Astronomy Exam 2
Which of the following was NOT a characteristic of the early Solar System, based on current observations? Select one: a. Temperatures decreased with increasing distance from the Sun. b. The early solar nebula must have been flattened. c. The material from which the planets formed was swirling about the Sun in the same average rotational direction. d. The initial composition of the solar nebula varied between its inner and outer regions. e. The first objects to form started out small and grew in size over time.
The initial composition of the solar nebula varied between its inner and outer regions
Which is not a reason that we suspect Mars once had liquid water on its surface? Select one: a. Mapping satellites have detected outflow channels coming from impact craters. b. Mapping satellites have detected dry riverbeds. c. The observed presence of water ice in Mars's polar icecaps. d. Rovers have detected minerals that must have formed in the presence of liquid water.
The observed presence of water ice in Mars's polar icecaps.
Why can you see fainter stars with an 8-inch telescope than you can see with your naked eye? Select one: a. The telescope has a longer integration time than your eyes. b. The telescope collects light over a wider range of wavelengths than your eye. c. The telescope collects light over a larger area. d. The telescope magnifies the field of view. e. The telescope has a wider field of view.
The telescope collects light over a larger area.
How does the resolution of a telescope depend on its focal length? Select one: a. The longer the focal length, the better the resolution. b. There is no relation between resolution and focal length. c. The longer the focal length, the worse the resolution.
There is no relation between resolution and focal length.
How is the atmosphere of Saturn similar to the atmosphere of Earth? Select one: a. They are both made of mostly hydrogen and helium. b. They both create magnetic fields. c. They both have a seamless transition between gas and liquid. d. They both have jet streams and periods of stormy and calm weather. e. They both rotate in less than 11 hours.
They both have jet streams and periods of stormy and calm weather.
In order for two clumps of dust to stick together in an accretion disk, they must collide at roughly Select one: a. 0.5 m/s . b. 1 m/s. c. 0.1 m/s or less. d. 10 m/s. e. 100 m/s.
0.1 m/s or less.
Compared to the dark-colored regions of the surface of the Moon, the light-colored regions are approximately Select one: a. 1 million years younger. b. 1 billion years older. c. a few thousand years younger. d. 1 million years older. e. 1 billion years younger.
1 billion years older
If the Himalaya mountain range is presently 8,000 m in height and is rising at a rate of 0.5 m per century because of the convergence of two continental plates, how long did it take to create this mountain range? Select one: a. 160,000 years b. 1.6 million years c. 160 million years d. 1,600 years e. 1.6 billion years
1.6 million years
Which of the following is the best location for an infrared telescope on the ground? Select one: a. at sea level b. 6000 ft above sea level c. 10,000 ft above sea level d. 1000 ft above sea level e. 300 ft above sea level
10,000 ft above sea level
Neutrino detectors typically capture one out of every _________ neutrinos that pass through them. Select one: a. 1012 (one trillion) b. 1022 (10 billion trillion) c. 10 d. 106 (one million) e. 109 (one billion)
10^22 (10 billion trillion)
Astronomical seeing limits the actual resolution that can be achieved with a ground-based telescope. Instead of reaching the "diffraction limit", the seeing generally will not be less than ~1 arcsec (higher in a humid area like Pennsylvania). What size aperture would provide diffraction-limited resolution of θ = 1 arcsec, the best possible seeing for a ground-based telescope without adaptive optics? Assume that you are observing in the middle of the visible range, with λ = 550 nm. Select one: a. 11 mm b. 11 cm c. 1.1 m d. 11 m
11 cm
The Voyager 1 spacecraft is currently 18 billion km from Earth and heading out of our Solar System. How long does it take radio messages from Voyager 1 to reach us? Select one: a. 17 weeks b. 17 days c. 1.7 days d. 17 minutes e. 17 hours
17 hours
The North American Plate and the Pacific Plate are sliding past one another at a rate of approximately 3 cm/yr. San Francisco, which is located on the edge of the North American Plate, is sliding southward toward Los Angles, which is located on the Pacific Plate. If they are currently separated by a distance of 600 km, how many years will it take for the two cities to meet? Select one: a. 300,000 years b. 20 million years c. 3 million years d. 20,000 years e. 600 years
20 million years
Assume you want to deduce the radius of a planet in our Solar System as it occults a background star when the relative velocity between the planet and Earth is 30 km/s. If the star crosses through the middle of the planet and disappears for a total of 26 minutes, what is the planet's radius? Select one: a. 31,000 km b. 5,000 km c. 23,000 km d. 3,000 km e. 15,000 km
23,000 km
The light-gathering power of a 4-meter telescope is __________ than that of a 2-meter telescope. Select one: a. 16 times smaller b. 4 times larger c. 2 times smaller d. 8 times larger
4 times larger
What is the age of our Solar System? Select one: a. 13.7 trillion years b. 4.6 million years c. 13.7 million years d. 4.6 billion years e. 13.7 billion years
4.6 billion years
Which terrestrial planet has the strongest magnetic field? Select one: a. Mars b. Mercury c. Earth d. Venus e. The Moon
Earth
Using the Doppler effect data shown in the figure, determine the approximate orbital period of the extrasolar planet. Select one: a. 6 years b. 8 years c. 1 year d. 3 years e. 12 years
6 years
With a semimajor axis of 18 AU, Comet Halley has a period of Select one: a. 16 years. b. 32 years. c. 76 years. d. 7 years. e. 67 years.
