Question 1

A Kuiper belt object whose orbit is tilted with respect to the orbits of the planets is MOST likely to have

Accepted Answer

A)  originated in the Oort cloud. 
B)  formed in place during the early history of the solar system. 
C)  been a scattered moon of a giant planet, 
D)  been scattered to its current location by interactions with the giant planets. 
A)  originated in the Oort cloud. 
B)  formed in place during the early history of the solar system. 
C)  been a scattered moon of a giant planet, 
D)  been scattered to its current location by interactions with the giant planets.

Question 2

The process of accretion accounts for how

Accepted Answer

A)  elements are transformed into heavier elements by nuclear reactions. 
B)  giant planets differentiate into rocky cores and gaseous envelopes. 
C)  clouds of interstellar gas and dust contract to form protostars. 
D)  dust grains and ice crystals coalesce to form planetesimals. 
A)  elements are transformed into heavier elements by nuclear reactions. 
B)  giant planets differentiate into rocky cores and gaseous envelopes. 
C)  clouds of interstellar gas and dust contract to form protostars. 
D)  dust grains and ice crystals coalesce to form planetesimals.

Question 3

The reason for the vast amount of hydrogen in the interior of Jupiter is probably that

Accepted Answer

A)  nuclear fission of atoms in Jupiter's interior split all nuclei down to hydrogen nuclei early in its history. 
B)  Jupiter became so hot in its interior that all kinds of atoms and molecules were melted down to the fundamental atom, hydrogen. 
C)  Jupiter formed from the initial gravitational contraction of hydrogen gas. 
D)  the mass of the initial condensation of rocks at Jupiter's orbit was sufficient to attract vast amounts of gas to it. 
A)  nuclear fission of atoms in Jupiter's interior split all nuclei down to hydrogen nuclei early in its history. 
B)  Jupiter became so hot in its interior that all kinds of atoms and molecules were melted down to the fundamental atom, hydrogen. 
C)  Jupiter formed from the initial gravitational contraction of hydrogen gas. 
D)  the mass of the initial condensation of rocks at Jupiter's orbit was sufficient to attract vast amounts of gas to it.

Question 4

What process had the greatest influence on the features of the Moon during the first billion years of its existence?

Accepted Answer

A)  erosion by an early, short-lived atmosphere 
B)  volcanoes 
C)  impacts from space 
D)  mountain-building from geological activity 
A)  erosion by an early, short-lived atmosphere 
B)  volcanoes 
C)  impacts from space 
D)  mountain-building from geological activity

Question 5

The MOST probable theory for the formation of the solar system is

Accepted Answer

A)  an encounter in which a passing star ripped off material from the Sun to form the planets. 
B)  a capture theory in which the Sun, after formation, captured objects moving through space to form the planets. 
C)  the condensation of a nebula of cold gas and dust into the Sun and planets. 
D)  the condensation of a nebula of hot gas into the Sun and planets. 
A)  an encounter in which a passing star ripped off material from the Sun to form the planets. 
B)  a capture theory in which the Sun, after formation, captured objects moving through space to form the planets. 
C)  the condensation of a nebula of cold gas and dust into the Sun and planets. 
D)  the condensation of a nebula of hot gas into the Sun and planets.

Question 6

Venus is covered by clouds. The Moon has no atmosphere, and its surface is generally dark. What does this say about the albedo of these bodies?

Accepted Answer

A)  Venus has a large albedo; the Moon has a smaller albedo. 
B)  The Moon has a large albedo; Venus has a smaller albedo. 
C)  Venus has an albedo, but without an atmosphere the Moon cannot have an albedo. 
D)  These statements say nothing about the albedo of either body because albedo depends on the texture of the surface. 
A)  Venus has a large albedo; the Moon has a smaller albedo. 
B)  The Moon has a large albedo; Venus has a smaller albedo. 
C)  Venus has an albedo, but without an atmosphere the Moon cannot have an albedo. 
D)  These statements say nothing about the albedo of either body because albedo depends on the texture of the surface.

