Survey of The Solar System Review

Survey of the Solar System

• How many stars are there in the Solar System?A) 0B) 1C) 9D) 100 billion

• How many stars are there in the Solar System?A) 0B) 1C) 9D) 100 billion

• What are the third, fifth and seventh planets in order of increasing distance from the Sun?

A) Venus, Earth, JupiterB) Earth, Jupiter, UranusC) Mercury, Mars, SaturnD) Mars, Jupiter, Neptune

• What are the third, fifth and seventh planets in order of increasing distance from the Sun?

A) Venus, Earth, JupiterB) Earth, Jupiter, UranusC) Mercury, Mars, SaturnD) Mars, Jupiter, Neptune

• All planets spin in the same direction except forA) Mercury, Earth, and Jupiter.B) Venus, Mars, and Saturn.C) Venus, and Uranus D) Neptune, and Uranus

• All planets spin in the same direction except forA) Mercury, Earth, and Jupiter.B) Venus, Mars, and Saturn.C) Venus, and UranusD) Neptune, and Uranus

Which of the following is an outer planet?A) EarthB) JupiterC) MarsD) Venus

Which of the following is an outer planet?A) EarthB) JupiterC) MarsD) Venus

• Which of the following is not a property of the outer planets?

A) They all have solid surfaces for spacecraft to land on.B) They are composed mostly of hydrogen and helium.C) They all have rings.D) They are all far more massive than the Earth.

• Which of the following is not a property of the outer planets?

A) They all have solid surfaces for spacecraft to land on.B) They are composed mostly of hydrogen and helium.C) They all have rings.D) They are all far more massive than the Earth.

• A planet's average density is equal to its __ divided by its __.

A) mass, surface areaB) volume, massC) mass, volumeD) mass, radius

• A planet's average density is equal to its __ divided by its __.

A) mass, surface areaB) volume, massC) mass, volumeD) mass, radius

• What do we call the swarm of comet nuclei in a huge shell surrounding the Sun and planets?

A) The Solar SystemB) The asteroid beltC) The ecliptic.D) The Oort Cloud

• What do we call the swarm of comet nuclei in a huge shell surrounding the Sun and planets?

A) The Solar SystemB) The asteroid beltC) The ecliptic.D) The Oort Cloud

• Astronomers believe the Solar System is approximately how old?

A) 4.5 thousand years.B) 4.5 million years.C) 4.5 billion years.D) 4.5 trillion years.

• Astronomers believe the Solar System is approximately how old?

A) 4.5 thousand years.B) 4.5 million years.C) 4.5 billion years.D) 4.5 trillion years.

• A huge interstellar cloud collapsed into a rotating disk with a central bulge. What was this?

A) The disk was the solar nebula and the bulge became Jupiter.B) A large belt containing asteroids in a gap between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.C) The disk was the solar nebula and the bulge became the Sun.D) The formed the outer planets which eventually met up with the Sun.

• A huge interstellar cloud collapsed into a rotating disk with a central bulge. What was this?

A) The disk was the solar nebula and the bulge became Jupiter.B) A large belt containing asteroids in a gap between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.C) The disk was the solar nebula and the bulge became the Sun.D) The formed the outer planets which eventually met up with the Sun.

• Which of the following features of the Solar System does the solar nebula hypothesis explain?

A) All the planets orbit the Sun in the same direction.B) All the planets' orbits lie in nearly the same plane.C) The planets nearest the Sun contain only small amounts of substances that condense at lowtemperatures.D) All of the above.

• Which of the following features of the Solar System does the solar nebula hypothesis explain?

A) All the planets orbit the Sun in the same direction.B) All the planets' orbits lie in nearly the same plane.C) The planets nearest the Sun contain only small amounts of substances that condense at lowtemperatures.D) All of the above.

• One reason the planets near the sun are composed mainly of rock and iron may be that

A) the Sun's magnetic field attracted all the iron into the region around the Sun.B) the Sun's heat made it difficult for ices and gases to condense near it.C) the Sun's gravity sucked in iron and heavy material and the lighter materials floated fartheraway.D) the Sun is made mostly of iron, so the planets nearest it are formed of iron.

