Question 1

The condensation sequence cannot explain the composition of the terrestrial and Jovian planets.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

Sort the following materials from highest to lowest condensation temperature: iron,rock,water ice.

Accepted Answer

A) water ice; rock; iron 
B) rock; iron; water ice 
C) water ice; iron; rock 
D) iron; rock; water ice 
A) water ice; rock; iron 
B) rock; iron; water ice 
C) water ice; iron; rock 
D) iron; rock; water ice

Question 3

The terrestrial planets are thought to have formed by accreting solid planetesimals,all with about the same composition.What does this mean?

Accepted Answer

A) They were initially molten, forming an iron core first, then they accreted a silicate crust later. 
B) They were initially molten, forming a silicate core first, then they accreted an iron crust later. 
C) They were initially collections of solid particles, which melted, then differentiated into a high density iron metal core and low density silicate crust. 
D) They were initially collections of solid particles, which melted, then differentiated into a high density silicate core and low density iron metal crust. 
A) They were initially molten, forming an iron core first, then they accreted a silicate crust later. 
B) They were initially molten, forming a silicate core first, then they accreted an iron crust later. 
C) They were initially collections of solid particles, which melted, then differentiated into a high density iron metal core and low density silicate crust. 
D) They were initially collections of solid particles, which melted, then differentiated into a high density silicate core and low density iron metal crust.

Question 4

Suppose that Mercury grew to its present size in 1 million years,through the accretion of particles averaging 100 g each.On average,how many particles did Mercury capture each second? Note: Mercury has a mass of 3.3×10²³ kg and a radius of 2439 km.

Accepted Answer

A) about 67 particles per second 
B) about 100 million particles per second 
C) about 100 billion particles per second 
D) about 3.3×10²¹ particles per second 
A) about 67 particles per second 
B) about 100 million particles per second 
C) about 100 billion particles per second 
D) about 3.3×10²¹ particles per second

Question 5

Why is 51 Pegasi so important?

Accepted Answer

A) because it is a pulsar with planets orbiting around it 
B) because it is a star with a planet that is known to support intelligent life 
C) because it is the largest satellite of Jupiter and is suspected to have liquid oceans 
D) because it is the first star similar to our Sun that was found to have a planet orbiting it 
A) because it is a pulsar with planets orbiting around it 
B) because it is a star with a planet that is known to support intelligent life 
C) because it is the largest satellite of Jupiter and is suspected to have liquid oceans 
D) because it is the first star similar to our Sun that was found to have a planet orbiting it

Question 6

The ____________________ of a radioactive substance is the amount of time it takes for the substance to be reduced by half.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The ____________________ of a radioactive substance is...

Question 7

According to the condensation sequence,what should condense as solids closest to the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A) hydrogen and helium 
B) metals and metal oxides 
C) silicates 
D) ices of water, methane, and ammonia 
A) hydrogen and helium 
B) metals and metal oxides 
C) silicates 
D) ices of water, methane, and ammonia

Question 8

How does the solar nebula theory explain the present densities and chemical compositions of the planets?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How does the solar nebula theory explain...

Question 9

If a star is found with five planets orbiting it,and a process like that described in the solar nebula theory formed the planets,which of the planets would be expected to have the greatest uncompressed density?

Accepted Answer

A) the one farthest from the star 
B) the one with the greatest mass 
C) the one with the greatest radius 
D) the one closest to the star 
A) the one farthest from the star 
B) the one with the greatest mass 
C) the one with the greatest radius 
D) the one closest to the star

Question 10

The adding of material an atom at a time to create a solid grain or flake is the process of ____________________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The adding of material an atom at...

Question 11

Why was the Tagish Lake meteorite important?

Accepted Answer

A) It was recovered only days after it fell to Earth. 
B) It was the first meteorite recovered in Canada. 
C) Signs of life were discovered deep inside it. 
D) Its large crater showed that cratering still occurs on Earth. 
A) It was recovered only days after it fell to Earth. 
B) It was the first meteorite recovered in Canada. 
C) Signs of life were discovered deep inside it. 
D) Its large crater showed that cratering still occurs on Earth.

Question 12

Select the answer below where the grains are correctly matched with the location where they condensed from the solar nebula.

Accepted Answer

A) icy grains near the present orbit of Mercury 
B) metallic grains near the present orbit of the Earth 
C) icy grains beyond the present orbit of Jupiter 
D) metallic grains beyond the present orbit of Jupiter 
A) icy grains near the present orbit of Mercury 
B) metallic grains near the present orbit of the Earth 
C) icy grains beyond the present orbit of Jupiter 
D) metallic grains beyond the present orbit of Jupiter

Question 13

How is the density different in different interior regions of a terrestrial planet?

Accepted Answer

A) higher density core and lower density mantle 
B) lower density core and higher density mantle 
C) there is no way to measure changes in interior density 
D) there is no separation according to density 
A) higher density core and lower density mantle 
B) lower density core and higher density mantle 
C) there is no way to measure changes in interior density 
D) there is no separation according to density

Question 14

Based on current observations,which of the following has a heavy element core and a very compressed liquid layer and atmosphere,both composed mostly of hydrogen?

Accepted Answer

A) Jupiter 
B) Pluto 
C) Venus 
D) an asteroid 
A) Jupiter 
B) Pluto 
C) Venus 
D) an asteroid

Question 15

How do the motions of the Sun and planets reflect the disk shape of the solar nebula?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How do the motions of the Sun...

Question 16

The hydrogen in our solar system was created from subatomic particles.Where did those particles come from?