Question 7

In the solar system, the distribution of light and heavy elements is as follows

Accepted Answer

A)  Within a few astronomical units of the center, most of the matter consists of heavy elements. Beyond that, most of the matter consists of light elements. 
B)  Within a few astronomical units of the center, most of the matter consists of light elements. Beyond that, most of the matter consists of heavy elements. 
C)  Most of the light and heavy elements are within a few astronomical units of the center. 
D)  Most of the light and heavy elements are generally farther than a few astronomical units from the center. 
A)  Within a few astronomical units of the center, most of the matter consists of heavy elements. Beyond that, most of the matter consists of light elements. 
B)  Within a few astronomical units of the center, most of the matter consists of light elements. Beyond that, most of the matter consists of heavy elements. 
C)  Most of the light and heavy elements are within a few astronomical units of the center. 
D)  Most of the light and heavy elements are generally farther than a few astronomical units from the center.

Question 8

An object in the solar system orbits the Sun and has enough mass that its gravity has pulled it into a spherical shape, but it does not have enough gravity to clear its neighborhood of orbiting debris. This object is classified as

Accepted Answer

A)  a comet nucleus. 
B)  an asteroid. 
C)  a meteoroid. 
D)  a dwarf planet. 
A)  a comet nucleus. 
B)  an asteroid. 
C)  a meteoroid. 
D)  a dwarf planet.

Question 9

The present positions of the gas and ice giants are

Accepted Answer

A)  significantly closer to the Sun than they originally were, because of interactions with inner planets. 
B)  significantly closer to the Sun than they originally were, because of resonant interactions. 
C)  significantly more distant from the Sun than they originally were, because of interactions with the inner planets. 
D)  significantly more distant from the Sun than they originally were, because of resonant interactions. 
A)  significantly closer to the Sun than they originally were, because of interactions with inner planets. 
B)  significantly closer to the Sun than they originally were, because of resonant interactions. 
C)  significantly more distant from the Sun than they originally were, because of interactions with the inner planets. 
D)  significantly more distant from the Sun than they originally were, because of resonant interactions.

Question 10

All of these are methods believed to have formed planetary moons in the solar system EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

A)  as a result of the planet being struck by a large object. 
B)  the capture of planetesimals. 
C)  the spontaneous splitting of a planet due to intense internal radioactivity. 
D)  condensation within a miniature nebula formed around the planet. 
A)  as a result of the planet being struck by a large object. 
B)  the capture of planetesimals. 
C)  the spontaneous splitting of a planet due to intense internal radioactivity. 
D)  condensation within a miniature nebula formed around the planet.

Question 11

The only known solar system body believed to have formed OUTSIDE of our solar system is

Accepted Answer

A)  an asteroid. 
B)  a Kuiper belt object. 
C)  part of the Oort cloud. 
D)  a meteorite discovered in Antarctica. 
A)  an asteroid. 
B)  a Kuiper belt object. 
C)  part of the Oort cloud. 
D)  a meteorite discovered in Antarctica.

Question 12

The overall shape of the orbits of MOST of the planets in the solar system is

Accepted Answer

A)  perfectly circular. 
B)  parabolic. 
C)  slightly elliptical, but nearly circular. 
D)  elliptical, very elongated. 
A)  perfectly circular. 
B)  parabolic. 
C)  slightly elliptical, but nearly circular. 
D)  elliptical, very elongated.

Question 13

According to the consensus present theory of solar system formation, where were the four inner planets formed?

Accepted Answer

A)  All were formed farther out in the solar system and migrated inward. 
B)  All were formed near their present locations in the inner solar system. 
C)  Mercury was formed near the Sun, but the others were formed farther out and migrated inward. 
D)  Our present theory has no clear answer to this question. 
A)  All were formed farther out in the solar system and migrated inward. 
B)  All were formed near their present locations in the inner solar system. 
C)  Mercury was formed near the Sun, but the others were formed farther out and migrated inward. 
D)  Our present theory has no clear answer to this question.

Question 14

MOST meteoroids are

Accepted Answer

A)  rock-sized pieces of ice chipped off comets. 
B)  space debris that has fallen to Earth. 
C)  space debris composed of rocks or metals. 
D)  small pieces of debris ejected from planetary rings. 
A)  rock-sized pieces of ice chipped off comets. 
B)  space debris that has fallen to Earth. 
C)  space debris composed of rocks or metals. 
D)  small pieces of debris ejected from planetary rings.

