Question 1

What is remarkable about the magnetic field of Neptune?

Accepted Answer

A) It is stronger than that of any other planet 
B) It is tipped at a large angle with respect to the axis of rotation 
C) There are two north magnetic poles 
D) It vanishes and reappears every few minutes 
A) It is stronger than that of any other planet 
B) It is tipped at a large angle with respect to the axis of rotation 
C) There are two north magnetic poles 
D) It vanishes and reappears every few minutes B

Question 2

What may have contributed to the major impacts on the Moon and other objects 3.9 billion years ago?

Accepted Answer

A) Encounters of Uranus and Neptune with Trans-Neptunian objects as Uranus and Neptune moved farther outward in their orbits. 
B) Encounters of Uranus and Neptune with Trans-Neptunian objects as Uranus and Neptune moved farther inward in their orbits. 
C) Encounters of Jupiter and Saturn with Trans-Neptunian objects as Jupiter and Saturn moved farther outward in their orbits. 
D) Encounters of Jupiter and Saturn with Trans-Neptunian objects as Jupiter and Saturn moved farther inward in their orbits. 
A) Encounters of Uranus and Neptune with Trans-Neptunian objects as Uranus and Neptune moved farther outward in their orbits. 
B) Encounters of Uranus and Neptune with Trans-Neptunian objects as Uranus and Neptune moved farther inward in their orbits. 
C) Encounters of Jupiter and Saturn with Trans-Neptunian objects as Jupiter and Saturn moved farther outward in their orbits. 
D) Encounters of Jupiter and Saturn with Trans-Neptunian objects as Jupiter and Saturn moved farther inward in their orbits. A

Question 3

What event led to the demotion of Pluto from planet to dwarf planet?

Accepted Answer

A) The determination of Pluto's mass 
B) The discovery of Mercury 
C) The discovery of a tenth body that is larger than Pluto 
D) The discovery of additional satellites of Pluto 
A) The determination of Pluto's mass 
B) The discovery of Mercury 
C) The discovery of a tenth body that is larger than Pluto 
D) The discovery of additional satellites of Pluto C

Question 4

What property of Pluto lead to its demotion from planet to dwarf planet?

Accepted Answer

A) Its non-spherical surface 
B) Pluto does not dominate the space associated with its orbit. 
C) Pluto is too small to be a true planet. 
D) Pluto is made of ices,rather than rocks and metals. 
A) Its non-spherical surface 
B) Pluto does not dominate the space associated with its orbit. 
C) Pluto is too small to be a true planet. 
D) Pluto is made of ices,rather than rocks and metals.

Question 5

How was Neptune discovered?

Accepted Answer

A) By accident,while an astronomer was looking for comets 
B) It passed in front of a bright star 
C) By looking at a position predicted by calculations 
D) This is a trick,it has been known since antiquity 
A) By accident,while an astronomer was looking for comets 
B) It passed in front of a bright star 
C) By looking at a position predicted by calculations 
D) This is a trick,it has been known since antiquity

Question 6

What is unusual about the orbit of Pluto?

Accepted Answer

A) Pluto is sometimes nearer the Sun than is Neptune 
B) Pluto has an almost perfectly circular orbit 
C) Pluto has the same orbital period as Neptune 
D) Pluto is always on the other side of the Sun from Neptune 
A) Pluto is sometimes nearer the Sun than is Neptune 
B) Pluto has an almost perfectly circular orbit 
C) Pluto has the same orbital period as Neptune 
D) Pluto is always on the other side of the Sun from Neptune

Question 7

Which of the following planets was discovered because of its gravitational effect on the orbits of other planets?

Accepted Answer

A) Jupiter 
B) Saturn 
C) Uranus 
D) Neptune 
A) Jupiter 
B) Saturn 
C) Uranus 
D) Neptune

Question 8

It is thought that what percentage of Trans-Neptunian objects were lost due to collisions with planets or from ejection in the early solar system?

