Question 1

The radial velocity technique works best for:

Accepted Answer

A) exoplanets whose orbits are along our line of sight (edge on). 
B) exoplanets whose orbits are perpendicular to our line of sight (face on). 
C) exoplanets whose orbits are nearly circular (low eccentricity). 
D) exoplanets whose orbits are very eccentric (very elliptical). 
A) exoplanets whose orbits are along our line of sight (edge on). 
B) exoplanets whose orbits are perpendicular to our line of sight (face on). 
C) exoplanets whose orbits are nearly circular (low eccentricity). 
D) exoplanets whose orbits are very eccentric (very elliptical).

Question 2

When was the first confirmed exoplanet discovered?

Accepted Answer

A) shortly after the invention of the telescope, in the early 1600s 
B) in prehistoric times 
C) around 350 BC, by the Ancient Greeks 
D) early in the 21st century 
E) near the end of the 20th century 
A) shortly after the invention of the telescope, in the early 1600s 
B) in prehistoric times 
C) around 350 BC, by the Ancient Greeks 
D) early in the 21st century 
E) near the end of the 20th century

Question 3

A planet is located orbiting another star and its radius is about 3 times that of the Earth. It is:

Accepted Answer

A) a brown dwarf. 
B) a Jupiter. 
C) a Neptune. 
D) a super-Earth. 
E) an Earth. 
A) a brown dwarf. 
B) a Jupiter. 
C) a Neptune. 
D) a super-Earth. 
E) an Earth.

Question 4

The ________ theory is thought to explain the formation of our solar system.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The ________ theory is thought to explain...

Question 5

Of the first exoplanets found, most were detected by:

Accepted Answer

A) noting the drop in the star's light as the planet transits its disk. 
B) imaging them with the HST in the infrared, where they are easier to spot. 
C) noting the Doppler shifts of the star as the planet orbits it. 
D) receiving radio transmissions from them, much like Jupiter emits. 
E) detecting the oxygen in their atmospheres spectroscopically. 
A) noting the drop in the star's light as the planet transits its disk. 
B) imaging them with the HST in the infrared, where they are easier to spot. 
C) noting the Doppler shifts of the star as the planet orbits it. 
D) receiving radio transmissions from them, much like Jupiter emits. 
E) detecting the oxygen in their atmospheres spectroscopically.

Question 6

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 7

Super-Earths are:

Accepted Answer

A) planets that are most earthlike, likely to harbor life. 
B) planets that are a few times the mass of the Earth. 
C) planets that have earthlike masses, but orbit much closer to their star than the Earth does tothe Sun. 
D) any rocky (or terrestrial)planet. 
E) Earth-mass planets that are much lower in density than the Earth, giving them larger radii. 
A) planets that are most earthlike, likely to harbor life. 
B) planets that are a few times the mass of the Earth. 
C) planets that have earthlike masses, but orbit much closer to their star than the Earth does tothe Sun. 
D) any rocky (or terrestrial)planet. 
E) Earth-mass planets that are much lower in density than the Earth, giving them larger radii.

Question 8

All exoplanets found orbit their star in the same direction as the star's spin.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

The ________ around a star is the region where liquid water could exist on a planet.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The ________ around a star is the...

Question 10

Astronomers expect extrasolar planetary systems to have very different overall properties thanthose found in our solar system.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

The radius of a super-Earth generally falls in the range:

Accepted Answer

A) above 5 Earth radii. 
B) between 2 and 5 Earth radii. 
C) between 1.25 and 2 Earth radii. 
D) between 0.75 and 1.25 Earth radii. 
E) below 0.75 Earth radii. 
A) above 5 Earth radii. 
B) between 2 and 5 Earth radii. 
C) between 1.25 and 2 Earth radii. 
D) between 0.75 and 1.25 Earth radii. 
E) below 0.75 Earth radii.

Question 12

What are some of the properties of objects in the solar system that a theory of its origin DOESNOT need to account for? Explain.

Accepted Answer

There are many answers to this:Mercury's

Question 13

The direct detection method works best for:

Accepted Answer

A) exoplanets whose orbits are along our line of sight (edge on). 
B) exoplanets that are close to their star. 
C) exoplanets that are far from their star. 
D) exoplanets that have already been detected by the transit method. 
A) exoplanets whose orbits are along our line of sight (edge on). 
B) exoplanets that are close to their star. 
C) exoplanets that are far from their star. 
D) exoplanets that have already been detected by the transit method.

Question 14

What information do we know about the known exoplanets?

Accepted Answer

A) estimates of orbits and masses 
B) complete composition 
C) precise masses 
D) all of the above 
E) none of the above 
A) estimates of orbits and masses 
B) complete composition 
C) precise masses 
D) all of the above 
E) none of the above

Question 15

What is the difference between a hot Jupiter and a cold Jupiter?

Accepted Answer

A) Hot Jupiters have fusion reactions; cold Jupiters do not. 
B) Hot Jupiters orbit close to the parent stars; cold Jupiters do not. 
C) Hot Jupiters radiate more energy than they receive from their star; cold Jupiters do not. 
D) Hot Jupiters have observed volcanoes; cold Jupiters do not. 
E) Hot Jupiters were an exciting discovery; cold Jupiters were not. 
A) Hot Jupiters have fusion reactions; cold Jupiters do not. 
B) Hot Jupiters orbit close to the parent stars; cold Jupiters do not. 
C) Hot Jupiters radiate more energy than they receive from their star; cold Jupiters do not. 
D) Hot Jupiters have observed volcanoes; cold Jupiters do not. 
E) Hot Jupiters were an exciting discovery; cold Jupiters were not.

Question 16

Discuss the important features that allow space-based telescopes to search for transitingexoplanets.

Accepted Answer

Space-based telescopes are exceptionally

Question 17

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

Accepted Answer

So far, we have detected mostly large, m

Question 18

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

The planet ________ may have been the result of the merger of two bodies.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The planet ________ may have been the...

Question 20

Why are infrared observations useful when observing extrasolar planets?

Accepted Answer

Because planets radiate mostly infrared

Exam 15: Exoplanets: Planetary Systems Beyond Our Own

The radial velocity technique works best for:

When was the first confirmed exoplanet discovered?

A planet is located orbiting another star and its radius is about 3 times that of the Earth. It is:

The ________ theory is thought to explain the formation of our solar system.

Of the first exoplanets found, most were detected by:

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

Super-Earths are:

All exoplanets found orbit their star in the same direction as the star's spin.

The ________ around a star is the region where liquid water could exist on a planet.

Astronomers expect extrasolar planetary systems to have very different overall properties thanthose found in our solar system.

The radius of a super-Earth generally falls in the range:

What are some of the properties of objects in the solar system that a theory of its origin DOESNOT need to account for? Explain.

The direct detection method works best for:

What information do we know about the known exoplanets?

What is the difference between a hot Jupiter and a cold Jupiter?

Discuss the important features that allow space-based telescopes to search for transitingexoplanets.

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

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

The planet ________ may have been the result of the merger of two bodies.

Why are infrared observations useful when observing extrasolar planets?

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: Earths 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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