Exam 2 Homework Questions Flashcards
The planet closest to the Sun in the solar system is:
A) Venus
B) None of these
C) Pluto
D) Neptune
E) Mercury
E) Mercury
All the planets (without exception):
A) Have satellites orbiting around them
B) Revolve around the Sun in the same direction
C) Have solid surfaces
D) Have atmospheres much thicker than Earth’s
E) Rotate on their axes in the same direction that they revolve around the Sun
B) Revolve around the Sun in the same direction
Which of the following is NOT a terrestrial planet?
A) Venus
B) Jupiter
C) Mars
D) Mercury
E) Earth
B) Jupiter
Which of the following ways that Jovian (giant) planets differ from the terrestrial planets is NOT CORRECT?
A) Jovians have rings while terrestrials do not
B) Jovians are made of lighter elements on average than terrestrials
C) Jovians (being larger) rotate significantly more slowly than terrestrials
D) Jovians are further from the Sun than terrestrials
E) Jovians have more mass than the terrestrials
C) Jovians (being larger) rotate significantly more slowly than terrestrials
Which of the following characteristics do all four terrestrial planets have in common?
A) All have liquid water on their surfaces
B) They all have one or more moons
C) They all have solid surfaces with signs of geological activity on them
D) They all rotate in 24 hours or less
E) They all have thick atmospheres
C) They all have solid surfaces with signs of geological activity on them
The Earth has a radius of 6,400 km.
Part (c)
What is the volume of Earth in m^3?
To calculate the volume of a sphere, use the formula:
V = (4/3)πr^3
Where r is the radius of the Earth. First, convert Earth’s radius to meters:
6,400 km = 6,400,000 m = 6.4 × 10^6 m
Now calculate the volume:
V = (4/3)π(6.4 × 10^6 m)^3
V ≈ (4/3)π(2.62 × 10^20 m^3)
V ≈ 1.1 × 10^21 m^3
Earth’s volume is approximately 1.1 × 10^21 m^3.
The planet Jupiter has a mass of 1.9 × 10^27 kg and a radius of 72,000 km. The Earth, meanwhile, has a mass of 6.0 × 10^24 kg and a radius of 6,400 km.
Part (a)
What is the volume of Jupiter in m^3?
To calculate the volume of a sphere, use the formula:
V = (4/3)πr^3
Where r is the radius of the planet. First, convert Jupiter’s radius to meters:
72,000 km = 72,000,000 m = 7.2 × 10^7 m
Now calculate the volume:
V = (4/3)π(7.2 × 10^7 m)^3
V ≈ (4/3)π(3.73 × 10^23 m^3)
V ≈ 1.57 × 10^24 m^3
Jupiter’s volume is approximately 1.57 × 10^24 m^3.
The planet Jupiter has a mass of 1.9 × 10^27 kg and a volume of approximately 1.57 × 10^24 m^3 (from Part a).
Part (b)
Calculate the density of Jupiter in kg/m^3.
The formula for density is:
Density = Mass / Volume
Using the given values for Jupiter’s mass and volume:
Density = (1.9 × 10^27 kg) / (1.57 × 10^24 m^3)
Density ≈ 1.21 × 10^3 kg/m^3
Jupiter’s density is approximately 1,210 kg/m^3.
The Earth has a mass of 6.0 × 10^24 kg and a volume of approximately 1.1 × 10^21 m^3 (from Part c).
Part (d)
Calculate the density of Earth in kg/m^3.
The formula for density is:
Density = Mass / Volume
Using the given values for Earth’s mass and volume:
Density = (6.0 × 10^24 kg) / (1.1 × 10^21 m^3)
Density ≈ 5.45 × 10^3 kg/m^3
Earth’s density is approximately 5,450 kg/m^3.
Is Jupiter more or less dense than the Earth?
Less dense
The planet Saturn has a mass of 5.7 × 10^26 kg and a radius of 58,000 km.