Accepted Answer

A) 25 
B) 50 
C) 75 
D) 99.9 
A) 25 
B) 50 
C) 75 
D) 99.9

Question 9

According to current theories,what might be the influence of Trans-Neptunian objects on the outer planets?

Accepted Answer

A) Jupiter and Neptune moved inward,causing Saturn and Uranus to move outward. 
B) Jupiter and Saturn moved inward,causing Neptune and Uranus to move inward,possibly switching orbits. 
C) Jupiter and Saturn moved into a 2:1 resonance,causing Neptune and Uranus to move inward,possibly switching orbits. 
D) Jupiter,Saturn,Uranus and Neptune all move inward,to their present orbits. 
A) Jupiter and Neptune moved inward,causing Saturn and Uranus to move outward. 
B) Jupiter and Saturn moved inward,causing Neptune and Uranus to move inward,possibly switching orbits. 
C) Jupiter and Saturn moved into a 2:1 resonance,causing Neptune and Uranus to move inward,possibly switching orbits. 
D) Jupiter,Saturn,Uranus and Neptune all move inward,to their present orbits.

Question 10

Which of the following statements is a good description of the appearance of Neptune in the Voyager images

Accepted Answer

A) Deep blue color with a few prominent cloud features 
B) Many conspicuous zones and belts in its cloud layer 
C) Nearly featureless greenish ball 
D) Distinctly nonspherical in shape 
A) Deep blue color with a few prominent cloud features 
B) Many conspicuous zones and belts in its cloud layer 
C) Nearly featureless greenish ball 
D) Distinctly nonspherical in shape

Question 11

How was the mass of Pluto determined?

Accepted Answer

A) By measuring the effect of its gravity on the terrestrial planets 
B) By observing its effect on the motion of an unmanned flyby of Pluto 
C) By determining the orbit of its satellite,Charon 
D) By measuring how it bends light rays passing near it 
A) By measuring the effect of its gravity on the terrestrial planets 
B) By observing its effect on the motion of an unmanned flyby of Pluto 
C) By determining the orbit of its satellite,Charon 
D) By measuring how it bends light rays passing near it

Question 12

Which of the following planets has physical properties most like that of Uranus?

Accepted Answer

A) Jupiter 
B) Venus 
C) Saturn 
D) Neptune 
A) Jupiter 
B) Venus 
C) Saturn 
D) Neptune

Question 13

How is the magnetic axis of Uranus oriented with respect to the axis of rotation of the planet?

Accepted Answer

A) The two axes are almost perfectly aligned 
B) The magnetic axis lies in the equatorial plane of the planet 
C) There is no magnetic field of Uranus 
D) The magnetic axis is tipped by about 55 degrees. 
A) The two axes are almost perfectly aligned 
B) The magnetic axis lies in the equatorial plane of the planet 
C) There is no magnetic field of Uranus 
D) The magnetic axis is tipped by about 55 degrees.

Question 14

What object is not considered to be a dwarf planet?

Accepted Answer

A) Eris 
B) Pluto 
C) Ceres 
D) Ida 
A) Eris 
B) Pluto 
C) Ceres 
D) Ida

Question 15

What did astronomers learn about Pluto as a result of the discovery of its satellite,Charon?

Accepted Answer

A) Its size 
B) Its mass 
C) Its age 
D) Its rotation period 
A) Its size 
B) Its mass 
C) Its age 
D) Its rotation period

Question 16

Why did William Herschel have to observe Uranus on more than one night before he could be sure it was a planet and not a star?

Accepted Answer

A) He had to see if it showed a full range of phases from new to full 
B) He had to see if it moved among the stars from night to night 
C) He had to see if it had satellites 
D) He had to see if it varied in brightness from night to night 
A) He had to see if it showed a full range of phases from new to full 
B) He had to see if it moved among the stars from night to night 
C) He had to see if it had satellites 
D) He had to see if it varied in brightness from night to night

Question 17

Why will Pluto never collide with Neptune,despite the fact that it often crossing Neptune's orbit?

