Question 1

Which planet has the highest average surface temperature,and why?

Accepted Answer

A) Mercury,because it is closest to the Sun 
B) Mercury,because of its dense carbon dioxide atmosphere 
C) Venus,because of its dense carbon dioxide atmosphere 
D) Mars,because of its red color 
E) Jupiter,because it is so big 
A) Mercury,because it is closest to the Sun 
B) Mercury,because of its dense carbon dioxide atmosphere 
C) Venus,because of its dense carbon dioxide atmosphere 
D) Mars,because of its red color 
E) Jupiter,because it is so big

Question 2

What is the primary reason why a Pluto flyby mission would be cheaper than a Pluto orbiter?

Accepted Answer

A) The flyby can use less expensive cameras than the orbiter. 
B) The flyby is easier to design than the orbiter. 
C) The fuel needed for an orbiter to slow down when it reaches Pluto is very expensive in and of itself. 
D) The fuel needed for an orbiter to slow down when it reaches Pluto adds a lot of weight to the spacecraft. 
E) The question is incorrect;in general,orbiters are cheaper than flybys. 
A) The flyby can use less expensive cameras than the orbiter. 
B) The flyby is easier to design than the orbiter. 
C) The fuel needed for an orbiter to slow down when it reaches Pluto is very expensive in and of itself. 
D) The fuel needed for an orbiter to slow down when it reaches Pluto adds a lot of weight to the spacecraft. 
E) The question is incorrect;in general,orbiters are cheaper than flybys.

Question 3

What is comparative planetology,and what is its basic premise?

Accepted Answer

Comparative planetology is the approach

Question 4

What is aerobraking?

Accepted Answer

A) the technique of using a planetary atmosphere to change the orbit of a spacecraft 
B) the use of a planetary atmosphere to redirect a spacecraft to another planet 
C) the controlled landing of a spacecraft on a planetary surface 
D) the gradual decrease of speed as a spacecraft leaves the solar system 
E) the destruction of a spacecraft by the intense pressure as it descends into the atmosphere 
A) the technique of using a planetary atmosphere to change the orbit of a spacecraft 
B) the use of a planetary atmosphere to redirect a spacecraft to another planet 
C) the controlled landing of a spacecraft on a planetary surface 
D) the gradual decrease of speed as a spacecraft leaves the solar system 
E) the destruction of a spacecraft by the intense pressure as it descends into the atmosphere

Question 5

Oceans cover more of Earth's surface than land.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

All four of the giant outer planets-Jupiter,Saturn,Uranus,and Neptune-have rings.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

Suppose you view the solar system from high above Earth's North Pole.Which of the following statements about planetary orbits will be true?

Accepted Answer

A) All the planets orbit counterclockwise around the Sun. 
B) The inner planets orbit the Sun counterclockwise while the outer planets orbit the Sun clockwise. 
C) All the planets except Uranus orbit the Sun counterclockwise;Uranus orbits in the opposite direction. 
D) The inner planets orbit the Sun clockwise while the outer planets orbit the Sun counterclockwise. 
A) All the planets orbit counterclockwise around the Sun. 
B) The inner planets orbit the Sun counterclockwise while the outer planets orbit the Sun clockwise. 
C) All the planets except Uranus orbit the Sun counterclockwise;Uranus orbits in the opposite direction. 
D) The inner planets orbit the Sun clockwise while the outer planets orbit the Sun counterclockwise.

Question 8

Which jovian planet does not have rings?

Accepted Answer

A) Jupiter 
B) Neptune 
C) Uranus 
D) Mars 
E) All the jovian planets have rings. 
A) Jupiter 
B) Neptune 
C) Uranus 
D) Mars 
E) All the jovian planets have rings.

Question 9

All planets orbit the Sun in the same direction (counterclockwise as viewed from above Earth's North Pole).

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

Why has NASA sent recent orbiters to Mars on trajectories that required them to skim through Mars's atmosphere ("aerobraking")before settling into their final orbits?

Accepted Answer

A) It saved money because the spacecraft used atmospheric drag to slow down rather than needing to carry enough fuel to slow by firing rocket engines. 
B) It allowed the orbiters to get higher resolution pictures of the surface as it came close when skimming through the atmosphere. 
C) It allowed the spacecraft to collect samples of the atmospheric gas for return to Earth. 
D) Each spacecraft also carried a lander,and the lander could only be dropped to the Martian surface when the spacecraft passed through the atmosphere. 
A) It saved money because the spacecraft used atmospheric drag to slow down rather than needing to carry enough fuel to slow by firing rocket engines. 
B) It allowed the orbiters to get higher resolution pictures of the surface as it came close when skimming through the atmosphere. 
C) It allowed the spacecraft to collect samples of the atmospheric gas for return to Earth. 
D) Each spacecraft also carried a lander,and the lander could only be dropped to the Martian surface when the spacecraft passed through the atmosphere.

Question 11

Where are most of the known asteroids found?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 12

The following statements are all true.Which one counts as an "exception to the rule" in being unusual for our solar system?

Accepted Answer

A) Venus does not have a moon. 
B) Jupiter has a very small axis tilt. 
C) Saturn has no solid surface. 
D) The diameter of Earth's Moon is about 1/4 that of Earth. 
A) Venus does not have a moon. 
B) Jupiter has a very small axis tilt. 
C) Saturn has no solid surface. 
D) The diameter of Earth's Moon is about 1/4 that of Earth.

