Question 1

Which of these is NOT a consequence of resonance?

Accepted Answer

A)  the Moon's periods of rotation and revolution are equal 
B)  the orbital periods of Neptune and Pluto 
C)  the Kirkwood Gaps in the asteroid belt 
D)  Venus' cloud and surface rotation rates 
E)  Mercury's rotation and revolution around the Sun 
A)  the Moon's periods of rotation and revolution are equal 
B)  the orbital periods of Neptune and Pluto 
C)  the Kirkwood Gaps in the asteroid belt 
D)  Venus' cloud and surface rotation rates 
E)  Mercury's rotation and revolution around the Sun

Question 2

When we are lucky enough to see an extra-solar 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 3

________ in the early solar system might explain many of the observed irregularities.

Accepted Answer

The answer of ________ in the early solar system might...

Question 4

The ________ hypothesis was considered plausible in the 1800s,but is it no longer taken seriously.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The ________ hypothesis was considered plausible in...

Question 5

Orbital resonances are a characteristic of some extrasolar systems but are not seen in our solar system.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Which statement about extrasolar planets found to date is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  All are terrestrials, comparable in size to Earth. 
B)  Few are found by Doppler shifts of their stars, due to their gravity. 
C)  All lie more than 2 A.U. from their star. 
D)  Most have orbital periods of more than a year. 
E)  Some are so close to their stars that their periods are just a few days. 
A)  All are terrestrials, comparable in size to Earth. 
B)  Few are found by Doppler shifts of their stars, due to their gravity. 
C)  All lie more than 2 A.U. from their star. 
D)  Most have orbital periods of more than a year. 
E)  Some are so close to their stars that their periods are just a few days.

Question 7

How can astronomers be confident that the larger exoplanets discovered are not simply brown dwarfs?

Accepted Answer

Unless the majority of the planets detec

Question 8

The radial velocity method is less likely to detect low mass planets than high mass planets because low mass planets cause smaller ________ fluctuations.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The radial velocity method is less likely...

Question 9

Why are Earths and super-Earths in the habitable zones of their stars of special interest?

Accepted Answer

One of the major motivations for searchi

Question 10

Why do instruments that are looking for transiting planets need to look for very small brightness changes?

Accepted Answer

Because a transiting

Question 11

Super-Earths are earthlike planets where life is possible.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

How do most of the newly discovered solar systems and planets compare to our own?

Accepted Answer

So far we have detected mostly large,mas

Question 13

When looking for the radial velocity changes or "wobbles" detected due to Doppler shifts,which mass combination 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 14

Planets found in the habitable zone of other stars:

Accepted Answer

A)  are all rocky planets, like the terrestrial planets in our solar system. 
B)  are all jovian planets. 
C)  include some Earths and super-Earths. 
D)  include hot Jupiters. 
E)  have been demonstrated to be barren of all life. 
A)  are all rocky planets, like the terrestrial planets in our solar system. 
B)  are all jovian planets. 
C)  include some Earths and super-Earths. 
D)  include hot Jupiters. 
E)  have been demonstrated to be barren of all life.

Question 15

Most hot Jupiters are thought to have formed in the orbits they have been discovered.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

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

Accepted Answer

Jupiters are planets with masses greater

Question 17

The Earth-Moon system may have been the result of a collision between the Earth and a(n)________-size object.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The Earth-Moon system may have been the...

Question 18

A late collision with a large planetesimal may have caused what feature on Mars?

Accepted Answer

A)  Olympus Mons 
B)  its curious north-south asymmetry 
C)  Hellas Basin 
D)  the Marianas Trench 
E)  its exceptionally large nickel-iron core 
A)  Olympus Mons 
B)  its curious north-south asymmetry 
C)  Hellas Basin 
D)  the Marianas Trench 
E)  its exceptionally large nickel-iron core

Question 19

The condensation theory is an example of:

Accepted Answer

A)  a catastrophic theory. 
B)  a hot Jupiter theory. 
C)  a collision hypothesis. 
D)  an evolutionary theory. 
E)  a capture theory. 
A)  a catastrophic theory. 
B)  a hot Jupiter theory. 
C)  a collision hypothesis. 
D)  an evolutionary theory. 
E)  a capture theory.

Question 20

Astronomers have determined the detailed composition of all confirmed exoplanets.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 15: Exoplanets: Planetary Systems Beyond Our Own

Which of these is NOT a consequence of resonance?

When we are lucky enough to see an extra-solar planet transit its star,

________ in the early solar system might explain many of the observed irregularities.

The ________ hypothesis was considered plausible in the 1800s,but is it no longer taken seriously.

Orbital resonances are a characteristic of some extrasolar systems but are not seen in our solar system.

Which statement about extrasolar planets found to date is true?

How can astronomers be confident that the larger exoplanets discovered are not simply brown dwarfs?

The radial velocity method is less likely to detect low mass planets than high mass planets because low mass planets cause smaller ________ fluctuations.

Why are Earths and super-Earths in the habitable zones of their stars of special interest?

Why do instruments that are looking for transiting planets need to look for very small brightness changes?

Super-Earths are earthlike planets where life is possible.

How do most of the newly discovered solar systems and planets compare to our own?

When looking for the radial velocity changes or "wobbles" detected due to Doppler shifts,which mass combination is most likely to be detected?

Planets found in the habitable zone of other stars:

Most hot Jupiters are thought to have formed in the orbits they have been discovered.

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

The Earth-Moon system may have been the result of a collision between the Earth and a(n)________-size object.

A late collision with a large planetesimal may have caused what feature on Mars?

The condensation theory is an example of:

Astronomers have determined the detailed composition of all confirmed exoplanets.

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: Earth's 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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