Question 1

Concerning our solar nebula theory, the presence of so many "hot Jupiters" gives usproblems with how they can form that close to their star.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 2

Using the radial velocity technique to determine the mass of exoplanets only yields an upperlimit to the mass of an exoplanet.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  False

Question 3

As of late 2016, the number of confirmed exoplanets found was:

Accepted Answer

A) 5, all around stars within 20 light-years of us. 
B) 42, all much bigger than Jupiter, but orbiting red dwarf stars. 
C) a few hundred, orbiting more than 300 stars. 
D) a few thousand, mainly around stars smaller and fainter than our Sun. 
E) many thousands, around every star we have closely examined to date. 
A) 5, all around stars within 20 light-years of us. 
B) 42, all much bigger than Jupiter, but orbiting red dwarf stars. 
C) a few hundred, orbiting more than 300 stars. 
D) a few thousand, mainly around stars smaller and fainter than our Sun. 
E) many thousands, around every star we have closely examined to date. D

Question 4

No exo-Earths have been found in the habitable zone of their stars.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

When looking for the radial velocity changes detected due to Doppler shifts, which masscombination is most likely to be detected?

Accepted Answer

A) high mass star, high mass planet 
B) high mass star, low mass planet 
C) low mass star, high mass planet 
D) low mass star, low mass planet 
E) a high mass planet; the mass of the star is irrelevant 
A) high mass star, high mass planet 
B) high mass star, low mass planet 
C) low mass star, high mass planet 
D) low mass star, low mass planet 
E) a high mass planet; the mass of the star is irrelevant

Question 6

Extrasolar planetary systems are similar to our solar system in all of the following ways,EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

A) that planetary orbits are relatively coplanar. 
B) for the presence of hot Jupiters in some systems. 
C) that planets orbit in the same direction that their parent star rotates. 
D) that the systems contain interplanetary debris, such as comets or asteroids. 
E) None of these is dissimilar to our solar system. 
A) that planetary orbits are relatively coplanar. 
B) for the presence of hot Jupiters in some systems. 
C) that planets orbit in the same direction that their parent star rotates. 
D) that the systems contain interplanetary debris, such as comets or asteroids. 
E) None of these is dissimilar to our solar system.

Question 7

Astronomers have determined the detailed composition of all confirmed exoplanets.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Why have very few planets with low mass (comparable to Mars or Mercury)been found?

Accepted Answer

A) These small planets are very rare. 
B) Low mass planets do not produce large enough radial velocity changes in their stars. 
C) High mass planets are blocking our views of low mass planets. 
D) Hot Jupiters have ejected most low mass planets from their solar systems. 
E) Low mass planets are too far from their parent stars to receive enough light to make themvisible from Earth. 
A) These small planets are very rare. 
B) Low mass planets do not produce large enough radial velocity changes in their stars. 
C) High mass planets are blocking our views of low mass planets. 
D) Hot Jupiters have ejected most low mass planets from their solar systems. 
E) Low mass planets are too far from their parent stars to receive enough light to make themvisible from Earth.

Question 9

Super-Earths are earthlike planets where life is possible.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

The Kepler and CoRoT missions use which technique to detect planet candidates?

Accepted Answer

A) radial velocity measurements 
B) direct imaging 
C) measurements of transverse motion 
D) planetary transits 
A) radial velocity measurements 
B) direct imaging 
C) measurements of transverse motion 
D) planetary transits

Question 11

The amplitude of the radial velocity curve showing the motion of a star with a planet orbitingit shows the period of the planet's orbit (the planet's year).

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Why does the present method of finding extrasolar planets not favor finding solar systems likeours?

Accepted Answer

Doppler shifts and brightness changes du

Question 13

The transmit method of detecting exoplanets works best when we can see the exoplanet'ssolar system edge on.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

In the process of planetary formation, when would the inward migration of Jupiters havemost likely occurred?

Accepted Answer

A) shortly after all of the planets had finished forming 
B) just after the system was cleared of the remaining gas 
C) before these planets had grown to full size 
D) after these planets had reached full size, but before terrestrial planets had finished forming 
E) at least hundreds of millions of years after planetary formation ended 
A) shortly after all of the planets had finished forming 
B) just after the system was cleared of the remaining gas 
C) before these planets had grown to full size 
D) after these planets had reached full size, but before terrestrial planets had finished forming 
E) at least hundreds of millions of years after planetary formation ended

Question 15

When we are lucky enough to see an extrasolar planet transit its star:

Accepted Answer

A) it will cause the star to vanish for several hours. 
B) we can find the planet's size, mass, and density by the drop in light. 
C) we can determine what elements are in its atmosphere. 
D) we can determine its shape. 
E) we can be certain it is a terrestrial, not a jovian. 
A) it will cause the star to vanish for several hours. 
B) we can find the planet's size, mass, and density by the drop in light. 
C) we can determine what elements are in its atmosphere. 
D) we can determine its shape. 
E) we can be certain it is a terrestrial, not a jovian.

