Question 1

Why does no major planet orbit the Sun at the location of the asteroid belt?

Accepted Answer

A)  One such object did form there but was destroyed by a collision with an early comet; the asteroid belt is the debris from the collision. 
B)  Jupiter''s gravitational pull stirred up the planetesimals, preventing them from coalescing into a single large object. 
C)  In the early solar nebula, the temperature that close to the Sun was too high for rock or iron to condense into solid form. 
D)  Three Earth-sized planets did form there, but they destroyed each one another by mutual collisions; the asteroid belt is the debris from these collisions. 
A)  One such object did form there but was destroyed by a collision with an early comet; the asteroid belt is the debris from the collision. 
B)  Jupiter''s gravitational pull stirred up the planetesimals, preventing them from coalescing into a single large object. 
C)  In the early solar nebula, the temperature that close to the Sun was too high for rock or iron to condense into solid form. 
D)  Three Earth-sized planets did form there, but they destroyed each one another by mutual collisions; the asteroid belt is the debris from these collisions.

Question 2

Our investigations of asteroids to date (2015)have included employed all but one of the followingmethod.What have we not NOT yet done?

Accepted Answer

A)  a close flyby of an asteroid 
B)  a soft landing on an asteroid 
C)  placing a spacecraft in a permanent orbit around an asteroid 
D)  returning to Earth a spacecraft with a sample of dust from an asteroid 
A)  a close flyby of an asteroid 
B)  a soft landing on an asteroid 
C)  placing a spacecraft in a permanent orbit around an asteroid 
D)  returning to Earth a spacecraft with a sample of dust from an asteroid

Question 3

The nucleus of Comet Halley,as seen on close-up photographs taken by the Giotto spacecraft,is:

Accepted Answer

A)  roughly spherical, moderately cratered, and covered with dark dust. 
B)  roughly spherical, light-colored, icy, and covered with many cracks and grooves. 
C)  potato-shaped and darker than coal. 
D)  oblong, with a bright ice surface. 
A)  roughly spherical, moderately cratered, and covered with dark dust. 
B)  roughly spherical, light-colored, icy, and covered with many cracks and grooves. 
C)  potato-shaped and darker than coal. 
D)  oblong, with a bright ice surface.

Question 4

What is unusual about the asteroid Mathilde,which was studied and photographed by the NEAR spacecraft (Figure 8-18a,Comins,Discovering the Essential Universe,6th ed.)?

Accepted Answer

A)  Mathilde is not much denser than water. 
B)  Almost no craters are visible anywhere on Mathilde''s surface. 
C)  Mathilde''s surface is very bright, possibly a result of fresh material thrown out by impacts. 
D)  Mathilde has a much higher mass for its volume than any other known asteroid. 
A)  Mathilde is not much denser than water. 
B)  Almost no craters are visible anywhere on Mathilde''s surface. 
C)  Mathilde''s surface is very bright, possibly a result of fresh material thrown out by impacts. 
D)  Mathilde has a much higher mass for its volume than any other known asteroid.

Question 5

The first satellite discovered in orbit about Pluto was Charon.What is unusual about this moon?

Accepted Answer

A)  Charon is the only moon in the solar system known to have an atmosphere. 
B)  Charon is much warmer than it should be, given its position in the solar system. 
C)  Compared with planet-satellite systems in the rest of the solar system, Charon is very large and very close to Pluto. 
D)  Charon is geologically active. 
A)  Charon is the only moon in the solar system known to have an atmosphere. 
B)  Charon is much warmer than it should be, given its position in the solar system. 
C)  Compared with planet-satellite systems in the rest of the solar system, Charon is very large and very close to Pluto. 
D)  Charon is geologically active.

Question 6

What has been discovered in some meteorites that suggests that the formation of our Sun and solar system might have been triggered by a supernova explosion?

Accepted Answer

A)  decay products of short-lived radioactive elements, which only could have been produced in intense nuclear reactions 
B)  super-pure iron, produced only in nuclear reactions 
C)  fusion crusts around most meteorites, indicating that they were heated intensely at some time in their history 
D)  amino acids, which can be produced only in very specific conditions 
A)  decay products of short-lived radioactive elements, which only could have been produced in intense nuclear reactions 
B)  super-pure iron, produced only in nuclear reactions 
C)  fusion crusts around most meteorites, indicating that they were heated intensely at some time in their history 
D)  amino acids, which can be produced only in very specific conditions

Question 7

We have many reasons to believe asteroids have collisions with each one another.Which one of the following is not NOT one of these reasons?

