question

What is the Great Red Spot

answer

A large and long-lived, possibly permanent, storm on Jupiter.

question

Which is the hottest planet in the solar system, measured at the surface

answer

Venus

question

Phobos and Deimos are moons of which planet

answer

Mars

question

Which planet has wide, bright rings that are easily visible from Earth

answer

Saturn

question

Which of the Moons of Jupiter is characterized by an exceptionally smooth, icy surface, few craters, and many streaks and cracks

answer

Europa

question

What is the composition of Saturn's rings

answer

Water ice or ice-coated rock

question

Which of the following features have NOT been seen or detected on Mars

answer

Active volcanoes

question

Jupiter has a magnetic field that is

answer

Much more powerful than that of Earth

question

What is the major constituent of the atmosphere of Mars

answer

CO2 (carbon dioxide)

question

Which is the biggest planet in the solar system

answer

Jupiter

question

Saturn's moon, Titan, is different from all other moons of planets because

answer

It possesses a thick atmosphere

question

Which of the following planets has no moon

answer

Venus

question

The inner planets, in order of increasing planetary radius, are

answer

Mercury, Mars, Venus, Earth

question

What are the Valles Marineris

answer

A large rift valley system associated with the great volcanoes on Mars

question

Neptune's high cirrus clouds consist of

answer

methane ice crystals

question

Which is the only planet whose surface features can easily be seen through a telescope from Earth

answer

Mars

question

Where in the solar system would you look for liquid hydrogen

answer

In the deep interiors of Jupiter and Saturn

question

Where has water ice been found on Mercury

answer

In permanently shadowed crater floors at the north and south poles

question

The reddish color of Mars is probably due to

answer

iron oxides such as rust

question

Which planet has its rotation axis tilted at 98 degrees from the vertical to its orbit

answer

Uranus

question

Which of the following planets rotates on its axis in a retrograde fashion, opposite to that of most of the planets and opposite to the direction of revolution of the planets

answer

Venus

question

On which planet is the Great Red Spot found

answer

Jupiter

question

Venus

answer

Has no magnetic field

question

The highest daytime temperature reached on the surface of Mercury is

answer

430°C, high enough to melt lead and tin

question

The gas that is the major constituent of the atmospheres of Venus and Mars and a minor constituent of the Earth's atmosphere is

answer

CO2

question

Which is the largest planetary satellite in the solar system

answer

Jupiter's satellite, Ganymede

question

Olympus Mons is

answer

A volcano on Mars

question

On which planetary body can distinct evidence be seen for the flow of water at an earlier time

answer

Mars

question

On which planet can we see prominent but variable ice caps

answer

Mars

question

Tomorrow's weather report for Venus would be

answer

Overcast and very hot

question

What are the characteristics of the magnetic field of Uranus

answer

It is aligned almost parallel to the planet's axis of rotation, but is offset from the planet's center

question

Which of the following physical properties of Venus are very similar in value to those of Earth

answer

Mass and radius and hence average density and surface gravity

question

What are the characteristic features on the visible surface of Jupiter

answer

Light and dark bands of clouds parallel to the equator

question

Which is the least dense planet in the solar system

answer

Saturn

question

Which satellite of Jupiter is volcanically active

answer

Io

question

The Martian magnetic field is

answer

weak and localized, not at all like the global magnetic field of Earth

question

The four major moons of Jupiter are collectively named after which early astronomer

answer

Galileo

question

The geology and geography of the surface of the Venus is best described as

answer

mostly volcanic plains, with two continent-sized uplands, and a number of large volcanoes.

question

Comet tails are the result of

answer

melting and evaporation of ices from the comet core

question

An asteroid is

answer

A planetesimal moving in orbit around the Sun

question

A piece of rock from outer space that reaches the Earth's surface after surviving a fiery passage through the Earth's atmosphere is known as a

answer

meteorite

question

The orbits of comets are

answer

randomly oriented in the solar system and can extend far beyond the orbit of Pluto

question

The particular feature of a comet that exhibits the most structure and always points away from the Sun is

answer

its ion or gas tail

question

the nucleus of a typical comet is

answer

irregular in shape, with a very dark and cratered surface

question

A meteoroid is the name used to describe a solid particle that

answer

is drifting around in space

question

which of the following is a moon of Eris

answer

Dysnomia

question

The ionized gas tail of a comet is always aligned

answer

in the comet-Sun line

question

a shooting star is

answer

a small particle of interplanetary dust, burning up and glowing as it enters the Earth's atmosphere

question

Which of the following statements is NOT true for asteroids

answer

only a minority of all asteroids are in the asteroid belt

question

Why does no major planet orbit the Sun at the location of the asteroid belt

answer

Jupiter's gravitational pull stirred up the planetesimals, preventing them from coalescing into a single large object

question

Asteroids which orbit the Sun at the same distance as Jupiter are known as

answer

Trojans

question

_______ is the largest dwarf planet

answer

Eris

question

The number of times that a typical comet can pass close to the Sun (i.e., the number of orbits that the comet can compete) before it is completely vaporized or destroyed is about

