Question 1

The ice giants are:

Accepted Answer

A)  Jupiter and Saturn. 
B)  Neptune and Uranus. 
C)  Titan and Pluto. 
D)  Tatooine and Alderaan. 
A)  Jupiter and Saturn. 
B)  Neptune and Uranus. 
C)  Titan and Pluto. 
D)  Tatooine and Alderaan.

Question 2

What is thought to be the physical mechanism that was responsible for the present mix of chemical elements in the universe?

Accepted Answer

A)  All the known elements have been formed by the breakup (radioactivity) of the heavy elements formed in the initial Big Bang. 
B)  All the known elements were formed in the Big Bang. 
C)  Hydrogen and helium were formed in the Big Bang, whereas the heavier elements have been slowly forming by collisions in cold interstellar gas clouds. 
D)  Hydrogen and helium were formed in the Big Bang, whereas the heavier elements were made in the centers of stars. 
A)  All the known elements have been formed by the breakup (radioactivity) of the heavy elements formed in the initial Big Bang. 
B)  All the known elements were formed in the Big Bang. 
C)  Hydrogen and helium were formed in the Big Bang, whereas the heavier elements have been slowly forming by collisions in cold interstellar gas clouds. 
D)  Hydrogen and helium were formed in the Big Bang, whereas the heavier elements were made in the centers of stars.

Question 3

The smallest planet in our solar system is:

Accepted Answer

A)  Mars. 
B)  Neptune. 
C)  Mercury. 
D)  Venus. 
A)  Mars. 
B)  Neptune. 
C)  Mercury. 
D)  Venus.

Question 4

The period of Late Heavy Bombardment is believed to have had a number of consequences.Which statement does NOT describe one of these consequences?

Accepted Answer

A)  Our Moon has large maria. 
B)  Mercury lost its relatively light outer layer, leaving a planet with an unusually large density. 
C)  Our Moon was formed after a collision between Earth and another body. 
D)  The number of asteroids in the asteroid belt decreased. 
A)  Our Moon has large maria. 
B)  Mercury lost its relatively light outer layer, leaving a planet with an unusually large density. 
C)  Our Moon was formed after a collision between Earth and another body. 
D)  The number of asteroids in the asteroid belt decreased.

Question 5

One consequence of the period of Late Heavy Bombardment is believed to be this: The mantle of a planet was almost obliterated by collisions,leaving it with an unusually large iron core.This planet is:

Accepted Answer

A)  Mercury. 
B)  Venus. 
C)  Earth. 
D)  Mars. 
A)  Mercury. 
B)  Venus. 
C)  Earth. 
D)  Mars.

Question 6

There is very little hydrogen or helium in the inner part of the solar system today.We believe the reason for this is that:

Accepted Answer

A)  all the light elements went into the formation of the Sun itself and little were left over for the rest of the solar system. 
B)  the intense radiation from the early Sun drove the light elements out of the inner solar system. 
C)  heavier elements were attracted in from the outer part of the solar system, displacing the light elements that were originally in the inner part. 
D)  the light elements underwent chemical reactions and were locked up in chemicals in the inner solar system. 
A)  all the light elements went into the formation of the Sun itself and little were left over for the rest of the solar system. 
B)  the intense radiation from the early Sun drove the light elements out of the inner solar system. 
C)  heavier elements were attracted in from the outer part of the solar system, displacing the light elements that were originally in the inner part. 
D)  the light elements underwent chemical reactions and were locked up in chemicals in the inner solar system.

Question 7

In the Nice model of solar system formation:

Accepted Answer

A)  all of the outer planets formed at the same time. 
B)  Jupiter and Saturn formed first, followed by Uranus and Neptune. 
C)  Neptune and Uranus formed first, followed by Jupiter and Saturn. 
D)  the inner planets formed before the outer planets. 
A)  all of the outer planets formed at the same time. 
B)  Jupiter and Saturn formed first, followed by Uranus and Neptune. 
C)  Neptune and Uranus formed first, followed by Jupiter and Saturn. 
D)  the inner planets formed before the outer planets.

Question 8

What fraction of the mass of Earth is made up of the elements hydrogen and helium?

Accepted Answer

A)  about 70% 
B)  2% 
C)  much less than 1% 
D)  98% 
A)  about 70% 
B)  2% 
C)  much less than 1% 
D)  98%

Question 9

Most meteoroids are:

Accepted Answer

A)  rock-sized pieces of ice chipped off comets. 
B)  centimeter-sized pieces of interstellar matter. 
C)  fragments of asteroids. 
D)  small pieces of debris from the original solar nebula. 
A)  rock-sized pieces of ice chipped off comets. 
B)  centimeter-sized pieces of interstellar matter. 
C)  fragments of asteroids. 
D)  small pieces of debris from the original solar nebula.

Question 10

Which statement is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

A)  Earth is the biggest of the planets. 
B)  Jupiter has the highest average density of the planets. 
C)  The average mass of terrestrial planets is close to the average mass of the large, outer planets. 
D)  Earth is the most massive of the terrestrial planets. 
A)  Earth is the biggest of the planets. 
B)  Jupiter has the highest average density of the planets. 
C)  The average mass of terrestrial planets is close to the average mass of the large, outer planets. 
D)  Earth is the most massive of the terrestrial planets.

Question 11

Pluto was originally classified as a planet,but new criteria for the definition of a planet were adopted,and Pluto failed to meet one of them.Which one?

