NST1502

Assignment 2
68140959
Question 1:
1.1
1.1.1 A
1.1.2 A
1.1.3 C
1.1.4 A
1.1.5 C

Question 2:
2.1 True
2.2 False
2.3 False
2.4 False
2.5 True

Question 3:
3.1 Milky Way: Its incudes our solar system, stars, planet. Consists of a flat disk
with a bulging centre and surrounding spiral arms.
3.2
Equinox Solstice
An equinox occurs at the start of the The solstice occurs during summer
spring and fall. All the earth and winter. Either two moments in
experience 12 hours of day and 12 the year when the sun’s apparent
hours of night. path is farthest north or south from
earth’s equator.
3.3

Question 4:
4.1 a) Solar system: Collection of eight planets and their moons in orbit round
the sun, together with smaller bodies in the form of asteroids, meteoroids, and
comets.
Moon: The natural satellite of the earth, visible by reflected light from the sun.
Universe: all existing matter and space considered as a whole; the cosmos
Lithosphere: The rigid outer part of the earth, consisting of the crust and upper
mantel.
4.2 There is 8 planets.
4.3 Mercury
4.4 Saturn
4.5 Earth
4.6 Charon
4.7 6371 km
4.8 From the Oort Cloud.
4.9 Year
Question 5:
5.1

5.2
• Making a wish with a shooting star. Our culture believes that gazing
upon these stars brings good luck.
• Cultural believe pointing at the stars is rude and can bring you bad luck.
• Some cultural beliefs claim that fallen stars represent souls that can
finally begin to live in peace in heaven.
• Setting your gaze on the first star can win your heart desire.
5.3
5.3.1

5.3.2
5.4 Because it did not meet the three criteria the IAU uses to define a full-sized
planet.

Question 6:
6.1 Earth’s tilted axis causes the seasons, because the axis doesn’t stand up
straight. Throughout the year, different parts of the earth receive sun in most
direct rays. When the north pole tilts toward the sun, it’s summer in the
Northern Hemisphere, and when the south pole tilts toward the sun, it’s
winter in the Northern Hemisphere.
6.2 a) Summer - The length of daytime during summer is longer and night-time
is shorter.
b) Winter – The length of daytime during winter is shorter and the night time is
longer.
6.3 Galaxy – A galaxy is a large collection of stars, gas and dust that is kept
together by gravity.
Universe – All the existing matter and space as a whole; the cosmos.

Question 7:
7.1 Gravity is the force by which a planet and other body draws objects
towards its centre.
7.2 The theory of special relativity.
7.3 a. Solar eclipse: an eclipse which the sun is obscured by the moon.
b. Lunar eclipse: an eclipse in which the moon appears darkened as it passes
into the earth’s shadow.
7.4
• 1923(Edwin Hubble) – Edwin Hubble discovers a Cepheid variable star in
the “Andromeda Nebula” and proves that Andromeda and other nebulas
are galaxies far beyond our own. By 1925, he produces a classification
system for galaxies.
• 1926(Robert Goddard) – He launches the first rocket powered by liquid
fuel. He also demonstrates that a rocket can work in a vacuum. His later
rockets break the sound barrier for the first time.
 • 1959- Russia and the US both launch probes to the Moon, but NASA’s
Pioneer probes all failed. The Russian Luna program was more
successful. Luna 2 crash-lands on the Moon’s surface in September, and
Luna 3 returns the first pictures of the Moon’s far side in October.
• 1961(Frank Drake)- He performed the first modern SETI experiment
named “Project Ozma”, after the Queen of Oz in L. Frank Baum’s fantasy
books.

Question 8:

Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals and other geological materials

from the earth and the first mine to be constructed in South-Africa began
operations in 1852, a copper project that would go on to form the cornerstone
of the town of Springbokfontein, today Springbok, in the Northern Cape
province. Today the mining industry remains one of the biggest contributors to
the country’s economy with an estimated worth of R20,3 trillion. It is the
world’s fifth largest mining sector in terms of gross domestic product,
contributing eight percent to South-Africa’s GDP.

The first diamond was discovered in the 1860’s. In the 1860’s two diamonds
were discovered, the 21-carat Eureka diamond and the 83-carat Star of South-
Africa, inspiring a diamond rush in the region that was aided by the more
established coal industry. Diamonds were first uncovered at the Big Hole in
1871, what has been claimed to be the deepest hole ever dug by hand,
extending 215 metres underground, but the mine closed in 1914.

Following the closure of the Big Hole with the outbreak of the First World War,
attention turned towards platinum mining, with the first deposit discovered in
1924. The mines built along this first deposit, in an area known as Mashishing,
have accounted for more than three-quarters of the world’s total platinum
output since commercial operations began.
South Africa is the world’s largest producer of chrome, manganese, platinum,
vanadium and vermiculite. It is the second largest producer of ilmenite,
palladium, rutile and zirconium. It is also the world’s third largest coal
exporter. South Africa is also a huge producer of iron ore; in 2012, it overtook
India to become the world’s third biggest iron ore to China, the world’s largest
consumers of Iron ore.

Mining has helped shape South-Africa more than any other industry, South-
Africa is a world leader in mining. The country is famous for its abundance of
mineral resources, accounting for a significant proportion of world production
and reserves.

Although the mining sector no longer dominates the South-African economy as

it once did, mining accounts for a major proportion of the country’s earnings
and foreign exchange. The economies of four of the nine provinces and of
several large towns are dominated by mining. Mining remains a cornerstone of
the South-African economy, making a significant contribution to economic
activity, job creation.

Bibliography
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Erickson, K. (2021, July 22). SpacePlace. Retrieved from SpacePLace:

https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/seasons/en/#:~:text=Earth’s%20tilted%20axis%20causes%20th
e,winter%20in%20the%20Northern%20Hemisphere.

Mudau, P. A. (2021). Tut 501. Pretoria: UNISA.

The Scool Run. (2019, May 9). Retrieved from The School Run:
https://www.theschoolrun.com/homework-help/day-and-night