• One reason the planets near the sun are composed mainly of rock and iron may be that

A) the Sun's magnetic field attracted all the iron into the region around the Sun.B) the Sun's heat made it difficult for ices and gases to condense near it.C) the Sun's gravity sucked in iron and heavy material and the lighter materials floated fartheraway.D) the Sun is made mostly of iron, so the planets nearest it are formed of iron.

• How do we know the interior composition of Jupiter?

A) Astronomers examined Jupiter's spectrum.B) Astronomers studied earthquake waves using instruments on Jupiter's surface.C) Astronomers calculated Jupiter's average density and compared it to those of abundant candidate materials, taking gravitational compression into account.D) All of the above.

• How do we know the interior composition of Jupiter?

A) Astronomers examined Jupiter's spectrum.B) Astronomers studied earthquake waves using instruments on Jupiter's surface.C) Astronomers calculated Jupiter's average density and compared it to those of abundant candidate materials, taking gravitational compression into account.D) All of the above.

• What are planetesimals?

A) Very small planets.B) Satellites of the giant planets.C) Planets that are found orbiting other stars.D) Large chunks of material (1 mm to several km in size) from which the planets were formed.

• What are planetesimals?

A) Very small planets.B) Satellites of the giant planets.C) Planets that are found orbiting other stars.D) Large chunks of material (1 mm to several km in size) from which the planets were formed.

How did the planetary moons form?

A) The moons probably formed from planetesimals orbiting the growing planets.B) Most of the moons likely were "captured" as they wandered too close to the planets.C) Many of the moons formed from material spewed out of volcanoes.D) Both b and c.

How did the planetary moons form?

A) The moons probably formed from planetesimals orbiting the growing planets.B) Most of the moons likely were "captured" as they wandered too close to the planets.C) Many of the moons formed from material spewed out of volcanoes.D) Both b and c.

• How do astronomers discover planets orbiting a star beyond the Sun?

A) They can see the planet reflecting the star's light.B) They can be detected by the slight gravitational tug that they exert on their parent stars.C) They have bounced radar off of them.D) So far, no planets have been discovered around any other stars.

• How do astronomers discover planets orbiting a star beyond the Sun?

A) They can see the planet reflecting the star's light.B) They can be detected by the slight gravitational tug that they exert on their parent stars.C) They have bounced radar off of them.D) So far, no planets have been discovered around any other stars.

Name the eight planets in order of increasing distance from the Sun. Which are inner and outer planets?

Name the eight planets in order of increasing distance from the Sun. Which are inner and outer planets?

Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.

What is Pluto, and why isn't it a planet?

What is Pluto, and why isn't it a planet?

A drawf planet:a celestrial body that is in orbit around the sun, is massive enough for its self-gravity to create a nearly round shape, but has not cleared the neighborhood around its orbit…

• Which of the following objects are primarily rocky with iron cores?

(a) Venus, Jupiter, and Neptune(b) Mercury, Venus, and Pluto(c) Mercury, Venus, and Earth(d) Jupiter, Uranus, and Neptune

• Which of the following objects are primarily rocky with iron cores?

(a) Venus, Jupiter, and Neptune(b) Mercury, Venus, and Pluto(c) Mercury, Venus, and Earth(d) Jupiter, Uranus, and Neptune

• Which of the following best describes the planets' spins?

(a) All spin counterclockwise.(b) Very few spin at all.(c) The spins often reverse.(d) Most spin counterclockwise.

• Which of the following best describes the planets' spins?

(a) All spin counterclockwise.(b) Very few spin at all.(c) The spins often reverse.(d) Most spin counterclockwise.

• Which of the following features of the Solar System does the solar nebula theory explain?

(a) All the planets orbit the Sun in the same direction.(b) All the planets move in orbits that lie in nearly the same plane.(c) The planets nearest the Sun contain only small amounts of substances that condense at lowtemperatures.(d) All the planets and the Sun, to the extent that we know, are the same age.(e) All of the above

• Which of the following features of the Solar System does the solar nebula theory explain?

(a) All the planets orbit the Sun in the same direction.(b) All the planets move in orbits that lie in nearly the same plane.(c) The planets nearest the Sun contain only small amounts of substances that condense at lowtemperatures.(d) All the planets and the Sun, to the extent that we know, are the same age.(e) All of the above

• The numerous craters we see on the solid surfaces of so many Solar System bodies are evidence that

(a) they were so hot in their youth that volcanos were widespread.(b) the Sun was so hot that it melted all these bodies and made them boil.(c) these bodies were originally a mix of water and rock. As the young Sun heated up, the water boiled, creating hollow pockets in the rock.(d) they were bombarded in their youth by many solid objects.(e) all the planets were once part of a single, very large and volcanically active mass that subsequently broke into many smaller pieces.

