Question 1

Which of the following could be a stable planetary orbit in a binary system?

Accepted Answer

A)  a large orbit around both stars in a wide binary system 
B)  an orbit close to one of the stars in a wide binary system 
C)  a "figure-of-eight" orbit about both stars in a close binary system 
D)  an orbit close to one of the stars in a close binary system 
A)  a large orbit around both stars in a wide binary system 
B)  an orbit close to one of the stars in a wide binary system 
C)  a "figure-of-eight" orbit about both stars in a close binary system 
D)  an orbit close to one of the stars in a close binary system B

Question 2

If a star has an extrasolar planet, the symmetry of its radial velocity curve is related to the planet's

Accepted Answer

A)  orbital shape 
B)  mass 
C)  radius 
D)  orbital period 
A)  orbital shape 
B)  mass 
C)  radius 
D)  orbital period A

Question 3

The wavelengths of radiation from a star that is moving perpendicular to us

Accepted Answer

A)  can be longer or shorter depending on the distance to the star 
B)  are shorter than if the star were not moving 
C)  are longer than if the star were not moving 
D)  are the same as if the star were not moving 
A)  can be longer or shorter depending on the distance to the star 
B)  are shorter than if the star were not moving 
C)  are longer than if the star were not moving 
D)  are the same as if the star were not moving D

Question 4

When an exoplanet passes behind its parent star, we call this

Accepted Answer

A)  an eclipse 
B)  a shadow event 
C)  a transit 
D)  an occultation 
A)  an eclipse 
B)  a shadow event 
C)  a transit 
D)  an occultation

Question 5

Which of the following types of stars are NOT suitable for advanced life?

Accepted Answer

A)  K-type 
B)  M-type 
C)  G-type 
D)  F-type 
A)  K-type 
B)  M-type 
C)  G-type 
D)  F-type

Question 6

Even though M-stars have very narrow habitable zones, they may still host a large number of inhabited worlds because they are so

Accepted Answer

A)  common 
B)  cool 
C)  long lived 
D)  small 
A)  common 
B)  cool 
C)  long lived 
D)  small

Question 7

Stars spend 90% of their lives

Accepted Answer

A)  fusing hydrogen into helium in their cores and slowly dimming 
B)  slowly dimming as they die with no fusion occurring in their cores 
C)  as slowly brightening protostars 
D)  fusing hydrogen into helium in their cores and slowly brightening 
A)  fusing hydrogen into helium in their cores and slowly dimming 
B)  slowly dimming as they die with no fusion occurring in their cores 
C)  as slowly brightening protostars 
D)  fusing hydrogen into helium in their cores and slowly brightening

Question 8

Solar-type stars in our galaxy are

Accepted Answer

A)  very common, making up about 50% of the total 
B)  very rare (less than 1%) 
C)  fairly common (several percent) 
D)  the most common type of stars in our galaxy (75% or more) 
A)  very common, making up about 50% of the total 
B)  very rare (less than 1%) 
C)  fairly common (several percent) 
D)  the most common type of stars in our galaxy (75% or more)

Question 9

What is the most common class of star in our galaxy?

Accepted Answer

A)  G-type 
B)  O-type 
C)  M-type 
D)  A-type 
A)  G-type 
B)  O-type 
C)  M-type 
D)  A-type

Question 10

When an exoplanet passes in front of its parent star, we call this

Accepted Answer

A)  an eclipse 
B)  a shadow event 
C)  a transit 
D)  an occultation 
A)  an eclipse 
B)  a shadow event 
C)  a transit 
D)  an occultation

Question 11

Which of the following are in order of decreasing temperature?

Accepted Answer

A)  O9, F2, F7, G2, K0 
B)  K0, G2, F7, F2, O9 
C)  F7, F2, O9, K0, G2 
D)  O9, F7, F2, G2, K0 
A)  O9, F2, F7, G2, K0 
B)  K0, G2, F7, F2, O9 
C)  F7, F2, O9, K0, G2 
D)  O9, F7, F2, G2, K0

Question 12

A star more massive than our Sun

Accepted Answer

A)  will have a longer lifetime 
B)  will have a shorter lifetime 
C)  will have the same lifetime as the Sun 
D)  could have either a longer lifetime or a shorter lifetime depending on its chemical composition 
A)  will have a longer lifetime 
B)  will have a shorter lifetime 
C)  will have the same lifetime as the Sun 
D)  could have either a longer lifetime or a shorter lifetime depending on its chemical composition

Question 13

The decrease in infrared emission observed when a transiting exoplanet passes behind its parent star is a measure of the exoplanet's

Accepted Answer

A)  mass 
B)  temperature 
C)  size 
D)  chemical composition 
A)  mass 
B)  temperature 
C)  size 
D)  chemical composition

Question 14

Which of the following could be a stable planetary orbit in a binary system?

Accepted Answer

A)  a large orbit around both stars in a close binary system 
B)  a "figure-of-eight" orbit about both stars in a close binary system 
C)  an orbit close to one of the stars in a close binary system 
D)  a large orbit around both stars in a wide binary system 
A)  a large orbit around both stars in a close binary system 
B)  a "figure-of-eight" orbit about both stars in a close binary system 
C)  an orbit close to one of the stars in a close binary system 
D)  a large orbit around both stars in a wide binary system

Question 15

How can we explain the presence of extrasolar planetary systems with Jovian-sized planets at distances at which we normally find terrestrial planets?

Accepted Answer

A)  they are brown dwarfs that were captured by their parent stars 
B)  these are massive terrestrial planets that formed close to their parent stars 
C)  they are Jovian planets that were spun out from their rapidly spinning parent stars 
D)  the Jovian planets formed farther out and then migrated inward 
A)  they are brown dwarfs that were captured by their parent stars 
B)  these are massive terrestrial planets that formed close to their parent stars 
C)  they are Jovian planets that were spun out from their rapidly spinning parent stars 
D)  the Jovian planets formed farther out and then migrated inward

Question 16

What parameters determine the position of a galaxy's Galactic Habitable Zone?

