Conclusion

Summary: In the experiment of, You Can Weigh Jupiter, we had to begin with looking at the cycles of a specific moon, mine being Io, that orbit around Jupiter. With the help of a computer, we were able to calculate the Jovian diameter of Io during each three-hour orbital rotation around Jupiter. After collecting our data, we were able to compute the amplitude and period of one complete cycle of Io, and calculate it from days to years, and Jovian diameters to Astronomical Units. In addition, we were able to compare the mass of the Sun and Earth, to the mass of Jupiter. Through this experiment, I was able to learn how to use the experimental computer program. I was able to magnify Io, which enabled me to get a better calculation of the distance Io was from Jupiter and be more accurate in my research. I was able to learn how to convert from days to years and from J.D. to A.U. I noticed that even though there were periods when it was cloudy and periods were an eclipse occurred, I was still able to make an accurate graph, and the curve did not deviate due to the lack of research from the missing data. In addition, I noticed that the amplitude, a1 and a2 were approximately the same, deviating only by minor hundredths of a point.

Error Analysis: We were able to conclude that our experiment worked. We were able to reason that Io does a relatively similar orbit every time it cycles Jupiter. By using the computer, we were able to document each three-hour orbital phase during a two-day period. When we drew our graph, we saw that it was comparatively symmetric which reinforced the belief that it would make the same orbital cycle. We had a percentage Disc. of approximately 13.21% which means that we could have been slightly more accurate in our measurements.

The reason we may not have been as accurate in our measurements could be that we could not always magnify Io, which made it difficult to get a clear picture. When collecting data, we may have looked at wrong information, and mistakenly recorded an “x” or “y” coordinate, instead of recording the distance from Io to the center of Jupiter. It is possible that we made a calculation mistake when computing our data from days to years and from Jovial diameters to Astronomical Units. As well, we did have some days in which we could not record data because the weather would not prevail (e.g. cloudiness or eclipse) which may have lead our results to be slightly off, therefore contributing to the 13.21%.