Question 1

Which of the following is not evidence supporting the idea that our Moon formed as a result of a giant impact?

Accepted Answer

A) The Moon has a much smaller proportion of easily vaporized materials than Earth. 
B) Computer simulations show that the Moon could really have formed in this way. 
C) The Moon's average density suggests it is made of rock much more like that of the Earth's outer layers than that of the Earth as a whole. 
D) The Pacific Ocean appears to be a large crater-probably the one made by the giant impact. 
A) The Moon has a much smaller proportion of easily vaporized materials than Earth. 
B) Computer simulations show that the Moon could really have formed in this way. 
C) The Moon's average density suggests it is made of rock much more like that of the Earth's outer layers than that of the Earth as a whole. 
D) The Pacific Ocean appears to be a large crater-probably the one made by the giant impact. D

Question 2

Which of the following is the origin of almost all the large moons around the jovian planets?

Accepted Answer

A) They were formed by condensation and accretion in a disk of gas around the planet. 
B) They are captured asteroids. 
C) They are captured comets. 
D) They were formed by giant impacts. 
E) They are captured planets. 
A) They were formed by condensation and accretion in a disk of gas around the planet. 
B) They are captured asteroids. 
C) They are captured comets. 
D) They were formed by giant impacts. 
E) They are captured planets. A

Question 3

Many meteorites appear to have formed very early in the solar system's history. How do these meteorites support our theory about how the terrestrial planets formed?

Accepted Answer

A) The meteorites' sizes are just what we'd expect if metal and rock condensed and accreted as our theory suggests. 
B) The meteorites' appearance and composition is just what we'd expect if metal and rock condensed and accreted as our theory suggests. 
C) Their overall composition is just what we believe the composition of the solar nebula to have been: mostly hydrogen and helium. 
D) Their appearance and composition matches what we observe in comets today, suggesting that they were once pieces of icy planetesimals. 
A) The meteorites' sizes are just what we'd expect if metal and rock condensed and accreted as our theory suggests. 
B) The meteorites' appearance and composition is just what we'd expect if metal and rock condensed and accreted as our theory suggests. 
C) Their overall composition is just what we believe the composition of the solar nebula to have been: mostly hydrogen and helium. 
D) Their appearance and composition matches what we observe in comets today, suggesting that they were once pieces of icy planetesimals. B

Question 4

You are measuring how velocity changes with time of two stars like the Sun in order to detect their planets. Both stars have a velocity curve with a periods of 2 years, but the maximum size (peak- to- peak amplitude)of the velocity curve of star A is 100 km/s, and for star B it is 200 km/s. What causes this difference? Assume the planets are named after their stars.

Accepted Answer

A) Planet A is less massive than Planet B. 
B) Planet A is more massive than Planet B. 
C) Planet A is farther from Star A than Planet B is from Star B. 
D) Planet A is closer to Star A than Planet B is to Star B. 
E) Not possible to say, since you're measuring the velocity curve of the stars, not the planets. 
A) Planet A is less massive than Planet B. 
B) Planet A is more massive than Planet B. 
C) Planet A is farther from Star A than Planet B is from Star B. 
D) Planet A is closer to Star A than Planet B is to Star B. 
E) Not possible to say, since you're measuring the velocity curve of the stars, not the planets.

Question 5

Pluto is different from the other outer planets in all of the following ways except which one?

Accepted Answer

A) It has only one moon. 
B) Its orbit is not very close to being circular. 
C) It doesn't have rings. 
D) Its surface temperature is very cold. 
E) It is made mostly of ices. 
A) It has only one moon. 
B) Its orbit is not very close to being circular. 
C) It doesn't have rings. 
D) Its surface temperature is very cold. 
E) It is made mostly of ices.

Question 6

Which of the following statements about Mars is not true?