Accepted Answer

A)  Pluto does not orbit the Sun directly. 
B)  Pluto does not have enough mass to pull itself into a roughly spherical shape. 
C)  Pluto does not spin fast enough to produce its own magnetic field. 
D)  Pluto does not have enough gravity to clear its orbit. 
A)  Pluto does not orbit the Sun directly. 
B)  Pluto does not have enough mass to pull itself into a roughly spherical shape. 
C)  Pluto does not spin fast enough to produce its own magnetic field. 
D)  Pluto does not have enough gravity to clear its orbit.

Question 12

Accretion is the process by which:

Accepted Answer

A)  elements are transformed into heavier elements by nuclear reactions. 
B)  massive protoplanetary cores pull gas onto themselves to create giant planets. 
C)  clouds of interstellar gas and dust contract to form protostars. 
D)  dust grains and ice crystals coalesce to form planetesimals. 
A)  elements are transformed into heavier elements by nuclear reactions. 
B)  massive protoplanetary cores pull gas onto themselves to create giant planets. 
C)  clouds of interstellar gas and dust contract to form protostars. 
D)  dust grains and ice crystals coalesce to form planetesimals.

Question 13

According to current theories of planetary formation,why is Saturn less massive than Jupiter?

Accepted Answer

A)  Saturn formed far out in the solar system, where gas and dust were not as readily available as where Jupiter formed near the Sun. 
B)  Saturn formed in the inner part of the solar system, where the rocky inner planets had already absorbed most of the material. 
C)  Saturn was originally more massive but has been repeatedly struck by large planetesimals that have stripped off some of its matter. 
D)  Jupiter formed first. 
A)  Saturn formed far out in the solar system, where gas and dust were not as readily available as where Jupiter formed near the Sun. 
B)  Saturn formed in the inner part of the solar system, where the rocky inner planets had already absorbed most of the material. 
C)  Saturn was originally more massive but has been repeatedly struck by large planetesimals that have stripped off some of its matter. 
D)  Jupiter formed first.

Question 14

In order to produce a crater,the object that strikes a planet must be larger than about:

Accepted Answer

A)  one centimeter. 
B)  half a meter. 
C)  half a kilometer. 
D)  50 kilometers. 
A)  one centimeter. 
B)  half a meter. 
C)  half a kilometer. 
D)  50 kilometers.

Question 15

The early phases of planetary formation into protoplanets were characterized by the:

Accepted Answer

A)  slow accretion of small particles by gravitational attraction and collision. 
B)  breaking apart of very large objects into planets. 
C)  condensation of hot gas clouds. 
D)  violent collapse of matter under gravity. 
A)  slow accretion of small particles by gravitational attraction and collision. 
B)  breaking apart of very large objects into planets. 
C)  condensation of hot gas clouds. 
D)  violent collapse of matter under gravity.

The ice giants are:

What is thought to be the physical mechanism that was responsible for the present mix of chemical elements in the universe?

The smallest planet in our solar system is:

The period of Late Heavy Bombardment is believed to have had a number of consequences.Which statement does NOT describe one of these consequences?

One consequence of the period of Late Heavy Bombardment is believed to be this: The mantle of a planet was almost obliterated by collisions,leaving it with an unusually large iron core.This planet is:

There is very little hydrogen or helium in the inner part of the solar system today.We believe the reason for this is that:

In the Nice model of solar system formation:

What fraction of the mass of Earth is made up of the elements hydrogen and helium?

Most meteoroids are:

Which statement is TRUE?

Pluto was originally classified as a planet,but new criteria for the definition of a planet were adopted,and Pluto failed to meet one of them.Which one?

Accretion is the process by which:

According to current theories of planetary formation,why is Saturn less massive than Jupiter?

In order to produce a crater,the object that strikes a planet must be larger than about:

The early phases of planetary formation into protoplanets were characterized by the:

Discovering the Night Sky

Gravitation and the Waltz of the Planets

Light and Telescopes

Exoplanets

The Terrestrial Planets and Their Moons

The Outer Planets and Their Moons

Vagabonds of the Solar System

The Sun: Our Extraordinary Ordinary Star

Characterizing Stars

The Lives of the Stars From Birth Through Middle Age

The Deaths and Remnants of Stars

The Galaxies

Cosmology

Astrobiology

Filters

Exam 4: Formation of the Solar System and Other Planetary Systems

The ice giants are:

What is thought to be the physical mechanism that was responsible for the present mix of chemical elements in the universe?

The smallest planet in our solar system is:

The period of Late Heavy Bombardment is believed to have had a number of consequences.Which statement does NOT describe one of these consequences?

One consequence of the period of Late Heavy Bombardment is believed to be this: The mantle of a planet was almost obliterated by collisions,leaving it with an unusually large iron core.This planet is:

There is very little hydrogen or helium in the inner part of the solar system today.We believe the reason for this is that:

In the Nice model of solar system formation:

What fraction of the mass of Earth is made up of the elements hydrogen and helium?

Most meteoroids are:

Which statement is TRUE?

Pluto was originally classified as a planet,but new criteria for the definition of a planet were adopted,and Pluto failed to meet one of them.Which one?

Accretion is the process by which:

According to current theories of planetary formation,why is Saturn less massive than Jupiter?

In order to produce a crater,the object that strikes a planet must be larger than about:

The early phases of planetary formation into protoplanets were characterized by the:

Discovering the Night Sky

Gravitation and the Waltz of the Planets

Light and Telescopes

Exoplanets

The Terrestrial Planets and Their Moons

The Outer Planets and Their Moons

Vagabonds of the Solar System

The Sun: Our Extraordinary Ordinary Star

Characterizing Stars

The Lives of the Stars From Birth Through Middle Age

The Deaths and Remnants of Stars

The Galaxies

Cosmology

Astrobiology

Filters