Accepted Answer

A) 2:3 gravity resonance of Neptune with Pluto keeps the planets far apart. 
B) The planets may someday collide,but a collision is not likely due to the large distances involved. 
C) A near collision with Triton has thrown Pluto into a more distant orbit,far away from Neptune. 
D) A 3:5 gravity resonance between Neptune and Jupiter keeps Neptune from getting near Pluto. 
A) 2:3 gravity resonance of Neptune with Pluto keeps the planets far apart. 
B) The planets may someday collide,but a collision is not likely due to the large distances involved. 
C) A near collision with Triton has thrown Pluto into a more distant orbit,far away from Neptune. 
D) A 3:5 gravity resonance between Neptune and Jupiter keeps Neptune from getting near Pluto.

Question 18

The Pioneer and Voyager spacecraft were used to search for planets beyond Pluto.What property of such planets was searched for by the spacecraft?

Accepted Answer

A) Their gravitational attractions 
B) Visible light reflected by them 
C) Radio emission from them 
D) Eclipses of the Sun by them 
A) Their gravitational attractions 
B) Visible light reflected by them 
C) Radio emission from them 
D) Eclipses of the Sun by them

Question 19

How is it possible for Pluto always to keep the same face turned toward its satellite Charon?

Accepted Answer

A) Pluto's rotation period is the same as Charon's orbital period 
B) Pluto doesn't rotate 
C) Pluto's rotation period is the same as Pluto's orbital period 
D) Charon's orbital period is the same as Pluto's orbital period 
A) Pluto's rotation period is the same as Charon's orbital period 
B) Pluto doesn't rotate 
C) Pluto's rotation period is the same as Pluto's orbital period 
D) Charon's orbital period is the same as Pluto's orbital period

Question 20

Which of the following sets of planets has large diameters,locations in the outer solar system,and extensive gaseous atmospheres?

Accepted Answer

A) Earth,Mars,Jupiter,Saturn 
B) Mercury,Venus,Earth,Mars 
C) Jupiter,Saturn,Uranus,Neptune 
D) Mercury,Venus,Mars,Uranus 
A) Earth,Mars,Jupiter,Saturn 
B) Mercury,Venus,Earth,Mars 
C) Jupiter,Saturn,Uranus,Neptune 
D) Mercury,Venus,Mars,Uranus

Exam 13: The Outer Solar System

What is remarkable about the magnetic field of Neptune?

What may have contributed to the major impacts on the Moon and other objects 3.9 billion years ago?

What event led to the demotion of Pluto from planet to dwarf planet?

What property of Pluto lead to its demotion from planet to dwarf planet?

How was Neptune discovered?

What is unusual about the orbit of Pluto?

Which of the following planets was discovered because of its gravitational effect on the orbits of other planets?

It is thought that what percentage of Trans-Neptunian objects were lost due to collisions with planets or from ejection in the early solar system?

According to current theories,what might be the influence of Trans-Neptunian objects on the outer planets?

Which of the following statements is a good description of the appearance of Neptune in the Voyager images

How was the mass of Pluto determined?

Which of the following planets has physical properties most like that of Uranus?

How is the magnetic axis of Uranus oriented with respect to the axis of rotation of the planet?

What object is not considered to be a dwarf planet?

What did astronomers learn about Pluto as a result of the discovery of its satellite,Charon?

Why did William Herschel have to observe Uranus on more than one night before he could be sure it was a planet and not a star?

Why will Pluto never collide with Neptune,despite the fact that it often crossing Neptune's orbit?

The Pioneer and Voyager spacecraft were used to search for planets beyond Pluto.What property of such planets was searched for by the spacecraft?

How is it possible for Pluto always to keep the same face turned toward its satellite Charon?

Which of the following sets of planets has large diameters,locations in the outer solar system,and extensive gaseous atmospheres?

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