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astronomy > astronomy exam 2 > Flashcards

astronomy exam 2 Flashcards

1
Q

T/F: With the exception of Venus, planetary surface temps decrease at greater. distances from the sun

A

True

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2
Q

t/f: Pluto is part of the Oort Cloud

A

False

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3
Q

t/f: within the frost line, planetesimals were composed entirely of rock, and outside the frost line, planetesimals were composed entirely of ice

A

false

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4
Q

An object orbiting a larger object that orbits the sun is called a

A

moon

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5
Q

between the orbits of mars and Jupiter lies a place called the

A

frost line

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6
Q

what do we mean by accretion in the context of planet formation

A

the growth of planetesimals from smaller solid particles that collided and stuck together

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7
Q

The frost line is between the orbits of which two planets

A

Mars & Jupiter

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8
Q

T/F: The more massive planets in the solar system tend to be less dense than the lower mass planets

A

True

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9
Q

according to our theory of solar system formation, which law best explains why the solar nebula spun faster as it shrank in size

A

the law of conservation of angular momentum

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10
Q

which of the following are relatively unchanged fragments from the early period of planet building in our solar system

A

Oort clouds comets, asteroids, Kuiper Belt comets

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11
Q

T/F: all the planets in the solar system have at least one moon

A

False

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12
Q

suppose you start with 1 kg of radioactive substance that has a half-life of 10 years. which of the following statements will be true after 20 years pass

A

you’ll have .25 kg of the radioactive substance remaining

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13
Q

suppose you view the solar system from high above earth’s North Pole. which of the following statements about planetary orbits will be true?

A

all the planets orbit counterclockwise around the sun

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14
Q

in essence, the solar nebular theory states that

A

our solar system formed from the collapse of an interstellar cloud of gas and dust

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15
Q

according to our theory of solar system formation, what are asteroids and comets?

A

leftover planetesimals that never accreted into planets

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16
Q

which of the following is not a characteristic of the inner planets

A

they have substantial atmosphere

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17
Q

in which part of the solar system is Pluto found

A

the Kuiper belt

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18
Q

T/F: Jupiter and the other gas giants formed close to the sun and migrated outward

A

False

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19
Q

where are most of the known asteroids found?

A

between the orbits of mars and Jupiter

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20
Q

based on studies of the composition of stars and interstellar gas clouds, what was the approximate chemical composition of the solar nebula

A

98% hydrogen

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21
Q

t/f: earth is the only planet in the solar system known to have active plate tectonics across its entire surface

A

true

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22
Q

which of the following most likely explains why Venus does NOT have a global magnetic field like earth

A

its rotation is too slow

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23
Q

rank the five terrestrial worlds in order of size from smallest to largest

A

Moon, Mercury, Mars, Venus, Earth

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24
Q

In what way is Venus most similar to earth

A

both planets are nearly the same size

25
Q

The core, mantle, and crust of a planet primarily have differences in their

A

density

26
Q

T/F: Today, Mars has no global magnetic field

A

true

27
Q

T/f: in the inner solar system, the largest surface features are found on the largest planets

A

False

28
Q

The planet in our solar system with the highest average surface temp is

A

Venus

29
Q

How does earth’s magnetosphere affect our atmosphere

A

it deflects solar wind particles that would otherwise strip away the atmosphere

30
Q

There are no auroras on Venus because it

A

lacks a strong magnetic field

31
Q

mars has two moons that are most similar in character to

A

small asteroids

32
Q

which planet has been visited by the largest number of robotic spacecraft

A

mars

33
Q

T/F: with the exception of Venus, planetary surface temps decrease at greater distances from the sun

A

True

34
Q

which of the following best describes the lunar Maria

A

relatively smooth, flat plans on the moon

35
Q

mars’ atmosphere is mostly carbon dioxide, why does it not experience a runaway greenhouse effect like Venus

A

Mars’ atmosphere is too thin

36
Q

True/False: earth is habitable in part due to the greenhouse effect

A

True

37
Q

which of the following worlds has the thickest atmosphere

A

Venus

38
Q

which planet could an astronaut visit without the need for a spacesuit, and survive

A

None, they need a spacesuit

39
Q

which of the terrestrial worlds has the strongest magnetic field

A

Earth

40
Q

which planet has the most extreme temps difference between day and night

A

Mercury

41
Q

why do astronomers believe that triton is a captured moon

A

Triton orbits Neptune in a direction opposite that of Neptunes rotation

42
Q

why do Uranus and Neptune appear blue

A

the methane gas in their atmospheres absorbs all colors except blue

43
Q

T/F: the mass of Saturn can be determined by applying Kepler’s 3rd law to the motion of a single ice particle in its rings

A

True

44
Q

T/F: it is impossible to land a spacecraft on any moons of the Jovian planets

A

False

45
Q

T/F: Only one of the moons of the jovian planets has an atmosphere thicker than earth’s atmosphere

A

True

46
Q

True/ False: Jupiter is the only Jovian planet with large storms

A

False

47
Q

where is Jupiter’s strong magnetic field generated

A

metallic hydrogen layer

48
Q

How do typical wind speeds in Jupiter’s atmosphere compare to typical wind speeds on earth

A

they are much faster than average wind speeds on earth

49
Q

which statement about Io is true

A

it is the most volcanically active body in our solar system

50
Q

which moons are sometimes called the Galilean moons

A

the four largest moons of Jupiter: Io, europa, Ganymede, and Callisto

51
Q

T/F: Ganymede is larger than Mercury, but it is not classified as a planet because it orbits Jupiter as opposed to the sun

A

True

52
Q

which planet has the lowest density

A

saturn

53
Q

which jovian planet does not have rings

A

all jovian planets have rings

54
Q

overall, Jupiters composition is most like that of

A

the sun

55
Q

what is the great red spot

A

a long-lived, high-pressure storm on jupiter

56
Q

what would you see as you looked down on the rings

A

countless ice particles, ranging in size from dust grains to large boulders

57
Q

which moon has a thick atmosphere made mostly of nitrogen

A

Titan

58
Q

which of the following is not general characteristic of the four jovian planets in our solar system

A

they are higher in average density than are the terrestrial planets

59
Q

which jovian planet should have the most extreme seasonal changes

A

Uranus

astronomy (5 decks)

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