76 years
Why have astronomers using the radial velocity method found more Jupiter-sized planets at a distance of 1 AU around other stars than Earth-sized planets? Select one: a. A Jupiter-sized planet occults a larger area than an Earth-sized planet. b. A Jupiter-sized planet exerts a larger gravitational force on the star than an Earth-sized planet, and the Doppler shift of the star is larger. c. Actually, the planets found at these distances all have been Earth-sized. d. A Jupiter-sized planet shines brighter than an Earth-sized planet. e. Earth-sized planets are much rarer than Jupiter-sized planets.
A Jupiter-sized planet exerts a larger gravitational force on the star than an Earth-sized planet, and the Doppler shift of the star is larger.
Which of the following is NOT a way to renew particles in a ring system? Select one: a. Eruptions on a nearby moon, sending particles into space b. Shredding an object that came within a planet's Roche limit c. A planet's gravity drawing particles from the nearby interstellar medium d. Impacts on a nearby moon, sending particles into space e. A collision between moons or other objects near the ring system
A planet's gravity drawing particles from the nearby interstellar medium
Moons of outer planets may provide a home for life because Select one: a. some have liquid water. b. some have organic molecules. c. some have an interior source of energy. d. All of these answers are correct.
All of these answers are correct
Which of these observations would allow you to measure the diameter of a planet? Select one: a. The planet's rotational period b. The planet's temperature c. The orbital period of one of that planet's moons d. The planet's orbital period around the Sun e. An occultation of a background star
An occultation of a background star
Which of the following moons does NOT show evidence of current geologic activity on its surface? Select one: a. Io b. Triton c. Callisto d. Europa e. Titan
Callisto
Which of the following phenomena is NOT caused by tidal forces? Select one: a. Changes in the water levels on Earth b. Comet tails c. Volcanoes on Io d. Rings around giant planets
Comet tails
What causes the many horizontal bands in Jupiter's atmosphere? Select one: a. Convection and stretching by tidal forces b. Convection and its fast rotation c. Jupiter's magnetic field d. Rotation of the Great Red Spot
Convection and its fast rotation
Which of the following statements is false? Select one: a. The Moon probably was formed by a collision between a Mars-sized body and Earth. b. Mercury has many fractures and faults on its surface that probably arose when it cooled very rapidly and shrank. c. Approximately 65 million years ago, a 10-km-wide asteroid struck Earth and wiped out more than 50 percent of all living species. d. During summer in the northern hemisphere of Mars, the polar ice cap melts and liquid water flows outward from it in rivers. e. The surface of Venus is relatively young, with an estimated age of less than 1 billion years.
During summer in the northern hemisphere of Mars, the polar ice cap melts and liquid water flows outward from it in rivers.
Lava flows on the Moon and Mercury created large, smooth plains. We don't see similar features on Earth because Select one: a. Earth has plate tectonics that recycle the surface. b. Earth has less lava. c. Earth is large compared to the size of these plains, so they are not as noticeable. d. Earth had fewer large impacts in the past. e. Earth rotates much faster than either of these other worlds.
Earth has plate tectonics that recycle the surface.
Ultraviolet radiation with wavelengths shorter than about 200 nm are hard to observe primarily because Select one: a. Earth emits too much ultraviolet background light. b. only the lowest mass stars emit ultraviolet light. c. Earth's atmosphere easily absorbs it. d. very few objects emit at ultraviolet wavelengths. e. no space-based telescopes operate at ultraviolet wavelengths.
Earth's atmosphere easily absorbs it.