Question 15

The asteroid Oumuamua, discovered in 2017, is unusual because it

Accepted Answer

A)  is not spherical. 
B)  is on a hyperbolic orbit and may have originated around another star. 
C)  passed through the inner solar system. 
D)  collided with Jupiter. 
A)  is not spherical. 
B)  is on a hyperbolic orbit and may have originated around another star. 
C)  passed through the inner solar system. 
D)  collided with Jupiter.

Question 16

The manner in which the large, outer planets formed in our solar system was MOST likely the

Accepted Answer

A)  gravitational condensation of hydrogen, helium, and dust in eddies or vortices in the outer solar nebula. 
B)  gravitational condensation of hydrogen and helium gas, followed by the capture of planetesimals. 
C)  accretion of planetesimals to form a core, followed by the gravitational capture of hydrogen and helium gas. 
D)  accretion of cold planetesimals containing large quantities of hydrogen and helium. 
A)  gravitational condensation of hydrogen, helium, and dust in eddies or vortices in the outer solar nebula. 
B)  gravitational condensation of hydrogen and helium gas, followed by the capture of planetesimals. 
C)  accretion of planetesimals to form a core, followed by the gravitational capture of hydrogen and helium gas. 
D)  accretion of cold planetesimals containing large quantities of hydrogen and helium.

Question 17

What is the difference between an asteroid and a meteoroid?

Accepted Answer

A)  Composition: asteroids contain a good deal of ice while meteoroids are rock and metal. 
B)  Size: asteroids are larger and meteoroids are smaller. 
C)  Location: asteroids are found throughout the solar system while meteoroids exist only in the inner solar system. 
D)  Endpoint: asteroids circle the Sun but meteoroids, by definition, have sailed through Earth's atmosphere and have reached the ground without burning up. 
A)  Composition: asteroids contain a good deal of ice while meteoroids are rock and metal. 
B)  Size: asteroids are larger and meteoroids are smaller. 
C)  Location: asteroids are found throughout the solar system while meteoroids exist only in the inner solar system. 
D)  Endpoint: asteroids circle the Sun but meteoroids, by definition, have sailed through Earth's atmosphere and have reached the ground without burning up.

Question 18

In our solar system, which of these planets is NOT a member of the terrestrial group?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 19

A theory of the origin of the solar system must take into account all important general properties of the planets, which include three of the four properties listed. Which one is NOT an important general property of the planets?

Accepted Answer

A)  The planets are grouped by size and composition into three general groups. 
B)  The magnetic fields of the planets are produced by a variety of mechanisms. 
C)  The terrestrial planets all orbit much closer to the Sun than do any of the Jovian planets. 
D)  All the planets orbit the Sun in the same direction and nearly in the same plane. 
A)  The planets are grouped by size and composition into three general groups. 
B)  The magnetic fields of the planets are produced by a variety of mechanisms. 
C)  The terrestrial planets all orbit much closer to the Sun than do any of the Jovian planets. 
D)  All the planets orbit the Sun in the same direction and nearly in the same plane.

Question 20

In what way are many of the extrasolar planetary systems that have been discovered so far fundamentally different from our own solar system?

Accepted Answer

A)  The relative positions of where the planets formed are inverted, with the gas giant-type planets forming close to the stars and the terrestrial-type planets forming farther out. 
B)  The terrestrial-mass planets are significantly outnumbered by the gas giant-mass planets. 
C)  The massive gas giant-type planets appear to have formed at large distances, spiraled in close to their stars, and remained near their stars. 
D)  There are no gas giant-mass planets. 
A)  The relative positions of where the planets formed are inverted, with the gas giant-type planets forming close to the stars and the terrestrial-type planets forming farther out. 
B)  The terrestrial-mass planets are significantly outnumbered by the gas giant-mass planets. 
C)  The massive gas giant-type planets appear to have formed at large distances, spiraled in close to their stars, and remained near their stars. 
D)  There are no gas giant-mass planets.