Question 13

The terrestrial planets in our solar system are

Accepted Answer

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

Question 14

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 15

Which of the following statements about our Sun is not true?

Accepted Answer

A) The Sun is a star. 
B) The Sun's diameter is about 5 times that of Earth. 
C) The Sun contains more than 99% of all the mass in our solar system. 
D) The Sun is made mostly of hydrogen and helium. 
A) The Sun is a star. 
B) The Sun's diameter is about 5 times that of Earth. 
C) The Sun contains more than 99% of all the mass in our solar system. 
D) The Sun is made mostly of hydrogen and helium.

Question 16

What are the main constituents of the jovian planets?

Accepted Answer

A) rocky minerals and water,as on Earth 
B) hydrogen and helium 
C) ammonia and methane 
D) ammonia and water 
E) nitrogen and methane 
A) rocky minerals and water,as on Earth 
B) hydrogen and helium 
C) ammonia and methane 
D) ammonia and water 
E) nitrogen and methane

Question 17

Which of the following is not a major difference between the terrestrial and jovian planets in our solar system?

Accepted Answer

A) Terrestrial planets contain large quantities of ice and jovian planets do not. 
B) Terrestrial planets orbit much closer to the Sun than jovian planets. 
C) Terrestrial planets are higher in average density than jovian planets. 
D) Jovian planets have rings and terrestrial planets do not. 
A) Terrestrial planets contain large quantities of ice and jovian planets do not. 
B) Terrestrial planets orbit much closer to the Sun than jovian planets. 
C) Terrestrial planets are higher in average density than jovian planets. 
D) Jovian planets have rings and terrestrial planets do not.

Question 18

Which planet,other than Earth,has visible water ice on it?

Accepted Answer

A) Mercury 
B) Venus 
C) the Moon 
D) Mars 
E) Jupiter 
A) Mercury 
B) Venus 
C) the Moon 
D) Mars 
E) Jupiter

Question 19

How is Einstein's famous equation,E= mc²,important in understanding the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A) It explains the fact that the Sun generates energy to shine by losing some 4 million tons of mass each day. 
B) It explains why the Sun's surface temperature is about 6,000°C. 
C) It explains why the Sun is so massive. 
D) It explains why the Sun has a magnetic field strong enough influence the atmospheres of the planets. 
A) It explains the fact that the Sun generates energy to shine by losing some 4 million tons of mass each day. 
B) It explains why the Sun's surface temperature is about 6,000°C. 
C) It explains why the Sun is so massive. 
D) It explains why the Sun has a magnetic field strong enough influence the atmospheres of the planets.

Question 20

How do asteroids differ from comets?

Accepted Answer

A) Asteroids are rocky bodies and are denser than the comets,which are made of icy material. 
B) Asteroids are rocky bodies and are less dense than the comets,which are made of icy material. 
C) Asteroids are made of icy material and are denser than the comets,which are more rocky. 
D) Asteroids are made of icy material and are less dense than the comets,which are rockier. 
E) Asteroids and comets are both made of rocky and icy material,but asteroids are smaller in size than comets. 
A) Asteroids are rocky bodies and are denser than the comets,which are made of icy material. 
B) Asteroids are rocky bodies and are less dense than the comets,which are made of icy material. 
C) Asteroids are made of icy material and are denser than the comets,which are more rocky. 
D) Asteroids are made of icy material and are less dense than the comets,which are rockier. 
E) Asteroids and comets are both made of rocky and icy material,but asteroids are smaller in size than comets.

Exam 7: Our Planetary System

Which planet has the highest average surface temperature,and why?

What is the primary reason why a Pluto flyby mission would be cheaper than a Pluto orbiter?

What is comparative planetology,and what is its basic premise?

What is aerobraking?

Oceans cover more of Earth's surface than land.

All four of the giant outer planets-Jupiter,Saturn,Uranus,and Neptune-have rings.

Suppose you view the solar system from high above Earth's North Pole.Which of the following statements about planetary orbits will be true?

Which jovian planet does not have rings?

All planets orbit the Sun in the same direction (counterclockwise as viewed from above Earth's North Pole).

Why has NASA sent recent orbiters to Mars on trajectories that required them to skim through Mars's atmosphere ("aerobraking")before settling into their final orbits?

Where are most of the known asteroids found?

The following statements are all true.Which one counts as an "exception to the rule" in being unusual for our solar system?

The terrestrial planets in our solar system are

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

Which of the following statements about our Sun is not true?

What are the main constituents of the jovian planets?

Which of the following is not a major difference between the terrestrial and jovian planets in our solar system?

Which planet,other than Earth,has visible water ice on it?

How is Einstein's famous equation,E= mc²,important in understanding the Sun?

How do asteroids differ from comets?

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 and Matter: Reading Messages from the Cosmos

Telescopes: Portals of Discovery

Formation of the Solar System

Planetary Geology: Earth and the Other Terrestrial Worlds

Planetary Atmospheres: Earth and the Other Terrestrial Worlds

Jovian Planet Systems

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 Birth

Star Stuff

The Bizarre Stellar Graveyard

Our Galaxy

Galaxies and the Foundations of Modern Cosmology

Galaxy Evolution

The Birth of the Universe

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

Life in the Universe

Celestial Timekeeping and Navigation

Space and Time

Spacetime and Gravity

Building Blocks of the Universe

Filters