Where in the Solar System is gravitational resonance NOT present? Select one: a. The asteroid belt b. Earth's rotation c. Mercury's orbit around the Sun d. Within Saturn's rings
Earth's rotation
Where does the energy for motion in Jupiter's atmosphere come from? Select one: a. Energy from the solar wind b. Heat from the Sun c. Heat rising from the interior of the planet d. Tidal interactions with its large moons
Heat rising from the interior of the planet
Which of the following moons does NOT have evidence for water ice on its surface? Select one: a. The Moon b. Io c. Callisto d. Triton e. Europa
Io
Which property of a moon might lead you to believe it was a captured asteroid? Select one: a. It is tidally locked. b. Its surface is very smooth and lacks craters. c. It rotates in the opposite direction than its planet rotates. d. Its orbital axis is tilted by 5 degrees compared to the planet's rotational axis. e. It is roughly the size of Earth's moon.
It rotates in the opposite direction than its planet rotates.
Neptune's moon Triton is slowly spiraling in towards the planet. What will eventually happen to it? Select one: a. It will break apart within Neptune's Roche limit and form spectacular rings around Neptune. b. Pluto's gravity will pull it away from Neptune. c. It will collide with Neptune. d. It will stabilize in a circular orbit around Neptune.
It will break apart within Neptune's Roche limit and form spectacular rings around Neptune.
The radiation belts around Jupiter are much stronger than those found around the Earth because Select one: a. Jupiter has larger storms than the Earth. b. Jupiter has a stronger magnetic field than the Earth. c. Jupiter is farther from the Sun than the Earth. d. Jupiter rotates faster than the Earth. e. Jupiter is colder than the Earth.
Jupiter has a stronger magnetic field than the Earth.
A comet having an orbit of 50 years would likely have come from the Select one: a. Trojan family. b. zodiacal zone. c. Oort Cloud. d. Kuiper Belt. e. Atens family.
Kuiper Belt
Most asteroids are located between the orbits of Select one: a. Jupiter and Saturn. b. the Kuiper Belt and the Oort Cloud. c. Mars and Jupiter. d. Earth and Mars.
Mars and Jupiter
What are the typical sizes of particles in Saturn's rings? Select one: a. Sizes of ring particles have not yet been measured b. Mostly dust and pebble-sized c. About the size of Phobos and Deimos d. Mostly atom and molecule-sized
Mostly dust and pebble-sized
What spacecraft flew by Pluto in 2015? Select one: a. Rosetta b. New Horizons c. Dawn d. Messenger
New Horizons
Which process causes planets or other Solar System bodies to end up in a different place than it originally formed? Select one: a. Differentiation of the protoplanetary disk b. Conservation of energy c. Core accretion-gas capture d. Conservation of angular momentum e. Planetary migration
Planetary migration
Which process does NOT contribute to the structure and appearance of Saturn's rings? Select one: a. Saturn's magnetic field b. Tidal forces from Saturn c. Saturn's density d. Gravitational forces from Saturn's moons
Saturn's density
Which of the following features is NOT a characteristic of Jupiter's moon Io? Select one: a. Erupting plumes of sulfur and sulfur compounds b. Active volcanoes and lava flows c. Interior composition that is almost entirely rock d. Smooth plains of ice criss-crossed by networks of cracks
Smooth plains of ice criss-crossed by networks of cracks
The figure shows the continental plates of Earth and the locations of volcanoes and earthquakes. Which statement is false? Select one: a. Earth's crust is broken up into about 15 separate continental plates. b. The Atlantic Ocean is getting smaller with time. c. Earthquakes happen where two plates come together and when they spread apart. d. Volcanoes occur more often where two plates are coming together rather than spreading apart. e. Southern California in the United States and Baja in Mexico are sliding northwestward relative to the rest of the North American Plate.
The Atlantic Ocean is getting smaller with time.
Maria refer to a geological feature located on Select one: a. The Moon. b. Mercury. c. Venus. d. Earth. e. Mars.
The Moon
Which of the following statements about Saturn's moon Titan is NOT true? Select one: a. Hydrocarbons are found in the atmosphere of Titan. b. Titan has an atmosphere rich in nitrogen. c. Titan's atmosphere is so thick that we cannot see through it. d. Titan is kept at a high temperature, possibly by volcanoes and tidal effects.
Titan is kept at a high temperature, possibly by volcanoes and tidal effects.
Uranus and Neptune are different from Jupiter and Saturn in that Select one: a. Uranus and Neptune have no rings. b. Uranus and Neptune have no magnetic field. c. Uranus and Neptune have a higher percentage of ices in their interiors. d. Uranus and Neptune are closer to the Sun.
