Question 1

Which of the following statements is not true about the planets so far discovered around other stars?

Accepted Answer

A)  Photographs reveal that most of them have atmospheres much like that of Jupiter. 
B)  Most of them are much more massive than Earth. 
C)  Many of them orbit closer to their star than Jupiter orbits the Sun. 
D)  Many of them have been discovered by observing Doppler shifts in the spectra of the stars they orbit. 
A)  Photographs reveal that most of them have atmospheres much like that of Jupiter. 
B)  Most of them are much more massive than Earth. 
C)  Many of them orbit closer to their star than Jupiter orbits the Sun. 
D)  Many of them have been discovered by observing Doppler shifts in the spectra of the stars they orbit.

Question 2

Which planet has a ring system?

Accepted Answer

A)  Jupiter 
B)  Saturn 
C)  Uranus 
D)  Neptune 
E)  All of the above 
A)  Jupiter 
B)  Saturn 
C)  Uranus 
D)  Neptune 
E)  All of the above

Question 3

Describe the impact the discovery of extrasolar planets has had for understanding the origin of our own Solar System.

Accepted Answer

The discovery of extrasolar planets show

Question 4

If the freezing point of ices of all types was at a much lower temperature, what change would that imply for the formation of our solar system?

Accepted Answer

A)  There would be no change in where gas giants could form, because the freezing point of ices did not affect the formation of gas giants. 
B)  The gas giants could have formed at a closer distance. 
C)  The gas giants would have to form at a larger distance. 
A)  There would be no change in where gas giants could form, because the freezing point of ices did not affect the formation of gas giants. 
B)  The gas giants could have formed at a closer distance. 
C)  The gas giants would have to form at a larger distance.

Question 5

Based on everything you have learned about the formation of our solar system, which of the following statements is probably not true?

Accepted Answer

A)  Only a tiny percentage of stars are surrounded by spinning disks of gas during their formation. 
B)  A star system's planets generally tend to orbit their star in the same direction and approximately the same plane. 
C)  Other solar systems will also have planets in the two basic categories of terrestrial and jovian. 
D)  Other planetary systems will have far more numerous asteroids and comets than actual planets. 
A)  Only a tiny percentage of stars are surrounded by spinning disks of gas during their formation. 
B)  A star system's planets generally tend to orbit their star in the same direction and approximately the same plane. 
C)  Other solar systems will also have planets in the two basic categories of terrestrial and jovian. 
D)  Other planetary systems will have far more numerous asteroids and comets than actual planets.

Question 6

The planet closest in size to Earth is

Accepted Answer

A)  Mercury. 
B)  Venus. 
C)  the Moon. 
D)  Mars. 
E)  Pluto. 
A)  Mercury. 
B)  Venus. 
C)  the Moon. 
D)  Mars. 
E)  Pluto.

Question 7

What is an "extrasolar planet"?

Accepted Answer

A)  A planet that orbits a star that is not our own Sun 
B)  A planet that is larger than the Sun 
C)  A planet that is extra large compared to what we'd expect 
D)  A planet that is considered an "extra," in that it was not needed for the formation of its solar system 
A)  A planet that orbits a star that is not our own Sun 
B)  A planet that is larger than the Sun 
C)  A planet that is extra large compared to what we'd expect 
D)  A planet that is considered an "extra," in that it was not needed for the formation of its solar system

Question 8

The planet in our solar system with the highest average surface temperature is ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  Venus 
B)  Mercury 
C)  Earth 
D)  Neptune 
A)  Venus 
B)  Mercury 
C)  Earth 
D)  Neptune

Question 9

Which of the following statements about our Sun is not true?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Sun's diameter is about 5 times that of Earth. 
B)  The Sun is a star. 
C)  The Sun contains more than 99% of all the mass in our solar system. 
D)  The Sun is made mostly of hydrogen and helium. 
A)  The Sun's diameter is about 5 times that of Earth. 
B)  The Sun is a star. 
C)  The Sun contains more than 99% of all the mass in our solar system. 
D)  The Sun is made mostly of hydrogen and helium.