Accepted Answer

A) We have landed spacecraft on its surface. 
B) It is frozen today, but once had flowing water. 
C) We could survive on Mars without spacesuits, as long as we brought oxygen in scuba tanks. 
D) It is considered part of our inner solar system. 
A) We have landed spacecraft on its surface. 
B) It is frozen today, but once had flowing water. 
C) We could survive on Mars without spacesuits, as long as we brought oxygen in scuba tanks. 
D) It is considered part of our inner solar system.

Question 7

How does the Sun's mass compare with that of the planets?

Accepted Answer

A) It is a hundred times more massive than all the planets combined. 
B) It is a hundred times more massive than Earth. 
C) It is a thousand times more massive than Earth. 
D) It is a thousand times more massive than all the planets combined. 
E) It is about as massive as all the planets combined. 
A) It is a hundred times more massive than all the planets combined. 
B) It is a hundred times more massive than Earth. 
C) It is a thousand times more massive than Earth. 
D) It is a thousand times more massive than all the planets combined. 
E) It is about as massive as all the planets combined.

Question 8

Which of the following puzzles in the solar system cannot be explained by a giant impact event?

Accepted Answer

A) the backward rotation of Venus 
B) the large metallic core of Mercury 
C) the orbit of Triton in the opposite direction to Neptune's rotation 
D) the formation of the Moon 
E) the extreme axis tilt of Uranus 
A) the backward rotation of Venus 
B) the large metallic core of Mercury 
C) the orbit of Triton in the opposite direction to Neptune's rotation 
D) the formation of the Moon 
E) the extreme axis tilt of Uranus

Question 9

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) 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. 
C) The many moons of the jovian planets remains one of the unexplained mysteries of the formation of our solar system. 
D) 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. 
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) 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. 
C) The many moons of the jovian planets remains one of the unexplained mysteries of the formation of our solar system. 
D) 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.

Question 10

Suppose you find a rock that contains some potassium- 40 (half- life of 1.3 billion years). You measure the amount and determine that there are 5 grams of potassium- 40 in the rock. By measuring the amount of its decay product (argon- 40)present in the rock, you realize that there must have been 40 grams of potassium- 40 when the rock solidified. How old is the rock?

Accepted Answer

A) 2)6 billion years 
B) 1)3 billion years 
C) 3)9 billion years 
D) 5)2 billion years 
E) none of the above 
A) 2)6 billion years 
B) 1)3 billion years 
C) 3)9 billion years 
D) 5)2 billion years 
E) none of the above

Question 11

All the planets in the solar system rotate in the same direction as they orbit the Sun.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Suppose you discovered a meteorite that contains small amounts of potassium- 40, which has a half- life of 1.3 billion years, and its decay product argon- 40. You determine that 1/16 of the original potassium- 40 remains; the other 15/16 has decayed into argon- 40. How old is the meteorite? Based on your answer, where is this meteorite probably from?

Accepted Answer

To reach a fraction of 1/16, the meteori

Question 13

If a radioactive isotope were injected into your bloodstream, how many half- lives would you have to wait before the amount of this isotope in your body is 1 its original amount? 16

Accepted Answer

A) 1 
B) 2 
C) 3 
D) 4 
E) 5 
A) 1 
B) 2 
C) 3 
D) 4 
E) 5

Question 14

Based on our theory of how our own solar system formed, we would expect that other solar systems would be quite common.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

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

Question 16

Which is the densest planet in the solar system?

Accepted Answer

A) Venus 
B) Mercury 
C) Jupiter 
D) Earth 
E) Mars 
A) Venus 
B) Mercury 
C) Jupiter 
D) Earth 
E) Mars

Question 17

According to modern science, what was the approximate chemical composition of the solar nebula?

Accepted Answer

A) 98% hydrogen, 2% helium 
B) 50% hydrogen and helium, 50% everything else 
C) roughly equal proportions of hydrogen, helium, water, and methane 
D) 98% hydrogen and helium, 2% everything else 
A) 98% hydrogen, 2% helium 
B) 50% hydrogen and helium, 50% everything else 
C) roughly equal proportions of hydrogen, helium, water, and methane 
D) 98% hydrogen and helium, 2% everything else

Question 18

The terrestrial planets in our solar system are .