Part (a)
Calculate the volume of Saturn in m^3.
To calculate the volume of a sphere, use the formula:
V = (4/3)πr^3
First, convert Saturn’s radius to meters:
58,000 km = 58,000,000 m = 5.8 × 10^7 m
Now calculate the volume:
V = (4/3)π(5.8 × 10^7 m)^3
V ≈ (4/3)π(1.95 × 10^23 m^3)
V ≈ 8.18 × 10^23 m^3
Saturn’s volume is approximately 8.18 × 10^23 m^3.
The planet Saturn has a mass of 5.7 × 10^26 kg and a volume of approximately 8.18 × 10^23 m^3 (from Part a).
Part (b)
Calculate the density of Saturn in kg/m^3.
The formula for density is:
Density = Mass / Volume
Using the given values for Saturn’s mass and volume:
Density = (5.7 × 10^26 kg) / (8.18 × 10^23 m^3)
Density ≈ 6.97 × 10^2 kg/m^3
Saturn’s density is approximately 697 kg/m^3.
Water has a density of approximately 1 × 10^3 kg/m^3. Is Saturn more or less dense than water?
Less dense
Put the following members of our solar system in order of mass, from the least massive to the most massive:
The Sun
The Earth
Jupiter
Pluto
Asteroid Sydneywolf
Order of mass (from least massive to most massive):
Asteroid Sydneywolf
Pluto
The Earth
Jupiter
The Sun
What are all the planets in our solar system from closest to furthest from the Sun?
Order of planets from closest to furthest from the Sun:
Mercury
Venus
Earth
Mars
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
Arrange the planets based on whether they are terrestrial planets or Jovian planets.
Terrestrial Planets (Rocky, solid surfaces):
Mercury
Venus
Earth
Mars
Jovian Planets (Gas giants):
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
Compared to the mass of the Sun, the mass of the Earth is pretty insignificant.
A) TRUE
B) FALSE
A) TRUE
The Sun’s mass (approximately 1.99 × 10^30 kg) is vastly greater than Earth’s mass (approximately 6.0 × 10^24 kg), making Earth’s mass insignificant in comparison.
The term “solar system” refers to the Sun and everything that orbits around it.
A) TRUE
B) FALSE
A) TRUE
The solar system includes the Sun, planets, moons, asteroids, comets, and all other objects that orbit the Sun.
More than 90% of the mass of the solar system is found in the four giant planets.
A) TRUE
B) FALSE
B) FALSE
More than 99% of the mass of the solar system is concentrated in the Sun, not in the giant planets.
All the planets in the solar system are similar in terms of what materials they are mostly made of.
A) TRUE
B) FALSE
B) FALSE
Terrestrial planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars) are mostly made of rock and metal, while Jovian planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune) are primarily composed of hydrogen, helium, and other gases.
The eight planets may be different in size, but they all have roughly the same density.
A) TRUE
B) FALSE
B) FALSE
Terrestrial planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars) are much denser than Jovian planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune), which are composed mainly of gases and have much lower densities.
The giant planets are made of much lighter (less dense) materials than the terrestrial planets.
A) TRUE
B) FALSE
A) TRUE
The giant planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune) are primarily composed of lighter elements like hydrogen and helium, making them less dense compared to the rocky, denser terrestrial planets.
Comets are mostly icy chunks, while asteroids are mostly rocky chunks left over from the formation of the solar system.
A) TRUE
B) FALSE
A) TRUE
Comets are primarily composed of ice, dust, and small rocky particles, while asteroids are mostly made of rock and metal.
Among the giant planets, only Saturn has rings around it.
A) TRUE
B) FALSE
B) FALSE
All four giant planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune) have ring systems, though Saturn’s rings are the most prominent and easily visible.
Among the terrestrial planets, Earth is the smallest.
A) TRUE
B) FALSE
B) FALSE
Mercury is the smallest of the terrestrial planets, while Earth is the largest.
