Question 1

For what reason was Pluto demoted from full planetary status in 2006?

Accepted Answer

A) Because of objects as large or larger than Pluto in the Kuiper belt 
B) Because Pluto resides outside of the zone that can truly be described as the solar system 
C) Because Pluto was discovered to be a twin planet system 
D) Because according to the standard definition, no planet can be smaller than the Earth's moon 
A) Because of objects as large or larger than Pluto in the Kuiper belt 
B) Because Pluto resides outside of the zone that can truly be described as the solar system 
C) Because Pluto was discovered to be a twin planet system 
D) Because according to the standard definition, no planet can be smaller than the Earth's moon

Question 2

Why do the tails of comets point away from the Sun?

Accepted Answer

The gases ejected by a comet are pushed

Question 3

Where did Saturn's rings likely come from?

Accepted Answer

A) Either a moon that never formed, or a moon destroyed by tidal forces 
B) The decay of radioactive particles in the outer fringes of Saturn's upper atmosphere 
C) Volcanic activity on its surface ejecting matter into space 
D) The gravitational capture of micro-asteroids 
A) Either a moon that never formed, or a moon destroyed by tidal forces 
B) The decay of radioactive particles in the outer fringes of Saturn's upper atmosphere 
C) Volcanic activity on its surface ejecting matter into space 
D) The gravitational capture of micro-asteroids

Question 4

Only one side of the Moon faces Earth. Is this because the Moon spins about its axis, or doesn't spin about its axis? Defend your answer.

Accepted Answer

The Moon does indeed spin about its axis

Question 5

The fact that one side of the Moon always faces Earth is evidence that while revolving about the Earth it

Accepted Answer

A) does not rotate about its axis. 
B) rotates about its axis. 
A) does not rotate about its axis. 
B) rotates about its axis.

Question 6

Distinguish between a solar eclipse and a lunar eclipse, and the reasons for each.

Accepted Answer

Eclipses occur with alignment of the Sun

Question 7

Why should one not stare at the Sun during a partial eclipse?

Accepted Answer

A) Because, whether there is an eclipse or not, the Sun's intense radiation can easily damage our eyes. 
B) Because the eclipse event itself creates a lensing effect, which greatly magnifies and intensifies the Suns rays. 
C) Because Sunspots, which are excited by the eclipse event, can easily erupt during the eclipse. 
D) Because Ultraviolet radiation is intensified during the event. 
E) Because coronas and corneas are always a bad mix. 
A) Because, whether there is an eclipse or not, the Sun's intense radiation can easily damage our eyes. 
B) Because the eclipse event itself creates a lensing effect, which greatly magnifies and intensifies the Suns rays. 
C) Because Sunspots, which are excited by the eclipse event, can easily erupt during the eclipse. 
D) Because Ultraviolet radiation is intensified during the event. 
E) Because coronas and corneas are always a bad mix.

Question 8

Saturn's rings are composed of?

Accepted Answer

A) chunks of ice and rock. 
B) methane gas. 
C) hydrogen. 
D) old satellites and other space junk lost from Earth's orbit and other space missions. 
A) chunks of ice and rock. 
B) methane gas. 
C) hydrogen. 
D) old satellites and other space junk lost from Earth's orbit and other space missions.

Question 9

Most meteors seen as shooting stars are about the size of

Accepted Answer

A) grains of sand. 
B) baseballs. 
C) small buildings. 
D) very large buildings. 
E) small continents. 
A) grains of sand. 
B) baseballs. 
C) small buildings. 
D) very large buildings. 
E) small continents.

Question 10

Temperature differences between nighttime and daytime on Earth are relatively small due to

Accepted Answer

A) polar regions absorbing most solar energy. 
B) Earth being 70% water. 
C) Earth's relatively high daily spin rate and shortness of nighttime. 
D) seasonal fluctuations and Earths magnetic field. 
A) polar regions absorbing most solar energy. 
B) Earth being 70% water. 
C) Earth's relatively high daily spin rate and shortness of nighttime. 
D) seasonal fluctuations and Earths magnetic field.

Question 11

Consider a huge rotating cloud of particles in space that gravitate together to form an increasingly dense ball. As the cloud shrinks in size, it

Accepted Answer

A) rotates slower. 
B) rotates faster. 
C) rotates at the same rate. 
A) rotates slower. 
B) rotates faster. 
C) rotates at the same rate.

Question 12

Why is Mars' greenhouse effect negligible compared to that of Earth's?

Accepted Answer

A) Its mass is only one-ninth of Earth's. 
B) Greenhouse gas emissions were greatly curtailed according to the International Mars Greenhouse Gas Reduction Treaty of 2003. 
C) The Martian atmosphere is much thinner and retains little heat. 
D) Martian carbon dioxide contains a rare isotope with little ability to trap heat. 
A) Its mass is only one-ninth of Earth's. 
B) Greenhouse gas emissions were greatly curtailed according to the International Mars Greenhouse Gas Reduction Treaty of 2003. 
C) The Martian atmosphere is much thinner and retains little heat. 
D) Martian carbon dioxide contains a rare isotope with little ability to trap heat.

Question 13

No greenhouse effect occurs on Mercury because of no

Accepted Answer

A) daily spin. 
B) atmosphere. 
C) relatively cool regions. 
D) plant life. 
E) terrestrial radiation. 
A) daily spin. 
B) atmosphere. 
C) relatively cool regions. 
D) plant life. 
E) terrestrial radiation.