Accepted Answer

A)  We have actually imaged asteroids in collision. 
B)  Almost all of the asteroids orbit the Sun in the same direction. 
C)  There are several families of asteroids with very similar orbits. 
D)  We have observed asteroids which that appear to be two lobes connected by a narrow collar, as though two asteroids had collided and stuck together. 
A)  We have actually imaged asteroids in collision. 
B)  Almost all of the asteroids orbit the Sun in the same direction. 
C)  There are several families of asteroids with very similar orbits. 
D)  We have observed asteroids which that appear to be two lobes connected by a narrow collar, as though two asteroids had collided and stuck together.

Question 8

The orbit of a comet can be changed significantly by each of the following events except oneEXCEPT ONE.Which is the exception?

Accepted Answer

A)  The comet has a collision with another body in the Kuiper belt. 
B)  The comet passes close to a major planet. 
C)  The comet is influenced by a number of smaller bodies (planets, asteroids, etc.), which it passes while in the inner solar system. 
D)  As it nears the Sun, the blast of the material streaming away to form its tails can change its direction. 
A)  The comet has a collision with another body in the Kuiper belt. 
B)  The comet passes close to a major planet. 
C)  The comet is influenced by a number of smaller bodies (planets, asteroids, etc.), which it passes while in the inner solar system. 
D)  As it nears the Sun, the blast of the material streaming away to form its tails can change its direction.

Question 9

How would we be able to detect a large asteroid if it were heading straight for the EarthEarth?

Accepted Answer

A)  The asteroid would appear as a slowly brightening starlike object where no star was previously charted, with a redshifted solar spectrum of reflected light. 
B)  The asteroid would appear as a short trail against the background stars on a sky-tracked long-exposure photograph, and its spectrum would show no Doppler shift. 
C)  The asteroid would appear as a slowly brightening point of light where no star had previously been charted, and the spectrum of sunlight reflected from it would be blueshifted by the Doppler effect. 
D)  The asteroid would appear as a slowly brightening and growing diffuse sphere of light where no star was charted because of light scattered from the dust and gas surrounding it, and it would show a blueshifted spectrum. 
A)  The asteroid would appear as a slowly brightening starlike object where no star was previously charted, with a redshifted solar spectrum of reflected light. 
B)  The asteroid would appear as a short trail against the background stars on a sky-tracked long-exposure photograph, and its spectrum would show no Doppler shift. 
C)  The asteroid would appear as a slowly brightening point of light where no star had previously been charted, and the spectrum of sunlight reflected from it would be blueshifted by the Doppler effect. 
D)  The asteroid would appear as a slowly brightening and growing diffuse sphere of light where no star was charted because of light scattered from the dust and gas surrounding it, and it would show a blueshifted spectrum.

Question 10

One significant feature of the Lagrange points produced by the Sun and Jupiter is that:

Accepted Answer

A)  they are regions of reduced gravitational force in the asteroid belt from which asteroids can escape, producing the gaps within the belt. 
B)  gravitational forces combine to produce a minimum in the field, thereby trapping asteroids at these points. 
C)  gravitational forces combine to enhance the overall force on particles passing through them, accelerating them out of the solar system. 
D)  they are points of maximum gravitational force near Jupiter, where the major moons Io and Europa are held. 
A)  they are regions of reduced gravitational force in the asteroid belt from which asteroids can escape, producing the gaps within the belt. 
B)  gravitational forces combine to produce a minimum in the field, thereby trapping asteroids at these points. 
C)  gravitational forces combine to enhance the overall force on particles passing through them, accelerating them out of the solar system. 
D)  they are points of maximum gravitational force near Jupiter, where the major moons Io and Europa are held.

Question 11

Computer simulations of the formation of the solar system show that the material in the vicinity of the asteroid belt is not NOT in the form of one large planet because:

Accepted Answer

A)  most of the material originally in the asteroid belt crashed into Mars, creating the heavily cratered terrain we see there. 
B)  a violent collision destroyed two proto-planets, the debris from of became the asteroid belt. 
C)  this region is where the gravitational field of the Sun is balanced by that of Jupiter, preventing coalescence of matter into a planet. 
D)  Jupiter''s gravitational pull flung most of the material in this region out of the solar system and prevented coalescence of the rest. 
A)  most of the material originally in the asteroid belt crashed into Mars, creating the heavily cratered terrain we see there. 
B)  a violent collision destroyed two proto-planets, the debris from of became the asteroid belt. 
C)  this region is where the gravitational field of the Sun is balanced by that of Jupiter, preventing coalescence of matter into a planet. 
D)  Jupiter''s gravitational pull flung most of the material in this region out of the solar system and prevented coalescence of the rest.