Uranus and Neptune have a higher percentage of ices in their interiors.
Based on the figure below, which planet(s) is (are) most likely to have the largest fraction of its (their) mass made of highly volatile materials such as methane and ammonia? Select one or more: a. Uranus b. Mars c. Saturn d. Neptune e. Venus f. Jupiter g. Earth h. Mercury
Uranus, Neptune
The large feature spanning the surface of Mars in shown the figure is _________ and probably was created by _________. mc054-1.jpg Select one: a. Olympus Mons; a volcanic eruption b. a canyon; flowing water c. Valles Marineris; a rapid cooling of the crust d. a highway; an extinct civilization e. an impact crater; an asteroid or comet f. a dry riverbed; flowing water
Valles Marineris; a rapid cooling of the crust
Meteor showers occur because Earth passes through the path of Select one: a. a comet. b. the Moon. c. a planetesimal. d. another planet.
a comet
Samples of which celestial object(s) have been collected and brought back to Earth by robotic or manned space missions? Select one or more: a. an asteroid b. the solar wind c. the Moon d. a comet e. Mars
a comet, the solar wind, the Moon
A spectrograph is Select one: a. typically made from glass with many closely spaced lines engraved in it. b. a radio telescope. c. a visible-light telescope. d. a device used to measure the intensity of light at each wavelength. e. a device used for imaging.
a device used to measure the intensity of light at each wavelength.
An iron meteorite most likely came from Select one: a. a comet. b. a planet. c. a differentiated asteroid. d. an undifferentiated asteroid.
a differentiated asteroid.
The surface of Europa, one of Jupiter's Galilean satellites, is characterized by Select one: a. intersecting grooves and ridges as much as a kilometer high. b. a fractured crust of ice with evidence of ice rafts and areas of flooding at some earlier time. c. active volcanoes, lakes of lava, and deposits of sulfur and sulfur compounds. d. densely cratered ice, coated with a layer of dark dust, and at least one large, multiringed impact basin.
a fractured crust of ice with evidence of ice rafts and areas of flooding at some earlier time.
The Cassini division in Saturn's rings is Select one: a. a gap in the rings, swept clear of debris by a small moon orbiting in the gap. b. a gap in the rings, swept clear of debris by the gravitational tug of Mimas, a satellite that orbits outside the rings. c. the gap between the inner edge of the C ring and the top of Saturn's cloud layer. d. the division, or boundary, between the B ring and the C ring, where the density and brightness of the rings change suddenly.
a gap in the rings, swept clear of debris by the gravitational tug of Mimas, a satellite that orbits outside the rings.
Which of the following is not a factor that helps explain Earth's lack of craters compared to the Moon? Select one: a. higher density interior b. larger atmosphere c. liquid water on surface d. active tectonics and volcanism e. wind erosion
a higher density interior
What is a protostar? Select one: a. a hot star b. a large ball of gas not yet hot enough at its core to be a star c. a star with too much angular momentum d. a large ball of gas too hot at its core to be a star e. a planet like Jupiter
a large ball of gas not yet hot enough at its core to be a star
The Great Red Spot on Jupiter is Select one: a. a large, long-lived storm that is maintained by the planet's differential rotation. b. a liquid methane lake in Jupiter's northern hemisphere. c. clouds of dark gas that have formed above a large volcanic mountain. d. a vortex at Jupiter's north pole, caused by the planet's rapid rotation.
a large, long-lived storm that is maintained by the planet's differential rotation.
Magnetosphere refers to Select one: a. Earth's ionosphere. b. the metallic core of Earth. c. the liquid mantel of Earth. d. a region of magnetic field around Earth. e. the magnetic dynamo effect.
a region of magnetic field around Earth.
An atmospheric window is Select one: a. a giant glass dome. b. X-rays. c. a region of the electromagnetic spectrum that can reach the ground. d. ultraviolet. e. a region of the electromagnetic spectrum that cannot reach the ground.
a region of the electromagnetic spectrum that can reach the ground.
One reason to prefer a reflecting over a refracting telescope is Select one: a. all of the above b. its lack of chromatic aberration. c. its shorter length for the same aperture size. d. its lighter weight for larger apertures. e. its lack of an aperture limit.
all of the above
What will eventually happen to Earth when radioactive decays in its interior cease? Select one: a. Continental drift will cease. b. The strength of Earth's magnetic field will decrease. c. Earthquakes will cease. d. all of the above e. Earth's core will solidify.
all of the above
Improved resolution is helpful to astronomers because Select one: a. they often want to look in detail at small features of an object. b. they often want to look at very distant objects. c. they often want to look at many objects that appear very close together. d. all of these answers are correct.
all of these answers are correct.