Accepted Answer

A)  only the amount of heavy elements in the disk 
B)  both the amount of heavy elements AND the amount of radiation from the center 
C)  only the temperature in the galactic disk 
D)  only the amount of harmful radiation from the center 
A)  only the amount of heavy elements in the disk 
B)  both the amount of heavy elements AND the amount of radiation from the center 
C)  only the temperature in the galactic disk 
D)  only the amount of harmful radiation from the center

Question 17

Which of the following methods has been the LEAST successful in detecting extrasolar planets around other star systems?

Accepted Answer

A)  regular changes in the positions of the parent stars with respect to more distant stars as they move across the sky 
B)  detection of Doppler shifts in the spectra of the parent stars 
C)  detection of brightness changes in a star as a planet passes in front of it 
D)  detection of reflected starlight 
A)  regular changes in the positions of the parent stars with respect to more distant stars as they move across the sky 
B)  detection of Doppler shifts in the spectra of the parent stars 
C)  detection of brightness changes in a star as a planet passes in front of it 
D)  detection of reflected starlight

Question 18

Brown dwarfs occupy the range of masses between

Accepted Answer

A)  white dwarfs and neutron stars 
B)  giants and supergiants 
C)  terrestrial and Jovian planets 
D)  large planets and small stars 
A)  white dwarfs and neutron stars 
B)  giants and supergiants 
C)  terrestrial and Jovian planets 
D)  large planets and small stars

Question 19

At the top of the Hertzprung-Russell diagram we find

Accepted Answer

A)  red giant stars 
B)  white dwarfs 
C)  supergiant stars 
D)  main sequence stars 
A)  red giant stars 
B)  white dwarfs 
C)  supergiant stars 
D)  main sequence stars

Question 20

In an extrasolar planetary system containing a single planet, the parent star is measured to move about its center of mass every 24 years. Given this, what is the orbital period of the planet?

Accepted Answer

A)  48 years 
B)  this cannot be determined from this observation 
C)  12 years 
D)  24 years 
A)  48 years 
B)  this cannot be determined from this observation 
C)  12 years 
D)  24 years

Which of the following could be a stable planetary orbit in a binary system?

If a star has an extrasolar planet, the symmetry of its radial velocity curve is related to the planet's

The wavelengths of radiation from a star that is moving perpendicular to us

When an exoplanet passes behind its parent star, we call this

Which of the following types of stars are NOT suitable for advanced life?

Even though M-stars have very narrow habitable zones, they may still host a large number of inhabited worlds because they are so

Stars spend 90% of their lives

Solar-type stars in our galaxy are

What is the most common class of star in our galaxy?

When an exoplanet passes in front of its parent star, we call this

Which of the following are in order of decreasing temperature?

A star more massive than our Sun

The decrease in infrared emission observed when a transiting exoplanet passes behind its parent star is a measure of the exoplanet's

Which of the following could be a stable planetary orbit in a binary system?

How can we explain the presence of extrasolar planetary systems with Jovian-sized planets at distances at which we normally find terrestrial planets?

What parameters determine the position of a galaxy's Galactic Habitable Zone?

Which of the following methods has been the LEAST successful in detecting extrasolar planets around other star systems?

Brown dwarfs occupy the range of masses between

At the top of the Hertzprung-Russell diagram we find

In an extrasolar planetary system containing a single planet, the parent star is measured to move about its center of mass every 24 years. Given this, what is the orbital period of the planet?

The Science of Life in the Universe

The Universal Context of Life

The Habitability of Earth

The Nature of Life on Earth

The Origin and Evolution of Life on Earth

Searching for Life in Our Solar System

Mars

Life on Jovian Moons

The Nature and Evolution of Habitability

The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

Interstellar Travel and the Fermi Paradox

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Exam 11: Habitability Outside the Solar System

Which of the following could be a stable planetary orbit in a binary system?

If a star has an extrasolar planet, the symmetry of its radial velocity curve is related to the planet's

The wavelengths of radiation from a star that is moving perpendicular to us

When an exoplanet passes behind its parent star, we call this

Which of the following types of stars are NOT suitable for advanced life?

Even though M-stars have very narrow habitable zones, they may still host a large number of inhabited worlds because they are so

Stars spend 90% of their lives

Solar-type stars in our galaxy are

What is the most common class of star in our galaxy?

When an exoplanet passes in front of its parent star, we call this

Which of the following are in order of decreasing temperature?

A star more massive than our Sun

The decrease in infrared emission observed when a transiting exoplanet passes behind its parent star is a measure of the exoplanet's

Which of the following could be a stable planetary orbit in a binary system?

How can we explain the presence of extrasolar planetary systems with Jovian-sized planets at distances at which we normally find terrestrial planets?

What parameters determine the position of a galaxy's Galactic Habitable Zone?

Which of the following methods has been the LEAST successful in detecting extrasolar planets around other star systems?

Brown dwarfs occupy the range of masses between

At the top of the Hertzprung-Russell diagram we find

In an extrasolar planetary system containing a single planet, the parent star is measured to move about its center of mass every 24 years. Given this, what is the orbital period of the planet?

The Science of Life in the Universe

The Universal Context of Life

The Habitability of Earth

The Nature of Life on Earth

The Origin and Evolution of Life on Earth

Searching for Life in Our Solar System

Mars

Life on Jovian Moons

The Nature and Evolution of Habitability

The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

Interstellar Travel and the Fermi Paradox

Filters