• The numerous craters we see on the solid surfaces of so many Solar System bodies are evidence that

(a) they were so hot in their youth that volcanos were widespread.(b) the Sun was so hot that it melted all these bodies and made them boil.(c) these bodies were originally a mix of water and rock. As the young Sun heated up, the water boiled, creating hollow pockets in the rock.(d) they were bombarded in their youth by many solid objects.(e) all the planets were once part of a single, very large and volcanically active mass that subsequently broke into many smaller pieces.

• Suppose a number of planets all have the same mass but different sizes and temperatures. Which of the following planets is most likely to retain a thick atmosphere?

(a) Small, hot(b) Small, cool(c) Large, hot(d) Large, cool

• Suppose a number of planets all have the same mass but different sizes and temperatures. Which of the following planets is most likely to retain a thick atmosphere?

(a) Small, hot(b) Small, cool(c) Large, hot(d) Large, cool

• The Doppler shift method for detecting the presence of exoplanets is best able to detect

(a) massive planets near the star.(b) massive planets far from the star.(c) Low mass planets near the star.(d) Low mass planets far from the star.

• The Doppler shift method for detecting the presence of exoplanets is best able to detect

(a) massive planets near the star.(b) massive planets far from the star.(c) Low mass planets near the star.(d) Low mass planets far from the star.

• The transit method for detecting exoplanets works best for

(a) very massive planets.(b) solar systems seen face on.(c) planets very far from their stars(d) solar systems seen edge on(e) planets very close to their stars.

• The transit method for detecting exoplanets works best for

(a) very massive planets.(b) solar systems seen face on.(c) planets very far from their stars(d) solar systems seen edge on(e) planets very close to their stars.

Based on our understanding of our own solar system, which of the following would be most surprising to observe in an extra-solar system of planets? 

A. The planets nearest to the star have a lower density than the planets farther out.B. Several planets show large tilts of their rotation axis compared to the plane of their orbits.C. All the gas giants have moons.D. Several planets have dense atmospheres containing carbon compounds.

Based on our understanding of our own solar system, which of the following would be most surprising to observe in an extra-solar system of planets? 

A. The planets nearest to the star have a lower density than the planets farther out.B. Several planets show large tilts of their rotation axis compared to the plane of their orbits.C. All the gas giants have moons.D. Several planets have dense atmospheres containing carbon compounds.

Which of the following is not a method used by astronomers to detect and study exoplanets? A. Rotational mapping.B. Gravitational lensing.C. Doppler shift.D. Transit detection.E. Direct imaging.

Which of the following is not a method used by astronomers to detect and study exoplanets? A. Rotational mapping.B. Gravitational lensing.C. Doppler shift.D. Transit detection.E. Direct imaging.

The Sun, the Earth, Jupiter, and Saturn's icy moons are all very different environments. A. The result of each type of object forming from different interstellar clouds.B. But their differences are only because of where each currently is in the solar system.C. But all formed from the same basic group of chemicals.D. But their differences are because each contains very different chemicals

The Sun, the Earth, Jupiter, and Saturn's icy moons are all very different environments. A. The result of each type of object forming from different interstellar clouds.B. But their differences are only because of where each currently is in the solar system.C. But all formed from the same basic group of chemicals.D. But their differences are because each contains very different chemicals

Given that Mercury, Mars, and some of the moons of the gas giants are covered with craters, why do we not see lots of impacts happening today? 

A. All the planetesimals have collided with planets already.B. We would, but the impacts have always happened at a very slow rate and built up over billions of years.C. Most of the impacts happen on the far sides of these bodies.D. The Sun's heat drove the remaining dust and gas out of the part of the solar system with planets, and gravitational interactions ejected most of the larger debris.

Given that Mercury, Mars, and some of the moons of the gas giants are covered with craters, why do we not see lots of impacts happening today? 

A. All the planetesimals have collided with planets already.B. We would, but the impacts have always happened at a very slow rate and built up over billions of years.C. Most of the impacts happen on the far sides of these bodies.D. The Sun's heat drove the remaining dust and gas out of the part of the solar system with planets, and gravitational interactions ejected most of the larger debris.

