question

Astronomers have no theoretical explanation for the "hot Jupiters" observed orbiting some other stars. True or False

answer

False

question

In some cases, we have seen extrasolar planets pass in front of their stars. True or False

answer

True

question

Which of these bodies are most likely to break up over time? Kuiper Belt bodies comet nuclei jovian satellites asteroids in the main belt Trojan asteroids

answer

comet nuclei

question

Objects in the Kuiper belt are the sources of long-period comets. lie beyond the orbit of Neptune, and close to the ecliptic. lie beyond the orbit of Neptune and perpendicular to the ecliptic. are dense, like the iron meteorites. are in random orbits at all inclinations to the ecliptic.

answer

lie beyond the orbit of Neptune, and close to the ecliptic.

question

Jupiter's moon Europa might harbor life because it has which of the following conditions? A high surface temperature A liquid water subsurface layer A thick oxygen-containing atmosphere Abundant rainfall Evidence of plant vegetation

answer

A liquid water subsurface layer

question

Which of the planets below has the greatest tilt of its rotation axis? Uranus Saturn Jupiter Neptune

answer

Uranus

question

Which of the following are the Jovian planets? only Jupiter and Saturn only Jupiter Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune only everything past Mars and the asteroid belt

answer

Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune only

question

One characteristic of the Terrestrial planets is their extensive moon systems. True False

answer

False

question

Some meteorites are believed to have come from Mars and the Moon. True False

answer

True

question

Density is defined as size divided by weight. mass per unit volume. weight divided by the planet's radius. mass times weight. weight per square inch.

answer

mass per unit volume.

question

Meteorites are important because some come from the Moon and Mars, as well as the asteroid belt. they contain pristine material from the solar nebula. large ones may cause mass extinctions. All of the above are true. None of the above are true.

answer

All of the above are true.

question

Which statement about extrasolar planets found to date is true? All lie more than 2 A.U. from their star. Some are so close to their stars that their periods are just a few days. All are terrestrials, comparable in size to Earth. Few are found by Doppler shifts of their stars, due to their gravity. Most have orbital periods of more than a year.

answer

Some are so close to their stars that their periods are just a few days.

question

What is so unusual about Pluto's orbit? Its orbital period is exactly twice that of Neptune's. It has an unexpectedly short orbital period. It lies exactly on the ecliptic. It has the lowest eccentricity of any planet's orbit. It is more inclined to the ecliptic than any of the eight planets.

answer

It is more inclined to the ecliptic than any of the eight planets.

question

The smallest planet, Mercury, and the dwarf planet, Pluto, have no moons. True False

answer

False

question

We would expect other planets beyond our own solar system to orbit the equators of their home stars, as our own planets orbit the Sun. True False

answer

True

question

Io's internal heat is due to tidal interactions with Jupiter and Europa. True False

answer

True

question

The rings of Uranus were discovered when it passed in front of a star, and the dark rings occulted the star several times for brief intervals. True False

answer

True

question

The Kuiper Belt is found where in the solar system? among the orbits of the terrestrial planets sixty degrees ahead or behind Jupiter between the orbits of Jupiter and Uranus beyond the orbit of Neptune between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter

answer

beyond the orbit of Neptune

question

What is true about solar system densities? The denser planets lie closer to the Sun. Planetary density increases with increasing distance from the Sun. In differentiated bodies, the denser materials lie near their surfaces. Saturn has the same density as water. The asteroids all have about the same density.

answer

The denser planets lie closer to the Sun.

question

The Oort Cloud is believed to be a grouping of asteroids and meteoroids between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. a spherical cloud of cometary nuclei far beyond the Kuiper Belt. the great nebula found just below the belt stars of Orion. a flattened belt of cometary nuclei just beyond the orbit of Neptune. the circular disk of gas around the Sun's equator from which the planets formed.

answer

a spherical cloud of cometary nuclei far beyond the Kuiper Belt.

