Question 1

What does the existence of M-type asteroids tell us about their origin?

Accepted Answer

They were once the metallic cores of larger,differentiated objects.

Question 2

The nucleus of the typical comet is approximately __________ in size.

Accepted Answer

A)   10 km
B)   1,000 km
C)   10 m
D)   1 cm A

Question 3

The surface of the dwarf planet Eris has very high albedo and is covered with:

Accepted Answer

A)   methane ice
B)   water ice
C)   sulfur dioxide
D)   frozen carbon dioxide A

Question 4

Consider three comets that have orbital periods of 10,100,and 1,000 years.Where would each of these comets likely originate,in the Oort Cloud or the Kuiper Belt? If you wanted to study material that was the best example of pristine Solar System material,which would you study?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Consider three comets that have orbital periods...

Question 5

Pluto is composed mostly of rock.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Suppose we discover a comet whose orbit was very highly eccentric,retrograde,had a very large tilt with respect to the ecliptic plane,and a period of 2,000 years.Where is the most likely place of origin for this comet?

Accepted Answer

A)   The Kuiper Belt
B)   The Oort Cloud
C)   The Jovian family
D)   Outside the Solar System

Question 7

Give the definitions of meteoroid,meteor,and meteorite,and clearly explain how they differ.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Give the definitions of meteoroid,meteor,and meteorite,and clearly...

Question 8

Which of the following is the BRIGHTEST part of a comet?

Accepted Answer

A)   Its nucleus
B)   Its coma
C)   Its ion tail
D)   Its dust tail

Question 9

Eris and Ceres are examples of:

Accepted Answer

A)   asteroids
B)   dwarf planets
C)   comets
D)   meteor showers

Question 10

Like meteoroids and asteroids,cometary nuclei in the Oort Cloud undergo frequent collisions that often send them into the inner Solar System.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

Which of the following does NOT describe comets in the Oort Cloud?

Accepted Answer

A)   Long period
B)   Pristine condition
C)   Randomly directed orbits
D)   Flattened distribution

Question 12

Some asteroids have moons just as planets do.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

The varied colors found on Io's surface are due to the presence of various molecules containing:

Accepted Answer

A)   sulfur
B)   silicon
C)   mercury
D)   magnesium

Question 14

The darkest asteroids are:

Accepted Answer

A)   M-type
B)   S-type
C)   C-type
D)   Q-type

Question 15

Which object has turned itself inside out numerous times,leading to lighter elements escaping,sulfur compounds composing the crust,and heavier elements making up the core?

Accepted Answer

A)   Mercury
B)   Titan
C)   Pluto
D)   Io

Question 16

What material has been seen erupting from the surface (see the image below)of the icy moon Enceladus,and why?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What material has been seen erupting from...

Question 17

The mass of all the known asteroids combined would be as much as:

Accepted Answer

A)   half the mass of Earth
B)   three times the mass of Earth
C)   the mass of Mars
D)   one-third the mass of the Moon

Question 18

A comet having an orbit of 50 years would likely have come from the:

Accepted Answer

A)   Trojan family
B)   Oort Cloud
C)   Zodiacal zone
D)   Kuiper Belt

Question 19

How do particles from Enceladus wind up in Saturn's E ring?

Accepted Answer

A)   Volcanoes erupt and expel silicates into space.
B)   Water geysers erupt from the surface and expel them into space.
C)   Cosmic rays bombard the surface rock on Enceladus and expel them into space.
D)   A collision with a co-orbiting moon knocked rocky debris into orbit around Saturn.

Question 20

The minimum size of a meteoroid that is capable of surviving its passage through the Earth's atmosphere and hitting the ground is about as big as:

Accepted Answer

A)   a car
B)   a house
C)   a grain of sand
D)   your fist

Exam 9: Small Bodies of the Solar System

What does the existence of M-type asteroids tell us about their origin?

The nucleus of the typical comet is approximately __________ in size.

The surface of the dwarf planet Eris has very high albedo and is covered with:

Consider three comets that have orbital periods of 10,100,and 1,000 years.Where would each of these comets likely originate,in the Oort Cloud or the Kuiper Belt? If you wanted to study material that was the best example of pristine Solar System material,which would you study?

Pluto is composed mostly of rock.

Suppose we discover a comet whose orbit was very highly eccentric,retrograde,had a very large tilt with respect to the ecliptic plane,and a period of 2,000 years.Where is the most likely place of origin for this comet?

Give the definitions of meteoroid,meteor,and meteorite,and clearly explain how they differ.

Which of the following is the BRIGHTEST part of a comet?

Eris and Ceres are examples of:

Like meteoroids and asteroids,cometary nuclei in the Oort Cloud undergo frequent collisions that often send them into the inner Solar System.

Which of the following does NOT describe comets in the Oort Cloud?

Some asteroids have moons just as planets do.

The varied colors found on Io's surface are due to the presence of various molecules containing:

The darkest asteroids are:

Which object has turned itself inside out numerous times,leading to lighter elements escaping,sulfur compounds composing the crust,and heavier elements making up the core?

What material has been seen erupting from the surface (see the image below)of the icy moon Enceladus,and why?

The mass of all the known asteroids combined would be as much as:

A comet having an orbit of 50 years would likely have come from the:

How do particles from Enceladus wind up in Saturn's E ring?

The minimum size of a meteoroid that is capable of surviving its passage through the Earth's atmosphere and hitting the ground is about as big as: