Exam 2 Homework Questions

Question 1

The planet closest to the Sun in the solar system is:

A) Venus
B) None of these
C) Pluto
D) Neptune
E) Mercury

Answer 1

E) Mercury

Question 2

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

Answer 2

B) Revolve around the Sun in the same direction

Question 3

Which of the following is NOT a terrestrial planet?

A) Venus
B) Jupiter
C) Mars
D) Mercury
E) Earth

Answer 3

B) Jupiter

Question 4

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

Answer 4

C) Jovians (being larger) rotate significantly more slowly than terrestrials

Question 5

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

Answer 5

C) They all have solid surfaces with signs of geological activity on them

Question 6

The Earth has a radius of 6,400 km.

Part (c)
What is the volume of Earth in m^3?

Answer 6

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.

Question 6

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?

Answer 6

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.

Question 7

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.

Answer 7

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.

Question 8

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.

Answer 8

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.

Question 9

Is Jupiter more or less dense than the Earth?

Answer 9

Less dense

Question 10

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.

Answer 10

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.

Question 11

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.

Answer 11

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.

Question 12

Water has a density of approximately 1 × 10^3 kg/m^3. Is Saturn more or less dense than water?

Answer 12

Less dense

Question 13

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

Answer 13

Order of mass (from least massive to most massive):

Asteroid Sydneywolf
Pluto
The Earth
Jupiter
The Sun

Question 14

What are all the planets in our solar system from closest to furthest from the Sun?

Answer 14

Order of planets from closest to furthest from the Sun:

Mercury
Venus
Earth
Mars
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune

Question 15

Arrange the planets based on whether they are terrestrial planets or Jovian planets.

Answer 15

Terrestrial Planets (Rocky, solid surfaces):

Mercury
Venus
Earth
Mars
Jovian Planets (Gas giants):

Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune

Question 16

Compared to the mass of the Sun, the mass of the Earth is pretty insignificant.

A) TRUE
B) FALSE

Answer 16

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.

Question 17

The term “solar system” refers to the Sun and everything that orbits around it.

A) TRUE
B) FALSE

Answer 17

A) TRUE

The solar system includes the Sun, planets, moons, asteroids, comets, and all other objects that orbit the Sun.

Question 18

More than 90% of the mass of the solar system is found in the four giant planets.

A) TRUE
B) FALSE

Answer 18

B) FALSE

More than 99% of the mass of the solar system is concentrated in the Sun, not in the giant planets.

Question 19

All the planets in the solar system are similar in terms of what materials they are mostly made of.

A) TRUE
B) FALSE

Answer 19

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.

Question 20

The eight planets may be different in size, but they all have roughly the same density.

A) TRUE
B) FALSE

Answer 20

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.

Question 21

The giant planets are made of much lighter (less dense) materials than the terrestrial planets.

A) TRUE
B) FALSE

Answer 21

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.

Question 22

Comets are mostly icy chunks, while asteroids are mostly rocky chunks left over from the formation of the solar system.

A) TRUE
B) FALSE

Answer 22

A) TRUE

Comets are primarily composed of ice, dust, and small rocky particles, while asteroids are mostly made of rock and metal.

Question 23

Among the giant planets, only Saturn has rings around it.

A) TRUE
B) FALSE

Answer 23

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.

Question 24

Among the terrestrial planets, Earth is the smallest.

A) TRUE
B) FALSE

Answer 24

B) FALSE

Mercury is the smallest of the terrestrial planets, while Earth is the largest.