Question 1

The difference in composition between the giant planets and the terrestrial planets is most likely caused by the fact that:

Accepted Answer

A)  the giant planets are much larger. 
B)  only the terrestrial planets have iron cores. 
C)  the terrestrial planets are closer to the Sun. 
D)  the giant planets are made mostly of carbon. 
A)  the giant planets are much larger. 
B)  only the terrestrial planets have iron cores. 
C)  the terrestrial planets are closer to the Sun. 
D)  the giant planets are made mostly of carbon.

Question 2

Examine the figure below.What causes molecular clouds to collapse?

Accepted Answer

A)  conservation of charge 
B)  self-gravity 
C)  thermal energy 
D)  radiation 
A)  conservation of charge 
B)  self-gravity 
C)  thermal energy 
D)  radiation

Question 3

Explain the process of protostar formation shown in the figure below.

Accepted Answer

The molecular-cloud core collapses under

Question 4

You record the spectrum of a star and find that the calcium absorption line,whose rest wavelength is 393.3 nm,has an observed wavelength of 394.0 nm.What is the radial velocity of this star?

Accepted Answer

A)  500 km/s 
B)  50 km/s 
C)  5 km/s 
D)  0.5 km/s 
A)  500 km/s 
B)  50 km/s 
C)  5 km/s 
D)  0.5 km/s

Question 5

The increasing temperature of the core of a collapsing cloud of gas is due to:

Accepted Answer

A)  radiation. 
B)  collisions between gas molecules. 
C)  increased spin rate of the cloud. 
D)  fragmentation of the core. 
A)  radiation. 
B)  collisions between gas molecules. 
C)  increased spin rate of the cloud. 
D)  fragmentation of the core.

Question 6

Examine the figure below.What method of looking for extrasolar planets requires the planet to pass in front of the star?

Accepted Answer

A)  radial velocity method 
B)  transit method 
C)  direct imaging 
A)  radial velocity method 
B)  transit method 
C)  direct imaging

Question 7

When astronomers began searching for extrasolar planets,they were surprised to discover Jupiter-sized planets much closer than 1 AU to their parent stars.Why is this surprising?

Accepted Answer

A)  These planets must have formed at a larger radius where temperatures were cooler and then migrated inward. 
B)  Jupiter-sized, rocky planets were thought to be uncommon in other solar systems. 
C)  These planets must be the remnants of failed stars. 
D)  Earth-like planets must be rarer than Jupiter-sized planets in other solar systems. 
A)  These planets must have formed at a larger radius where temperatures were cooler and then migrated inward. 
B)  Jupiter-sized, rocky planets were thought to be uncommon in other solar systems. 
C)  These planets must be the remnants of failed stars. 
D)  Earth-like planets must be rarer than Jupiter-sized planets in other solar systems.

Question 8

What does conservation of angular momentum mean?

Accepted Answer

It means the angular momentum

Question 9

Why are most of the planets composed of refractory materials found in the inner solar system?

Accepted Answer

A)  Refractory material existed only in the inner protoplanetary disk. 
B)  Planetary bodies can only be formed from refractory materials. 
C)  The temperature of the inner protostellar accretion disk was too high for volatile components to remain solid. 
D)  All the bodies composed of refractory materials in the outer disk migrated to the inner disk. 
A)  Refractory material existed only in the inner protoplanetary disk. 
B)  Planetary bodies can only be formed from refractory materials. 
C)  The temperature of the inner protostellar accretion disk was too high for volatile components to remain solid. 
D)  All the bodies composed of refractory materials in the outer disk migrated to the inner disk.

Question 10

For a star that lies in the plane of Earth's orbit around the Sun,how does the observed wavelength of a hydrogen absorption line in its spectrum change in wavelength (if at all)with the time of year?

Accepted Answer

The wavelength of this absorption line w

The difference in composition between the giant planets and the terrestrial planets is most likely caused by the fact that:

Examine the figure below.What causes molecular clouds to collapse?

Explain the process of protostar formation shown in the figure below.

You record the spectrum of a star and find that the calcium absorption line,whose rest wavelength is 393.3 nm,has an observed wavelength of 394.0 nm.What is the radial velocity of this star?

The increasing temperature of the core of a collapsing cloud of gas is due to:

Examine the figure below.What method of looking for extrasolar planets requires the planet to pass in front of the star?

When astronomers began searching for extrasolar planets,they were surprised to discover Jupiter-sized planets much closer than 1 AU to their parent stars.Why is this surprising?

What does conservation of angular momentum mean?

Why are most of the planets composed of refractory materials found in the inner solar system?

For a star that lies in the plane of Earth's orbit around the Sun,how does the observed wavelength of a hydrogen absorption line in its spectrum change in wavelength (if at all)with the time of year?

Thinking Like an Astronomer

Patterns in the Skymotions of Earth and the Moon

Laws of Motion

Light and Telescopes

Terrestrial Worlds in the Inner Solar System

Atmospheres of Venus, earth, and Mars

The Giant Planets

Small Bodies of the Solar System

Measuring the Stars

Our Star: the Sun

Evolution of Low-Mass Stars

Evolution of High-Mass Stars

Measuring Galaxies

Our Galaxy: the Milky Way

The Evolution of the Universe

Formation of Structure

Life in the Universe

Filters

Exam 5: The Formation of Stars and Planets

The difference in composition between the giant planets and the terrestrial planets is most likely caused by the fact that:

Examine the figure below.What causes molecular clouds to collapse?

Explain the process of protostar formation shown in the figure below.

You record the spectrum of a star and find that the calcium absorption line,whose rest wavelength is 393.3 nm,has an observed wavelength of 394.0 nm.What is the radial velocity of this star?

The increasing temperature of the core of a collapsing cloud of gas is due to:

Examine the figure below.What method of looking for extrasolar planets requires the planet to pass in front of the star?

When astronomers began searching for extrasolar planets,they were surprised to discover Jupiter-sized planets much closer than 1 AU to their parent stars.Why is this surprising?

What does conservation of angular momentum mean?

Why are most of the planets composed of refractory materials found in the inner solar system?

For a star that lies in the plane of Earth's orbit around the Sun,how does the observed wavelength of a hydrogen absorption line in its spectrum change in wavelength (if at all)with the time of year?

Thinking Like an Astronomer

Patterns in the Skymotions of Earth and the Moon

Laws of Motion

Light and Telescopes

Terrestrial Worlds in the Inner Solar System

Atmospheres of Venus, earth, and Mars

The Giant Planets

Small Bodies of the Solar System

Measuring the Stars

Our Star: the Sun

Evolution of Low-Mass Stars

Evolution of High-Mass Stars

Measuring Galaxies

Our Galaxy: the Milky Way

The Evolution of the Universe

Formation of Structure

Life in the Universe

Filters