Question 1

What do we mean by accretion in the context of planet formation?

Accepted Answer

A)   The growth of planetesimals from smaller solid particles that collided and stuck together
B)   The formation of moons around planets
C)   The solidification of ices, rocks, and metal from the gas of the solar nebular
D)   The growth of the Sun as the density of gas increased in the center of the solar nebulaE) A) and D)
F) C) and D)

Question 2

How do scientists determine the age of the solar system?

Accepted Answer

A)   Radiometric dating of meteorites
B)   Radiometric dating of Moon rocks
C)   Radiometric dating of the oldest Earth rocks
D)   Theoretical calculations tell us how long it has taken the planets to evolve to their present forms.E) B) and C)
F) None of the above

Question 3

The age of the solar system can be established by radioactive dating of

Accepted Answer

A)   the oldest rocks on Earth.
B)   the oldest rocks on the Moon.
C)   the oldest meteorites.
D)   the atmosphere of Mars.
E)   It hasn't been done yet, but the age of the solar system could be obtained from a sample of Io's surface.F) C) and E)
G) A) and B)

Question 4

What percentage of the solar nebula's mass consisted of hydrogen and helium gases?

Accepted Answer

A)   0.5 percent
B)   5 percent
C)   50 percent
D)   98 percent
E)   100 percentF) A) and D)
G) C) and D)

Question 5

What do we mean by the period of heavy bombardment in the context of the history of our solar system?

Accepted Answer

A)   The first few hundred million years after the planets formed, which is when most impact craters were formed
B)   The time before planetesimals finished accreting into planets, during which many growing planetesimals must have shattered in collisions
C)   The time during which heavy elements condensed into rock and metal in the solar nebula
D)   The period about 65 million years ago when an impact is thought to have led to the extinction of the dinosaursE) A) and D)
F) All of the above

Question 6

Which of the following statements about the accelerations and gravitational forces between a planet and a star is true?

Accepted Answer

A)   Accelerations and forces are both equal and opposite.
B)   Acceleration is equal and opposite; the star feels more force more than the planet.
C)   Forces are equal and opposite; the star is accelerated more than the planet.
D)   Forces are equal and opposite; the planet is accelerated more than the star.
E)   Acceleration is equal and opposite; the planet feels more force more than the star.F) B) and E)
G) A) and B)

Question 7

The more massive planets in the solar system tend to be less dense than the lower mass planets.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

A planet's size can be determined by observing its transit across a star.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

According to modern science, what was the approximate chemical composition of the solar nebula?

Accepted Answer

A)   98% hydrogen and helium, 2% everything else
B)   50% hydrogen and helium, 50% everything else
C)   98% hydrogen, 2% helium
D)   Roughly equal proportions of hydrogen, helium, water, and methaneE) C) and D)
F) B) and D)

Question 10

Which of the following discoveries would cause us to re-evaluate the nebular theory for forming planets?

Accepted Answer

A)   A star's 5 terrestrial planets orbit in the opposite direction of its 3 jovian planets.
B)   Of the star's five terrestrial planets, one has a large moon.
C)   Two of the star's planets are rotating in directions backwards compared to their orbital direction.
D)   A star has 20 planets.
E)   A star has zero planets.F) B) and C)
G) None of the above

Question 11

Briefly summarize the differences between terrestrial and jovian planets.

Accepted Answer

Terrestrial planets are metallic or rock...

Question 12

Within the frost line, planetesimals were composed entirely of rock and outside the frost line planetesimals were composed entirely of ice.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

Which of the following is not evidence supporting the idea that our Moon formed as a result of a giant impact?

Accepted Answer

A)   The Pacific Ocean appears to be a large crater-probably the one made by the giant impact.
B)   Computer simulations show that the Moon could really have formed in this way.
C)   The Moon's average density suggests it is made of rock much more like that of the Earth's outer layers than that of the Earth as a whole.
D)   The Moon has a much smaller proportion of easily vaporized materials than Earth.E) B) and D)
F) B) and C)

Question 14

According to our theory of solar system formation, why do all the planets orbit the Sun in the same direction and in nearly the same plane?

Accepted Answer

A)   The original solar nebula happened to be disk-shaped by chance.
B)   Any planets that once orbited in the opposite direction or a different plane were ejected from the solar system.
C)   The laws of conservation of energy and conservation of angular momentum ensure that any rotating, collapsing cloud will end up as a spinning disk.
D)   The Sun formed first, and as it grew in size it spread into a disk, rather like the way a ball of dough can be flattened into a pizza by spinning it.
E)   Luck explains it, as we would expect that most other solar systems would not have all their planets orbiting in such a pattern.F) C) and D)
G) A) and E)

Exam 6: Formation of Planetary Systems: Our Solar System and Beyond

Briefly summarize the differences between terrestrial and jovian planets.

Correct Answer
verified
Terrestrial planets are metallic or rock...
View Answer

The age of the solar system can be established by radioactive dating of

Correct Answer
verified

What percentage of the solar nebula's mass consisted of hydrogen and helium gases?

Correct Answer
verified

According to modern science, what was the approximate chemical composition of the solar nebula?

Correct Answer
verified

Which of the following is not evidence supporting the idea that our Moon formed as a result of a giant impact?

Correct Answer
verified

Which of the following statements about the accelerations and gravitational forces between a planet and a star is true?

Correct Answer
verified

Within the frost line, planetesimals were composed entirely of rock and outside the frost line planetesimals were composed entirely of ice.

Correct Answer
verified

What do we mean by the period of heavy bombardment in the context of the history of our solar system?

Correct Answer
verified

According to our theory of solar system formation, why do all the planets orbit the Sun in the same direction and in nearly the same plane?

Correct Answer
verified

The more massive planets in the solar system tend to be less dense than the lower mass planets.

Correct Answer
verified

Which of the following discoveries would cause us to re-evaluate the nebular theory for forming planets?

Correct Answer
verified

What do we mean by accretion in the context of planet formation?

Correct Answer
verified

A planet's size can be determined by observing its transit across a star.

Correct Answer
verified

How do scientists determine the age of the solar system?

Correct Answer
verified

Exam 6: Formation of Planetary Systems: Our Solar System and Beyond

Briefly summarize the differences between terrestrial and jovian planets.

Correct AnswerverifiedTerrestrial planets are metallic or rock...View AnswerShow Answer

The age of the solar system can be established by radioactive dating of

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What percentage of the solar nebula's mass consisted of hydrogen and helium gases?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

According to modern science, what was the approximate chemical composition of the solar nebula?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following is not evidence supporting the idea that our Moon formed as a result of a giant impact?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following statements about the accelerations and gravitational forces between a planet and a star is true?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Within the frost line, planetesimals were composed entirely of rock and outside the frost line planetesimals were composed entirely of ice.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What do we mean by the period of heavy bombardment in the context of the history of our solar system?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

According to our theory of solar system formation, why do all the planets orbit the Sun in the same direction and in nearly the same plane?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The more massive planets in the solar system tend to be less dense than the lower mass planets.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following discoveries would cause us to re-evaluate the nebular theory for forming planets?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What do we mean by accretion in the context of planet formation?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

A planet's size can be determined by observing its transit across a star.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

How do scientists determine the age of the solar system?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct Answer
verified
Terrestrial planets are metallic or rock...
View Answer

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verified

Correct Answer
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