Question 1

The predominant gas in the atmosphere of Venus 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 2

The general direction of a comet's tail is

Accepted Answer

A) toward the Sun. 
B) away from the Sun. 
C) behind the comet's direction of motion. 
A) toward the Sun. 
B) away from the Sun. 
C) behind the comet's direction of motion.

Question 3

Compared to your weight on Earth, your weight on Jupiter would be about

Accepted Answer

A) 2 times. 
B) 3 times. 
C) 100 times. 
D) 300 times. 
E) 3000 times. 
A) 2 times. 
B) 3 times. 
C) 100 times. 
D) 300 times. 
E) 3000 times.

Question 4

Distinguish between an asteroid, a meteoroid, and a comet.

Accepted Answer

An asteroid is a small, rocky, planetlik

Question 5

How much greater is the atmospheric pressure of Jupiter than Earth's? More than

Accepted Answer

A) ten times. 
B) one hundred times. 
C) ten thousand times. 
D) a million times. 
A) ten times. 
B) one hundred times. 
C) ten thousand times. 
D) a million times.

Question 6

On which body (other than Earth)is life in our solar system most likely to be found?

Accepted Answer

A) Mars 
B) Venus 
C) Europa 
D) Scientific evidence suggests that life elsewhere in our solar system is not possible. 
A) Mars 
B) Venus 
C) Europa 
D) Scientific evidence suggests that life elsewhere in our solar system is not possible.

Question 7

Why is Jupiter the largest planet in the solar system?

Accepted Answer

A) Because that's just the way it happened. 
B) Being the oldest planetary core, it had more time than the other planets to accumulate enough gas around itself before solar winds blew interplanetary dust away. 
C) Due to a massive collision with another protoplanet 
D) Because of its distance from the Sun, the gravitational attraction between it and the Sun is perfectly balanced so as to create a density that results in the largest size of any planet. 
A) Because that's just the way it happened. 
B) Being the oldest planetary core, it had more time than the other planets to accumulate enough gas around itself before solar winds blew interplanetary dust away. 
C) Due to a massive collision with another protoplanet 
D) Because of its distance from the Sun, the gravitational attraction between it and the Sun is perfectly balanced so as to create a density that results in the largest size of any planet.

Question 8

Between which planets is the asteroid belt found?

Accepted Answer

A) Between Mars and Jupiter 
B) Between Earth and Mars 
C) Between Earth and Venus 
D) Between Jupiter and Neptune 
A) Between Mars and Jupiter 
B) Between Earth and Mars 
C) Between Earth and Venus 
D) Between Jupiter and Neptune

Question 9

When a contracting hot ball of stellar gas spins into a disk shape, it cools faster due to

Accepted Answer

A) increased convection currents. 
B) increased radiation transfer. 
C) decreased insulation. 
D) increased surface area to volume. 
E) eddy currents. 
A) increased convection currents. 
B) increased radiation transfer. 
C) decreased insulation. 
D) increased surface area to volume. 
E) eddy currents.

Question 10

What is the likely cause of the 98° tilt of Uranus's axis?

Accepted Answer

A) A collision with a large body early in the solar system's evolution 
B) Distorted magnetic poles due to its large molten iron core 
C) Fluid wave dynamics due to its large molten core 
D) Neptune's effect on Uranus' gravitational field 
A) A collision with a large body early in the solar system's evolution 
B) Distorted magnetic poles due to its large molten iron core 
C) Fluid wave dynamics due to its large molten core 
D) Neptune's effect on Uranus' gravitational field

Question 11

The consequences of a comet's tail sweeping across the Earth would be

Accepted Answer

A) a meteor shower. 
B) likely catastrophic. 
C) like an enhanced Aurora Borealis worldwide. 
D) quite unpredictable. 
A) a meteor shower. 
B) likely catastrophic. 
C) like an enhanced Aurora Borealis worldwide. 
D) quite unpredictable.

Question 12

The planet that is most tipped to its orbital plane is

Accepted Answer

A) Mars. 
B) Jupiter. 
C) Saturn. 
D) Uranus. 
E) Neptune. 
A) Mars. 
B) Jupiter. 
C) Saturn. 
D) Uranus. 
E) Neptune.

