Question 1

Consider the figure shown below. At which point in time does the collapsing cloud have the greatest angular momentum?

Accepted Answer

A)  1 
B)  2 
C)  3 
D)  1 and 2, because the protostar has not yet formed. 
E)  The cloud has the same angular momentum at each point in time. 
A)  1 
B)  2 
C)  3 
D)  1 and 2, because the protostar has not yet formed. 
E)  The cloud has the same angular momentum at each point in time.

Question 2

Figure 2
-In Figure 2, which of the dips in the brightness of the star are caused by the transit of the planet with the largest orbital period?

Accepted Answer

A)  A 
B)  B 
C)  C 
D)  A and B 
E)  B and C 
A)  A 
B)  B 
C)  C 
D)  A and B 
E)  B and C

Question 3

Why might a newly discovered comet contain clues to the composition of the early solar nebula?

Accepted Answer

Comets are believed to be made of ice an

Question 4

Consider a star that is more massive and hotter than the Sun. For such a star, the habitable zone would:

Accepted Answer

A)  be located inside 1 AU 
B)  be located outside 1AU 
C)  not exist at any radii 
D)  exist at every radii 
A)  be located inside 1 AU 
B)  be located outside 1AU 
C)  not exist at any radii 
D)  exist at every radii

Question 5

Current technology is sensitive enough to detect some extrasolar planets by a dip in brightness of the parent star as the planets pass between us and it.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Inside a solar nebula, as smaller particles collide and stick together, forming larger particles, their self-gravity prevents them from breaking apart, regardless of the strength of the collision.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

Was it ever possible (or is it currently possible) for Jupiter to become a star?

Accepted Answer

A)  Yes, it is in the process of becoming a star in the near future. 
B)  Yes, but it cooled off before it could become a star. 
C)  No, it would have to be at least 13 times more massive. 
D)  No, its composition is too different from stars for it to become one. 
E)  No, it used to be massive enough, but the solar wind has blown off too much of its mass. 
A)  Yes, it is in the process of becoming a star in the near future. 
B)  Yes, but it cooled off before it could become a star. 
C)  No, it would have to be at least 13 times more massive. 
D)  No, its composition is too different from stars for it to become one. 
E)  No, it used to be massive enough, but the solar wind has blown off too much of its mass.

Question 8

The primordial atmosphere of the Earth consisted of what type of chemical elements and from where did it originate? What chemical elements did the secondary atmosphere of the Earth consist of and from where did it originate?

Accepted Answer

The primary atmosphere consisted mostly

Question 9

Which property of an extrasolar planet CANNOT be determined using the Doppler effect?

Accepted Answer

A)  orbital period 
B)  orbital distance 
C)  orbital speed 
D)  mass 
E)  radius 
A)  orbital period 
B)  orbital distance 
C)  orbital speed 
D)  mass 
E)  radius

Question 10

Detecting a planet around another star using the transit method is difficult because the:

Accepted Answer

A)  planet must pass directly in front of the star 
B)  planet must have a rocky composition 
C)  star must be very dim 
D)  star must be moving with respect to us 
E)  planet's orbital period is usually longer than 1 month 
A)  planet must pass directly in front of the star 
B)  planet must have a rocky composition 
C)  star must be very dim 
D)  star must be moving with respect to us 
E)  planet's orbital period is usually longer than 1 month

Question 11

The Kepler mission is designed to search for extrasolar planets using the _________ method.

Accepted Answer

A)  Doppler shift 
B)  transit 
C)  microlensing 
D)  direct imaging 
A)  Doppler shift 
B)  transit 
C)  microlensing 
D)  direct imaging

Question 12

What sets the temperature of the pocket of gas in a protoplanetary disk?

Accepted Answer

A)  its distance from the forming star 
B)  how much kinetic energy was converted to heat 
C)  how much radiation from the forming star shines on the gas 
D)  a combination of all three of the above 
A)  its distance from the forming star 
B)  how much kinetic energy was converted to heat 
C)  how much radiation from the forming star shines on the gas 
D)  a combination of all three of the above

Question 13

What happens to the kinetic energy of gas as it falls toward and eventually hits the accretion disk surrounding a protostar?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is immediately converted into photons, giving off a flash of light upon impact. 
B)  It is converted into thermal energy, heating the disk. 
C)  It is converted into potential energy as the gas plows through the disk and comes out the other side. 
D)  It becomes the kinetic energy of the orbit of the gas in the accretion disk around the protostar. 
E)  It disappears into interstellar space. 
A)  It is immediately converted into photons, giving off a flash of light upon impact. 
B)  It is converted into thermal energy, heating the disk. 
C)  It is converted into potential energy as the gas plows through the disk and comes out the other side. 
D)  It becomes the kinetic energy of the orbit of the gas in the accretion disk around the protostar. 
E)  It disappears into interstellar space.

Question 14

Astronomers believe that Venus initially formed with the thick atmosphere, primarily made of carbon dioxide, which it currently has.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

If a collapsing interstellar cloud formed only a protostar without an accretion disk around it, what would happen?