Thinking about the formation of the solar system, what trend in composition would you expect to see from the inside to the outside of the asteroid belt? 

A. Rockier asteroids progressing towards ones with more hydrogen and carbon compounds.B. Iron asteroids progressing more towards one with silicates.C. Essentially the same composition all the way through.D. Asteroids with hydrogen and carbon compounds, progressing towards asteroids made primarily of ice.E. Asteroids with hydrogen and carbon compounds, progressing towards asteroids made primarily of iron and silicates.

Thinking about the formation of the solar system, what trend in composition would you expect to see from the inside to the outside of the asteroid belt? 

A. Rockier asteroids progressing towards ones with more hydrogen and carbon compounds.B. Iron asteroids progressing more towards one with silicates.C. Essentially the same composition all the way through.D. Asteroids with hydrogen and carbon compounds, progressing towards asteroids made primarily of ice.E. Asteroids with hydrogen and carbon compounds, progressing towards asteroids made primarily of iron and silicates.

Counting out from the Sun, which planet occupies the position after Jupiter? 

A. NeptuneB. MarsC. VenusD. EarthE. Saturn

Counting out from the Sun, which planet occupies the position after Jupiter? 

A. NeptuneB. MarsC. VenusD. EarthE. Saturn

The farthest planet of our Solar System is ________. 

A. MarsB. VenusC. JupiterD. Neptune

The farthest planet of our Solar System is ________. 

A. MarsB. VenusC. JupiterD. Neptune

Which planets have densities similar to that of the Earth's? 

A. Mars and Mercury.B. Jupiter and Saturn.C. Uranus and Neptune.

Which planets have densities similar to that of the Earth's? 

A. Mars and Mercury.B. Jupiter and Saturn.C. Uranus and Neptune.

In our Solar System, an object is called a planet if 

A. It orbits the Sun.B. It has the round shape.C. It has cleared its neighborhood.D. All of the above.

In our Solar System, an object is called a planet if 

A. It orbits the Sun.B. It has the round shape.C. It has cleared its neighborhood.D. All of the above.

A spherical region that surrounds the Solar System and extends up to about 100,000 AU from the Sun is called the 

A. Asteroid belt.B. Kuiper belt.C. Oort cloud.D. Solar nebula

A spherical region that surrounds the Solar System and extends up to about 100,000 AU from the Sun is called the 

A. Asteroid belt.B. Kuiper belt.C. Oort cloud.D. Solar nebula

What is the name of the nebula from which our Solar System was formed? 

A. Pseudo nebulaB. Solar nebulaC. Orion nebulaD. Crab nebula

What is the name of the nebula from which our Solar System was formed? 

A. Pseudo nebulaB. Solar nebulaC. Orion nebulaD. Crab nebula

Which property of the solar nebula was the most influential in giving the planets their characteristics? 

A. MassB. PressureC. VolumeD. Temperature

Which property of the solar nebula was the most influential in giving the planets their characteristics? 

A. MassB. PressureC. VolumeD. Temperature

The process in which a gas cools and its molecules stick together to form liquid particles is called 

A. Condensation.B. Depression.C. Evaporation.D. Sublimation.

The process in which a gas cools and its molecules stick together to form liquid particles is called 

A. Condensation.B. Depression.C. Evaporation.D. Sublimation.

Which was the last part of the planet-forming process? 

A. Formation of the atmosphere of the planets.B. Formation of the planets' core.C. Formation of the planetesimals.D. Formation of the Sun.

Which was the last part of the planet-forming process? 

A. Formation of the atmosphere of the planets.B. Formation of the planets' core.C. Formation of the planetesimals.D. Formation of the Sun.

Exoplanets are 

A. Another name for dwarf planets.B. The outer most planets in our Solar System.C. Minor planets in the asteroid belt.D. Planets around stars other than the Sun.

Exoplanets are 

A. Another name for dwarf planets.B. The outer most planets in our Solar System.C. Minor planets in the asteroid belt.D. Planets around stars other than the Sun.

Why is it difficult to observe an exoplanet directly through a telescope? 

A. Exoplanets produce very little of their own light.B. Exoplanets are small compared to their parent star, so they reflect only a small portion of the star's light.C. Exoplanets tend to be far away from their parent stars, making it hard to get both the star and the exoplanet in the telescope's field of view.D. It is hard to see exoplanets against the blackness of space.

