Abstract This paper describes the origins of comets, large and small. The author points out the effects of the impact of a large comet with the Earth in Tunguska, Russia in 1908 and its effects on the atmosphere.
From the Paper "Comets consist of rock ice and organic compounds and they can be several miles in diameter. They are thought to originate from a region which is beyond the orbits of the outermost planets and scientists believe that gravitational perturbations jolt them ..."
Abstract This paper begins with a discussion about the astronomer who first identified Halley's comet, Edmond Halley, and how he was able to make his observations and identification of the comet. The paper then continues with a look at when Haley's comet was first observed and photographed, a look at how long the comet has been in existence, and a brief discussion of NASA's involvement in studying the comet. The paper concludes with a description of the comet's appearance, composition, density, and orbit.
From the Paper "A comet is " a small celestial body consisting mostly of dust and gases that moves in an elongated elliptical or nearly parabolic orbit around the sun" (Encyclopedia.com). Comets are rarely visible from the earth, but when they can be seen, their visibility can last anywhere from a few days to a few months (Columbia Encyclopedia). Most comets are invisible to us on earth except when they are near the sun and comets are usually only visible at sunrise or sunset. There have been many comets discovered by astronomers throughout time, but the most well known is "Halley's Comet", also known as Comet Halley."
Abstract This paper explains the composition of comets and clarifies what happens that gives them their shimmering appearance. It explains the various types of comets and elucidates the close link between the orbit of comets and the orbit of meteor showers. It lists the commonly seen features when a comet is near the sun and concludes by looking at factors resulting in a change in the behavior of a comet.
From the Paper "In outer space there are many things that man is still trying to fathom, and he has been intrigued by many things high up in the sky, but yet has not been able to figure out what they are or what they may mean. The field of astrology is one that began thousands of years ago with the Egyptians being the first known astronomers. They were the ones who created the first map of the North Star that is used till today to trace the movements of our planet and the heavenly bodies around it."
Abstract This paper explores comets; the astronomical bodies made up of frozen gases and dust particles, which orbit the solar system. The author discusses how comets develop, their structure, their volatility, and the important role that comets play in the revolution of astronomy and cosmology. The paper also contains a detailed description of Halley's Comet.
From the Paper "Comet structures are diverse and very dynamic, but they all develop a surrounding cloud of diffuse material, called a coma, that usually grows in size and brightness as the comet approaches the Sun. Usually a small, bright nucleus (less than 10 km in diameter) is visible in the middle of the coma. The coma and the nucleus together constitute the head of the comet."
Abstract This paper examines Comet Halley. Comets have historically been associated with danger, catastrophe and astrology. However, from the discovery of their periodicity three centuries ago to the Giotto expedition that intercepted the last apparition of the Comet Halley (A1) in 1986 provide valuable astronomical data.
Abstract This paper shall examine comets from a research perspective. It will present a very simplified explanation of the nature of the comet, as well as the role comets have played in human history.
Abstract The paper details the philosophy behind Comet's use of solar energy to power their production facilities and use of green materials to build their boards. The paper discusses how Comet's owners established a local stock exchange where small, local entrepreneurships are nurtured into successful businesses that hire and train people in socially and environmentally responsible methods. The paper then explains how Comet Skateboards received the financial support to upgrade their small business to a national, high-visibility company.
From the Paper "So many companies and organizations are riding the "green" bandwagon these days - claiming to be responsible stewards of our fragile earth vis-a-vis our rapidly changing climate - it's hard to tell those employing cool marketing techniques - but little substance - from those truly committed to reducing their carbon imprint. Even oil companies like BP are flashing their green through commercials and investment in renewable energy sources. But when it comes to Comet Skateboards, there is no doubt about the sincerity of this company's production and marketing strategies. Comet in fact goes farther into the realm of a sustainable "cradle-to-cradle" business model than most if not all manufacturers of popular contemporary products."
Abstract This paper presents a discussion about the scientist Edmond Halley. Halley is credited with the naming and discovery of Halley's comet but he was responsible for many other scientific works in addition to the comet. The author takes on a journey through the life of Halley and explains who he was and what his life works were about.
Abstract This paper discusses the Comet jet airplane accidents of the early 1950?s, and the profound effects they had on certain aspects of our society. The author examines the various effects a technological disaster has on our lives and the world around us, as well as how our views towards the technology may be altered after a technological disaster.
From the Paper:
"By examining the jet aircraft industry, but in particular the British jet aircraft industry after the accidents, we are able to gain insight into what people's conceptions were, and why certain events unfolded as they did. With any technological disaster, trust in the product is often lost very quickly, and various actions are often taken to try and restore this trust. By examining these actions we can better understand how many people felt about the technology after the disasters. Lastly, not all technological disasters have purely negative connotations. Much can be learned from technological accidents that eventually lead to important improvements in the technology. By examining one major technological failure and its various effects we can gain a better understanding of how we are affected by technology as well as how our views towards the technology may be altered."