If we could increase the quantum efficiency of the human eye, it would Select one: a. allow humans to see a larger range of wavelengths. b. allow humans to see better at night or other low-light conditions. c. increase the resolution of the human eye. d. not make a difference in the sight of the human eye. e. decrease the resolution of the human eye.
allow humans to see better at night or other low-light conditions.
Which is the best description of a moon? Select one: a. any natural satellite of a planet or asteroid b. a captured comet c. any small icy body in the solar system d. any small rocky body in the solar system e. a captured asteroid
any natural satellite of a planet or asteroid
If scientists want to find out about the composition of the early Solar System, the best objects to study are Select one: a. the giant planets. b. asteroids and comets. c. the Sun. d. the terrestrial planets.
asteroids and comets
As a comet leaves the inner Solar System, the ion tail points Select one: a. back along the orbit. b. away from the Sun. c. toward the Sun. d. forward along the orbit.
away from the Sun
Which of the following was not discovered by Galileo using a telescope? Select one: a. The Milky Way is a collection of countless numbers of individual stars. b. Mars has a polar ice cap similar to Earth. c. Jupiter has four moons that orbit around it. d. The planet Venus goes through phases similar to those of the Moon. e. The Moon has a heavily cratered surface.
b. Mars has a polar ice cap similar to Earth.
What is a planetesimal? Select one: a. bodies of ice and rock 10 meters or less in diameter b. bodies of ice and rock 100 meters or more in diameter c. planets that haven't cleared their orbits d. bodies of ice and rock about 1 meter in diameter e. another name for dwarf planets
bodies of ice and rock 100 meters or more in diameter
In the figure, which of the dips in the brightness of the star is (are) caused by the transit of the planet with the largest orbital period? Select one: a. B and C b. A and B c. C d. A e. B
c
Plate tectonics is not responsible for Select one: a. continental drift. b. ocean trenches. c. canyons. d. mountain ranges. e. volcanoes.
canyons
Clumps grow into planetesimals by Select one: a. colliding with other clumps. b. attracting other clumps with opposite charge. c. gravitationally pulling in other clumps. Incorrect d. conserving angular momentum.
colliding with other clumps.
The icy planetesimals that remain in the solar system today are called Select one: a. moons. b. meteorites. c. asteroids. d. comet nuclei.
comet nuclei
One of the most important sources of heat in the interiors of moons that orbit close to giant planets is Select one: a. decay of radioactive elements within the moons. b. continuous tidal distortion from the planet and other moons. c. thermal energy from the moon's parental planets. d. reflection of sunlight from the planet's surface.
continuous tidal distortion from the planet and other moons.
Most modern spectrographs use a _________ to disperse the light from an object. Select one: a. glass prism b. parabolic mirror c. lens d. spherical mirror e. diffraction grating
diffraction grating
The magnetic fields of the giant planets Select one: a. align closely with the rotation axis. b. have an axis that passes through the planet's center. c. are thousands of times stronger at the cloud tops than at Earth's surface field. d. extend far into space
extend far into space
The Galilean satellites of Jupiter Select one: a. formed at the same time as Jupiter from the Sun's protoplanetary disk. b. were formed when a large body collided with Jupiter ejecting its outer layers into space. c. are captured asteroids. d. are captured comets.
formed at the same time as Jupiter from the Sun's protoplanetary disk.
Saturn's bright rings are located within the Roche limit of Saturn. This fact supports the theory that these rings Select one or more: a. are relatively recent. b. formed at the same time that Saturn formed. c. are temporary. d. formed of moons torn apart by tidal stresses.
formed of moons torn apart by tidal stresses., are relatively recent., are temporary.
Dwarf planets differ from the other planets in that they Select one: a. have no atmosphere. b. have lower mass. c. are covered in ice. d. have no moons. e. are all very far from the Sun.
have lower mass
The primary atmospheres of the planets are made mostly of Select one: a. iron and nickel. b. nitrogen and argon. c. oxygen and nitrogen. d. hydrogen and helium. e. carbon and oxygen.
hydrogen and helium
The solid form of a volatile material is generally referred to as a(n) Select one: a. refractory material. b. silicate. c. metal. d. ice. e. rock.
ice
In the figure below, the direction of the disk's rotation is indicated. What is the direction of the protostellar Sun's rotation? Select one: a. in the opposite direction as the disk b. in the same direction as the disk c. perpendicular to the disk d. impossible to tell
in the same direction as the disk
Titan, the large moon of Saturn, is able to maintain an atmosphere because Select one: a. it has a relatively large mass and surface gravity, and its atmospheric temperature is low. b. cometary bombardment replenishes gases that evaporate into space. c. volcanoes continuously resupply gases that evaporate into space. d. it is rotating very slowly and is rather small.
it has a relatively large mass and surface gravity, and its atmospheric temperature is low.
