Question 1

What is the microlensing technique?

Accepted Answer

A)  A small telescope is placed in orbit around Earth to observe extrasolar planets. 
B)  A planet that passes between Earth and some distant star focuses the starlight and causes an increase in its apparent brightness. 
C)  Refracting telescopes for use in the search for extrasolar planets are constructed with very small lenses to avoid the problems of large refraction telescopes. 
D)  A planet passing between Earth and its star focuses the light from the star and makes it appear to brighten. 
A)  A small telescope is placed in orbit around Earth to observe extrasolar planets. 
B)  A planet that passes between Earth and some distant star focuses the starlight and causes an increase in its apparent brightness. 
C)  Refracting telescopes for use in the search for extrasolar planets are constructed with very small lenses to avoid the problems of large refraction telescopes. 
D)  A planet passing between Earth and its star focuses the light from the star and makes it appear to brighten.

Question 2

In 2004,an object designated 2M1207b was directly imaged orbiting the brown dwarf 2M1207.The object,however,has not been designated a planet because it:

Accepted Answer

A)  does not have enough gravity to form a spherical shape. 
B)  does not clear its orbit of debris. 
C)  does not orbit a star. 
D)  is smaller than Mercury. 
A)  does not have enough gravity to form a spherical shape. 
B)  does not clear its orbit of debris. 
C)  does not orbit a star. 
D)  is smaller than Mercury.

Question 3

What is the status of our search for life elsewhere in the universe?

Accepted Answer

A)  Life has been discovered elsewhere in the solar system. 
B)  Signs of life have been discovered on Earth-like planets circling other stars elsewhere in the Milky Way Galaxy. 
C)  Earthlike planets, with an abundance of liquid water, have been discovered around other stars, but signs of life have not yet been found on them. 
D)  No exoplanets in habitable zones have yet been discovered. 
A)  Life has been discovered elsewhere in the solar system. 
B)  Signs of life have been discovered on Earth-like planets circling other stars elsewhere in the Milky Way Galaxy. 
C)  Earthlike planets, with an abundance of liquid water, have been discovered around other stars, but signs of life have not yet been found on them. 
D)  No exoplanets in habitable zones have yet been discovered.

Question 4

Many of the exoplanets discovered thus far are in orbits near their stars.This means they are probably:

Accepted Answer

A)  spinning rapidly to conserve angular momentum. 
B)  doomed to spiral into their stars. 
C)  recently formed. 
D)  in synchronous orbits. 
A)  spinning rapidly to conserve angular momentum. 
B)  doomed to spiral into their stars. 
C)  recently formed. 
D)  in synchronous orbits.

Question 5

Strong evidence for the existence of planetary systems in the process of formation around other stars comes from:

Accepted Answer

A)  detection of very regular pulses of radio energy from some stars. 
B)  spectroscopic evidence of large quantities of molecules such as ammonia and methane, which can exist only in planetary atmospheres. 
C)  direct photography of actual planets near other stars. 
D)  periodic wobbling of the positions and spectral line displacements of several nearby stars. 
A)  detection of very regular pulses of radio energy from some stars. 
B)  spectroscopic evidence of large quantities of molecules such as ammonia and methane, which can exist only in planetary atmospheres. 
C)  direct photography of actual planets near other stars. 
D)  periodic wobbling of the positions and spectral line displacements of several nearby stars.

Question 6

We have discovered planets in each of the following situations EXCEPT ONE.Which is the exception?

Accepted Answer

A)  around Sunlike stars 
B)  in globular clusters 
C)  orbiting black holes 
D)  not in orbit around a star (free-floating) 
A)  around Sunlike stars 
B)  in globular clusters 
C)  orbiting black holes 
D)  not in orbit around a star (free-floating)

Question 7

What type of search technique has discovered the second largest number of planets around stars other than the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A)  looking for tiny variations in the star's position in the sky, caused by the gravitational pull of one or more planets orbiting the star 
B)  looking for tiny variations in the star's radial velocity, caused by the gravitational pull of one or more planets orbiting the star 
C)  looking for excess infrared radiation from the star, caused by the presence of planets that are cool and thus emitting primarily in the infrared 
D)  using space-based telescopes to search for tiny pinpoints of light that follow circular or elliptical paths around the star 
A)  looking for tiny variations in the star's position in the sky, caused by the gravitational pull of one or more planets orbiting the star 
B)  looking for tiny variations in the star's radial velocity, caused by the gravitational pull of one or more planets orbiting the star 
C)  looking for excess infrared radiation from the star, caused by the presence of planets that are cool and thus emitting primarily in the infrared 
D)  using space-based telescopes to search for tiny pinpoints of light that follow circular or elliptical paths around the star

Question 8

What type of search technique has discovered the largest number of exoplanets?