answer

100

question

the asteroid belt exists between the orbits of which planets

answer

Mars and Jupiter

question

The cause of the "meteor showers" seen at regular times each year upon Earth, is most probably

answer

The Earth moving through the remnant dust and rock fragments of an old comet which are orbiting the Sun in the comet's old orbit

question

Which solar system object was found on January 1, 1801, located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter

answer

Dwarf planet Ceres

question

Which of the following is not a dwarf planet

answer

Neptune

question

Asteroids whose orbits carry them across the Earth's orbit are known as

answer

Apollo asteroids

question

The Kirkwood gaps are caused by

answer

the gravitational pull of Jupiter, which nudges asteroids into new orbits

question

_________ is the only dwarf planet located in the main asteroid belt

answer

Ceres

question

What is the difference between a long-period comet and short-period comet

answer

long-period comets orbit in the Oort cloud, whereas short-period comets orbit in the Kuiper belt

question

The asteroid belt is believed by most astronomers to be composed of

answer

rocky debris left over from the formation of the solar system

question

the most common meteorites to hit the Earth are

answer

the stony meteorites

question

The ______ is then given by the sum of the number of individual sunspots and ten times the number of groups

answer

sunspot number

question

The temperature of the Sun's photosphere is

answer

5800 K

question

What is the photosphere of the Sun

answer

The visible "surface" of the Sun

question

What are the names of the three layers in the Sun's atmosphere, in order from highest to lowest

answer

Corona, chromosphere, photosphere

question

The brighter cells surrounded by dark, narrow boundaries making up the cellular pattern that completely covers the visible surface of the Sun are called

answer

granules

question

The Sun's energy is generated by

answer

nuclear fusion

question

The layer of the sun that is normally visible to us is the

answer

photosphere

question

The thickness of the photosphere, or the visible "surface" of the Sun, is

answer

about 400 km

question

What is the average length of time from one maximum in the number of sunspots on the Sun to the next maximum

answer

11 years

question

The two forces producing hydrostatic equilibrium in the sun are

answer

nuclear forces and gravity

question

sunspots are

answer

cooler, darker regions on the Sun's surface

question

______ are regions of higher temperature and density surrounding sunspots

answer

Plages

question

The __________ is the Sun's outer atmosphere. It is visible during the total eclipses of the Sun as a pearly white crown surrounding the Sun

answer

corona

question

What process provides the power for the Sun

answer

The fusion of hydrogen into helium

question

Sunspots are caused by

answer

differential rotation and its effect on weak magnetic fields just under the solar surface

question

Where is the chromosphere on the Sun

answer

it is the layer above the visible surface of the Sun

question

Thermonuclear fusion reactions in the core of the Sun convert four hydrogen atoms into one helium atom. The helium atom has

answer

less mass than the four hydrogen atoms, because the energy produced is lost from the atom, and energy is equivalent to mass by E = mc2

question

Granulation on the surface of the Sun is caused by

answer

convective currents carrying heat from beneath the surface

question

What is the name of the layer of the Sun's atmosphere that appears as a pinking ring just outside the visible disk of the Sun during a total solar eclipse

answer

the chromosphere

question

Energy is transported from the center of the Sun to the surface by

answer

radiation in the thermonuclear core; convection everywhere else

question

Sunspots are areas on the sun that are

answer

cooler that their surroundings

question

The surface of the Sun is divided into light-colored areas with dark boundaries in a cellular pattern. What are these cells called

answer

Granules

question

What is the name of a sudden eruptive surge on the surface of the Sun

answer

a flare

question

What is the solar wind

answer

The Sun's outer atmosphere streaming out into space

question

Where is the coolest region in the Sun

answer

in the photosphere

question

What is a protostar

answer

a sphere of gas after collapse from an interstellar cloud but before nuclear reactions have begun

question

What is a white dwarf star

answer

a star of about the same size as the Earth

question

Which important stellar parameter can be best determined by observations of binary stars

answer

Stellar mass

question

The Sun's classification in terms of its surface temperature, as determined from absorption lines in its spectrum is

answer

G2

question

Where are the most massive stars to be found in the main sequence of the Hertzspring-Russell diagram

answer

The upper, left end

question

Which of the following letters representing spectral classification signifies the hottest stellar surface temperature

answer

B

question

The most likely places where stars and planetary systems are forming in the universe are

answer

in nebulae composed gas and dust

question

The surface temperature of nearby star can best be determined from spectral classification by examining

answer

The pattern of spectral absorption line from various items

question

The Hertz-Russell diagram is a plot of

answer

absolute magnitude (or intrinsic brightness) against temperature of group of stars

question

At what stage of its evolutionary life is the Sun

answer

Main sequence, middle age

question

What is a red giant

answer

a star that is burning hydrogen into helium in a shell around the core

question

A star in the lower left part of the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram, compared to a star in the middle of the diagram is