Pluto is classified as a dwarf planet because Select one: a. it has a unique chemical composition that is very different from other planets. b. it has no moons of its own. c. it is more than 1,000 times smaller than Earth's moon. d. it orbits just outside the Solar System. e. it has not cleared out other bodies from its orbit.
it has not cleared out other bodies from its orbit.
Photography provides an improvement over naked-eye observations because Select one: a. the image resolution is much better for photographic plates. b. it is possible to observe a larger field of view with photographic plates. c. the integration time is much shorter with the use of photographic plates. d. the quantum efficiency is higher for photographic plates. e. it is possible to detect fainter objects with the use of photographic plates.
it is possible to detect fainter objects with the use of photographic plates.
The fact that Earth's interior is differentiated suggests that Select one: a. it has both a liquid and solid core. b. it formed first from lighter material, then afterward accreted heavier material. c. it formed first from denser material and then afterward accreted lighter material. d. only the crust is solid; the rest of Earth's interior is liquid. e. it was entirely liquid at some point in the past.
it was entirely liquid at some point in the past.
An observer located outside our Solar System, who monitors the velocity of our Sun over time, will find that the Sun's velocity varies by ± 12 m/s over a period of 12 years, due to Select one: a. variations in its brightness. b. the sunspot cycle. c. Earth's gravitational pull. d. convection on the Sun's surface. e. Jupiter's gravitational pull.
jupiter's gravitational pull
Which is NOT a reason for the large size of volcanoes on Mars as compared to Earth's smaller volcanoes? Select one: a. less gravity than other terrestrial planets b. many repeated eruptions c. absence of plate tectonics d. lack of atmosphere, therefore no erosion
lack of atmosphere, therefore no erosion
The spectroscopic radial velocity method preferentially detects Select one: a. large planets close to the central star. b. the method detects all of these equally well c. small planets far from the central star. d. small planets close to the central star. e. large planets far from the central star.
large planets close to the central star.
The transit method preferentially detects Select one: a. the method detects all of these equally well b. small planets far from the central star. c. large planets far from the central star. d. large planets close to the central star. e. small planets close to the central star.
large planets close to the central star.
The mass of all the known asteroids combined is approximately equal to Select one: a. the mass of Mars. b. three times the mass of Earth. c. half the mass of Earth. d. twice the mass of Mars. e. less than one-third the mass of the Moon.
less than one-third the mass of the Moon.
The observation that the Moon's average density is similar to the density of Earth's _________ supports the collision theory of the Moon's origin. Select one: a. oceans b. mantle and crust c. average density d. inner and outer core e. atmosphere
mantle and crust
Comets and asteroids are Select one: a. other names for moons of the planets. b. all more massive than Earth's Moon. c. other names for meteors. d. primarily located within 1 astronomical unit (AU) of the Sun. e. material left over from the formation of the planets.
material left over from the formation of the planets.
Comets and asteroids are Select one: a. primarily located within 1 AU of the Sun. b. material left over from the formation of the planets. c. all more massive than Earth's Moon. d. other names for meteors. e. other names for moons of the planets.
material left over from the formation of the planets.
Antarctica is the best hunting ground for meteorites for all of the following reasons except Select one: a. meteorites are protected from weathering and contamination there. b. by searching at different depths in the ice you can determine the history of impacts over time. c. the ground is covered with ice. d. more meteorites fall there than on other locations on Earth. e. few native rocks are found on the glaciers.
more meteorites fall there than on other locations on Earth.
