Question 1

Explain why most of the extra-solar planets astronomers have detected are so-called "hot Jupiters."

Accepted Answer

Current technology does not allow us to

Question 2

Why do outer planets like Jupiter have huge gaseous atmospheres of hydrogen and helium while the inner planets do not?

Accepted Answer

A)  These gases were more abundant in the outer regions of the accretion disk where the outer planets formed. 
B)  The outer planets grew massive quickly enough to gravitationally hold on to these gases before the solar wind dispersed the accretion disk. 
C)  The inner planets were too close to the Sun,and solar winds blew away their original gaseous atmospheres. 
D)  Frequent early collisions by comets with the inner planets caused most of their original atmospheres to dissipate. 
A)  These gases were more abundant in the outer regions of the accretion disk where the outer planets formed. 
B)  The outer planets grew massive quickly enough to gravitationally hold on to these gases before the solar wind dispersed the accretion disk. 
C)  The inner planets were too close to the Sun,and solar winds blew away their original gaseous atmospheres. 
D)  Frequent early collisions by comets with the inner planets caused most of their original atmospheres to dissipate.

Question 3

Two competing models of the formation of giant gaseous planets suggest they form either from gas accreting onto a rocky core or from

Accepted Answer

A)  fragmentation of the accretion disk surrounding the protostar. 
B)  the merger of two large planetesimals. 
C)  an eruption of material from the protostar. 
D)  materials condensing out of the solar wind. 
A)  fragmentation of the accretion disk surrounding the protostar. 
B)  the merger of two large planetesimals. 
C)  an eruption of material from the protostar. 
D)  materials condensing out of the solar wind.

Question 4

Comets and asteroids are

Accepted Answer

A)  other names for moons of the planets. 
B)  primarily located within 1 AU of the Sun. 
C)  all more massive than Earth's moon. 
D)  material left over from the formation of the planets. 
A)  other names for moons of the planets. 
B)  primarily located within 1 AU of the Sun. 
C)  all more massive than Earth's moon. 
D)  material left over from the formation of the planets.

Question 5

Over 330 extra-solar planets have been detected by direct imaging of the planets.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Our Solar System is likely unique among the stars in our Galaxy.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

The difference in composition between the giant planets and the terrestrial planets is most likely caused by the fact that

Accepted Answer

A)  the giant planets are much larger. 
B)  only the terrestrial planets have iron cores. 
C)  the terrestrial planets are closer to the Sun. 
D)  the giant planets are made mostly of carbon. 
A)  the giant planets are much larger. 
B)  only the terrestrial planets have iron cores. 
C)  the terrestrial planets are closer to the Sun. 
D)  the giant planets are made mostly of carbon.

Question 8

What is the age of our solar system?

Accepted Answer

A)  4.5 billion years 
B)  4.5 million years 
C)  13.7 billion years 
D)  13.7 million years 
A)  4.5 billion years 
B)  4.5 million years 
C)  13.7 billion years 
D)  13.7 million years

Question 9

Conservation of angular momentum states that as a cloud of interstellar gas and dust collapses,the velocity of the particles increases.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

What is the best method to use to detect Earth-sized extra-solar planets with the telescopes and instrumentation that exist today?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 11

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 Jovian planets would form around the protostar. 
D)  Only terrestrial 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 Jovian planets would form around the protostar. 
D)  Only terrestrial planets would form around the protostar.

Question 12

All planets orbit the Sun in the same direction.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

How do astronomers explain the basic difference in composition between the inner planets and the outer planets?

Accepted Answer

The inner planets (Mercury,Venus,Earth,a

Question 14

What is the ratio of the orbital angular momentum of the Earth compared to its spin angular momentum? Note that the Earth has a radius of 6,000 km,and 1 AU is   .

Accepted Answer

A)  70 
B)  640 
C)  25,000 
D)  4 million 
A)  70 
B)  640 
C)  25,000 
D)  4 million

Question 15

When astronomers began searching for extra-solar planets,they were surprised to discover Jupiter-sized planets much closer than 1 AU from their parent stars.Why is this surprising?