Accepted Answer

A)  distorted protoplanetary disks 
B)  the transit method 
C)  the radial-velocity method 
D)  the astrometric method 
A)  distorted protoplanetary disks 
B)  the transit method 
C)  the radial-velocity method 
D)  the astrometric method

Question 9

In what way are many of the extrasolar planetary systems that have been discovered so far fundamentally different from our own solar system?

Accepted Answer

A)  The relative positions of where the planets formed are inverted, with the Jovian-type planets forming close to the stars and the terrestrial-type planets forming farther out. 
B)  The terrestrial-mass planets are significantly outnumbered by the Jovian-mass planets. 
C)  The massive Jovian-type planets appear to have formed at large distances, like our own Jovian planets, and then spiraled in close to their stars. 
D)  There are no Jovian-mass planets. 
A)  The relative positions of where the planets formed are inverted, with the Jovian-type planets forming close to the stars and the terrestrial-type planets forming farther out. 
B)  The terrestrial-mass planets are significantly outnumbered by the Jovian-mass planets. 
C)  The massive Jovian-type planets appear to have formed at large distances, like our own Jovian planets, and then spiraled in close to their stars. 
D)  There are no Jovian-mass planets.

Question 10

What is the typical mass of the majority of extrasolar planets so far discovered?

Accepted Answer

A)  roughly the mass of Jupiter up to a few times Jupiter's mass 
B)  a few times the mass of Earth 
C)  quite large-between 10 and 100 times Jupiter's mass 
D)  very small-between one-tenth and a few tenths of the mass of Earth 
A)  roughly the mass of Jupiter up to a few times Jupiter's mass 
B)  a few times the mass of Earth 
C)  quite large-between 10 and 100 times Jupiter's mass 
D)  very small-between one-tenth and a few tenths of the mass of Earth

Question 11

Disks of gas and dust have been found around:

Accepted Answer

A)  the Sun only. 
B)  young stars only. 
C)  Red giants only. 
D)  stars of various ages. 
A)  the Sun only. 
B)  young stars only. 
C)  Red giants only. 
D)  stars of various ages.

Question 12

What type of search technique has discovered the second largest number of exoplanets?

Accepted Answer

A)  distorted protoplanetary disks 
B)  the transit method 
C)  the radial-velocity method 
D)  the astrometric method 
A)  distorted protoplanetary disks 
B)  the transit method 
C)  the radial-velocity method 
D)  the astrometric method

Question 13

At the present time,the discoveries of how many extrasolar planets have been confirmed?

Accepted Answer

A)  none 
B)  one 
C)  a few thousand 
D)  millions 
A)  none 
B)  one 
C)  a few thousand 
D)  millions

Question 14

All of the following characteristics are usually taken to be sufficient to rule out the existence of life on an extrasolar planet EXCEPT ONE.Which is the exception?

Accepted Answer

A)  The planet is too close to the star. 
B)  It is a large, gas planet with no solid surface. 
C)  The planet has a highly eccentric orbit. 
D)  The star around which the planet orbits is older than the Sun. 
A)  The planet is too close to the star. 
B)  It is a large, gas planet with no solid surface. 
C)  The planet has a highly eccentric orbit. 
D)  The star around which the planet orbits is older than the Sun.

Question 15

In the search for planets around other stars,which possible line of evidence has NOT yet been seen?

Accepted Answer

A)  a warped disk of dust and gas around a young star 
B)  the wavy path of a star through space, as if the star were being tugged by an orbiting planet 
C)  faint pinpoints of light slowly circling a star 
D)  cyclic Doppler shift variations in a star's spectrum 
A)  a warped disk of dust and gas around a young star 
B)  the wavy path of a star through space, as if the star were being tugged by an orbiting planet 
C)  faint pinpoints of light slowly circling a star 
D)  cyclic Doppler shift variations in a star's spectrum

Question 16

What type of search technique has discovered the largest number of planets around the stars other than the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A)  looking for tiny variations in the star's position in the sky, caused by the gravitational pull of one or more planets orbiting the star 
B)  looking for small variations in the light of a distant star indicating motion of a planet across the face of the star 
C)  looking for excess infrared radiation from the star, caused by the presence of planets that are cool and thus emitting primarily in the infrared 
D)  using space-based telescopes to search for tiny pinpoints of light that follow circular or elliptical paths around the star 
A)  looking for tiny variations in the star's position in the sky, caused by the gravitational pull of one or more planets orbiting the star 
B)  looking for small variations in the light of a distant star indicating motion of a planet across the face of the star 
C)  looking for excess infrared radiation from the star, caused by the presence of planets that are cool and thus emitting primarily in the infrared 
D)  using space-based telescopes to search for tiny pinpoints of light that follow circular or elliptical paths around the star

Question 17

The oldest extrasolar planets have been found in:

Accepted Answer

A)  open clusters. 
B)  black holes. 
C)  globular clusters. 
D)  the nucleus of our Galaxy. 
A)  open clusters. 
B)  black holes. 
C)  globular clusters. 
D)  the nucleus of our Galaxy.

