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Question 1
Any theory of the
origin of the Solar
System must
explain all of
these EXCEPT
1) the orbits of the planets are nearly
circular, and in the same plane.
2) the direction that planets orbit the Sun
is opposite to the Sun’s spin.
3) the terrestrial planets have higher
density and lower mass.
4) comets do not necessarily orbit in the
plane of the solar system.
Question 1
Any theory of the
origin of the Solar
System must
explain all of
these EXCEPT
1) the orbits of the planets are nearly
circular, and in the same plane.
2) the direction that planets orbit the Sun
is opposite to the Sun’s spin.
3) the terrestrial planets have higher
density and lower mass.
4) comets do not necessarily orbit in the
plane of the solar system.
The planets do orbit in the same direction that the
Sun spins.
Most also spin in that direction, and most also have
large moons that orbit in that direction.
Question 2
What is the name of
the theory that is
currently used to
describe the formation
of the solar system?
1) Perturbation Theory
2) Condensation Theory
3) Differentiation Theory
4) Close-encounter Theory
Question 2
What is the name of
the theory that is
currently used to
describe the formation
of the solar system?
1) Perturbation Theory
2) Condensation Theory
3) Differentiation Theory
4) Close-encounter Theory
Question 3
The condensation
sequence theory
explains why
1) our planet Earth has water and rain.
2) stars are more likely to form large
planets orbiting very near.
3) terrestrial planets are different from
jovian planets.
4) the Moon formed near the Earth.
5) Pluto has such a circular orbit.
Question 3
The condensation
sequence theory
explains why
1) our planet Earth has water and rain.
2) stars are more likely to form large
planets orbiting very near.
3) terrestrial planets are different from
jovian planets.
4) the Moon formed near to Earth.
5) Pluto has such a circular orbit.
The condensation sequence theory explains how the
temperature of the early solar nebula controls which
materials are solid, and which are gaseous.
Question 4
With rapid collapse from
icy planetesimals, the
________ theory would
have the jovians growing
quickly into giants.
1) large impact
2) core-accretion
3) gravitational instability
4) perturbation
5) Oort Cloud
Question 4
With rapid collapse from
icy planetesimals, the
________ theory would
have the jovians growing
quickly into giants.
1) large impact
2) core-accretion
3) gravitational instability
4) perturbation
5) Oort Cloud
Question 5
Why did a major
planet not form
out in the Kuiper
Belt?
1) One did, and its name is Pluto.
2) Some may have, but they have since
migrated to orbits nearer the Sun.
3) Sedna disrupted objects closer to the Sun.
4) Comets bombarded these bodies violently,
breaking them apart.
5) It was not in the ecliptic like the planets;
there was no material out there.
Question 5
Why did a major
planet not form
out in the Kuiper
Belt?
1) One did, and its name is Pluto.
2) Some may have, but they have since
migrated to orbits nearer the Sun.
3) Sedna disrupted objects closer to the Sun.
4) Comets bombarded these bodies violently,
breaking them apart.
5) It was not in the ecliptic like the planets;
there was no material out there.
Question 6
Astronomers have
detected most
extrasolar planets
by observing
1) the “wobble” of their parent stars
using spectroscopy.
2) starlight reflected by their surfaces.
3) eclipses when the planets block the
light of their parent stars.
4) the planets’ changing phases as
they orbit their stars.
Question 6
Astronomers have
detected most
extrasolar planets
by observing
1) the “wobble” of their parent stars
using spectroscopy.
2) starlight reflected by their surfaces.
3) eclipses when the planets block the
light of their parent stars.
4) the planets’ changing phases as
they orbit their stars.
Measurements of the periodic
Doppler Shift in the spectra of
the star 51 Pegasi indicate it
has a planetary companion.
Question 7
Beyond our own
solar system, the
planets found to
date have tended
to be
1) Kuiper Belt Objects, far from the glare of
their suns.
2) large jovians far from stars like our Sun
3) large jovians with orbits more like
terrestrial planets.
4) terrestrials very close to their star, and
transiting its disk.
5) imaginary, with no present proof that they
really exist.
Question 7
Beyond our own
solar system, the
planets found to
date have tended
to be
1) Kuiper Belt Objects, far from the glare of
their suns.
2) large jovians far from stars like our Sun
3) large jovians with orbits more like
terrestrial planets.
4) terrestrials very close to their star, and
transiting its disk.
5) imaginary, with no present proof that they
really exist.
As of spring 2007, more
than 200 extrasolar
planets have been
detected orbiting some
180 stars within a few
hundred light-years of
the Sun.
Question 8
Extrasolar planets
the size of Earth
have NOT been seen
yet with current
techniques because
1) small planets probably don’t exist.
2) the large planets nearby have swept
them up.
3) Earth-like planets take time to form.
4) large planets orbiting near to their
stars are more easily detected.
5) small planets can only be seen if they
cross in front of their star.
Question 8
Extrasolar planets
the size of Earth
have NOT been seen
yet with current
techniques because
1) small planets probably don’t exist.
2) the large planets nearby have swept
them up.
3) Earth-like planets take time to form.
4) large planets orbiting near to their
stars are more easily detected.
5) small planets can only be seen if they
cross in front of their star.
Looking for detectable “wobbles”
in the spectra of stars finds
massive planets with small
orbits.
Other techniques may be needed
to see less massive Earth-like
planets.