Which of the following cannot be directly detected using a telescope? Select one: a. infrared light b. neutrinos c. X-rays d. visible light e. ultraviolet light
neutrinos
Titan is a high-priority candidate for the search for life outside Earth primarily because it has Select one: a. active volcanoes. b. a dense atmosphere like Earth's. c. liquid water. d. organic material. e. warm temperatures.
organic material
Suppose an earthquake occurs on an imaginary planet. Scientists on the other side of the planet detect primary waves but not secondary waves after the quake. This suggests that Select one: a. part of the planet's interior is liquid. b. all of the planet's interior is solid. c. the planet's interior consists entirely of rocky materials. d. the planet has an iron core. e. the planet has completely cooled since its formation.
part of the planet's interior is liquid
In the figure shown, which property of the exoplanet can be directly measured from the information given? Select one: a. size of the planet b. the mass of the planet c. percentage reduction in light d. distance of the star e. orbital radius of the planet
percentage reduction in light
Before charge-coupled devices (CCDs) were invented, what was the device most commonly used for imaging with optical telescopes? Select one: a. 35-mm film b. Polaroid cameras c. video cameras d. high-speed film e. photographic glass plates
photographic glass plates
Detecting a planet around another star using the transit method is difficult because the Select one: a. planet must pass directly in front of the star. b. planet's orbital period is usually longer than 1 month. c. star must be moving with respect to us. d. planet must have a rocky composition. e. star must be very dim.
planet must pass directly in front of the star.
Which property of an extrasolar planet cannot be determined using the Doppler effect? Select one: a. orbital distance b. mass c. orbital speed d. orbital period e. radius
radius
Based on the age of the light- and dark-colored regions of the Moon and the number of craters observed in these regions, we know that impacts in the inner Solar System Select one: a. rapidly decreased approximately 3 billion years ago. b. occurred at approximately a constant rate throughout most of the age of the Solar System. c. were very rare in the last 4.6 billion years. d. rapidly decreased approximately 1 billion years ago. e. never occur anymore.
rapidly decreased approximately 3 billion years ago.
Asteroids are small Select one: a. icy objects orbiting the Sun. b. icy bodies found only in the outer Solar System. c. rock and metal objects found only between Mars and Jupiter. d. rock and metal objects orbiting the Sun.
rock and metal objects orbiting the Sun.
Each giant planet has a core made of _________ that is five to 10 times the mass of Earth. Select one: a. hydrocarbons b. hydrogen c. water d. rocky material e. methane
rocky material
Uranus and Neptune are very similar planets except for the following characteristic: Select one: a. seasons. b. composition. c. temperature. d. size.
seasons
A rising convection cell in the mantle gives rise to Select one: a. a subduction zone. b. a sliding plate. c. separating plates. d. converging plates.
separating plates
Aside from their periods, short-period and long-period comets differ because Select one: a. short-period comets do not develop ion tails, while long-period comets do. b. short-period comets contain less ice, while long-period comets contain more. c. short-period comets come closer to the Sun at closest approach than long-period comets. d. short-period comets orbit prograde, while long-period comets orbit in either sense
short-period comets orbit prograde, while long-period comets orbit in either sense
Present-day erosion on the surface of the Moon is primarily caused by Select one: a. flowing water. b. dust storms. c. solar radiation. d. wind. e. tectonic shifts.
solar radiation
Which of the following is not a requirement for a planetary magnetic dynamo? Select one: a. solid iron core b. convective motions c. charged particles in the interior d. liquid interior e. rapid rotation
solid iron core
The varied colors found on Io's surface are due to the presence of various molecules containing Select one: a. iron. b. silicon. c. magnesium. d. sulfur. e. mercury.
sulfur
Volcanoes on Enceladus affect the E Ring of Saturn by Select one: a. supplying ring particles. b. pushing the ring around. c. dissipating the ring. d. stirring the ring particles.
supplying ring particles
Scientists determine the geological history of the moons of the outer planets from Select one: a. surface features. b. seismic probing. c. radioactive dating. d. time-lapse photography.
surface features.
Telescopes and satellites such as Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE), Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP), and Planck are designed to detect microwave radiation emitted by Select one: a. black holes. b. the Big Bang. c. planets. d. galaxies. e. stars.
the Big Bang
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? Select one: a. the asteroid belt b. the Kuiper Belt c. outside the Solar System d. the Oort Cloud e. the Jovian family
the Oort Cloud
What is a secondary atmosphere? Select one: a. the gas closest to the planet surface b. the gas farthest from the surface c. the atmosphere that escapes d. the atmosphere that remains if the primary atmosphere of hydrogen and helium is lost e. the gas captured during the planet's formation
the atmosphere that remains if the primary atmosphere of hydrogen and helium is lost
The Roche limit of a planet is Select one: a. the deepest a spacecraft can go within the planet's atmosphere without getting crushed. b. the size of the smallest features on the planet that can be seen through a telescope. c. the minimum time it takes a spacecraft to reach the planet. d. the closest distance a moon can get to the planet without getting broken up.
the closest distance a moon can get to the planet without getting broken up.
