Question 1

What is the role of irregularities in the solar system in terms of theories of its origin?

Accepted Answer

A)   They are too minor to play a role; astronomers ignore them.
B)   They introduce a need for flexibility in theories of the solar system's origin.
C)   Theories of the solar system are entirely based on the many irregularities found among the planets and moons.
D)   The solar system has no irregularities; it is perfectly regular and orderly.
E)   The solar system is chaotic, with irregularities the rule.F) A) and B)
G) All of the above

Question 2

Any model of solar system formation must explain why comets come from the Oort Cloud, with orbits very different from the planets, asteroids, and Kuiper Belt Objects.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

Super-Earths are earthlike planets where life is possible.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

Which of these is NOT a characteristic of the solar nebula theory?

Accepted Answer

A)   The ecliptic is the equator for the Sun.
B)   All the planets should follow the ecliptic plane.
C)   All the planets should orbit the Sun counterclockwise.
D)   Larger planets should form closer to their star, where there is more debris.
E)   Planets should rotate counterclockwise as well.F) A) and E)
G) A) and C)

Question 5

The radial velocity method is less likely to detect low mass planets than high mass planets because low mass planets cause smaller ________ fluctuations.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The radial velocity method is less likely...

Question 6

Why are infrared observations useful when observing extrasolar planets?

Accepted Answer

Because planets radiate mostly infrared ...

Question 7

The Kuiper Belt is found where in the solar system?

Accepted Answer

A)   Among the orbits of the terrestrial planets
B)   Beyond the orbit of Neptune
C)   Between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter
D)   Between the orbits of Jupiter and Uranus
E)   Sixty degrees ahead or behind JupiterF) A) and E)
G) B) and E)

Question 8

The Kepler mission uses the ________ technique to detect exoplanets.

Accepted Answer

transit

Question 9

In light of modern solar system theory, why do the orbits of the planets all lie in the same plane?

Accepted Answer

A)   The Sun's gravity forced them into these orbits.
B)   The angular momentum of the solar system was kept to a minimum this way.
C)   The early solar nebula flattened into a disk.
D)   Comets would have wiped out any not in this protected plane.
E)   This happened purely by chance.F) A) and E)
G) B) and D)

Question 10

It is expected that most of the planet candidates found by the Kepler mission will eventually be confirmed.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 11

What is the most important consideration in the "habitable zone" of a planetary system?

Accepted Answer

The distance from its star and...

Question 12

The Kuiper Belt is located beyond the orbit of ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The Kuiper Belt is located beyond the...

Question 13

Why do instruments that are looking for transiting planets need to look for very small brightness changes?

Accepted Answer

Because a transiting...

Question 14

As the solar nebula contracts it

Accepted Answer

A)   flattens out into the ecliptic plane around the Sun's poles.
B)   spins faster due to conservation of angular momentum.
C)   cools due to condensation.
D)   loses angular momentum.
E)   reverses it direction of rotation.F) B) and C)
G) None of the above

Question 15

The jovian planets

Accepted Answer

A)   all lie less than 5 AU from the Sun.
B)   all have rings around their equators.
C)   all spin slower than the Earth.
D)   have satellite systems with less than 4 moons.
E)   are all much more dense than any of the terrestrials planets.F) C) and E)
G) C) and D)

Question 16

Stars with multiple planets orbiting them are expected to be rare.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  False

Question 17

The ________ around a star is the region where liquid water could exist on a planet.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The ________ around a star is the...

Question 18

Most hot Jupiters are thought to have formed in the orbits they have been discovered.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

The moons of the jovian planets formed by which two processes?

Accepted Answer

A)   Accretion and collisions
B)   Capture and collisions
C)   Collisions and differentiation
D)   Accretion and capture
E)   Differentiation and captureF) B) and E)
G) C) and E)

Question 20

Any model of solar system formation must explain why the planets revolve in the same direction as the Sun rotates.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 7: Formation of Planetary Systems

What is the role of irregularities in the solar system in terms of theories of its origin?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Any model of solar system formation must explain why comets come from the Oort Cloud, with orbits very different from the planets, asteroids, and Kuiper Belt Objects.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Super-Earths are earthlike planets where life is possible.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of these is NOT a characteristic of the solar nebula theory?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The radial velocity method is less likely to detect low mass planets than high mass planets because low mass planets cause smaller ________ fluctuations.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Why are infrared observations useful when observing extrasolar planets?

Correct AnswerverifiedBecause planets radiate mostly infrared ...View AnswerShow Answer

The Kuiper Belt is found where in the solar system?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The Kepler mission uses the ________ technique to detect exoplanets.

Correct Answerverifiedtransit

In light of modern solar system theory, why do the orbits of the planets all lie in the same plane?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

It is expected that most of the planet candidates found by the Kepler mission will eventually be confirmed.

Correct AnswerverifiedTrue

What is the most important consideration in the "habitable zone" of a planetary system?

Correct AnswerverifiedThe distance from its star and...View AnswerShow Answer

The Kuiper Belt is located beyond the orbit of ________.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Why do instruments that are looking for transiting planets need to look for very small brightness changes?

Correct AnswerverifiedBecause a transiting...View AnswerShow Answer

As the solar nebula contracts it

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The jovian planets

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Stars with multiple planets orbiting them are expected to be rare.

Correct AnswerverifiedFalse

The ________ around a star is the region where liquid water could exist on a planet.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Most hot Jupiters are thought to have formed in the orbits they have been discovered.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The moons of the jovian planets formed by which two processes?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Any model of solar system formation must explain why the planets revolve in the same direction as the Sun rotates.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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Because planets radiate mostly infrared ...
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transit

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True

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The distance from its star and...
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Because a transiting...
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False

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