question

All the planet's orbits are evenly spaced. True False

answer

False

question

Which of the following have an icy composition? most asteroids comets meteoroids meteorites and most asteroids the surface of Mars

answer

Comets

question

William Herschel was the discoverer of Uranus. True False

answer

True

question

Listed following are characteristics that can identify a planet as either terrestrial or jovian. Match these to the appropriate category. Small size extensive ring systems primarily composed of hydrogen, helium, and hydrogen compounds solid, rocky surface located within the solar system numerous orbiting moons low average density

answer

Terrestrial Planets: solid, rocky surface small size located within the solar system Jovian Planets: numerous orbiting moons extensive ring systems primarily composed of hydrogen, helium, and hydrogen compounds low average density

question

One characteristic of the Terrestrial planets is their extensive moon systems. True False

answer

False

question

Some meteorites are believed to have come from Mars and the Moon. True False

answer

True

question

Density is defined as size divided by weight. mass per unit volume. weight divided by the planet's radius. mass times weight. weight per square inch.

answer

mass per unit volume.

question

Meteorites are important because some come from the Moon and Mars, as well as the asteroid belt. they contain pristine material from the solar nebula. large ones may cause mass extinctions. All of the above are true. None of the above are true.

answer

All of the above are true.

question

Which statement about extrasolar planets found to date is true? All lie more than 2 A.U. from their star. Some are so close to their stars that their periods are just a few days. All are terrestrials, comparable in size to Earth. Few are found by Doppler shifts of their stars, due to their gravity. Most have orbital periods of more than a year.

answer

Some are so close to their stars that their periods are just a few days.

question

What is so unusual about Pluto's orbit? Its orbital period is exactly twice that of Neptune's. It has an unexpectedly short orbital period. It lies exactly on the ecliptic. It has the lowest eccentricity of any planet's orbit. It is more inclined to the ecliptic than any of the eight planets.

answer

It is more inclined to the ecliptic than any of the eight planets.

question

The smallest planet, Mercury, and the dwarf planet, Pluto, have no moons. True False

answer

False

question

We would expect other planets beyond our own solar system to orbit the equators of their home stars, as our own planets orbit the Sun. True False

answer

True

question

Io's internal heat is due to tidal interactions with Jupiter and Europa. True False

answer

True

question

The rings of Uranus were discovered when it passed in front of a star, and the dark rings occulted the star several times for brief intervals. True False

answer

True

question

The Kuiper Belt is found where in the solar system? among the orbits of the terrestrial planets sixty degrees ahead or behind Jupiter between the orbits of Jupiter and Uranus beyond the orbit of Neptune between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter

answer

beyond the orbit of Neptune

question

What is true about solar system densities? The denser planets lie closer to the Sun. Planetary density increases with increasing distance from the Sun. In differentiated bodies, the denser materials lie near their surfaces. Saturn has the same density as water. The asteroids all have about the same density.

answer

The denser planets lie closer to the Sun.

question

The Oort Cloud is believed to be a grouping of asteroids and meteoroids between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. a spherical cloud of cometary nuclei far beyond the Kuiper Belt. the great nebula found just below the belt stars of Orion. a flattened belt of cometary nuclei just beyond the orbit of Neptune. the circular disk of gas around the Sun's equator from which the planets formed.

answer

a spherical cloud of cometary nuclei far beyond the Kuiper Belt.

question

All the planet's orbits are evenly spaced. True False

answer

False

question

Which of the following have an icy composition? most asteroids comets meteoroids meteorites and most asteroids the surface of Mars

answer

Comets

question

William Herschel was the discoverer of Uranus. True False

answer

True

question

Density is defined as weight divided by the planet's radius. size divided by weight. mass times weight. weight per square inch. mass per unit volume.

answer

mass per unit volume

question

The tail of a comet always points toward Earth and never varies. away from the Sun and becomes longest and brightest at perihelion. toward the Sun and disappears at perihelion. away from the Sun and disappears at perihelion. in the direction of the comet's motion.

answer

away from the Sun and becomes longest and brightest at perihelion.

question

Due to their great masses, all four jovian worlds are much denser than the Earth. True False

answer

False

question

Assuming that other planetary systems form in the same way as our solar system formed, where would you expect to find terrestrial planets? Terrestrial planets will likely be located farther from the planetary system's star than any jovian planets. Terrestrial planets will likely be located nearer the planetary system's star than any jovian planets. There is no way to know where terrestrial planets are likely to be.

answer

Terrestrial planets will likely be located nearer the planetary system's star than any jovian planets.

