Question 1

A star less 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 2

Overall, multiple star systems in our galaxy

Accepted Answer

A)  are extremely rare, making up less than 1% of the total 
B)  are very common, making up about 60% of the total 
C)  are fairly common, making up around 30% of the total 
D)  do not exist 
A)  are extremely rare, making up less than 1% of the total 
B)  are very common, making up about 60% of the total 
C)  are fairly common, making up around 30% of the total 
D)  do not exist

Question 3

Imagine we have a planet identical to Jupiter around another star, with the exception that its orbit is much closer. How would its density compare to Jupiter?

Accepted Answer

A)  it would be slightly higher 
B)  it would be much higher 
C)  it would be lower 
D)  it would be the same 
A)  it would be slightly higher 
B)  it would be much higher 
C)  it would be lower 
D)  it would be the same

Question 4

How might the inward migration of a Jovian-like planet in an extrasolar planetary system alter the probability of life appearing on inner terrestrial planets?

Accepted Answer

A)  it might improve chances slightly because some of the terrestrial planets may become moons of the Jovian planet 
B)  it might greatly decrease the chance because the orbits of the inner, terrestrial-like planets would be disrupted 
C)  it would make no difference at all 
D)  it might improve chances because it would protect inner, terrestrial-like planets from impacts 
A)  it might improve chances slightly because some of the terrestrial planets may become moons of the Jovian planet 
B)  it might greatly decrease the chance because the orbits of the inner, terrestrial-like planets would be disrupted 
C)  it would make no difference at all 
D)  it might improve chances because it would protect inner, terrestrial-like planets from impacts

Question 5

When our Sun becomes a red giant it will grow so large that it will

Accepted Answer

A)  engulf the entire solar system 
B)  engulf some of the inner planets 
C)  extend out nearly to the orbit of Mercury 
D)  engulf some of the outer planets 
A)  engulf the entire solar system 
B)  engulf some of the inner planets 
C)  extend out nearly to the orbit of Mercury 
D)  engulf some of the outer planets

Question 6

Which is the following is the spectra sequence in order of decreasing temperature:

Accepted Answer

A)  MKGFAOB 
B)  OBFAKGM 
C)  FGBAKMA 
D)  OBAFGKM 
A)  MKGFAOB 
B)  OBFAKGM 
C)  FGBAKMA 
D)  OBAFGKM

Question 7

In most extrasolar planetary systems the center of mass is likely to be located

Accepted Answer

A)  midway between the star and its most massive planet 
B)  close to the center of the parent star 
C)  exactly at the center of the parent star 
D)  close to the center of the most massive planet 
A)  midway between the star and its most massive planet 
B)  close to the center of the parent star 
C)  exactly at the center of the parent star 
D)  close to the center of the most massive planet

Question 8

The percentage of sun-like stars in our galaxy that are in multiple star systems is approximately

Accepted Answer

A)  60 % 
B)  30 % 
C)  50 % 
D)  75 % 
A)  60 % 
B)  30 % 
C)  50 % 
D)  75 %

Question 9

The most fundamental property of star is its

Accepted Answer

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

Question 10

Which of the following methods has been the MOST 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 brightness changes in a star as a planet passes in front of it 
C)  detection of Doppler shifts in the spectra of the parent stars 
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 brightness changes in a star as a planet passes in front of it 
C)  detection of Doppler shifts in the spectra of the parent stars 
D)  detection of reflected starlight

Question 11

Why is it better to search for extrasolar planets directly using infrared (IR) rather than visible radiation?

Accepted Answer

A)  the planet doesn't reflect any visible radiation, only IR radiation 
B)  the star doesn't emit any IR radiation because it is too hot 
C)  the visible light from planets will be blocked by interstellar dust along our line of sight while the IR radiation will not 
D)  the planet emits more IR radiation than it reflects in the visible 
A)  the planet doesn't reflect any visible radiation, only IR radiation 
B)  the star doesn't emit any IR radiation because it is too hot 
C)  the visible light from planets will be blocked by interstellar dust along our line of sight while the IR radiation will not 
D)  the planet emits more IR radiation than it reflects in the visible

Question 12

When a star exhausts the hydrogen fuel in its core it

Accepted Answer

A)  expands at a constant temperature 
B)  expands and heats up 
C)  expands and cools 
D)  shrinks and heats up 
A)  expands at a constant temperature 
B)  expands and heats up 
C)  expands and cools 
D)  shrinks and heats up

Question 13

Why might it be difficult for Earth-like planets to form around Sun-like stars in the inner parts of the disk of our galaxy?