Accepted Answer

A) our Sun 
B) Jupiter 
C) the Big Bang 
D) supernovae 
A) our Sun 
B) Jupiter 
C) the Big Bang 
D) supernovae

Question 17

The original cloud from which the Sun and planets formed had a composition rich in hydrogen and helium.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

Which one of the following is a characteristic of Jovian planets?

Accepted Answer

A) orbits inside the asteroids 
B) low average density 
C) craters in old surfaces 
D) very few satellites 
A) orbits inside the asteroids 
B) low average density 
C) craters in old surfaces 
D) very few satellites

Question 19

What is the main improvement of the Kepler spacecraft compared to other planet-finding methods?

Accepted Answer

A) Kepler can detect signs of life on planets. 
B) Kepler can detect planets outside the Milky Way. 
C) Kepler can detect many more planets. 
D) Kepler can detect much smaller planets. 
A) Kepler can detect signs of life on planets. 
B) Kepler can detect planets outside the Milky Way. 
C) Kepler can detect many more planets. 
D) Kepler can detect much smaller planets.

Question 20

Which one of the following is a characteristic of terrestrial planets?

Accepted Answer

A) high average density 
B) orbits outside the asteroid belt 
C) large diameters 
D) many satellites 
A) high average density 
B) orbits outside the asteroid belt 
C) large diameters 
D) many satellites

The condensation sequence cannot explain the composition of the terrestrial and Jovian planets.

Sort the following materials from highest to lowest condensation temperature: iron,rock,water ice.

The terrestrial planets are thought to have formed by accreting solid planetesimals,all with about the same composition.What does this mean?

Suppose that Mercury grew to its present size in 1 million years,through the accretion of particles averaging 100 g each.On average,how many particles did Mercury capture each second? Note: Mercury has a mass of 3.3×10²³ kg and a radius of 2439 km.

Why is 51 Pegasi so important?

The ____________________ of a radioactive substance is the amount of time it takes for the substance to be reduced by half.

According to the condensation sequence,what should condense as solids closest to the Sun?

How does the solar nebula theory explain the present densities and chemical compositions of the planets?

If a star is found with five planets orbiting it,and a process like that described in the solar nebula theory formed the planets,which of the planets would be expected to have the greatest uncompressed density?

The adding of material an atom at a time to create a solid grain or flake is the process of ____________________.

Why was the Tagish Lake meteorite important?

Select the answer below where the grains are correctly matched with the location where they condensed from the solar nebula.

How is the density different in different interior regions of a terrestrial planet?

Based on current observations,which of the following has a heavy element core and a very compressed liquid layer and atmosphere,both composed mostly of hydrogen?

How do the motions of the Sun and planets reflect the disk shape of the solar nebula?

The hydrogen in our solar system was created from subatomic particles.Where did those particles come from?

The original cloud from which the Sun and planets formed had a composition rich in hydrogen and helium.

Which one of the following is a characteristic of Jovian planets?

What is the main improvement of the Kepler spacecraft compared to other planet-finding methods?

Which one of the following is a characteristic of terrestrial planets?

The Scale of the Cosmos

User's Guide to the Sky

The Origin of Modern Astronomy

Astronomical Telescopes and Instruments

Sun Light and Sun Atoms

The Family of Stars

The Structure and Formation of Stars

The Deaths of Stars

The Milky Way Galaxy

Galaxies

Cosmology in the 21st Century

Comparative Planetology of the Terrestrial Planets

Comparative Planetology of the Jovian Planets

Life on Other Worlds

Filters

Exam 12: The Origin of the Solar System

The condensation sequence cannot explain the composition of the terrestrial and Jovian planets.

Sort the following materials from highest to lowest condensation temperature: iron,rock,water ice.

The terrestrial planets are thought to have formed by accreting solid planetesimals,all with about the same composition.What does this mean?

Suppose that Mercury grew to its present size in 1 million years,through the accretion of particles averaging 100 g each.On average,how many particles did Mercury capture each second? Note: Mercury has a mass of 3.3×10²³ kg and a radius of 2439 km.

Why is 51 Pegasi so important?

The ____________________ of a radioactive substance is the amount of time it takes for the substance to be reduced by half.

According to the condensation sequence,what should condense as solids closest to the Sun?

How does the solar nebula theory explain the present densities and chemical compositions of the planets?

If a star is found with five planets orbiting it,and a process like that described in the solar nebula theory formed the planets,which of the planets would be expected to have the greatest uncompressed density?

The adding of material an atom at a time to create a solid grain or flake is the process of ____________________.

Why was the Tagish Lake meteorite important?

Select the answer below where the grains are correctly matched with the location where they condensed from the solar nebula.

How is the density different in different interior regions of a terrestrial planet?

Based on current observations,which of the following has a heavy element core and a very compressed liquid layer and atmosphere,both composed mostly of hydrogen?

How do the motions of the Sun and planets reflect the disk shape of the solar nebula?

The hydrogen in our solar system was created from subatomic particles.Where did those particles come from?

The original cloud from which the Sun and planets formed had a composition rich in hydrogen and helium.

Which one of the following is a characteristic of Jovian planets?

What is the main improvement of the Kepler spacecraft compared to other planet-finding methods?

Which one of the following is a characteristic of terrestrial planets?

The Scale of the Cosmos

User's Guide to the Sky

The Origin of Modern Astronomy

Astronomical Telescopes and Instruments

Sun Light and Sun Atoms

The Family of Stars

The Structure and Formation of Stars

The Deaths of Stars

The Milky Way Galaxy

Galaxies

Cosmology in the 21st Century

Comparative Planetology of the Terrestrial Planets

Comparative Planetology of the Jovian Planets

Life on Other Worlds

Filters