A Kuiper belt object whose orbit is tilted with respect to the orbits of the planets is MOST likely to have

The process of accretion accounts for how

The reason for the vast amount of hydrogen in the interior of Jupiter is probably that

What process had the greatest influence on the features of the Moon during the first billion years of its existence?

The MOST probable theory for the formation of the solar system is

Venus is covered by clouds. The Moon has no atmosphere, and its surface is generally dark. What does this say about the albedo of these bodies?

In the solar system, the distribution of light and heavy elements is as follows

An object in the solar system orbits the Sun and has enough mass that its gravity has pulled it into a spherical shape, but it does not have enough gravity to clear its neighborhood of orbiting debris. This object is classified as

The present positions of the gas and ice giants are

All of these are methods believed to have formed planetary moons in the solar system EXCEPT

The only known solar system body believed to have formed OUTSIDE of our solar system is

The overall shape of the orbits of MOST of the planets in the solar system is

According to the consensus present theory of solar system formation, where were the four inner planets formed?

MOST meteoroids are

The asteroid Oumuamua, discovered in 2017, is unusual because it

The manner in which the large, outer planets formed in our solar system was MOST likely the

What is the difference between an asteroid and a meteoroid?

In our solar system, which of these planets is NOT a member of the terrestrial group?

A theory of the origin of the solar system must take into account all important general properties of the planets, which include three of the four properties listed. Which one is NOT an important general property of the planets?

In what way are many of the extrasolar planetary systems that have been discovered so far fundamentally different from our own solar system?

Discovering the Night Sky

Gravitation and the Motion of the Planets

Light and Telescopes

Atomic Physics and Spectra

Exoplanets and the Formation of Planetary Systems

Earth and the Moon

The Other Terrestrial Planets

The Outer Planets

Vagabonds of the Solar System

The Sun: Our Extraordinary Star

Characterizing Stars

The Lives of Stars From Birth Through Middle Age

The Death of Stars

Black Holes: Matters of Gravity

The Milky Way Galaxy

Galaxies

Quasars and Other Active Galaxies

Cosmology

Astrobiology

Filters

Exam 6: Formation of the Solar System

A Kuiper belt object whose orbit is tilted with respect to the orbits of the planets is MOST likely to have

The process of accretion accounts for how

The reason for the vast amount of hydrogen in the interior of Jupiter is probably that

What process had the greatest influence on the features of the Moon during the first billion years of its existence?

The MOST probable theory for the formation of the solar system is

Venus is covered by clouds. The Moon has no atmosphere, and its surface is generally dark. What does this say about the albedo of these bodies?

In the solar system, the distribution of light and heavy elements is as follows

An object in the solar system orbits the Sun and has enough mass that its gravity has pulled it into a spherical shape, but it does not have enough gravity to clear its neighborhood of orbiting debris. This object is classified as

The present positions of the gas and ice giants are

All of these are methods believed to have formed planetary moons in the solar system EXCEPT

The only known solar system body believed to have formed OUTSIDE of our solar system is

The overall shape of the orbits of MOST of the planets in the solar system is

According to the consensus present theory of solar system formation, where were the four inner planets formed?

MOST meteoroids are

The asteroid Oumuamua, discovered in 2017, is unusual because it

The manner in which the large, outer planets formed in our solar system was MOST likely the

What is the difference between an asteroid and a meteoroid?

In our solar system, which of these planets is NOT a member of the terrestrial group?

A theory of the origin of the solar system must take into account all important general properties of the planets, which include three of the four properties listed. Which one is NOT an important general property of the planets?

In what way are many of the extrasolar planetary systems that have been discovered so far fundamentally different from our own solar system?

Discovering the Night Sky

Gravitation and the Motion of the Planets

Light and Telescopes

Atomic Physics and Spectra

Exoplanets and the Formation of Planetary Systems

Earth and the Moon

The Other Terrestrial Planets

The Outer Planets

Vagabonds of the Solar System

The Sun: Our Extraordinary Star

Characterizing Stars

The Lives of Stars From Birth Through Middle Age

The Death of Stars

Black Holes: Matters of Gravity

The Milky Way Galaxy

Galaxies

Quasars and Other Active Galaxies

Cosmology

Astrobiology

Filters