Meteorites can provide information about all of these except Select one: a. the early composition of the Solar System. b. the Oort Cloud. c. the composition of comets. d. the composition of asteroids
the composition of comets.
The direction of revolution in the plane of the Solar System was determined by Select one: a. the direction of rotation of the original cloud. b. the direction of the gravitational force within the original cloud. c. the plane of the galaxy in which the Solar System sits. d. the amount of material in the original cloud.
the direction of rotation of the original cloud.
Particle accelerators that smash atoms or particles together at high speeds, such as the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), are important tools used for simulating conditions in Select one: a. the early universe. b. brown dwarf stars. c. red giants. d. the solar wind. e. planetary nebula.
the early universe.
The magnification of a telescope depends on the focal length of the telescope and Select one: a. the angular resolution of the telescope. b. the wavelengths being observed. c. the focal length of the eyepiece. d. the size of the aperture. e. the type of telescope (refracting vs. reflecting).
the focal length of the eyepiece.
What is a primary atmosphere? Select one: a. the gas captured after the planet's formation b. the atmospheres that all planets have today c. the gas closest to the planet's surface d. the gas captured during the planet's formation e. the oxygen and nitrogen in Earth's atmosphere
the gas captured during the planet's formation
Which of these observations would allow you to measure the mass of a planet? Select one: a. the planet's orbital period b. the orbit of one of that planet's moons c. the planet's distance from the Sun d. the planet's temperature e. the planet's rotational period
the orbit of one of that planet's moons
What is the most important factor in determining whether or not a planet will be rocky like terrestrial planets or gaseous like giant planets? Select one: a. the time at which the planet forms b. the planet's internal temperature c. whether the planet has moons d. the planet's radius e. the planet's distance from the Sun
the planet's distance from the Sun
Flows of material inside some Martian craters suggest Select one: a. the presence of ice. b. active plate tectonics at the time of impact. c. volcanism in its interior. d. the presence of water in surface rocks. e. a very thin crust.
the presence of water in surface rocks.
Studies of the amount of cratering at different locations on the Moon indicate that Select one: a. most of the heavy cratering in the Solar System occurred before Earth formed. b. cratering is no longer occurring in the Solar System. c. the Moon has never been geologically active at any point in its history. d. the rate of cratering in the Solar System has changed dramatically over time. e. the younger lunar surfaces are hundreds of billions of years younger than the oldest surfaces.
the rate of cratering in the Solar System has changed dramatically over time.
The terrestrial planets and the giant planets have different compositions because Select one: a. the terrestrial planets have few moons. b. the giant planets are made mostly of solids. c. the giant planets are much larger. d. the terrestrial planets formed closer to the Sun.
the terrestrial planets formed closer to the Sun.
The three types of meteorites come from different parts of their parent bodies. Stony-iron meteorites are rare because Select one: a. the magnetic field of the Sun attracts the iron. b. the volume of a differentiated body that has both stone and iron is small. c. there is very little iron in the Solar System. d. they are hard to find.
the volume of a differentiated body that has both stone and iron is small.
Why are Ganymede and Callisto geologically dead while the other two Galilean moons of Jupiter are active? Select one: a. they are farther from Jupiter b. they are larger c. they are more massive d. they have retrograde orbits
they are farther from Jupiter
Which of the following is not a reason to put a telescope in space? Select one: a. to avoid weather on Earth b. to avoid atmospheric distortion c. to get closer to the stars d. to avoid light-pollution on Earth e. to observe at wavelengths blocked by Earth's atmosphere
to get closer to the stars
Which method can be used to determine the radius of an extrasolar planet? Select one: a. none of the above b. microlensing c. direct imaging d. transit e. Doppler shift
transit
The diffraction limit of a 4-m telescope is _________ than that of a 2-m telescope. Select one: a. four times smaller b. two times larger c. two times smaller d. It depends on the type of telescope. e. four times larger
two times smaller
Astronomers can use ground-based telescopes to observe using which parts of the electromagnetic spectrum? Select one or more: a. visible b. X-ray c. infrared d. gamma-ray e. radio f. ultraviolet
visible, infrared, radio
Comets, asteroids, and meteoroids may be responsible for delivering a significant fraction of the current supply of __________ to Earth. Select one: a. water b. mass c. hydrogen d. oxygen
water
Saturn's rings are primarily made of Select one: a. nitrogen. b. dark organic material. c. water ice. d. dark silicate material. e. methane.
water ice