Accepted Answer

A) Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune 
B) Pluto and Eris 
C) Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars 
D) Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune 
A) Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune 
B) Pluto and Eris 
C) Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars 
D) Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune

Question 19

Imagine that an alien spaceship crashed onto Earth. Which statement would most likely be true?

Accepted Answer

A) The aliens' home world is another planet in our own solar system. 
B) All the evidence of the crash would be quickly whisked off by the U.S. military to Area 51 in Nevada. 
C) The crash would create a noticeable crater. 
D) It would crash in the ocean. 
A) The aliens' home world is another planet in our own solar system. 
B) All the evidence of the crash would be quickly whisked off by the U.S. military to Area 51 in Nevada. 
C) The crash would create a noticeable crater. 
D) It would crash in the ocean.

Question 20

Within the frost line, planetesimals were composed entirely of rock, and outside the frost line, planetesimals were composed entirely of ice.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Which of the following is not evidence supporting the idea that our Moon formed as a result of a giant impact?

Which of the following is the origin of almost all the large moons around the jovian planets?

Many meteorites appear to have formed very early in the solar system's history. How do these meteorites support our theory about how the terrestrial planets formed?

Pluto is different from the other outer planets in all of the following ways except which one?

Which of the following statements about Mars is not true?

How does the Sun's mass compare with that of the planets?

Which of the following puzzles in the solar system cannot be explained by a giant impact event?

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

All the planets in the solar system rotate in the same direction as they orbit the Sun.

If a radioactive isotope were injected into your bloodstream, how many half- lives would you have to wait before the amount of this isotope in your body is 1 its original amount? 16

Based on our theory of how our own solar system formed, we would expect that other solar systems would be quite common.

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

Which is the densest planet in the solar system?

According to modern science, what was the approximate chemical composition of the solar nebula?

The terrestrial planets in our solar system are .

Imagine that an alien spaceship crashed onto Earth. Which statement would most likely be true?

Within the frost line, planetesimals were composed entirely of rock, and outside the frost line, planetesimals were composed entirely of ice.

A Modern View of 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 System

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

Other Planetary Systems: the New Science of Distant Worlds

Our Star

Surveying the Stars

Star Stuff

The Bizarre Stellar Graveyard

Our Galaxy

A Universe of Galaxies

The Birth of the Universe

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

Life in the Universe

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Exam 6: Formation of the Solar System

Which of the following is not evidence supporting the idea that our Moon formed as a result of a giant impact?

Which of the following is the origin of almost all the large moons around the jovian planets?

Many meteorites appear to have formed very early in the solar system's history. How do these meteorites support our theory about how the terrestrial planets formed?

Pluto is different from the other outer planets in all of the following ways except which one?

Which of the following statements about Mars is not true?

How does the Sun's mass compare with that of the planets?

Which of the following puzzles in the solar system cannot be explained by a giant impact event?

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

All the planets in the solar system rotate in the same direction as they orbit the Sun.

If a radioactive isotope were injected into your bloodstream, how many half- lives would you have to wait before the amount of this isotope in your body is 1 its original amount? 16

Based on our theory of how our own solar system formed, we would expect that other solar systems would be quite common.

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

Which is the densest planet in the solar system?

According to modern science, what was the approximate chemical composition of the solar nebula?

The terrestrial planets in our solar system are .

Imagine that an alien spaceship crashed onto Earth. Which statement would most likely be true?

Within the frost line, planetesimals were composed entirely of rock, and outside the frost line, planetesimals were composed entirely of ice.

A Modern View of 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 System

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

Other Planetary Systems: the New Science of Distant Worlds

Our Star

Surveying the Stars

Star Stuff

The Bizarre Stellar Graveyard

Our Galaxy

A Universe of Galaxies

The Birth of the Universe

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

Life in the Universe

Filters