Question 1

At greater distances from the sun, planetary surface temperatures increase.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

According to present understanding, which of the following statements about the solar wind is not true?

Accepted Answer

A) It swept vast amounts of gas from the solar nebula into interstellar space. 
B) It consists of charged particles blown off the surface of the Sun. 
C) It is even stronger today than it was when the Sun was young. 
D) It helped in the transfer of angular momentum from the young Sun to particles that blew into interstellar space, which explains why the Sun rotates so slowly today. 
A) It swept vast amounts of gas from the solar nebula into interstellar space. 
B) It consists of charged particles blown off the surface of the Sun. 
C) It is even stronger today than it was when the Sun was young. 
D) It helped in the transfer of angular momentum from the young Sun to particles that blew into interstellar space, which explains why the Sun rotates so slowly today.

Question 3

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

Question 4

If the freezing point of ices of all types were 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 would have to form at a larger distance. 
C) The gas giants could have formed at a closer 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 would have to form at a larger distance. 
C) The gas giants could have formed at a closer distance.

Question 5

Astronomers now classify Pluto as really just a large member of

Accepted Answer

A) the moon system around Neptune. 
B) the Oort cloud. 
C) an extrasolar planetary system. 
D) the Kuiper belt. 
E) the asteroid belt. 
A) the moon system around Neptune. 
B) the Oort cloud. 
C) an extrasolar planetary system. 
D) the Kuiper belt. 
E) the asteroid belt.

Question 6

More pattern finding: Examine table 6.1 from the textbook on page 150. Identify and describe one pattern in the data. Give specific information to support the pattern you describe.

Accepted Answer

One pattern in the data from table 6.1 o

Question 7

Which of the following statements best explains why the planets orbit in nearly a single plane and in the same direction around the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A) The planets all rotate in same direction as they orbit. 
B) The planets formed from a disk of rotating gas. 
C) The Sun rotates in the same direction, and spun out the planets as it formed. 
D) It's a mysterious coincidence: the planets form randomly, so it's a puzzle how they orbit that way. 
A) The planets all rotate in same direction as they orbit. 
B) The planets formed from a disk of rotating gas. 
C) The Sun rotates in the same direction, and spun out the planets as it formed. 
D) It's a mysterious coincidence: the planets form randomly, so it's a puzzle how they orbit that way.

Question 8

Earth's atmosphere resulted from the impact of icy planetesimals that originated in the outer regions of the Solar System.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

Which of the following is furthest from the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A) a comet in the Kuiper belt 
B) Pluto 
C) a comet in the Oort cloud 
D) an asteroid in the asteroid belt 
E) Neptune 
A) a comet in the Kuiper belt 
B) Pluto 
C) a comet in the Oort cloud 
D) an asteroid in the asteroid belt 
E) Neptune

Question 10

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

Accepted Answer

. Over time, these isotopes decay into a

Question 11

The planet closest in size to Earth is

Accepted Answer

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

Question 12

According to modern scientific dating techniques, approximately how old is the solar system?

Accepted Answer

A) 14 billion years 
B) 10,000 years 
C) 4)5 billion years 
D) 4)6 million years 
A) 14 billion years 
B) 10,000 years 
C) 4)5 billion years 
D) 4)6 million years

Question 13

A rock sample from the moon includes a mineral that contains small amounts of the radioactive isotope Potassium- 40 and its daughter element Argon- 40 (half- life of 1.3 billion years). This mineral would not form with any Argon- 40. Consider a crystal with 7 atoms of Argon- 40 for every 1 atom of Potassium- 40. How many atoms of Potassium- 40 were present when the crystal formed for each atom of Potassium- 40 that exists today?

Accepted Answer

A) 1 
B) 7 
C) 8 
D) None 
A) 1 
B) 7 
C) 8 
D) None

Question 14

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

Accepted Answer

A) 0)1 percent 
B) 80 percent 
C) 2 percent 
D) 20 percent 
E) 0 percent 
A) 0)1 percent 
B) 80 percent 
C) 2 percent 
D) 20 percent 
E) 0 percent

Question 15

According to our present theory of solar system formation, which of the following lists the major ingredients of the solar nebula in order from the most abundant to the least abundant?

Accepted Answer

A) hydrogen compounds; hydrogen and helium gas; metal; rock 
B) hydrogen and helium gas; hydrogen compounds; rock; metal 
C) hydrogen and helium gas; rock; metal; hydrogen compounds 
D) hydrogen, water, methane, helium 
A) hydrogen compounds; hydrogen and helium gas; metal; rock 
B) hydrogen and helium gas; hydrogen compounds; rock; metal 
C) hydrogen and helium gas; rock; metal; hydrogen compounds 
D) hydrogen, water, methane, helium

Question 16

Compared to the distance between Earth and Mars, the distance between Jupiter and Saturn is .