Accepted Answer

A)  any stars would be sucked into the central supermassive black hole 
B)  there would be insufficient amounts of heavy elements 
C)  the stars would be packed together too densely for planets to be stable 
D)  there would be too much harmful radiation 
A)  any stars would be sucked into the central supermassive black hole 
B)  there would be insufficient amounts of heavy elements 
C)  the stars would be packed together too densely for planets to be stable 
D)  there would be too much harmful radiation

Question 14

G-, K-, and M-type stars

Accepted Answer

A)  do not contain enough heavy elements to form planets 
B)  have lifetimes long enough for planets to form and for simple life to appear, but not long enough for advanced life to develop 
C)  have lifetimes too short for planet formation 
D)  have lifetimes long enough for advanced life to evolve 
A)  do not contain enough heavy elements to form planets 
B)  have lifetimes long enough for planets to form and for simple life to appear, but not long enough for advanced life to develop 
C)  have lifetimes too short for planet formation 
D)  have lifetimes long enough for advanced life to evolve

Question 15

What is the simplest way we might detect life on an extrasolar planet?

Accepted Answer

A)  listen for radio signals coming from an advanced civilization on the planet 
B)  wait for aliens from the planet to visit us 
C)  analyze the spectrum of reflected light from the planet 
D)  send an interstellar probe to the planetary system 
A)  listen for radio signals coming from an advanced civilization on the planet 
B)  wait for aliens from the planet to visit us 
C)  analyze the spectrum of reflected light from the planet 
D)  send an interstellar probe to the planetary system

Question 16

One of the fundamental principles of stellar evolution is that the more massive a star is

Accepted Answer

A)  the more heavy elements it contains 
B)  the more planets it has around it 
C)  the faster it evolves 
D)  the slower it evolves 
A)  the more heavy elements it contains 
B)  the more planets it has around it 
C)  the faster it evolves 
D)  the slower it evolves

Question 17

If we are eventually able to detect Earth-like extrasolar planets directly, they will be seen very

Accepted Answer

A)  close to their parent stars and will be very dim in comparison 
B)  far from their parent stars and will be very dim in comparison 
C)  far from their parent stars and will be bright in comparison 
D)  close to their parent stars and will be bright in comparison 
A)  close to their parent stars and will be very dim in comparison 
B)  far from their parent stars and will be very dim in comparison 
C)  far from their parent stars and will be bright in comparison 
D)  close to their parent stars and will be bright in comparison

Question 18

Red giants

Accepted Answer

A)  are mature stars that are fusing hydrogen into helium in their cores 
B)  are dead stars 
C)  have exhausted their nuclear fuel and are in the process of dying 
D)  are in the process of forming 
A)  are mature stars that are fusing hydrogen into helium in their cores 
B)  are dead stars 
C)  have exhausted their nuclear fuel and are in the process of dying 
D)  are in the process of forming

Question 19

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 20

What is the spectral type of the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A)  K9 
B)  G2 
C)  F7 
D)  A2 
A)  K9 
B)  G2 
C)  F7 
D)  A2

A star less massive than our Sun

Overall, multiple star systems in our galaxy

Imagine we have a planet identical to Jupiter around another star, with the exception that its orbit is much closer. How would its density compare to Jupiter?

How might the inward migration of a Jovian-like planet in an extrasolar planetary system alter the probability of life appearing on inner terrestrial planets?

When our Sun becomes a red giant it will grow so large that it will

Which is the following is the spectra sequence in order of decreasing temperature:

In most extrasolar planetary systems the center of mass is likely to be located

The percentage of sun-like stars in our galaxy that are in multiple star systems is approximately

The most fundamental property of star is its

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

Why is it better to search for extrasolar planets directly using infrared (IR) rather than visible radiation?

When a star exhausts the hydrogen fuel in its core it

Why might it be difficult for Earth-like planets to form around Sun-like stars in the inner parts of the disk of our galaxy?

G-, K-, and M-type stars

What is the simplest way we might detect life on an extrasolar planet?

One of the fundamental principles of stellar evolution is that the more massive a star is

If we are eventually able to detect Earth-like extrasolar planets directly, they will be seen very

Red giants

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

What is the spectral type of the Sun?

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

Exam 11: Habitability Outside the Solar System

A star less massive than our Sun

Overall, multiple star systems in our galaxy

Imagine we have a planet identical to Jupiter around another star, with the exception that its orbit is much closer. How would its density compare to Jupiter?

How might the inward migration of a Jovian-like planet in an extrasolar planetary system alter the probability of life appearing on inner terrestrial planets?

When our Sun becomes a red giant it will grow so large that it will

Which is the following is the spectra sequence in order of decreasing temperature:

In most extrasolar planetary systems the center of mass is likely to be located

The percentage of sun-like stars in our galaxy that are in multiple star systems is approximately

The most fundamental property of star is its

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

Why is it better to search for extrasolar planets directly using infrared (IR) rather than visible radiation?

When a star exhausts the hydrogen fuel in its core it

Why might it be difficult for Earth-like planets to form around Sun-like stars in the inner parts of the disk of our galaxy?

G-, K-, and M-type stars

What is the simplest way we might detect life on an extrasolar planet?

One of the fundamental principles of stellar evolution is that the more massive a star is

If we are eventually able to detect Earth-like extrasolar planets directly, they will be seen very

Red giants

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

What is the spectral type of the Sun?

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