AST 111 Chapter 7 – Flashcards
Flashcard maker : Jazzlyn Sampson
Which planet has the highest average surface temperature, and why?
Venus, because of its dense carbon dioxide atmosphere
The most metal-rich terrestrial planet is
Mercury
Which planet, other than Earth, has visible water ice on it?
Mars
Pluto is different from the outer planets in all of the following ways except which one?
Its surface temperature is very cold.
Which of the following is farthest from the Sun?
a comet in the Oort cloud
Based on your study of the Interactive Figure, which of the following is not one of the four major features of the solar system?
The solar system contains eight planets plus dwarf planets (including Ceres, Pluto, and Eris).
Study the features relating to the first characteristic (orderly motions); click on the inner or outer solar system to see the planets in motion, then scroll over the planets to see diagrams of their axis tilts. Which of the following correctly describe patterns of motion in the solar system?
All the planets (not counting Pluto) have nearly circular orbits.
All the planets (not counting Pluto) orbit the Sun in nearly the same plane.
Planets closer to the Sun move around their orbits at higher speed than planets farther from the Sun.
All the planets (not counting Pluto) orbit the Sun in nearly the same plane.
Planets closer to the Sun move around their orbits at higher speed than planets farther from the Sun.
Now consider the second major characteristic (two types of planets). Which of the following statements are true?
Jovian planets have more moons than terrestrial planets.
Jovian planets orbit farther from the Sun than terrestrial planets.
Jovian planets are larger in size than terrestrial planets.
Jovian planets are larger in mass than terrestrial planets.
Jovian planets orbit farther from the Sun than terrestrial planets.
Jovian planets are larger in size than terrestrial planets.
Jovian planets are larger in mass than terrestrial planets.
The solar system contains vast numbers of small bodies, which we call asteroids when they are rocky and comets when they are icy. These small bodies are concentrated in the region(s) of the solar system that we call __________.
the asteroid belt, the Oort cloud, the Kuiper belt
All the following statements are true. Which of them are considered to be “exceptions” to the general trends described by the first three major characteristics of the solar system?
Our Moon has a diameter more than 1/4 the diameter of Earth.
Uranus rotates with an axis tilt that lies nearly in the ecliptic plane.
Venus rotates in a direction opposite to the rotation of the other terrestrial planets.
Uranus rotates with an axis tilt that lies nearly in the ecliptic plane.
Venus rotates in a direction opposite to the rotation of the other terrestrial planets.
Consider only the observed patterns of motion in the solar system. Scientifically, which of the following possible conclusions is justified from the patterns of motion alone?
The planets were not each born in a separate, random event.
Now consider why the observed patterns of motion lead to the conclusion that the planets were not born in separate, random events. The reason for this conclusion is that, if the planets had been born in separate, random events, we would expect that __________.
planetary orbits would have many different orientations and directions, rather than all being in the same direction and in the same plane
Today, scientists have a theory (the nebular theory) that explains all the major characteristics of the solar system. In science, we expect a theory like this not only to explain the observed characteristics of our solar system but also to __________.
make testable predictions about other solar systems
Which of the following is not a major pattern of motion in the solar system?
Nearly all comets orbit the Sun in same direction and roughly the same plane.
Which of the following is not a major difference between the terrestrial and jovian planets in our solar system?
Terrestrial planets contain large quantities of ice and jovian planets do not.
Consider the following statement: “Rocky asteroids are found primarily in the asteroid belt and Kuiper belt while icy comets are found primarily in the Oort cloud.” What’s wrong with this statement?
The Kuiper belt contains icy comets, not rocky asteroids.
Which of the following is not a real difference between asteroids and comets?
Asteroids orbit the Sun while comets just float randomly around in the Oort cloud.
The following statements are all true. Which one counts as an “exception to the rule” in being unusual for our solar system?
The diameter of Earth’s Moon is about 1/4 that of Earth.
Compared to the distance between Earth and Mars, the distance between Jupiter and Saturn is ______.
much larger
How is Einstein’s famous equation, E=mc 2, important in understanding the Sun?
It explains the fact that the Sun generates energy to shine by losing some 4 million tons of mass each second.
Venus has a higher average surface temperature than Mercury. Why?
Because its surface is heated by an extreme greenhouse effect.
In what way is Venus most similar to Earth?
Both planets are nearly the same size.
Which of the following statements about the object called Eris is not true?
It is thought to be the first example of a new class of object.
Mars has two moons that are most similar in character to:
small asteroids
Imagine that an alien spaceship crashed onto Earth. Which statement would most likely be true?
It would crash in the ocean.
Which planet listed below has the most extreme seasons?
Uranus
In what way is Pluto more like a comet than a planet?
It is made mostly of rock and ice.
Why was it advantageous for the Voyager mission to consist of flybys rather than orbiters?
Each individual spacecraft was able to visit more than one planet.
Why has NASA sent recent orbiters to Mars (such as Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter) on trajectories that required them to skim through Mars’s atmosphere before settling into their final orbits?
It saves money because the spacecraft uses atmospheric drag to slow down rather than needing to carry enough fuel to slow by firing rocket engines.
Suppose you weigh 140 pounds . How much would you weigh on each of the other planets in our solar system? Assume you can stand either on the surface or in an airplane in the planet’s atmosphere. (Hint: Recall from Chapter Light and Matter that weight is mass times the acceleration of gravity. The surface gravity column in the table below tells you how the acceleration of gravity on other planets compares to that on Earth.)
On Mercury 53.2, On Venus 127, On Mars 53.2, On Jupiter 330, On Saturn 129, On Uranus 127, On Neptune 160, On Pluto 9.80