Accepted Answer

A) just slightly less 
B) about the same 
C) much smaller 
D) much larger 
A) just slightly less 
B) about the same 
C) much smaller 
D) much larger

Question 17

Which of the following statements about the recently- discovered object Eris is not true?

Accepted Answer

A) It lies well beyond Pluto and Neptune. 
B) It orbits the Sun in the same direction as the other planets. 
C) It is slightly larger than Pluto. 
D) It is thought to be the first example of a new class of object. 
A) It lies well beyond Pluto and Neptune. 
B) It orbits the Sun in the same direction as the other planets. 
C) It is slightly larger than Pluto. 
D) It is thought to be the first example of a new class of object.

Question 18

Where are most of the known asteroids found?

Accepted Answer

A) between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter 
B) between the orbits of the terrestrial planets 
C) in the Kuiper belt 
D) between the orbits of the jovian planets 
E) in the Oort cloud 
A) between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter 
B) between the orbits of the terrestrial planets 
C) in the Kuiper belt 
D) between the orbits of the jovian planets 
E) in the Oort cloud

Question 19

The nebular theory of the formation of the solar system successfully predicts all but one of the following. Which one does the theory not predict?

Accepted Answer

A) Planets orbit around the Sun in nearly circular orbits in a flattened disk. 
B) the presence of asteroids and comets 
C) the equal number of terrestrial and jovian planets 
D) the compositional differences between the terrestrial and jovian planets 
E) the craters on the Moon 
A) Planets orbit around the Sun in nearly circular orbits in a flattened disk. 
B) the presence of asteroids and comets 
C) the equal number of terrestrial and jovian planets 
D) the compositional differences between the terrestrial and jovian planets 
E) the craters on the Moon

Question 20

Why are terrestrial planets denser than jovian planets?

Accepted Answer

A) The Sun's gravity gathered dense materials into the inner solar system. 
B) Gravity compresses terrestrial planets to a higher degree, making them denser. 
C) Actually, the jovian planets are denser than the terrestrial planets. 
D) Only dense materials could condense in the inner solar nebula. 
A) The Sun's gravity gathered dense materials into the inner solar system. 
B) Gravity compresses terrestrial planets to a higher degree, making them denser. 
C) Actually, the jovian planets are denser than the terrestrial planets. 
D) Only dense materials could condense in the inner solar nebula.

At greater distances from the sun, planetary surface temperatures increase.

According to present understanding, which of the following statements about the solar wind is not true?

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?

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

Astronomers now classify Pluto as really just a large member of

More pattern finding: Examine table 6.1 from the textbook on page 150. Identify and describe one pattern in the data. Give specific information to support the pattern you describe.

Which of the following statements best explains why the planets orbit in nearly a single plane and in the same direction around the Sun?

Earth's atmosphere resulted from the impact of icy planetesimals that originated in the outer regions of the Solar System.

Which of the following is furthest from the Sun?

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

The planet closest in size to Earth is

According to modern scientific dating techniques, approximately how old is the solar system?

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

According to our present theory of solar system formation, which of the following lists the major ingredients of the solar nebula in order from the most abundant to the least abundant?

Compared to the distance between Earth and Mars, the distance between Jupiter and Saturn is .

Which of the following statements about the recently- discovered object Eris is not true?

Where are most of the known asteroids found?

The nebular theory of the formation of the solar system successfully predicts all but one of the following. Which one does the theory not predict?

Why are terrestrial planets denser than jovian planets?

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

Exam 6: Formation of the Solar System

At greater distances from the sun, planetary surface temperatures increase.

According to present understanding, which of the following statements about the solar wind is not true?

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?

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

Astronomers now classify Pluto as really just a large member of

More pattern finding: Examine table 6.1 from the textbook on page 150. Identify and describe one pattern in the data. Give specific information to support the pattern you describe.

Which of the following statements best explains why the planets orbit in nearly a single plane and in the same direction around the Sun?

Earth's atmosphere resulted from the impact of icy planetesimals that originated in the outer regions of the Solar System.

Which of the following is furthest from the Sun?

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

The planet closest in size to Earth is

According to modern scientific dating techniques, approximately how old is the solar system?

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

According to our present theory of solar system formation, which of the following lists the major ingredients of the solar nebula in order from the most abundant to the least abundant?

Compared to the distance between Earth and Mars, the distance between Jupiter and Saturn is .

Which of the following statements about the recently- discovered object Eris is not true?

Where are most of the known asteroids found?

The nebular theory of the formation of the solar system successfully predicts all but one of the following. Which one does the theory not predict?

Why are terrestrial planets denser than jovian planets?

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