Question 18

Approximately how many planets are believed to exist in our Galaxy?

Accepted Answer

A)  eight 
B)  a few thousand 
C)  around a million 
D)  at least 100 billion 
A)  eight 
B)  a few thousand 
C)  around a million 
D)  at least 100 billion

Question 19

MOST extrasolar planets have been found:

Accepted Answer

A)  around stars in the disk of our Galaxy. 
B)  in globular clusters. 
C)  near the center of our Galaxy. 
D)  outside our Galaxy. 
A)  around stars in the disk of our Galaxy. 
B)  in globular clusters. 
C)  near the center of our Galaxy. 
D)  outside our Galaxy.

Question 20

The habitable zone in our own solar system encompasses:

Accepted Answer

A)  all of the terrestrial planets. 
B)  Venus, Earth, and Mars only. 
C)  Earth and Mars only. 
D)  Earth only. 
A)  all of the terrestrial planets. 
B)  Venus, Earth, and Mars only. 
C)  Earth and Mars only. 
D)  Earth only.

What is the microlensing technique?

In 2004,an object designated 2M1207b was directly imaged orbiting the brown dwarf 2M1207.The object,however,has not been designated a planet because it:

What is the status of our search for life elsewhere in the universe?

Many of the exoplanets discovered thus far are in orbits near their stars.This means they are probably:

Strong evidence for the existence of planetary systems in the process of formation around other stars comes from:

We have discovered planets in each of the following situations EXCEPT ONE.Which is the exception?

What type of search technique has discovered the second largest number of planets around stars other than the Sun?

What type of search technique has discovered the largest number of exoplanets?

In what way are many of the extrasolar planetary systems that have been discovered so far fundamentally different from our own solar system?

What is the typical mass of the majority of extrasolar planets so far discovered?

Disks of gas and dust have been found around:

What type of search technique has discovered the second largest number of exoplanets?

At the present time,the discoveries of how many extrasolar planets have been confirmed?

All of the following characteristics are usually taken to be sufficient to rule out the existence of life on an extrasolar planet EXCEPT ONE.Which is the exception?

In the search for planets around other stars,which possible line of evidence has NOT yet been seen?

What type of search technique has discovered the largest number of planets around the stars other than the Sun?

The oldest extrasolar planets have been found in:

Approximately how many planets are believed to exist in our Galaxy?

MOST extrasolar planets have been found:

The habitable zone in our own solar system encompasses:

Discovering the Night Sky

Gravitation and the Waltz of the Planets

Light and Telescopes

Formation of the Solar System and Other Planetary Systems

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 5: Exoplanets

What is the microlensing technique?

In 2004,an object designated 2M1207b was directly imaged orbiting the brown dwarf 2M1207.The object,however,has not been designated a planet because it:

What is the status of our search for life elsewhere in the universe?

Many of the exoplanets discovered thus far are in orbits near their stars.This means they are probably:

Strong evidence for the existence of planetary systems in the process of formation around other stars comes from:

We have discovered planets in each of the following situations EXCEPT ONE.Which is the exception?

What type of search technique has discovered the second largest number of planets around stars other than the Sun?

What type of search technique has discovered the largest number of exoplanets?

In what way are many of the extrasolar planetary systems that have been discovered so far fundamentally different from our own solar system?

What is the typical mass of the majority of extrasolar planets so far discovered?

Disks of gas and dust have been found around:

What type of search technique has discovered the second largest number of exoplanets?

At the present time,the discoveries of how many extrasolar planets have been confirmed?

All of the following characteristics are usually taken to be sufficient to rule out the existence of life on an extrasolar planet EXCEPT ONE.Which is the exception?

In the search for planets around other stars,which possible line of evidence has NOT yet been seen?

What type of search technique has discovered the largest number of planets around the stars other than the Sun?

The oldest extrasolar planets have been found in:

Approximately how many planets are believed to exist in our Galaxy?

MOST extrasolar planets have been found:

The habitable zone in our own solar system encompasses:

Discovering the Night Sky

Gravitation and the Waltz of the Planets

Light and Telescopes

Formation of the Solar System and Other Planetary Systems

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