1.80 N 2.1 Y N
9 4,869 K 0.45 N 1.7 Y N
10 6,103 F 0.97 Y 2.1 Y Y
11 4,312 K 0.32 N 5.7 N N
12 6,072 F 1.05 Y 9.6 N N
13 9,288 N 0.47 N 4.3 N N
14 8,595 N 0.69 N 4.2 N N
15 2,050 N 0.24 N 2.2 Y N
2) (2 marks) Best candidates are: 3, 10
3. (6 marks) show your work in difference cells
Planet # Star
temperatur
e (K)
Difference
in Star
temperatur
e compared
to the Sun
(K)
Distance
from star
(AU)
Difference
in distance
from Star
compared
to Earth
(AU)
Planet
Radius (RE)
Difference in
Planet Radius
compared to
Earth (RE)
3 5802 =5810-
5802= 8
0.95 1-0.95 =
0.05
1.8 1-1.8 = -0.8
10 6103 5810-6103 =
-293
0.97 1-0.97 =
0.03
2.1 1-2.1 = -1.1
Answer Hint: The table above has 5 possibilities (5 rows), but you should have less than 5 candidate
planets.)
4) (2 marks) Given the choices above, which is best planet on which to expect life? 3

Part 3 – Populate your own world!
Task 1 (2 marks) is to pick a planet (paste information as indicated)

Task 2 (3 marks) - describe conditions:
Orbital period of the planet = 615 days (almost 1.68 years). Thus orbital period is more.
Equilibrium temperature = 199.1 K ( 199.1 – 273 = -73.9C). Temperature is lower than Earth
temperature.
As per the figure for habitable zone, this planet is far from habitable zone boundary.
Task 3 (4 marks) – Pick Extremophile
Psychrophile: An organism with optimal growth at temperature 15 °C or
lower.
Link(s): https://serc.carleton.edu/microbelife/extreme/cold/index.html
Anaerobe: An organism that can grow in the absence of oxygen.
https://serc.carleton.edu/microbelife/extreme/withoutoxygen/index.html
Discussion:
Psychrophile will survive as this organism has optimal growth at lower temperatures. The
temperature of the planet is -73.9C. Thus, it is expected that this organism will survive.

Anaerobe grows in the absence of oxygen. It can survive as the habitable zone on the planet is far
from habitable zone boundary.
Task 4 (6 marks) – Assess:
From these tasks we have learned the following:
- In order to have life on any planet, the conditions are likely to be as of Earth.
- So far Earth is the only planet which has humans present (as far as we know,
can’t say about aliens existing)
- But there are microorganisms existing which can survive in the extreme of
conditions.
- For other planets if the conditions are not favorable for humans to survive
but the conditions are very well favorable for microbes to survive. So, cheers
to them for existing.
- For humans to survive the conditions are more stringent. Every condition
needs to be perfect or nearly perfect.