question

Compared to terrestrial planets, jovian planets are __________. more massive and higher in average density more massive and lower in average density less massive and lower in average density less massive and higher in average density

answer

more massive and lower in average density

question

Which planet is approximately halfway between Pluto's orbit and the Sun? Mars, the fourth planet from the Sun Jupiter, the fifth planet from the Sun Saturn, the sixth planet from the Sun Uranus, the seventh planet from the Sun

answer

Uranus, the seventh planet from the Sun

question

The dwarf planet Eris was discovered in 2005, orbiting the Sun at an average distance about twice that of Pluto. In which of the following ways do Pluto and Eris differ from the terrestrial and jovian planets in our solar system? Check all that apply. Both Pluto and Eris are smaller than any of the terrestrial planets. Both Pluto and Eris travel in more elliptical orbits than any of the terrestrial or jovian planets. Both Pluto and Eris are denser than any of the terrestrial planets. Both Pluto and Eris are less massive than any of the terrestrial or jovian planets. Both Pluto and Eris have more hydrogen gas than any of the jovian planets.

answer

Both Pluto and Eris are smaller than any of the terrestrial planets. Both Pluto and Eris travel in more elliptical orbits than any of the terrestrial or jovian planets. Both Pluto and Eris are less massive than any of the terrestrial or jovian planets.

question

The retrograde orbit of Triton dooms it to spiral inward toward Neptune, perhaps someday to make a ring system. True False

answer

True

question

Miranda's appearance suggests which of the following statements? It cracked as it froze, creating long rifts across its surface. It is a captured Kuiper belt object. It is composed almost entirely of ice, giving it a highly reflective surface. It has been catastrophically disrupted and reassembled several times.

answer

It has been catastrophically disrupted and reassembled several times.

question

Match the words in the left-hand column to the appropriate blank in the sentences in the right-hand column. Use each word only once. About a trillion comets are thought to be located far, far beyond Pluto in the ____________ The bright spherical part of a comet observed when it is close to the Sun is the ____________ A comet's plasma ____________ directly away from the Sun. A comet's ____________ the frozen portion of a comet. Particles ejected from a comet can cause a(n) _____________ on Earth. The _____________ extends from about beyond the orbit of Neptune to about twice the distance of Neptune from the Sun. nucleus Oort cloud plasma tail coma Kuiper belt meteor shower

answer

Oort cloud coma plasma tail nucleus meteor shower Kuiper belt

question

A meteor is an icy body with a long tail extending from it. a chunk of space debris that has struck the ground. an irregularly shaped body, mostly found orbiting between Mars and Jupiter. a chunk of space debris orbiting the Earth. a streak of light in the atmosphere.

answer

a streak of light in the atmosphere.

question

A meteorite is a streak of light in the atmosphere. a chunk of space debris that has struck the ground. a chunk of space debris orbiting the Earth. an irregularly shaped body, mostly found orbiting between Mars and Jupiter. an icy body with a long tail extending from it.

answer

a chunk of space debris that has struck the ground.

question

The equators of all four jovian planets rotate more rapidly than the polar regions. True False

answer

False

question

In terms of composition the jovian planets are more like the Sun than are the terrestrials. the jovian planets are made only of ice, and the terrestrials only of rock. the Sun is unique, made of nothing but hydrogen and helium. the terrestrials are more like the Sun, since they formed close to it. all planets condensed from the same nebula, and have similar compositions.

answer

the jovian planets are more like the Sun than are the terrestrials.

question

Meteor showers are usually annual events, as the orbits again intersect. caused by the Earth passing near the orbit of an Earthgrazing asteroid. caused by the Earth passing near the orbit of an old short-period comet. Both A and B are correct. Both A and C are correct.

answer

Both A and C are correct.

question

Inside the Roche Limit is where large moons form. hydrogen can only exist in its liquid metallic form. there is a gap in a planet's magnetic field. large moons are torn apart. ring systems cannot exist.

answer

large moons are torn apart.

question

What is thought to be the cause of Io's volcanoes? energy emitted by Jupiter Jupiter's magnetosphere and its charged particles gravitational tidal stresses from both Jupiter and Europa solar radiation focused by Jupiter's gravity radioactive decay in Io's interior

answer

gravitational tidal stresses from both Jupiter and Europa

question

Which of the following is NOT true of the Jovian planets when compared to Earth? They all have greater mass. They all have greater radius. They all have greater density. They all have faster rotation. All of the above are true.

answer

They all have greater density.

question

A meteorite is an irregularly shaped body, mostly found orbiting between Mars and Jupiter. a chunk of space debris orbiting the Earth. a chunk of space debris that has struck the ground. an icy body with a long tail extending from it. a streak of light in the atmosphere.

answer

a chunk of space debris that has struck the ground.

question

Besides Mars, exobiologists find Europa also a good candidate for life. True False

answer

True

question

The Oort Cloud is believed to be a spherical cloud of cometary nuclei far beyond the Kuiper Belt. the great nebula found just below the belt stars of Orion. the circular disk of gas around the Sun's equator from which the planets formed. a flattened belt of cometary nuclei just beyond the orbit of Neptune. a grouping of asteroids and meteoroids between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.

answer

a spherical cloud of cometary nuclei far beyond the Kuiper Belt.

question

A meteor is an icy body with a long tail extending from it. a chunk of space debris that has struck the ground. a chunk of space debris orbiting the Earth. a streak of light in the atmosphere. an irregularly shaped body, mostly found orbiting between Mars and Jupiter.

answer

a streak of light in the atmosphere.

question

Which of the following is not icy in composition? comet nuclei Kuiper Belt Objects most Jovian satellites asteroids the polar cap of Mars

answer

asteroids

question

All the terrestrial planets lie inside the asteroid belt. True False

answer

True

question

Which statement about asteroids is not true? Their images become blurry due to outgassing as the Sun heats them up. Earthgrazers can cross not only our orbit, but even those of Venus and Mercury. Some have satellites of their own. Most stay between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. They vary considerably in composition, reflectivity, and size.

answer

Their images become blurry due to outgassing as the Sun heats them up.

question

The nucleus of a comet is typically a few kilometers in size, and very low in density. a few hundred kilometers across, and bright, shiny white from its ices. a few meters in diameter. very durable, made of iron. located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.

answer

a few kilometers in size, and very low in density.

question

Meteor showers are the result of collisions between asteroids. True False

answer

False

question

Water on Earth was created by chemical reactions involving hydrogen and oxygen shortly after Earth formed. accreted from the solar nebula. transported here by comets. produced by volcanoes in the form of steam.

answer

transported here by comets.

question

Comets are not actually members of the solar system, but have been captured by the Sun. True False

answer

False

question

All the planets orbit the Sun in exactly the same plane as the Earth. True False

answer

False

question

The mare on Ganymede were formed by water erupting and spreading over the surface. gravitational interactions with Callisto and Europa. plate tectonics. sulfur spewed from volcanoes. basalt erupting onto the surface.

answer

water erupting and spreading over the surface.

question

Long-period comets are believed to originally come from the Oort cloud. the Kuiper belt. the asteroid belt. the interstellar medium. the satellite system of Jupiter.

answer

the Oort cloud.

question

In the leading theory of solar system formation, the planets are much older than the Sun. were ejected from the Sun following a close encounter with another star. formed from the same flattened, swirling gas cloud that formed the Sun. are much younger than the Sun.

answer

formed from the same flattened, swirling gas cloud that formed the Sun.

question

Listed following are some of the distinguishing geological characteristics of the moons orbiting Jupiter. Match each characteristic to the appropriate moon. (Io, Europa, Ganymede) largest moon in the solar system surface features provide evidence of a subsurface liquid ocean volcanoes currently erupting hot, glowing lava visible in some photos heavily cratered terrain adjacent to much younger terrain ice covered surface with few impact craters source of ionized gas in the donut-shaped charged particle belt around Jupiter

answer

Io source of ionized gas in the donut-shaped charged particle belt around Jupiter hot, glowing lava visible in some photos volcanoes currently erupting Europa surface features provide evidence of a subsurface liquid ocean ice covered surface with few impact craters Ganymede largest moon in the solar system heavily cratered terrain adjacent to much younger terrain

