Question 1

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 2

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of the early Solar System,based on current observations?

Accepted Answer

A) The early solar nebula must have been flattened. 
B) The material from which the planets formed was swirling about the Sun in the same average rotational direction. 
C) The first objects to form started out small and grew in size over time. 
D) The initial composition of the solar nebula varied between its inner and outer regions. 
E) Temperatures decreased with increasing distance from the Sun. 
A) The early solar nebula must have been flattened. 
B) The material from which the planets formed was swirling about the Sun in the same average rotational direction. 
C) The first objects to form started out small and grew in size over time. 
D) The initial composition of the solar nebula varied between its inner and outer regions. 
E) Temperatures decreased with increasing distance from the Sun.

Question 3

Explain the nebular hypothesis,and describe two observations that support it.

Accepted Answer

In the nebular hypothesis,a rotating clo

Question 4

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.

Question 5

Which method can be used to determine the radius of an extrasolar planet?

Accepted Answer

A) Doppler shift can be used. 
B) Transit can be used. 
C) Microlensing can be used. 
D) Direct imaging can be used. 
E) None of these methods are able to do this. 
A) Doppler shift can be used. 
B) Transit can be used. 
C) Microlensing can be used. 
D) Direct imaging can be used. 
E) None of these methods are able to do this.

Question 6

The Moon probably formed:

Accepted Answer

A) out of a collision between the Earth and a Mars-sized object 
B) when the Earth's gravity captured a planetesimal 
C) when the accretion disk around the Earth fragmented 
D) when planetesimals collided to form a more massive object 
E) when a piece of Earth broke off and entered orbit 
A) out of a collision between the Earth and a Mars-sized object 
B) when the Earth's gravity captured a planetesimal 
C) when the accretion disk around the Earth fragmented 
D) when planetesimals collided to form a more massive object 
E) when a piece of Earth broke off and entered orbit

Question 7

Have astronomers detected any Earth-sized planets around normal stars yet?

Accepted Answer

A) Yes,the Kepler spacecraft is just starting to find them. 
B) Yes,although the ones detected lie much closer to their stars than we do to ours. 
C) Yes,although the ones detected lie much farther from their stars than we do from ours. 
D) No,we do not have the technology to detect such low-mass planets yet. 
E) No;although we have the technology to detect low-mass planets,we haven't found any others yet. 
A) Yes,the Kepler spacecraft is just starting to find them. 
B) Yes,although the ones detected lie much closer to their stars than we do to ours. 
C) Yes,although the ones detected lie much farther from their stars than we do from ours. 
D) No,we do not have the technology to detect such low-mass planets yet. 
E) No;although we have the technology to detect low-mass planets,we haven't found any others yet.

Question 8

When astronomers began searching for extrasolar 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 radii 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. 
E) It is different than in our Solar System. 
A) These planets must have formed at larger radii 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. 
E) It is different than in our Solar System.

Question 9

Hundreds of extrasolar planets have been detected by direct imaging of the planets.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

The atmosphere of which of these Solar System bodies is primary,as opposed to secondary,in origin?

Accepted Answer

A) Venus 
B) Earth 
C) Saturn's moon Titan 
D) Saturn 
E) Mars 
A) Venus 
B) Earth 
C) Saturn's moon Titan 
D) Saturn 
E) Mars

Question 11

Why did the planetesimals in the asteroid belt never coalesce into a planet?

Accepted Answer

The gravity of Jupit

Question 12

Consider four spheres of equal mass and size.Which has the most potential energy?

Accepted Answer

A) a sphere on the top shelf of a bookshelf 
B) a sphere rolling on the floor at the base of the bookshelf 
C) a sphere sitting at rest on the floor at the base of the bookshelf 
D) a sphere on the middle shelf of a bookshelf 
E) a sphere that fell from the top shelf to the floor 
A) a sphere on the top shelf of a bookshelf 
B) a sphere rolling on the floor at the base of the bookshelf 
C) a sphere sitting at rest on the floor at the base of the bookshelf 
D) a sphere on the middle shelf of a bookshelf 
E) a sphere that fell from the top shelf to the floor

Question 13

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 14

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 
E) only small differences in chemical composition existed in the solar nebula 
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 
E) only small differences in chemical composition existed in the solar nebula

Question 15

The primary atmospheres of the planets are made mostly of:

Accepted Answer

A) carbon and oxygen 
B) hydrogen and helium 
C) oxygen and nitrogen 
D) iron and nickel 
E) nitrogen and argon 
A) carbon and oxygen 
B) hydrogen and helium 
C) oxygen and nitrogen 
D) iron and nickel 
E) nitrogen and argon

Question 16

Conservation of angular momentum slows a cloud's collapse:

Accepted Answer

A) equally in all directions 
B) only when the cloud is not rotating initially 
C) mostly along directions perpendicular to the cloud's axis of rotation 
D) mostly at the poles that lie along the cloud's axis of rotation 
E) to a complete stop 
A) equally in all directions 
B) only when the cloud is not rotating initially 
C) mostly along directions perpendicular to the cloud's axis of rotation 
D) mostly at the poles that lie along the cloud's axis of rotation 
E) to a complete stop

Question 17

How did the formation of our Moon differ from the formation of the Galilean moons of Jupiter?

Accepted Answer

Astronomers believe that the formation o

Question 18

Astronomers believe that the "hot Jupiters" found orbiting other stars must have migrated inward over time:

Accepted Answer

A) by slowly accreting large amounts of gas and increasing their gravitational pull 
B) by losing their gas due to evaporation 
C) by losing orbital angular momentum 
D) after colliding with another planet 
E) after a close encounter between their star and another star 
A) by slowly accreting large amounts of gas and increasing their gravitational pull 
B) by losing their gas due to evaporation 
C) by losing orbital angular momentum 
D) after colliding with another planet 
E) after a close encounter between their star and another star

Question 19

According to the conservation of angular momentum,if an ice skater starts spinning with her arms out wide,then slowly pulls them close to her body,this will cause her to:

Accepted Answer

A) spin faster 
B) spin slower 
C) maintain a constant rate of spin 
D) fall down 
A) spin faster 
B) spin slower 
C) maintain a constant rate of spin 
D) fall down

Question 20

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

Exam 7: The Birth and Evolution of Planetary Systems

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

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of the early Solar System,based on current observations?

Explain the nebular hypothesis,and describe two observations that support it.

Which of the following is FALSE?

Which method can be used to determine the radius of an extrasolar planet?

The Moon probably formed:

Have astronomers detected any Earth-sized planets around normal stars yet?

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

Hundreds of extrasolar planets have been detected by direct imaging of the planets.

The atmosphere of which of these Solar System bodies is primary,as opposed to secondary,in origin?

Why did the planetesimals in the asteroid belt never coalesce into a planet?

Consider four spheres of equal mass and size.Which has the most potential energy?

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

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

The primary atmospheres of the planets are made mostly of:

Conservation of angular momentum slows a cloud's collapse:

How did the formation of our Moon differ from the formation of the Galilean moons of Jupiter?

Astronomers believe that the "hot Jupiters" found orbiting other stars must have migrated inward over time:

According to the conservation of angular momentum,if an ice skater starts spinning with her arms out wide,then slowly pulls them close to her body,this will cause her to:

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

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 Adornments Moons 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