Question 1

Outgassing refers to the formation of an atmosphere by the attraction of gases from the surrounding nebula.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

The first solid grains of ______ formed in hot regions near the sun. Much farther from the sun the first grains (or rather flakes) of ________also formed by a similar process as the close-in grains, the process of _______.

Accepted Answer

A)  water ice; iron; accretion 
B)  iron: water ice; accretion 
C)  water ice; iron; condensation 
D)  iron; water ice; condensation

Question 3

How does the solar nebula theory account for the presence of comets?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How does the solar nebula theory account...

Question 4

The most important effect in clearing the solar nebula of gas and dust was

Accepted Answer

A)  impacts by planetesimals. 
B)  the solar wind. 
C)  the sun's magnetic field. 
D)  the asteroid belt. 
E)  radiation pressure.

Question 5

How is radioactive dating used to determine the age of an object?

Accepted Answer

A)  Both the amounts of radioactive and decay material are measured. Using these with the radioactive material's half-life, the age can be estimated. 
B)  The amount of radioactive material is measured. Using this with the radioactive material's half-life, the age can be estimated. 
C)  The amount of decay material is measured. Using this with the radioactive material's half-life, the age can be estimated. 
D)  The amount of heat generated by radioactive dating is measured to determine age.

Question 6

A future news release might report that a new planet has been found around a star very similar to our sun. This newly discovered planet is claimed to have a mass 40 times that of Earth and is located nearly 25 AU from the star it orbits. Which of the following would be a reasonable prediction about this planet?

Accepted Answer

A)  I & IV 
B)  I, II, & III 
C)  II, III, & IV 
D)  I, II, & IV 
E)  I, II, III, & IV

Question 7

After the first solid grains formed in our solar system, these particles could then grow by the process of ____, the collision and sticking of one particle with another to continue the formation of planetesimals. Each of these has many atoms or molecules.

Accepted Answer

A)  accretion 
B)  sublimation 
C)  hydration 
D)  condensation 
E)  vaporization

Question 8

The ____________________ planets have larger radii than the ____________________ planets.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The ____________________ planets have larger radii than...

Question 9

The uncompressed density of a planet in our solar system

Accepted Answer

A)  is greatest for the Jovian planets. 
B)  is greatest for the planets closest to the sun. 
C)  is greatest for the planets furthest from the sun. 
D)  is greatest for the planets with the largest mass. 
E)  is greatest of the planet with the largest radius.

Question 10

On a photograph of the moon, the moon measures 30 cm in diameter and a small crater measures 0.2 cm. The moon's physical diameter is 1738 km. What is the physical diameter of the small crater?

Accepted Answer

A)  about 1738 km 
B)  about 12 km 
C)  about 520 km 
D)  about 350 km 
E)  about 3.5 km

Question 11

The original cloud from which the sun and planets formed had a composition rich in hydrogen and helium.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Condensation in the solar nebula probably led to the formation of

Accepted Answer

A)  icy grains beyond the present orbit of Jupiter. 
B)  metallic grains near the present orbit of Mercury. 
C)  silicate grains near the present orbit of Earth. 
D)  all of the above. 
E)  none of the above.

Question 13

Once a terrestrial planet had formed from a large number of planetesimals, heat could have melted it and allowed it to differentiate into a metallic core of ____density and a rocky mantle or crust of ______ density.

Accepted Answer

A)  higher; lower 
B)  lower; higher 
C)  Wrong! The interior stays solid. 
D)  Wrong! There is no separation according to density.

Question 14

Describe some characteristics that all the planets seem to share and use the solar nebula theory to explain them.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe some characteristics that all the planets...

Question 15

The condensation sequence suggests that ____ should condense as solids closest to the sun.

Accepted Answer

A)  hydrogen and helium 
B)  metals and metal oxides 
C)  silicates 
D)  ices of water, methane, and ammonia

Question 16

____ is the separation of material in a newly formed planet or asteroid according to density. This happens when the object becomes molten.

Accepted Answer

A)  Accretion 
B)  Differentiation 
C)  Condensation 
D)  Outgassing 
E)  Sublimation

Question 17

The oldest objects found so far in our solar system are Earth rocks that are 1 billion years old.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 15: The Origin of the Solar System

Outgassing refers to the formation of an atmosphere by the attraction of gases from the surrounding nebula.

The first solid grains of formed in hot regions near the sun. Much farther from the sun the first grains (or rather flakes) of also formed by a similar process as the close-in grains, the process of _.

How does the solar nebula theory account for the presence of comets?

The most important effect in clearing the solar nebula of gas and dust was

How is radioactive dating used to determine the age of an object?

After the first solid grains formed in our solar system, these particles could then grow by the process of ____, the collision and sticking of one particle with another to continue the formation of planetesimals. Each of these has many atoms or molecules.

The planets have larger radii than the planets.

The uncompressed density of a planet in our solar system

On a photograph of the moon, the moon measures 30 cm in diameter and a small crater measures 0.2 cm. The moon's physical diameter is 1738 km. What is the physical diameter of the small crater?

The original cloud from which the sun and planets formed had a composition rich in hydrogen and helium.

Condensation in the solar nebula probably led to the formation of

Once a terrestrial planet had formed from a large number of planetesimals, heat could have melted it and allowed it to differentiate into a metallic core of density and a rocky mantle or crust of __ density.

Describe some characteristics that all the planets seem to share and use the solar nebula theory to explain them.

The condensation sequence suggests that ____ should condense as solids closest to the sun.

____ is the separation of material in a newly formed planet or asteroid according to density. This happens when the object becomes molten.

The oldest objects found so far in our solar system are Earth rocks that are 1 billion years old.