Question 10

Based on our current theory of Earth's formation, the water we drink comes from

Accepted Answer

A)  ice that condensed in the solar nebula in the region where Earth formed. 
B)  chemical reactions that occurred in Earth's crust after Earth formed. 
C)  chemical reactions that occurred in Earth's core after Earth formed. 
D)  material left behind during the giant impact that formed the Moon. 
E)  comets that impacted Earth. 
A)  ice that condensed in the solar nebula in the region where Earth formed. 
B)  chemical reactions that occurred in Earth's crust after Earth formed. 
C)  chemical reactions that occurred in Earth's core after Earth formed. 
D)  material left behind during the giant impact that formed the Moon. 
E)  comets that impacted Earth.

Question 11

What percentage of the mass of the solar nebula consisted of elements other than hydrogen and helium?

Accepted Answer

A)  0 percent 
B)  0.1 percent 
C)  2 percent 
D)  20 percent 
E)  80 percent 
A)  0 percent 
B)  0.1 percent 
C)  2 percent 
D)  20 percent 
E)  80 percent

Question 12

Suppose you start with 1 kilogram of a radioactive substance that has a half-life of 10 years. Which of the following statements will be true after 20 years pass?

Accepted Answer

A)  You'll have 0.25 kilogram of the radioactive substance remaining. 
B)  All the material will have completely decayed. 
C)  You'll have 0.75 kilogram of the radioactive substance remaining. 
D)  You'll have 0.5 kilogram of the radioactive substance remaining. 
A)  You'll have 0.25 kilogram of the radioactive substance remaining. 
B)  All the material will have completely decayed. 
C)  You'll have 0.75 kilogram of the radioactive substance remaining. 
D)  You'll have 0.5 kilogram of the radioactive substance remaining.

Question 13

The jovian planets have no solid surface.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

Explain how the age of a rock can be determined by radiometric dating.

Accepted Answer

The minerals in rocks contain small amou

Question 15

According to our basic scenario of solar system formation, why do the jovian planets have numerous large moons?

Accepted Answer

A)  As the growing jovian planets captured gas from the solar nebula, the gas formed swirling disks around them, and moons formed from condensation accretion within these disks. 
B)  Because of their strong gravity, the jovian planets were able to capture numerous asteroids that happened to be passing nearby, and these became the major moons of the jovian planets. 
C)  The large moons of the jovian planets originally formed in the inner solar system and these moons then migrated out to join up with the jovian planets. 
D)  The many moons of the jovian planets remains one of the unexplained mysteries of the formation of our solar system. 
A)  As the growing jovian planets captured gas from the solar nebula, the gas formed swirling disks around them, and moons formed from condensation accretion within these disks. 
B)  Because of their strong gravity, the jovian planets were able to capture numerous asteroids that happened to be passing nearby, and these became the major moons of the jovian planets. 
C)  The large moons of the jovian planets originally formed in the inner solar system and these moons then migrated out to join up with the jovian planets. 
D)  The many moons of the jovian planets remains one of the unexplained mysteries of the formation of our solar system.

Question 16

What do meteorites reveal about the solar system?

Accepted Answer

A)  They reveal that meteorites are much older than the comets and planets. 
B)  Nothing, because they come from other star systems. 
C)  They reveal that the solar system once contained 10 planets. 
D)  They reveal that the age of the solar system is approximately 4.6 billion years. 
E)  They reveal that the early solar system consisted mostly of hydrogen and helium gas. 
A)  They reveal that meteorites are much older than the comets and planets. 
B)  Nothing, because they come from other star systems. 
C)  They reveal that the solar system once contained 10 planets. 
D)  They reveal that the age of the solar system is approximately 4.6 billion years. 
E)  They reveal that the early solar system consisted mostly of hydrogen and helium gas.

Question 17

The jovian planets in our solar system are ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. 
B)  Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars 
C)  Pluto and Eris 
D)  Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto 
A)  Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. 
B)  Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars 
C)  Pluto and Eris 
D)  Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto

Question 18

Pluto is the largest solar system object beyond the orbit of Neptune

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

Which of the following observations indicates that conditions on Mars may have been suitable for life in the past?

Accepted Answer

A)  There are very large extinct volcanoes on Mars. 
B)  There is a very deep and long canyon that extends across Mars. 
C)  There are dried-up riverbeds on Mars. 
D)  Mars has polar caps made of "dry ice." 
E)  Mars has two small moons. 
A)  There are very large extinct volcanoes on Mars. 
B)  There is a very deep and long canyon that extends across Mars. 
C)  There are dried-up riverbeds on Mars. 
D)  Mars has polar caps made of "dry ice." 
E)  Mars has two small moons.