Question 14

Which explanation best describes why Earth observers always see the same face of the moon?

Accepted Answer

A) The Moon's rate of spin matches the rate at which the Moon revolves around Earth. 
B) The Moon does not rotate as it circles Earth. 
C) We tend only to observe the Moon at night, not during the day. 
D) Earth and Moon are partially gravity locked. 
A) The Moon's rate of spin matches the rate at which the Moon revolves around Earth. 
B) The Moon does not rotate as it circles Earth. 
C) We tend only to observe the Moon at night, not during the day. 
D) Earth and Moon are partially gravity locked.

Question 15

With daytime temperatures that can reach 430°C, why is nighttime on Mercury so cold?

Accepted Answer

A) Because the year is so short, there isn't enough time for the heat to build up in the equatorial regions. 
B) With very little atmosphere, heat is quickly lost back into space. 
C) The weak gravitational field doesn't retain the daytime's heat. 
D) The solar winds quickly dissipate all heat on the planet's dark side. 
A) Because the year is so short, there isn't enough time for the heat to build up in the equatorial regions. 
B) With very little atmosphere, heat is quickly lost back into space. 
C) The weak gravitational field doesn't retain the daytime's heat. 
D) The solar winds quickly dissipate all heat on the planet's dark side.

Question 16

The reason that the Moon takes on a crescent shape each month has to do with the

Accepted Answer

A) Earth's shadow. 
B) Sun's position. 
C) both of these 
D) neither of these 
A) Earth's shadow. 
B) Sun's position. 
C) both of these 
D) neither of these

Question 17

What constitutes over half of Jupiter's volume?

Accepted Answer

A) Oceans of liquid hydrogen 
B) Oceans of liquid methane 
C) Its rocky solid core 
D) The massive Mons Majora Range 
A) Oceans of liquid hydrogen 
B) Oceans of liquid methane 
C) Its rocky solid core 
D) The massive Mons Majora Range

Question 18

The predominant gas in the atmosphere of Mars is

Accepted Answer

A) oxygen. 
B) nitrogen. 
C) water vapor. 
D) carbon dioxide. 
E) methane. 
A) oxygen. 
B) nitrogen. 
C) water vapor. 
D) carbon dioxide. 
E) methane.

Question 19

Distinguish between a star and a planet. Which glows, or do they both glow?

Accepted Answer

A star is a luminous astronomical body f

Question 20

Why is the Kuiper belt considered to be a zone of failed planet formation?

Accepted Answer

A) The dwarf planets found therein have yet to fully accrete all of the material in their orbital paths. 
B) There is simply not enough material within the dwarf planet's orbital paths for any of them to ever add up to full planetary status. 
C) Because none of the dwarf planets are massive enough to maintain an atmosphere. 
D) Both A and B are reasonable. 
A) The dwarf planets found therein have yet to fully accrete all of the material in their orbital paths. 
B) There is simply not enough material within the dwarf planet's orbital paths for any of them to ever add up to full planetary status. 
C) Because none of the dwarf planets are massive enough to maintain an atmosphere. 
D) Both A and B are reasonable.

Exam 26: The Solar System

For what reason was Pluto demoted from full planetary status in 2006?

Why do the tails of comets point away from the Sun?

Where did Saturn's rings likely come from?

Only one side of the Moon faces Earth. Is this because the Moon spins about its axis, or doesn't spin about its axis? Defend your answer.

The fact that one side of the Moon always faces Earth is evidence that while revolving about the Earth it

Distinguish between a solar eclipse and a lunar eclipse, and the reasons for each.

Why should one not stare at the Sun during a partial eclipse?

Saturn's rings are composed of?

Most meteors seen as shooting stars are about the size of

Temperature differences between nighttime and daytime on Earth are relatively small due to

Consider a huge rotating cloud of particles in space that gravitate together to form an increasingly dense ball. As the cloud shrinks in size, it

Why is Mars' greenhouse effect negligible compared to that of Earth's?

No greenhouse effect occurs on Mercury because of no

Which explanation best describes why Earth observers always see the same face of the moon?

With daytime temperatures that can reach 430°C, why is nighttime on Mercury so cold?

The reason that the Moon takes on a crescent shape each month has to do with the

What constitutes over half of Jupiter's volume?

The predominant gas in the atmosphere of Mars is

Distinguish between a star and a planet. Which glows, or do they both glow?

Why is the Kuiper belt considered to be a zone of failed planet formation?

Patterns of Motion and Equilibrium

Newtons Laws of Motion

Momentum and Energy

Gravity, Projectiles, and Satellites

Fluid Mechanics

Thermal Energy and Thermodynamics

Heat Transfer and Change of Phase

Static and Current Electricity

Magnetism and Electromagnetic Induction

Waves and Sound

Light

Atoms and the Periodic Table

The Atomic Nucleus and Radioactivity

Elements of Chemistry

How Atoms Bond and Molecules Attract

Mixtures

How Chemicals React

Two Classes of Chemical Reactions

Organic Compounds

Rocks and Minerals

Plate Tectonics and Earths Interior

Shaping Earths Surface

Geologic Timereading the Rock Record

The Oceans, Atmosphere, and Climatic Effects

Driving Forces of Weather

Stars and Galaxies

The Structure of Space and Time

Prologue: the Nature of Science

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