question

Match the words in the left-hand column to the appropriate blank in the sentences in the right-hand column. Use each word only once. The largest moon in the solar system is ______________. The jovian moon with the most geologically active surface is ______________. Strong evidence both from surface features and magnetic field data support the existence of a subsurface ocean on _________________. ______________ is responsible for the tremendous volcanic activity on Io. _____________ is the most distant of Jupiter's four Galilean moons. The fact that Europa orbits Jupiter twice for every one orbit of Ganymede is an example of a(n) _______________. Europa Io orbital resonance Tidal heating Ganymede Callisto

answer

Ganymede Io Europa Tidal heating Callisto orbital resonance

question

Which planet by itself contains the majority of mass of all the planets? Saturn Uranus Venus the Earth Jupiter

answer

Jupiter

question

Most comets have short periods and orbit close to the ecliptic plane. true false

answer

False

question

Planetary orbits are evenly spaced throughout the solar system. have the Sun at their exact center. are highly inclined to the ecliptic. are spaced more closely together as they get further from the Sun. are almost circular, with low eccentricities.

answer

are almost circular, with low eccentricities.

question

Which of these bodies are most likely to break up over time? jovian satellites Trojan asteroids Kuiper Belt bodies comet nuclei asteroids in the main belt

answer

comet nuclei

question

The initial prediction by Percival Lowell of Pluto's position was close to the place it was, in fact, found by Clyde Tombaugh in 1930. True False

answer

True

question

No stars have yet been observed that have more than one exoplanet. True False

answer

False

question

Pluto is no longer classified as a planet. True False

answer

True

question

If a comet's ion tail is pointing perpendicular to its direction of travel, the comet is moving closer to the Sun. close to or at aphelion. close to or at perihelion. moving away from the Sun. A comet's tail never points perpendicular to its motion.

answer

close to or at perihelion.

question

The jovian planets have satellite systems with less than 4 moons. are all much more dense than any of the terrestrials planets. all spin slower than the earth. all have rings around their equators. all lie less than 5 AU from the Sun.

answer

all have rings around their equators.

question

The nucleus of a comet is typically a few meters in diameter. a few kilometers in size, and very low in density. very durable, made of iron. located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. a few hundred kilometers across, and bright, shiny white from its ices.

answer

a few kilometers in size, and very low in density.

question

The orbits of most comets have perihelions within the orbits of Mercury. are shorter than the 76-year period for Comet Halley. are like the planets, fairly circular and in the ecliptic plane. lie almost entirely beyond the orbit of Neptune. go no farther out than Pluto, then return to the sun again.

answer

lie almost entirely beyond the orbit of Neptune.

question

The surface of Io looks most like the pack ice of the Arctic Ocean of Earth. True False

answer

False

question

The Kepler spacecraft has already identified thousands of exoplanet candidates. True False

answer

True

question

The fact that we don't see very many Earthlike planets in orbit around other stars is an indication that Earthlike planets are rare. True False

answer

False

question

Planetary orbits are evenly spaced throughout the solar system. are highly inclined to the ecliptic. are spaced more closely together as they get further from the Sun. are almost circular, with low eccentricities. have the Sun at their exact center.

answer

are almost circular, with low eccentricities.

question

If you could find a bathtub big enough for Saturn, the planet would explode due to its liquid metallic hydrogen. sink due to its metallic interior. catch fire, as liquid sodium reacts with water. precipitate more helium. float.

answer

Float

question

What was the first planet discovered by mathematical prediction? Pluto Uranus Vulcan Neptune None of these is correct.

answer

Neptune

question

So far, beyond the solar system the extrasolar planets found have been mostly terrestrials very close to their star, and transiting its disk. brown dwarfs much more massive than Jupiter. large jovians with terrestrial-type orbits. terrestrials with very elongated, distant orbits like comets. large jovians orbiting solar-type stars about where our jovians are found.

answer

large jovians with terrestrial-type orbits.

question

Which of the following does not fall into the category of interplanetary debris? meteoroids rings around the jovian planets. comets Kuiper Belt bodies Trojan asteroids

answer

rings around the jovian planets.

