astro ch. 5 review questions

The overall shape of the orbits of most of the planets in the solar system is A. Parabolic B. Slightly elliptical, but nearly circular C. Elliptical, very elongated D. Perfectly circular

B.

most of the planets orbit the sun on or close to a. the equatorial plane b. the ecliptic plane c. the plane containing both north and south celestial poles and the zenith at greenwich, england d. the plane of the milky way galaxy

B.

the planets whose orbits are most noticeably elliptical are a. uranus and pluto b. mercury and pluto c. uranus and mars d. mercury and earth

B.

the smallest of the planet is a. neptune b. mercury c. earth d. mars

B.

where in the universe are heavy elements, with masses greater than that of helium, being produced at this time? a. in the dark clouds of dust and gas b. in the central cores of stars c. at the event horizons of massive black holes d. in the surface layers of stars

B.

which planet of our solar system has the highest mass? a. saturn b. jupiter c. uranus d. earth

B.

In order of increasing density, the large, outer planets would be listed as A. Neptune, Uranus, Saturn, Jupiter B. Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune C. Saturn, Uranus, Jupiter, Neptune D. Neptune, Saturn, Uranus, Jupiter

C.

most likely mechanism for the solar system is that a. planets were spun out of the sun as smaller gas clouds and subsequently condensed b. the sun captured the planets as they drifted through space c. the sun and planets slowly condensed to their present form from a gas and dust cloud d. the solar system was once a galaxy, from which the sun and planets are the remnants, after evolution

C.

the birthplace of the sun and planets (and of other stars and maybe their planets) is thought to have been a. in black holes dotted about the universe b. in the centers of galaxies c. in cool gas and dust clouds d. at the centers of supernova explosions

C.

the smallest terrestrial planet is a. mars b. neptune c. mercury d. ganymede

C.

what name is given to the concentration of mass that formed at the center of the solar nebula, and eventually became the sun? a. the pseudosun b. the antisun c. the protosun d. the solar hub

C.

At what point in time do we say that the protosun became the sun? A. When the temperature began to rise at its center B. When planetary formation was complete C. When it became hot enough to emit light and heat D. When thermonuclear fusion began at its center

D.

The steps in which the large, outer planets formed were A. Gravitational condensation of hydrogen and helium gas, followed by capture of planetesimals B. Accretion of cold Pete's I also containing large quantities of hydrogen and helium C. Gravitational condensation of hydrogen, helium, and dust in eddies or vortices in the outer solar nebula D. Accretion of planetesimals to for a core, followed by gravitational capture of hydrogen and helium gas

D.

in our solar system, which of the following planets is NOT a member of the terrestrial group? a. mars b. mercury c. venus d. jupiter

D.

the largest of the terrestrial planets is a. mars b. jupiter c. venus d. earth

D.

the manner in which the terrestrial planets formed was a. gravitational condensation of gas followed by capture of solid planetesimals b. accretion of planetesimals to form a core, followed by gravitational capture of gas from the solar nebula c. gravitational condensation of hydrogen, helium, and dust in eddies or vortices in the solar nebula d. accretion of solid planetesimals containing mostly rocky material

D.

the planet whose orbit has the greatest inclination to the plane of the ecliptic is a. pluto b. uranus c. saturn d. mercury

D.

the steps in which the large, outer planets formed were a. gravitational condensation of hydrogen and helium gas, followed by capture of planetesimals b. accretion of cold plantesimals containing large quantities of hydrogen and helium c. graviational condensation of hydrogen, helium, and dust in eddies or vortices in the outer solar nebula d. accretion of planetesimals to form a core, followed by gravitational capture of hydrogen and helium gas

D.

which planet in our solar system has the lowest average density? a. jupiter b. uranus c. earth d. saturn

D.

which planet or planetary group occupies the next orbital position beyond saturn? a. neptune b. jupiter c. the asteroid belt d. uranus

D.

which planets do NOT have one or more natural satelites (moons) orbiting them? a. mercury, venus, and mars b. mercury, venus, mars, and pluto c. mercury and mars d. mercury and venus

D.

Compared to the orbital distance of earth from the sun, the equivalent orbital distances for the outer planets are A. Greater than 5 times B. Between 2 and 5 times C. Between 2 and 20 times D. Greater than 10 times

A.

Fusion is the process by which A. Elements are transformed into heavier elements by nuclear reactions B. Massive protoplanetary cores pull gas onto themselves to create giant planets C. Clouds of interstellar gas and dust contract to form protostars D. Dust grains and ice crystals coalesce to form planetesimals

A.

The asteroid belt exists between the orbits of which planets? A. Mars and Jupiter B. Venus and earth C. Earth and mars D. Jupiter and saturn

A.

The most abundant material in the universe is A. Hydrogen B. Helium C. Carbon dioxide D. Water

A.

Which of the following statements is TRUE? A. The earth is the most massive of the terrestrial planets B. The earth is the biggest of the planets C. The average mass of the terrestrial planets is close to the average mass of the large, outer planets D. Jupiter has the highest average density of the planets

A.

in our solar system, which of the following planets is a member of the terrestrial group a. mars b. jupiter c. neptuen d. saturn

A.

the average density of the large, outer planet is a. close ot the density of water b. close to the density of basaltic rocks on earth c. much higher than the density of earth rocks, due to the great gravitational compression of their interiors d. very much less than the density of water, because of the amount of hydrogen that they contain

A.

the correct sequence of planets in our solar system, from the sun outward is, a. mercury, venus, earth, mars, jupiter, saturn, uranus, neptune b. mercury, venus, mars, earth, jupiter, saturn, uranus, neptune c. mercury, venus, earth, mars, saturn, uranus, jupiter, neptune d. mercury, earth, venus, mars, jupiter, saturn, uranus, neptune

A.

the most probable theory for the formation of the solar system is a. condensation of a nebula of cold gas and dust into the sun and planets b. condensation of a nebula of hot gas into the sun and planets c. an encounter, in which a passing star ripped off material fromthe sun to form the planets d. a capture theory in which the sun, after formation, captured objects moving through space to form the planets

A.

which is the largest planet in our solar system? a. jupiter b. earth c. uranus d. saturn

A.

the planet with the greatest mean density is a. earth b. jupiter c. neptune d. mercury

a.