Question 12

The Oort cloud of comets surrounding the solar system at a distance of about 50,000 AU is believed to be:

Accepted Answer

A)  material flung outward by the gravity of the newly formed giant planets early in the history of the solar system. 
B)  an interstellar cloud through which the Sun and planets happen to be passing but is not otherwise connected to the solar system. 
C)  debris left behind at that distance by the collapse of the interstellar cloud that formed the Sun and planets. 
D)  material captured from interstellar space by the Sun''s gravity. 
A)  material flung outward by the gravity of the newly formed giant planets early in the history of the solar system. 
B)  an interstellar cloud through which the Sun and planets happen to be passing but is not otherwise connected to the solar system. 
C)  debris left behind at that distance by the collapse of the interstellar cloud that formed the Sun and planets. 
D)  material captured from interstellar space by the Sun''s gravity.

Question 13

Which of the following biochemical materials have been found and identified in carbonaceous chondrites that have hit the EarthEarth?

Accepted Answer

A)  living viruses 
B)  amino acids, or proteins 
C)  lichens and mosses 
D)  living single-cell organisms 
A)  living viruses 
B)  amino acids, or proteins 
C)  lichens and mosses 
D)  living single-cell organisms

Question 14

The Barringer meteorite crater is located in:

Accepted Answer

A)  Australia. 
B)  the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico. 
C)  Quebec, Canada. 
D)  Arizona, U.S.A. 
A)  Australia. 
B)  the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico. 
C)  Quebec, Canada. 
D)  Arizona, U.S.A.

Question 15

The cause of the "meteor showers" seen at regular times each year on the EarthEarth is most MOST probably:

Accepted Answer

A)  the EarthEarth running into material within the spiral arm structure of the Milky Way. 
B)  unstable weather conditions on the EarthEarth. 
C)  the EarthEarth moving through the remnant dust and rock fragments of an old comet that are orbiting the Sun in the comet''s old orbit. 
D)  sunspot activity and the resultant geomagnetic disturbances. 
A)  the EarthEarth running into material within the spiral arm structure of the Milky Way. 
B)  unstable weather conditions on the EarthEarth. 
C)  the EarthEarth moving through the remnant dust and rock fragments of an old comet that are orbiting the Sun in the comet''s old orbit. 
D)  sunspot activity and the resultant geomagnetic disturbances.

Question 16

The period of Comet Halley is approximately 76 years.Its perihelion position is 0.6 AU from the Sun,so its aphelion distance from the Sun is approximately:

Accepted Answer

A)  1.2 AU. 
B)  17 AU. 
C)  35 AU. 
D)  75 AU. 
A)  1.2 AU. 
B)  17 AU. 
C)  35 AU. 
D)  75 AU.

Question 17

In a single photograph of a comet and its tail,the only ONLY direction that one can determine with certainty is the direction:

Accepted Answer

A)  in which the comet is moving, from the trailing tail. 
B)  toward Jupiter because the gravity of this giant planet pulls the tail material toward it. 
C)  toward the Sun, indicated by the tail direction because gas and dust in the tail are attracted toward the Sun by its gravity. 
D)  away from the Sun because the tail is pushed in this direction by the solar wind. 
A)  in which the comet is moving, from the trailing tail. 
B)  toward Jupiter because the gravity of this giant planet pulls the tail material toward it. 
C)  toward the Sun, indicated by the tail direction because gas and dust in the tail are attracted toward the Sun by its gravity. 
D)  away from the Sun because the tail is pushed in this direction by the solar wind.

Question 18

What causes the dust tail of a comet to separate from the nucleus?

Accepted Answer

A)  radiation pressure 
B)  gravity 
C)  magnetic repulsion 
D)  collisions with the solar wind 
A)  radiation pressure 
B)  gravity 
C)  magnetic repulsion 
D)  collisions with the solar wind

Question 19

What is the diameter of the largest asteroid in the solar system,Ceres,compared with the diameter of the EarthEarth,which is about 12,800 km?

Accepted Answer

A)  smaller than 1/100 Earth''s diameter 
B)  less than 1/10 Earth''s diameter 
C)  about 1/4 the EarthEarth''s diameter 
D)  about 1/2 the EarthEarth''s diameter 
A)  smaller than 1/100 Earth''s diameter 
B)  less than 1/10 Earth''s diameter 
C)  about 1/4 the EarthEarth''s diameter 
D)  about 1/2 the EarthEarth''s diameter

Question 20

The estimated impact energy of the object that produced the Barringer Crater in Arizona,in terms of explosive power (tons of TNT equivalent,a somewhat dubious and frightening scale!),is:

Accepted Answer

A)  greater than 1000 megatons. 
B)  about 1 megaton. 
C)  about 20 megatons, similar to the most powerful hydrogen bombs. 
D)  similar to the first nuclear weapons-less than 10 kilotons. 
A)  greater than 1000 megatons. 
B)  about 1 megaton. 
C)  about 20 megatons, similar to the most powerful hydrogen bombs. 
D)  similar to the first nuclear weapons-less than 10 kilotons.