Question 20

Which planet (besides Earth) has been visited by the largest number of robotic spacecraft?

Accepted Answer

A)  Mars 
B)  Jupiter 
C)  Venus 
D)  Saturn 
A)  Mars 
B)  Jupiter 
C)  Venus 
D)  Saturn

Which of the following statements is not true about the planets so far discovered around other stars?

Which planet has a ring system?

Describe the impact the discovery of extrasolar planets has had for understanding the origin of our own Solar System.

If the freezing point of ices of all types was at a much lower temperature, what change would that imply for the formation of our solar system?

Based on everything you have learned about the formation of our solar system, which of the following statements is probably not true?

The planet closest in size to Earth is

What is an "extrasolar planet"?

The planet in our solar system with the highest average surface temperature is ________.

Which of the following statements about our Sun is not true?

Based on our current theory of Earth's formation, the water we drink comes from

What percentage of the mass of the solar nebula consisted of elements other than hydrogen and helium?

Suppose you start with 1 kilogram of a radioactive substance that has a half-life of 10 years. Which of the following statements will be true after 20 years pass?

The jovian planets have no solid surface.

Explain how the age of a rock can be determined by radiometric dating.

According to our basic scenario of solar system formation, why do the jovian planets have numerous large moons?

What do meteorites reveal about the solar system?

The jovian planets in our solar system are ________.

Pluto is the largest solar system object beyond the orbit of Neptune

Which of the following observations indicates that conditions on Mars may have been suitable for life in the past?

Which planet (besides Earth) has been visited by the largest number of robotic spacecraft?

Our Place in the Universe

Discovering the Universe for Yourself

The Science of Astronomy

Making Sense of the Universe: Understanding Motion, Energy, and Gravity

Light: the Cosmic Messenger

Earth and the Terrestrial Worlds

Jovian Planet Systems

Asteroids, Comets, and Dwarf Planets: Their Nature, Orbits, and Impacts

Our Star

Surveying the Stars

Star Stuff

Bizarre Stellar Graveyard

Our Galaxy

Galaxies and the Foundation of Modern Cosmology

Dark Matter, Dark Energy, and the Fate of the Universe

The Beginning of Time

Life in the Universe

Filters

Exam 6: Formation of Planetary Systems: Our Solar System and Beyond

Which of the following statements is not true about the planets so far discovered around other stars?

Which planet has a ring system?

Describe the impact the discovery of extrasolar planets has had for understanding the origin of our own Solar System.

If the freezing point of ices of all types was at a much lower temperature, what change would that imply for the formation of our solar system?

Based on everything you have learned about the formation of our solar system, which of the following statements is probably not true?

The planet closest in size to Earth is

What is an "extrasolar planet"?

The planet in our solar system with the highest average surface temperature is ________.

Which of the following statements about our Sun is not true?

Based on our current theory of Earth's formation, the water we drink comes from

What percentage of the mass of the solar nebula consisted of elements other than hydrogen and helium?

Suppose you start with 1 kilogram of a radioactive substance that has a half-life of 10 years. Which of the following statements will be true after 20 years pass?

The jovian planets have no solid surface.

Explain how the age of a rock can be determined by radiometric dating.

According to our basic scenario of solar system formation, why do the jovian planets have numerous large moons?

What do meteorites reveal about the solar system?

The jovian planets in our solar system are ________.

Pluto is the largest solar system object beyond the orbit of Neptune

Which of the following observations indicates that conditions on Mars may have been suitable for life in the past?

Which planet (besides Earth) has been visited by the largest number of robotic spacecraft?

Our Place in the Universe

Discovering the Universe for Yourself

The Science of Astronomy

Making Sense of the Universe: Understanding Motion, Energy, and Gravity

Light: the Cosmic Messenger

Earth and the Terrestrial Worlds

Jovian Planet Systems

Asteroids, Comets, and Dwarf Planets: Their Nature, Orbits, and Impacts

Our Star

Surveying the Stars

Star Stuff

Bizarre Stellar Graveyard

Our Galaxy

Galaxies and the Foundation of Modern Cosmology

Dark Matter, Dark Energy, and the Fate of the Universe

The Beginning of Time

Life in the Universe

Filters