question

Of all the Galilean satellites, the surface of Europa is the youngest in age. True False

answer

False

question

One characteristic of the terrestrial planets is their extensive moon systems. True False

answer

False

question

The following images show six objects in our solar system. Rank the objects from left to right based on their average distance from the Sun, from farthest to closest. (Not to scale.) Jupiter Earth Mercury Pluto Saturn Mars

answer

Pluto Saturn Jupiter Mars Earth Mercury

question

The following images show six objects in our solar system. Rank these objects from left to right based on their mass, from highest to lowest. (Not to scale.) Jupiter Earth Mercury Pluto Mars Sun

answer

Sun Jupiter Earth Mars Mercury Pluto

question

The images below show six objects in our solar system. Rank these objects by size (average equatorial radius), from largest to smallest. (Not to scale.) Pluto Mars Jupiter Sun Earth Mercury

answer

Sun Jupiter Earth Mars Mercury Pluto

question

All four jovian planets spin faster than any of the terrestrials. True False

answer

True

question

Pluto is more similar to the jovian planet's icy moons than to any of the other planets. True False

answer

True

question

All the planets revolve around the Sun in the same direction, except for Venus and Uranus. True False

answer

False

question

Listed following are several objects in the solar system. Rank these objects from left to right based on their distance from the Sun, from closest to farthest. a Trojan asteroid a typical Oort cloud object a typical asteroid in the asteroid belt a typical Kuiper belt object

answer

a typical asteroid in the asteroid belt a Trojan asteroid a typical Kuiper belt object a typical Oort cloud object

question

Listed following are several objects in the solar system. Rank these objects from left to right based on their orbital period around the Sun from shortest to longest. a Trojan asteroid a typical Oort cloud object a typical asteroid in the asteroid belt a typical Kuiper belt object

answer

a typical asteroid in the asteroid belt a Trojan asteroid a typical Kuiper belt object a typical Oort cloud object

question

Listed following are several objects in the solar system. Rank these objects from left to right based on the distance from the Sun at which they are presumed to have formed, from nearest to farthest. a typical Kuiper belt object a typical asteroid in the asteroid belt a typical Oort cloud object

answer

a typical asteroid in the asteroid belt a typical Oort cloud object a typical Kuiper belt object

question

Listed following are some distinguishing characteristics of comets, meteors, and asteroids. Match these to the appropriate category of objects. visible in the sky as a bright streak of light for only a few seconds typically orbit the Sun at approximately 3 AU compositions similar to that of the terrestrial planets dust particles entering Earth's atmosphere at high speed form a coma when near the Sun visible in the sky as a fuzzy patch of light that rises and sets with the stars most are located either in the Kuiper belt or Oort cloud

answer

Comets: form a coma when near the Sun visible in the sky as a fuzzy patch of light that rises and sets with the stars most are located either in the Kuiper belt or Oort cloud Meteors: visible in the sky as a bright streak of light for only a few seconds dust particles entering Earth's atmosphere at high speed Asteroids: compositions similar to that of the terrestrial planets typically orbit the Sun at approximately 3 AU

question

What happens to the Earth's atmosphere as you increase your altitude?

answer

At 30,000 ft, the atmosphere has about 1/3 the density at sea level.

question

When was the first paper that predicted industrial activity would increase the average global temperature published?

answer

1896

question

The summer of 2012 had record temperatures across the US. What does this one fact tell us about global warming?

answer

That it's happening slowly and steadily

question

What fraction of the world is covered by the US?

answer

1.9%

question

What would happen if we had no greenhouse effect?

answer

The Earth would cool dramatically and the oceans would freeze.

question

Orion looks like?

answer

Guy with an arrow. Right in middle of page. Betelgeuse is part of it.

question

Rigel looks like?

answer

Bottom right corner star of Orion.

question

Betelgeuse looks like?

answer

Upper left star of Orion.

question

Taurus looks like?

answer

Like a kicking person sideways a little. Up and to the right of Orion.

question

Pleiades Aldebaran looks like?

answer

Star up and right of Taurus.

question

Canis Major looks like?

answer

Guy throwing a baseball. Bottom slightly left of page.

question

Sirius looks like?

answer

Head of Canis Major (star)

question

Auriga looks like?

answer

Deformed pentagon. Top and middle of page.

question

Gemini looks like?

answer

Siamese Twins

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