Exam 19: Origin of the Solar System and Extrasolar Planets

Terrestrial planets grew slowly and the Jovian planets grew quickly.

Planetesimals beyond the orbit of _____ failed to accumulate into a protoplanet because the gravitational field of _____ continuously disturbed their motion.

Astronomers consider the Solar System's Kuiper belt extending beyond the orbit of Neptune as an example of an old debris disk.

Explain the two sources of heat that "melted" a planet during its formation.

Outline a simple model of planet building.

What is the process in planetary formation in which heavy metals settle to the core of the planet while lower density materials floated to the surface to form a crust?

Jupiter and Saturn are so massive that they were able to grow by drawing in hot gas by gravitational contraction from the solar nebula.

The _______________ supposes that planets form in the rotating disks of gas and dust around young stars.

Kuiper belt objects appear to be ancient planetesimals that formed in the outer Solar System but were never incorporated into a planet.