Question 1

Imagine a planet like Earth orbiting the Sun, at an average distance of 1 AU but with a highly eccentric orbit. Which of the following statements about this orbit is not true?

Accepted Answer

A)  The planet does not maintain a constant speed around the Sun.
B)  The period is longer than a year.
C)  The planet is sometimes very close to the Sun, and sometimes very far.
D)  The seasons are very extreme.E) A) and B)
F) B) and D)

Question 2

Which of the following types of material can condense into what we call ice at low temperatures?

Accepted Answer

A)  hydrogen and helium
B)  metal
C)  rock
D)  hydrogen compoundsE) A) and B)
F) B) and C)

Question 3

In what way is Venus most similar to Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  Both planets have similar surface geology.
B)  Both planets have very similar atmospheres.
C)  Both planets have warm days and cool nights.
D)  Both planets are nearly the same size.E) A) and D)
F) C) and D)

Question 4

What do we mean by accretion in the context of planet formation?

Accepted Answer

A)  the solidification of ices, rocks, and metal from the gas of the solar nebular
B)  the growth of planetesimals from smaller solid particles that collided and stuck together
C)  the growth of the Sun as the density of gas increased in the center of the solar nebula
D)  the formation of moons around planetsE) A) and B)
F) A) and C)

Question 5

A rock sample from the moon includes a mineral that contains small amounts of the radioactive isotope Potassium- 40 and its daughter element Argon- 40 (half- life of 1.3 billion years) . This mineral would not form with any Argon- 40. Consider a crystal with 7 atoms of Argon- 40 for every 1 atom of Potassium- 40. How many half- lives has this sample existed?

Accepted Answer

A)  1
B)  2
C)  3
D)  4E) A) and B)
F) A) and C)

Question 6

The region of our solar system between Mercury and Mars has very few asteroids, while the region between Mars and Jupiter has many asteroids. Based on what you have learned, what is the most likely explanation for the lack of asteroids between Mercury and Mars?

Accepted Answer

A)  It was too hot for asteroids to form in this part of the solar system.
B)  There were very few planetary leftovers in this region because most of the solid material was accreted by the terrestrial planets as the planets formed.
C)  Gravity was too weak to allow asteroids to form in this part of the solar system.
D)  All the asteroids that formed between Mercury and Mars later migrated to the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.E) B) and C)
F) A) and B)

Question 7

Briefly summarize the observed patterns of motion in our solar system that are consistent with the nebular theory.

Accepted Answer

(a)All planets orbit the Sun countercloc...

Question 8

The Moon probably formed at the same time that Earth formed, rather like the formation of a double planet.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

Impacts were extremely common in the young solar system but are less common today.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

The heavy bombardment phase of the solar system lasted

Accepted Answer

A)  about a billion years.
B)  to the present time.
C)  several tens of millions of years.
D)  several million years.
E)  several hundreds of millions of years.F) B) and C)
G) A) and B)

Question 11

Where does nuclear fusion occur in the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A)  on the surface
B)  just above the visible surface
C)  anywhere below the surface
D)  in its core
E)  all of the aboveF) None of the above
G) B) and D)

Question 12

Briefly summarize the differences between terrestrial and jovian planets.

Accepted Answer

Terrestrial planets are metallic or rock...

Question 13

What kind of material in the solar nebula could remain solid at temperatures as high as 1,500 K, such as existed in the inner regions of the nebula?

Accepted Answer

A)  metals
B)  molecules such as methane and ammonia
C)  rocks
D)  hydrogen compounds
E)  silicon- based mineralsF) A) and D)
G) A) and E)

Question 14

Which of the following are relatively unchanged fragments from the early period of planet building in the solar system?

Accepted Answer

A)  Kuiper belt comets
B)  Oort cloud comets
C)  asteroids
D)  all of the aboveE) All of the above
F) B) and C)

Question 15

All four of the giant outer planets-Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune-have rings.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

Why did the solar nebula heat up as it collapsed?

Accepted Answer

A)  Radiation from other nearby stars that had formed earlier heated the nebula.
B)  The shock wave from a nearby supernova heated the gas.
C)  Collisions among planetesimals generated friction and heat.
D)  Nuclear fusion occurring in the core of the protosun produced energy that heated the nebula.
E)  As the cloud shrank, its gravitational potential energy was converted to thermal energy.F) A) and D)
G) B) and D)

Question 17

The planet in our solar system with the highest average surface temperature is _.

Accepted Answer

A)  Mercury
B)  Earth
C)  Venus
D)  NeptuneE) A) and B)
F) A) and C)

Question 18

The terrestrial planets are made almost entirely of elements heavier than hydrogen and helium. According to modern science, where did these elements come from?

Accepted Answer

A)  They were produced by stars that lived and died before our solar system was born.
B)  They have been present in the universe since its birth.
C)  They were made by chemical reactions in interstellar gas.
D)  They were produced by gravity in the solar nebula as it collapsed.E) B) and C)
F) A) and C)

Question 19

How do scientists determine the age of the solar system?

