Question 1

Any model of solar system formation must explain why the planets revolve in the samedirection as the Sun rotates.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

The chemical composition differences between the planets are basically the result of the factthat different elements condense out of gas at different ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The chemical composition differences between the planets...

Question 3

In the conventional scenario, during which phase of planet formation caused the jovianplanets to form?

Accepted Answer

A) core-accretion 
B) fragmentation 
C) differentiation 
D) collision 
E) condensation 
A) core-accretion 
B) fragmentation 
C) differentiation 
D) collision 
E) condensation

Question 4

All jovian planets in our solar system have rings around their equators and at least eightmoons.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

What is the role of irregularities in the solar system in terms of theories of its origin?

Accepted Answer

A) They are too minor to play a role; astronomers ignore them. 
B) They introduce a need for flexibility in theories of the solar system's origin. 
C) Theories of the solar system are entirely based on the many irregularities found among theplanets and moons. 
D) The solar system has no irregularities; it is perfectly regular and orderly. 
E) The solar system is chaotic, with irregularities the rule. 
A) They are too minor to play a role; astronomers ignore them. 
B) They introduce a need for flexibility in theories of the solar system's origin. 
C) Theories of the solar system are entirely based on the many irregularities found among theplanets and moons. 
D) The solar system has no irregularities; it is perfectly regular and orderly. 
E) The solar system is chaotic, with irregularities the rule.

Question 6

The smallest sort of interplanetary matter is called:

Accepted Answer

A) an asteroid. 
B) interplanetary dust. 
C) a meteoroid. 
D) a Kuiper Belt Object. 
E) a comet. 
A) an asteroid. 
B) interplanetary dust. 
C) a meteoroid. 
D) a Kuiper Belt Object. 
E) a comet.

Question 7

Dust is an important part of the nebular theory of solar system formation because dust isneeded to explain:

Accepted Answer

A) how the inner planets came to be rocky bodies. 
B) how the outer planets came to be gaseous bodies. 
C) how the initial cloud cooled enough to collapse. 
D) how the initial cloud heated as it contracted. 
E) why the icy bodies are located so far from the Sun. 
A) how the inner planets came to be rocky bodies. 
B) how the outer planets came to be gaseous bodies. 
C) how the initial cloud cooled enough to collapse. 
D) how the initial cloud heated as it contracted. 
E) why the icy bodies are located so far from the Sun.

Question 8

What is the role of dust in the condensation theory?

Accepted Answer

Dust provides the co

Question 9

The Pioneer and Voyager space probes passed near the jovian planets without landing orcrashing into them.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

The Kuiper Belt is found where in the solar system?

Accepted Answer

A) among the orbits of the terrestrial planets 
B) beyond the orbit of Neptune 
C) between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter 
D) between the orbits of Jupiter and Uranus 
E) sixty degrees ahead of or behind Jupiter 
A) among the orbits of the terrestrial planets 
B) beyond the orbit of Neptune 
C) between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter 
D) between the orbits of Jupiter and Uranus 
E) sixty degrees ahead of or behind Jupiter

Question 11

In light of modern solar system theory, why do the orbits of the planets all lie in the sameplane?

Accepted Answer

A) The Sun's gravity forced them into these orbits. 
B) The angular momentum of the solar system was kept to a minimum this way. 
C) The early solar nebula flattened into a disk. 
D) Comets would have wiped out any not in this protected plane. 
E) This happened purely by chance. 
A) The Sun's gravity forced them into these orbits. 
B) The angular momentum of the solar system was kept to a minimum this way. 
C) The early solar nebula flattened into a disk. 
D) Comets would have wiped out any not in this protected plane. 
E) This happened purely by chance.

Question 12

In addition to revolving around the Sun counterclockwise, most planets also rotate on theiraxis counterclockwise.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

Which of the following have an icy composition?

Accepted Answer

A) most asteroids 
B) meteoroids 
C) comets 
D) the surface of Mars 
E) meteorites and most asteroids 
A) most asteroids 
B) meteoroids 
C) comets 
D) the surface of Mars 
E) meteorites and most asteroids

Question 14

Which of these bodies has the lowest density?

Accepted Answer

A) Saturn 
B) Jupiter 
C) a comet 
D) an asteroid 
E) a Kuiper Belt object 
A) Saturn 
B) Jupiter 
C) a comet 
D) an asteroid 
E) a Kuiper Belt object

Question 15

The planet's orbital period is:

Accepted Answer

A) the time it takes it to rotate and have the same face toward us again. 
B) the time it takes to return to the same location in the sky, relative to the Sun. 
C) the time it takes for a satellite to orbit it. 
D) the time it takes for it to retrograde back to the same position as we pass it. 
E) the time its magnetic field takes to spin once. 
A) the time it takes it to rotate and have the same face toward us again. 
B) the time it takes to return to the same location in the sky, relative to the Sun. 
C) the time it takes for a satellite to orbit it. 
D) the time it takes for it to retrograde back to the same position as we pass it. 
E) the time its magnetic field takes to spin once.

Question 16

All the terrestrial planets lie inside the asteroid belt.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

While all planet orbits are ellipses, the eight large planets have fairly ________eccentricities.

Accepted Answer

The answer of While all planet orbits are ellipses, the...

Question 18

Which of the characteristics below describes the terrestrial planets?

Accepted Answer

A) having rings 
B) large and gaseous 
C) small, dark and icy 
D) possessing weak magnetic fields 
E) widely spaced through the outer solar system 
A) having rings 
B) large and gaseous 
C) small, dark and icy 
D) possessing weak magnetic fields 
E) widely spaced through the outer solar system

Question 19

Most of the angular momentum of the solar system is found in the ________.

Accepted Answer

orbits of

Question 20

Conservation of angular momentum explains why the contracting solar nebula's rotation rateincreased as it contracted.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 6: The Solar System: Comparative Planetology and Formation Models

Any model of solar system formation must explain why the planets revolve in the samedirection as the Sun rotates.

The chemical composition differences between the planets are basically the result of the factthat different elements condense out of gas at different ________.

In the conventional scenario, during which phase of planet formation caused the jovianplanets to form?

All jovian planets in our solar system have rings around their equators and at least eightmoons.

What is the role of irregularities in the solar system in terms of theories of its origin?

The smallest sort of interplanetary matter is called:

Dust is an important part of the nebular theory of solar system formation because dust isneeded to explain:

What is the role of dust in the condensation theory?

The Pioneer and Voyager space probes passed near the jovian planets without landing orcrashing into them.

The Kuiper Belt is found where in the solar system?

In light of modern solar system theory, why do the orbits of the planets all lie in the sameplane?

In addition to revolving around the Sun counterclockwise, most planets also rotate on theiraxis counterclockwise.

Which of the following have an icy composition?

Which of these bodies has the lowest density?

The planet's orbital period is:

All the terrestrial planets lie inside the asteroid belt.

While all planet orbits are ellipses, the eight large planets have fairly ________eccentricities.

Which of the characteristics below describes the terrestrial planets?

Most of the angular momentum of the solar system is found in the ________.

Conservation of angular momentum explains why the contracting solar nebula's rotation rateincreased as it contracted.

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

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

Exoplanets: Planetary Systems Beyond Our Own

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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