Accepted Answer

A)  These planets must have formed at larger radius where temperatures were cooler and then migrated inward. 
B)  Jupiter-sized,rocky planets were thought to be uncommon in other solar systems. 
C)  These planets must be the remnants of failed stars. 
D)  Earth-like planets must be rarer than Jupiter-sized planets in other solar systems. 
A)  These planets must have formed at larger radius where temperatures were cooler and then migrated inward. 
B)  Jupiter-sized,rocky planets were thought to be uncommon in other solar systems. 
C)  These planets must be the remnants of failed stars. 
D)  Earth-like planets must be rarer than Jupiter-sized planets in other solar systems.

Question 16

Current technology is sensitive enough to detect some extra-solar 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 17

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 18

How much material in an accretion disk goes into forming the planets,moons,and smaller objects?

Accepted Answer

A)  Most of it 
B)  Roughly half of it 
C)  A small amount of it 
D)  Barely any at all 
A)  Most of it 
B)  Roughly half of it 
C)  A small amount of it 
D)  Barely any at all

Question 19

To date astronomers have not yet detected Earth-size planets around normal stars.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

Compare the orbital angular momentum of the Earth and Jupiter.Which is larger,and by how much? (Note that Jupiter's mass is 318 times that of the Earth,the semimajor axis of Jupiter's orbit is 5.2 AU,and Jupiter's orbital period is 12 years. )

Accepted Answer

The orbital angular momentum is equal to

Exam 6: The Birth and Evolution of Planetary Systems

Explain why most of the extra-solar planets astronomers have detected are so-called "hot Jupiters."

Why do outer planets like Jupiter have huge gaseous atmospheres of hydrogen and helium while the inner planets do not?

Two competing models of the formation of giant gaseous planets suggest they form either from gas accreting onto a rocky core or from

Comets and asteroids are

Over 330 extra-solar planets have been detected by direct imaging of the planets.

Our Solar System is likely unique among the stars in our Galaxy.

The difference in composition between the giant planets and the terrestrial planets is most likely caused by the fact that

What is the age of our solar system?

Conservation of angular momentum states that as a cloud of interstellar gas and dust collapses,the velocity of the particles increases.

What is the best method to use to detect Earth-sized extra-solar planets with the telescopes and instrumentation that exist today?

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

All planets orbit the Sun in the same direction.

How do astronomers explain the basic difference in composition between the inner planets and the outer planets?

What is the ratio of the orbital angular momentum of the Earth compared to its spin angular momentum? Note that the Earth has a radius of 6,000 km,and 1 AU is .

When astronomers began searching for extra-solar planets,they were surprised to discover Jupiter-sized planets much closer than 1 AU from their parent stars.Why is this surprising?

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

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?

How much material in an accretion disk goes into forming the planets,moons,and smaller objects?

To date astronomers have not yet detected Earth-size planets around normal stars.

Compare the orbital angular momentum of the Earth and Jupiter.Which is larger,and by how much? (Note that Jupiter's mass is 318 times that of the Earth,the semimajor axis of Jupiter's orbit is 5.2 AU,and Jupiter's orbital period is 12 years. )

Why Learn Astronomy

Patterns in the Skymotions of Earth

Gravity and Orbitsa Celestial Ballet

Light

The Tools of the Astronomer

The Terrestrial Planets and Earths Moon

Atmospheres of the Terrestrial Planets

Worlds of Gas and Liquidthe Giant Planets

Gravity Is More Than Keplers Laws

Planetary Adornmentsmoons and Rings

Dwarf Planets and Small Solar System Bodies

Taking the Measure of Stars

A Run-Of-The-Mill G-Type Starour Sun

Star Formation and the Interstellar Medium

Stars in the Slow Lanelow-Mass Stellar Evolution

Live Fast,die Younghigh-Mass Stellar Evolution

Our Expanding Universe

Galaxies

The Milky Waya Normal Spiral Galaxy

Modern Cosmology

The Origin of Structure

Life

Filters