Why does no major planet orbit the Sun at the location of the asteroid belt?

Our investigations of asteroids to date (2015)have included employed all but one of the followingmethod.What have we not NOT yet done?

The nucleus of Comet Halley,as seen on close-up photographs taken by the Giotto spacecraft,is:

What is unusual about the asteroid Mathilde,which was studied and photographed by the NEAR spacecraft (Figure 8-18a,Comins,Discovering the Essential Universe,6th ed.)?

The first satellite discovered in orbit about Pluto was Charon.What is unusual about this moon?

What has been discovered in some meteorites that suggests that the formation of our Sun and solar system might have been triggered by a supernova explosion?

We have many reasons to believe asteroids have collisions with each one another.Which one of the following is not NOT one of these reasons?

The orbit of a comet can be changed significantly by each of the following events except oneEXCEPT ONE.Which is the exception?

How would we be able to detect a large asteroid if it were heading straight for the EarthEarth?

One significant feature of the Lagrange points produced by the Sun and Jupiter is that:

Computer simulations of the formation of the solar system show that the material in the vicinity of the asteroid belt is not NOT in the form of one large planet because:

The Oort cloud of comets surrounding the solar system at a distance of about 50,000 AU is believed to be:

Which of the following biochemical materials have been found and identified in carbonaceous chondrites that have hit the EarthEarth?

The Barringer meteorite crater is located in:

The cause of the "meteor showers" seen at regular times each year on the EarthEarth is most MOST probably:

The period of Comet Halley is approximately 76 years.Its perihelion position is 0.6 AU from the Sun,so its aphelion distance from the Sun is approximately:

In a single photograph of a comet and its tail,the only ONLY direction that one can determine with certainty is the direction:

What causes the dust tail of a comet to separate from the nucleus?

What is the diameter of the largest asteroid in the solar system,Ceres,compared with the diameter of the EarthEarth,which is about 12,800 km?

The estimated impact energy of the object that produced the Barringer Crater in Arizona,in terms of explosive power (tons of TNT equivalent,a somewhat dubious and frightening scale!),is:

Discovering the Night Sky

Gravitation and the Waltz of the Planets

Light and Telescopes

Formation of the Solar System and Other Planetary Systems

Exoplanets

The Terrestrial Planets and Their Moons

The Outer Planets and Their Moons

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 8: Vagabonds of the Solar System

Why does no major planet orbit the Sun at the location of the asteroid belt?

Our investigations of asteroids to date (2015)have included employed all but one of the followingmethod.What have we not NOT yet done?

The nucleus of Comet Halley,as seen on close-up photographs taken by the Giotto spacecraft,is:

What is unusual about the asteroid Mathilde,which was studied and photographed by the NEAR spacecraft (Figure 8-18a,Comins,Discovering the Essential Universe,6th ed.)?

The first satellite discovered in orbit about Pluto was Charon.What is unusual about this moon?

What has been discovered in some meteorites that suggests that the formation of our Sun and solar system might have been triggered by a supernova explosion?

We have many reasons to believe asteroids have collisions with each one another.Which one of the following is not NOT one of these reasons?

The orbit of a comet can be changed significantly by each of the following events except oneEXCEPT ONE.Which is the exception?

How would we be able to detect a large asteroid if it were heading straight for the EarthEarth?

One significant feature of the Lagrange points produced by the Sun and Jupiter is that:

Computer simulations of the formation of the solar system show that the material in the vicinity of the asteroid belt is not NOT in the form of one large planet because:

The Oort cloud of comets surrounding the solar system at a distance of about 50,000 AU is believed to be:

Which of the following biochemical materials have been found and identified in carbonaceous chondrites that have hit the EarthEarth?

The Barringer meteorite crater is located in:

The cause of the "meteor showers" seen at regular times each year on the EarthEarth is most MOST probably:

The period of Comet Halley is approximately 76 years.Its perihelion position is 0.6 AU from the Sun,so its aphelion distance from the Sun is approximately:

In a single photograph of a comet and its tail,the only ONLY direction that one can determine with certainty is the direction:

What causes the dust tail of a comet to separate from the nucleus?

What is the diameter of the largest asteroid in the solar system,Ceres,compared with the diameter of the EarthEarth,which is about 12,800 km?

The estimated impact energy of the object that produced the Barringer Crater in Arizona,in terms of explosive power (tons of TNT equivalent,a somewhat dubious and frightening scale!),is:

Discovering the Night Sky

Gravitation and the Waltz of the Planets

Light and Telescopes

Formation of the Solar System and Other Planetary Systems

Exoplanets

The Terrestrial Planets and Their Moons

The Outer Planets and Their Moons

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