Accepted Answer

A)  radiometric dating of Moon rocks
B)  radiometric dating of meteorites
C)  radiometric dating of the oldest Earth rocks
D)  Theoretical calculations tell us how long it has taken the planets to evolve to their present forms.E) A) and C)
F) None of the above

Question 20

Suppose you view the solar system from high above Earth's North Pole. Which of the following statements about planetary orbits will be true?

Accepted Answer

A)  All the planets except Uranus orbit the Sun counterclockwise; Uranus orbits in the opposite direction.
B)  All the planets orbit counterclockwise around the Sun.
C)  The inner planets orbit the Sun clockwise while the outer planets orbit the Sun counterclockwise.
D)  The inner planets orbit the Sun counterclockwise while the outer planets orbit the Sun clockwise.E) All of the above
F) A) and C)

Exam 6: Formation of the Solar System

Imagine a planet like Earth orbiting the Sun, at an average distance of 1 AU but with a highly eccentric orbit. Which of the following statements about this orbit is not true?

Correct Answer
verified

The Moon probably formed at the same time that Earth formed, rather like the formation of a double planet.

Correct Answer
verified

Why did the solar nebula heat up as it collapsed?

Correct Answer
verified

All four of the giant outer planets-Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune-have rings.

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

What do we mean by accretion in the context of planet formation?

Correct Answer
verified

The terrestrial planets are made almost entirely of elements heavier than hydrogen and helium. According to modern science, where did these elements come from?

Correct Answer
verified

The region of our solar system between Mercury and Mars has very few asteroids, while the region between Mars and Jupiter has many asteroids. Based on what you have learned, what is the most likely explanation for the lack of asteroids between Mercury and Mars?

Correct Answer
verified

How do scientists determine the age of the solar system?

Correct Answer
verified

The planet in our solar system with the highest average surface temperature is _.

Correct Answer
verified

Briefly summarize the differences between terrestrial and jovian planets.

Correct Answer
verified
Terrestrial planets are metallic or rock...
View Answer

What kind of material in the solar nebula could remain solid at temperatures as high as 1,500 K, such as existed in the inner regions of the nebula?

Correct Answer
verified

Impacts were extremely common in the young solar system but are less common today.

Correct Answer
verified

Which of the following are relatively unchanged fragments from the early period of planet building in the solar system?

Correct Answer
verified

The heavy bombardment phase of the solar system lasted

Correct Answer
verified

In what way is Venus most similar to Earth?

Correct Answer
verified

Where does nuclear fusion occur in the Sun?

Correct Answer
verified

Which of the following types of material can condense into what we call ice at low temperatures?

Correct Answer
verified

Suppose you view the solar system from high above Earth's North Pole. Which of the following statements about planetary orbits will be true?

Correct Answer
verified

Briefly summarize the observed patterns of motion in our solar system that are consistent with the nebular theory.

Correct Answer
verified
(a)All planets orbit the Sun countercloc...
View Answer

Exam 6: Formation of the Solar System

Imagine a planet like Earth orbiting the Sun, at an average distance of 1 AU but with a highly eccentric orbit. Which of the following statements about this orbit is not true?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The Moon probably formed at the same time that Earth formed, rather like the formation of a double planet.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Why did the solar nebula heat up as it collapsed?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

All four of the giant outer planets-Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune-have rings.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What do we mean by accretion in the context of planet formation?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The terrestrial planets are made almost entirely of elements heavier than hydrogen and helium. According to modern science, where did these elements come from?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The region of our solar system between Mercury and Mars has very few asteroids, while the region between Mars and Jupiter has many asteroids. Based on what you have learned, what is the most likely explanation for the lack of asteroids between Mercury and Mars?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

How do scientists determine the age of the solar system?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The planet in our solar system with the highest average surface temperature is _.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Briefly summarize the differences between terrestrial and jovian planets.

Correct AnswerverifiedTerrestrial planets are metallic or rock...View AnswerShow Answer

What kind of material in the solar nebula could remain solid at temperatures as high as 1,500 K, such as existed in the inner regions of the nebula?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Impacts were extremely common in the young solar system but are less common today.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following are relatively unchanged fragments from the early period of planet building in the solar system?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The heavy bombardment phase of the solar system lasted

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In what way is Venus most similar to Earth?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Where does nuclear fusion occur in the Sun?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following types of material can condense into what we call ice at low temperatures?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Suppose you view the solar system from high above Earth's North Pole. Which of the following statements about planetary orbits will be true?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Briefly summarize the observed patterns of motion in our solar system that are consistent with the nebular theory.

Correct Answerverified(a)All planets orbit the Sun countercloc...View AnswerShow Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified
Terrestrial planets are metallic or rock...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified
(a)All planets orbit the Sun countercloc...
View Answer