answer

smaller

question

Which of the following four spectral classifications represents the coolest stellar surface temperature

answer

K

question

An object which is too massive to be a planet but not massive enough to be a star is called

answer

a brown dwarf

question

Where on the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram do most local stars in our Universe congregate

answer

On the main sequence, where stars are generating energy by fusion reactions

question

The absolute magnitude of a star is

answer

equal to the apparent magnitude if the star is 10 parsecs away

question

Which of the following sequences of stellar spectral classifications is in correct order of increasing temperature

answer

M, K, G, F, A, B, O

question

The chemical makeup of the Sun's surface can be determined

answer

by solar spectroscopy

question

What is the most abundant element in the universe

answer

hydrogen

question

For any star on the main sequence, the same star when it was a protostar was

answer

larger and cooler

question

Which part of the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram is occupied by protostars

answer

To the right of the main sequence

question

The _____________ is the "mountain" in the potential energy that must be crossed over to move the nuclei close enough together to fuse in the core of a star

answer

Coulomb Barrier

question

Process of combining nuclei

answer

Fusion

question

While a star is on the main sequence, its energy comes primarily from

answer

nuclear fusion

question

Which are the two most abundant elements in the universe

answer

Hydrogen and helium

question

Objects that are intermediate between stars and planets

answer

Brown Dwarf

question

The lowest mass that a protostar can have and still become a star (i.e., start thermonuclear reactions in its core) is

answer

slightly less than 1/10 of a solar mass

question

The major part of a star's life is spent on the

answer

Main Sequence

question

At what point in its evolution will a protostar stop shrinking and stabilize into a star

answer

when nuclear processes generate enough energy and internal pressure to resist gravitational contraction

question

The energy released in a thermonuclear reaction comes from the conversion of matter into energy according to __________

answer

Einstein's

question

Which nuclear chain reaction process is used by stars more massive than our Sun

answer

CNO cycle

question

The evolutionary tracks of stars during the formation process

answer

Hayashi Tracks

question

Which nuclear chain reaction process is used by stars like our Sun

answer

PP chain

question

The most common method of energy transport in normal stars is by

answer

Photons

question

Which nuclear chain reaction process is used by stars in the red giant stage of a star's life

answer

triple-action

question

The time for a protostar to collapse to the main sequence is called

answer

Kevin-Helmholz

question

_________ is the process of splitting atoms

answer

fission

question

New stars are formed from

answer

Huge, cool dust and gas clouds

question

After hydrogen burning ends in a star's core, its position on the Hertz-Russell diagram moves toward the

answer

Upper right

question

Which nuclear fusion cycle follows the helium fusion phase as a massive star evolves

answer

Carbon "burning"

question

Which of the following statements is NOT a property of neutron stars

answer

they contain strong gravitational fields but weak magnetic fields

question

Black holes are so named because

answer

No light or any other electromagnetic radiation can escape from inside them

question

Our Sun will end its life by becoming

answer

a white dwarf

question

A planetary nebula is

answer

an expanding gas shell surrounding a shot white dwarf star

question

The final remnant of the evolution of a red giant star that has ejected a planetary nebula is

answer

a white dwarf star

question

The stars which eventually become White are those which start life with masses less than

answer

8 solar masses

question

During which phase of a low-mass star's life does helium shell burning occur

answer

asymptotic giant branch

question

A white dwarf star is about the same size as

answer

The Earth

question

Which of the following objects is NOT an end-point of a star's evolutionary life

answer

Red giant

question

What is the event horizon of a black hole

answer

The "surface" from inside of which nothing can escape

question

The main product of silicon fusion reactions in the core of a massive star is

answer

iron

question

Which of the following will a high-mass star (say, 25 times the mass of the Sun) NOT do at or near the end of its life

answer

Eject its outer layers and becoming a white dwarf

question

What name is given to a rotating black hole

answer

A Kerr black hole

question

Which force induces the core to condense and collapse in massive stars at the conclusion of each episode of nuclear fusion, such as the carbon, oxygen, and silicon fusion cycles

answer

gravity

question

The endpoint for the evolution of a low mass star is

answer

White dwarf

question

A white dwarf is

answer

A small, very hot, low-mass star

question

Which of the following stars is most dense

answer

white dwarf

question

Which type of main-sequence stars live the longest

answer

M

question

A Type II supernova is

answer

the explosion of a massive star after silicon burning has produced a core of iron nuclei

question

a black hole can be thought of as

answer

strongly curved space

question

Helium nuclear reactions (helium burning) produces primarily

answer

carbon and oxygen

question

The length of a star's main sequence life is determined by the star's

answer

spectral type

question

what name is given to a non-rotating black hole

answer

a Schwarzchild black hole

question

What is the escape velocity from inside a black hole

answer

greater than the speed of light

HSU Astronomy Ch. 7-12 – Flashcards

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