Accepted Answer

A)  The forming protostar would be significantly less massive than it would have been otherwise. 
B)  The forming protostar would be rotating too fast to hold itself together. 
C)  Only giant planets would form around the protostar. 
D)  Only terrestrial planets would form around the protostar. 
E)  More planets would form around the protostar. 
A)  The forming protostar would be significantly less massive than it would have been otherwise. 
B)  The forming protostar would be rotating too fast to hold itself together. 
C)  Only giant planets would form around the protostar. 
D)  Only terrestrial planets would form around the protostar. 
E)  More planets would form around the protostar.

Question 16

Planets like Earth are found closer to the Sun than planets like Jupiter.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

The fact that Jupiter's radius is contracting at a rate of 1 mm per year results in:

Accepted Answer

A)  Jupiter's rotation rate slowing down with time 
B)  Jupiter's shape being noticeably oblate 
C)  Jupiter moving slightly farther from the Sun with time 
D)  Jupiter radiating more heat than it receives from the Sun 
E)  Jupiter having a strong magnetic field 
A)  Jupiter's rotation rate slowing down with time 
B)  Jupiter's shape being noticeably oblate 
C)  Jupiter moving slightly farther from the Sun with time 
D)  Jupiter radiating more heat than it receives from the Sun 
E)  Jupiter having a strong magnetic field

Question 18

Which is NOT a scientific goal of NASA's Kepler mission?

Accepted Answer

A)  Finding Earth-sized planets is not a goal. 
B)  Finding rocky planets is not a goal. 
C)  Finding Earth-sized planets that could have liquid water is not a goal. 
D)  Finding intelligent life on other planets is not a goal. 
E)  All the above are goals of the Kepler mission. 
A)  Finding Earth-sized planets is not a goal. 
B)  Finding rocky planets is not a goal. 
C)  Finding Earth-sized planets that could have liquid water is not a goal. 
D)  Finding intelligent life on other planets is not a goal. 
E)  All the above are goals of the Kepler mission.

Question 19

The temperature gradient in the accretion disk surrounding a protostar is due in part to the fact that material closer to the protostar has converted less of its kinetic energy into thermal energy compared to materials farther away.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

Which of the following is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

A)  The masses of exoplanets can be determined using the radial velocity technique. 
B)  Most of the exoplanets detected to date have masses that are between 2 and 10 MEarth. 
C)  Some exoplanets have been found in the habitable zone around their stars. 
D)  Using the transit technique, the Kepler satellite has detected rocky planets. 
E)  No images of exoplanets have been obtained because they are too far away. 
A)  The masses of exoplanets can be determined using the radial velocity technique. 
B)  Most of the exoplanets detected to date have masses that are between 2 and 10 MEarth. 
C)  Some exoplanets have been found in the habitable zone around their stars. 
D)  Using the transit technique, the Kepler satellite has detected rocky planets. 
E)  No images of exoplanets have been obtained because they are too far away.

Exam 7: The Birth and Evolution of Planetary Systems

Consider the figure shown below. At which point in time does the collapsing cloud have the greatest angular momentum?

Figure 2 -In Figure 2, which of the dips in the brightness of the star are caused by the transit of the planet with the largest orbital period?

Why might a newly discovered comet contain clues to the composition of the early solar nebula?

Consider a star that is more massive and hotter than the Sun. For such a star, the habitable zone would:

Current technology is sensitive enough to detect some extrasolar planets by a dip in brightness of the parent star as the planets pass between us and it.

Inside a solar nebula, as smaller particles collide and stick together, forming larger particles, their self-gravity prevents them from breaking apart, regardless of the strength of the collision.

Was it ever possible (or is it currently possible) for Jupiter to become a star?

The primordial atmosphere of the Earth consisted of what type of chemical elements and from where did it originate? What chemical elements did the secondary atmosphere of the Earth consist of and from where did it originate?

Which property of an extrasolar planet CANNOT be determined using the Doppler effect?

Detecting a planet around another star using the transit method is difficult because the:

The Kepler mission is designed to search for extrasolar planets using the _________ method.

What sets the temperature of the pocket of gas in a protoplanetary disk?

What happens to the kinetic energy of gas as it falls toward and eventually hits the accretion disk surrounding a protostar?

Astronomers believe that Venus initially formed with the thick atmosphere, primarily made of carbon dioxide, which it currently has.

If a collapsing interstellar cloud formed only a protostar without an accretion disk around it, what would happen?

Planets like Earth are found closer to the Sun than planets like Jupiter.

The fact that Jupiter's radius is contracting at a rate of 1 mm per year results in:

Which is NOT a scientific goal of NASA's Kepler mission?

The temperature gradient in the accretion disk surrounding a protostar is due in part to the fact that material closer to the protostar has converted less of its kinetic energy into thermal energy compared to materials farther away.

Which of the following is FALSE?

Why Learn Astronomy

Patterns in the Skymotions of Earth

Motion of Astronomical Bodies

Gravity and Orbits

Light

The Tools of the Astronomer

The Terrestrial Planets and Earths Moon

Atmospheres of the Terrestrial Planets

Worlds of Gas and Liquid the Giant Planets

Planetary Adornmentsmoons and Rings

Dwarf Planets and Small Solar System Bodies

Taking the Measure of Stars

Our Starthe Sun

Star Formation and the Interstellar Medium

Evolution of Low-Mass Stars

Evolution of High-Mass Stars

Relativity and Black Holes

The Expanding Universe

Galaxies

The Milky Waya Normal Spiral Galaxy

Modern Cosmology

Large-Scale Structure in the Universe

Life

Filters