Tags: airplane, disaster, effects, history, social, technology, aircraft, industry
Abstract This paper examines technological disasters in the airline industry. In particular it looks at the British jet aircraft industry after the accidents. It allows us to gain insight into what people's conceptions were, and why certain events unfolded as they did. It shows us how people can learn from technological disasters, and even though they seem catastrophic at the time, they give us the necessary tools to insure that such disasters do not happen again.
From the paper:
"The Comet planes, operated predominantly by BOAC had established Britain as both a successful pioneer and leader in civil jet aviation. However, several American companies, including Boeing, were in hot pursuit of de-Havilland, fighting for their share of the new civil jet market. ?The Comets symbolized to Britons their nation's pre-eminence in jet aviation,? 5 and so the accidents came as a devastating blow, both in the short and long term. In the aftermath of the accidents, all Comets were grounded pending investigation, causing huge problems and losses."
From the Paper "This paper will discuss Halley's comet using several current sources which deal with topics such as how a comet works, what causes the comet to be what it is, what new discoveries have been made and what research has been done or is being done on Halley's Comet.
Very recently has come the first unambiguous evidence of organic molecules in the nucleus of Halley's comet. The evidence from recent examination of the infrared spectrum of the comet shows emission by the carbon-hydrogen bonds of a solid in the dust grains surrounding the nucleus of the comet. The temperature of the dust is about 400 K.(a determination made by Giotto, the European comet probe), and yet the wavelength emissions match those observed from bacteria in the library. A dust analyzer on the Giotto shows that the dust is composed of (...)"
Abstract The paper discusses how Pluto recently came under fire regarding the legitimacy of its status as a planet of the solar system. The paper examines the controversy that began when the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in 1999, was implicated with the decision of reconsidering Pluto's planetary status. The paper concludes that the issue was finally set to rest when the IAU duly rejected the status change as a rumour or misinformation and Pluto's status remained safe.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Pluto Statistics
Pluto Planet or comet (A Discussion)
Pluto (A Misfit?)
Conclusion
Bibliography
From the Paper "First and foremost comes the fact of size. As mentioned earlier, Pluto is the smallest planet and in terms of its size is even smaller than seven of the moons of other planets including earth's moon. Comparatively, mercury the next smallest planet is more than twice the size of Pluto. However, most astronomers brush aside this argument stating that Pluto is too big to be classified as a minor planet. For example, Ceres the largest minor planet that exists in the asteroid belt between Jupiter and mars is only 580 miles."
Abstract This paper defines what is meant by mass extinction and discusses a few that have occurred on our planet and some of the theories that have attempted to explain them. The writer explains that while some believe in meteorites or comet showers, and others in volcanism, variations in sea level, global climate changes and changes in ocean levels of oxygen, still a third group of scientists believe it was likely a combination of two or more of these events. The paper concludes that it is still unclear exactly what caused mass extinctions, and because of the elapsed time it is doubtful that we will ever know for sure.
From the Paper "Most of us are, of course most familiar with the extinction of the dinosaurs. Practically every child is fascinated by these huge beasts that roamed our planet at one time and now do not exist at all. In 1979 Berkeley scientists discovered a piece of pink and white limestone which contained evidence of what the scientists called "the great dying." (Rogers 1). The rock was found near Gubbio, Italy, and was at one time under the sea. To make an involved story short, the Cretaceous limestone has many fossils of tiny crustaceans while these little crustacean fossils are entirely absent from the clay layer, reappearing again in the Tertiary limestone. The scientist measured the presence of iridium, and found a substantial increase in the clay--twenty five times more than normal."
Abstract This paper presents a brief overview of different theories of the origins of life on earth. The paper explains the naturalistic approach, the chemical evolution theory, and the comet theory. The paper also examines some of the weaknesses in these theories and concludes with the author's opinion that the comet theory is the most plausible theory for explaining the origins of life on earth.
From the Paper "Questions related to the origins of life on Earth have always been a cause for scientific investigation and suppositions. If we refer to the naturalistic approach, than the evolutionary process is a justified explanation of changes and transformations that have occurred. This is a theory that we can successfully apply to the appearance of life on Earth and to the chemical processes that have made it possible."
Abstract This paper examines several of the problems with the Oort cloud theory. The paper suggests that the most obvious failing of the Oort cloud theory is because no one has yet detected the cloud itself; additionally, the activities and allocations of comet perihelions as well as the curious absence of hyperbolic orbits in the comets we do encounter suggest that much of what passes for current day talk vis-a-vis the Oort cloud theory is in desperate need of revision.
From the Paper "Why Oort Cloud Theory Doesn't Work Despite their best efforts, there are still many things about the universe scientists do not know. Not least of all, contemporary scientists are still laboring to understand the origins of our solar system. The following paper will examine one of the theories that has long informed our understanding of the earliest days of our solar system with an eye towards exposing the errors and over-sights that characterize its enduring popularity in the face of a constant barrage of criticism. Specifically, the following paper will argue that the Oort cloud theory is very much an unsubstantiated view of the universe - an ontological assumption, if you will - that does not appear rooted in actual scientific observation."