Question 16

None of the other stars yet studied has more than one planet orbiting it.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

Planet formation happens in newly formed solar systems over the course of about 100 millionyears.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

Why has direct imaging found so few exoplanets?

Accepted Answer

A) Direct imaging is only possible using military satellites. 
B) Direct imaging only works if the planet is orbiting a brown dwarf. 
C) Only a few attempts have been made to directly image an extrasolar planet. 
D) Exoplanets are faint and are usually close to their parent stars. 
A) Direct imaging is only possible using military satellites. 
B) Direct imaging only works if the planet is orbiting a brown dwarf. 
C) Only a few attempts have been made to directly image an extrasolar planet. 
D) Exoplanets are faint and are usually close to their parent stars.

Question 19

The radius of an exoplanet classified as a Neptune generally falls in the range:

Accepted Answer

A) above 5 Earth radii. 
B) between 2 and 5 Earth radii. 
C) between 1.25 and 2 Earth radii. 
D) between 0.75 and 1.25 Earth radii. 
E) below 0.75 Earth radii. 
A) above 5 Earth radii. 
B) between 2 and 5 Earth radii. 
C) between 1.25 and 2 Earth radii. 
D) between 0.75 and 1.25 Earth radii. 
E) below 0.75 Earth radii.

Question 20

Extrasolar planets are placed in groups by their approximate masses. What are four of theseclasses?

Accepted Answer

Jupiters are planets with masses greater

Exam 15: Exoplanets: Planetary Systems Beyond Our Own

Concerning our solar nebula theory, the presence of so many "hot Jupiters" gives usproblems with how they can form that close to their star.

Using the radial velocity technique to determine the mass of exoplanets only yields an upperlimit to the mass of an exoplanet.

As of late 2016, the number of confirmed exoplanets found was:

No exo-Earths have been found in the habitable zone of their stars.

When looking for the radial velocity changes detected due to Doppler shifts, which masscombination is most likely to be detected?

Extrasolar planetary systems are similar to our solar system in all of the following ways,EXCEPT:

Astronomers have determined the detailed composition of all confirmed exoplanets.

Why have very few planets with low mass (comparable to Mars or Mercury)been found?

Super-Earths are earthlike planets where life is possible.

The Kepler and CoRoT missions use which technique to detect planet candidates?

The amplitude of the radial velocity curve showing the motion of a star with a planet orbitingit shows the period of the planet's orbit (the planet's year).

Why does the present method of finding extrasolar planets not favor finding solar systems likeours?

The transmit method of detecting exoplanets works best when we can see the exoplanet'ssolar system edge on.

In the process of planetary formation, when would the inward migration of Jupiters havemost likely occurred?

When we are lucky enough to see an extrasolar planet transit its star:

None of the other stars yet studied has more than one planet orbiting it.

Planet formation happens in newly formed solar systems over the course of about 100 millionyears.

Why has direct imaging found so few exoplanets?

The radius of an exoplanet classified as a Neptune generally falls in the range:

Extrasolar planets are placed in groups by their approximate masses. What are four of theseclasses?

Charting the Heavens: The Foundations of Astronomy

The Copernican Revolution: The Birth of Modern Science

Radiation: Information From the Cosmos

Spectroscopy: the Inner Workings of Atoms

Telescopes: The Tools of Astronomy

The Solar System: Comparative Planetology and Formation Models

Earth: Our Home in Space

The Moon and Mercury: Scorched and Battered Worlds

Venus: Earths Sister Planet

Mars: a Near Miss for Life

Jupiter: Giant of the Solar System

Saturn: Spectacular Rings and Mysterious Moons

Uranus and Neptune: The Outer Worlds of the Solar System

Solar System Debris: Keys to Our Origin

The Sun: Our Parent Star

The Stars: Giants, Dwarfs, and the Main Sequence

The Interstellar Medium: Gas and Dust Among the Stars

Star Formation: a Traumatic Birth

Stellar Evolution: The Life and Death of a Star

Stellar Explosions: Novae, Supernovae, and the Formation of the Elements

Neutron Stars and Black Holes: Strange States of Matter

The Milky Way Galaxy: a Spiral in Space

Galaxies: Building Blocks of the Universe

Galaxies and Dark Matter: The Large-Scale Structure of the Cosmos

Cosmology: The Big Bang and the Fate of the Universe

The Early Universe: Toward the Beginning of Time

Life in the Universe: Are We Alone

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