Question 13

When we see a half-moon, the position of the Sun is

Accepted Answer

A) almost directly behind the Moon. 
B) almost directly behind the Earth. 
C) at right angles to a line from Earth to the Moon. 
D) about 45° from a line from Earth to the Moon. 
A) almost directly behind the Moon. 
B) almost directly behind the Earth. 
C) at right angles to a line from Earth to the Moon. 
D) about 45° from a line from Earth to the Moon.

Question 14

In a museum collection you can likely see a

Accepted Answer

A) meteoroid but not a meteorite. 
B) meteor but not a meteoroid. 
C) meteorite but not a meteoroid. 
A) meteoroid but not a meteorite. 
B) meteor but not a meteoroid. 
C) meteorite but not a meteoroid.

Question 15

Evidence of the solar wind on Earth is the

Accepted Answer

A) meteor showers in the upper atmosphere. 
B) solar sunspots. 
C) preponderance of hurricanes at lower latitudes. 
D) higher ocean tides in winter. 
E) Aurora Borealis. 
A) meteor showers in the upper atmosphere. 
B) solar sunspots. 
C) preponderance of hurricanes at lower latitudes. 
D) higher ocean tides in winter. 
E) Aurora Borealis.

Question 16

Is the rate of Earth's rotation increasing or decreasing?

Accepted Answer

A) It is increasing 
B) It is decreasing 
C) It is remaining relatively steady. 
D) It is increasing and decreasing in cyclic fashion. 
A) It is increasing 
B) It is decreasing 
C) It is remaining relatively steady. 
D) It is increasing and decreasing in cyclic fashion.

Question 17

In what region of the Sun is solar energy generated?

Accepted Answer

A) The outer surface 
B) The inner surface 
C) The mid-interior 
D) The inner core. 
A) The outer surface 
B) The inner surface 
C) The mid-interior 
D) The inner core.

Question 18

A cloud of interstellar gas is held together by

Accepted Answer

A) the gravitational force. 
B) infrared radiation. 
C) electromagnetism. 
D) All of the above. 
A) the gravitational force. 
B) infrared radiation. 
C) electromagnetism. 
D) All of the above.

Question 19

The reason we don't have solar and lunar eclipses monthly is because of the

Accepted Answer

A) relatively close distance of the Moon and Earth. 
B) relatively long distance to the Sun. 
C) tapering of the Sun's rays. 
D) different orbital planes for Earth and the Moon. 
E) 23° tilt of the Earth's axis. 
A) relatively close distance of the Moon and Earth. 
B) relatively long distance to the Sun. 
C) tapering of the Sun's rays. 
D) different orbital planes for Earth and the Moon. 
E) 23° tilt of the Earth's axis.

Question 20

Asteroids orbit the

Accepted Answer

A) Sun. 
B) Earth. 
C) Moon. 
D) all of these 
E) none of these 
A) Sun. 
B) Earth. 
C) Moon. 
D) all of these 
E) none of these

Exam 26: The Solar System

The predominant gas in the atmosphere of Venus is

The general direction of a comet's tail is

Compared to your weight on Earth, your weight on Jupiter would be about

Distinguish between an asteroid, a meteoroid, and a comet.

How much greater is the atmospheric pressure of Jupiter than Earth's? More than

On which body (other than Earth)is life in our solar system most likely to be found?

Why is Jupiter the largest planet in the solar system?

Between which planets is the asteroid belt found?

When a contracting hot ball of stellar gas spins into a disk shape, it cools faster due to

What is the likely cause of the 98° tilt of Uranus's axis?

The consequences of a comet's tail sweeping across the Earth would be

The planet that is most tipped to its orbital plane is

When we see a half-moon, the position of the Sun is

In a museum collection you can likely see a

Evidence of the solar wind on Earth is the

Is the rate of Earth's rotation increasing or decreasing?

In what region of the Sun is solar energy generated?

A cloud of interstellar gas is held together by

The reason we don't have solar and lunar eclipses monthly is because of the

Asteroids orbit the

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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