Why is it difficult to observe an exoplanet directly through a telescope? 

A. Exoplanets produce very little of their own light.B. Exoplanets are small compared to their parent star, so they reflect only a small portion of the star's light.C. Exoplanets tend to be far away from their parent stars, making it hard to get both the star and the exoplanet in the telescope's field of view.D. It is hard to see exoplanets against the blackness of space.

What is gravitational lensing? 

A. The use of small telescopes to enhance the brightness of stars.B. The focusing and brightening of starlight by the gravitational field of the foreground star, when there is a perfect alignment with the observer.C. The temporary disappearance of a star as an object passes in front of it.D. The use of Earth's gravity to shape lenses during grinding.

What is gravitational lensing? 

A. The use of small telescopes to enhance the brightness of stars.B. The focusing and brightening of starlight by the gravitational field of the foreground star, when there is a perfect alignment with the observer.C. The temporary disappearance of a star as an object passes in front of it.D. The use of Earth's gravity to shape lenses during grinding.

Which of the following explains the rocky nature of the inner planets? 

A. The lighter elements (hydrogen and helium) were sucked in by the Sun's gravity.B. The Sun's gravity attracted the rocks to the inner part of the solar system.C. Only the rocky material could condense at the higher temperatures of the inner part of the solar nebula.D. As the solar nebula was spinning, the light gasses were tossed to the outer parts of the disk.

Which of the following explains the rocky nature of the inner planets? 

A. The lighter elements (hydrogen and helium) were sucked in by the Sun's gravity.B. The Sun's gravity attracted the rocks to the inner part of the solar system.C. Only the rocky material could condense at the higher temperatures of the inner part of the solar nebula.D. As the solar nebula was spinning, the light gasses were tossed to the outer parts of the disk.

What conclusion can be drawn from the fact that some planets with solid surfaces and satellites have impact craters? 

A. Collisions between Solar System bodies and planetesimals were common at one time.B. The young planets had softer surfaces.C. Volcanoes were very active in the early stages of planet formation.D. The Sun went through several explosions, ejecting material that scarred the planets and satellites.

What conclusion can be drawn from the fact that some planets with solid surfaces and satellites have impact craters? 

A. Collisions between Solar System bodies and planetesimals were common at one time.B. The young planets had softer surfaces.C. Volcanoes were very active in the early stages of planet formation.D. The Sun went through several explosions, ejecting material that scarred the planets and satellites.

Why was the recent discovery that planets more massive than Jupiter orbit nearby stars in small orbits surprising? 

A. Because according to the nebular hypothesis, massive planets should only form away from their star.B. The density of these planets is very high.C. According to the nebular hypothesis, planets cannot be larger than Jupiter.D. The nebular hypothesis predicts that close in planets should have formed a second star.

Why was the recent discovery that planets more massive than Jupiter orbit nearby stars in small orbits surprising? 

A. Because according to the nebular hypothesis, massive planets should only form away from their star.B. The density of these planets is very high.C. According to the nebular hypothesis, planets cannot be larger than Jupiter.D. The nebular hypothesis predicts that close in planets should have formed a second star.

Which of the following is the strongest evidence in support of the hypothesis that the solar system was formed by the collapse of a gas and dust nebula? 

A. Bode's law.B. Images of other stars with gas and dust disks surrounding them.C. The existence of large clouds.D. The discovery of extra-solar planets.

Which of the following is the strongest evidence in support of the hypothesis that the solar system was formed by the collapse of a gas and dust nebula? 

A. Bode's law.B. Images of other stars with gas and dust disks surrounding them.C. The existence of large clouds.D. The discovery of extra-solar planets.

Comets are _____ while asteroids are _____. A. Icy; rockyB. Large; smallC. Rocky; icy

Comets are _____ while asteroids are _____. A. Icy; rockyB. Large; smallC. Rocky; icy

Which of the following Solar System objects has a composition that most resembles the original solar nebula? 

A. The terrestrial planets.B. The jovian planets.C. The dwarf planets.D. The asteroids.E. Comets.

Which of the following Solar System objects has a composition that most resembles the original solar nebula? 

A. The terrestrial planets.B. The jovian planets.C. The dwarf planets.D. The asteroids.E. Comets.