Venus is brightest at
A full phase
B new phase
C both (a) and (b)
D neither (a) nor (b)
in a model for the evolution of a terrestrial, the most important physical property in determining the extent of a planet's evolution is its
A bulk density.
B total mass.
C distance from the sun.
D atmospheric composition.
E magnetic field strength.
the most important advantage of the grand tour of the solar system was
A the chance to send a space probe out of the solar system entirely
B the chance to send a space probe to four planets at the cost of sending it to one, in terms of fuel
C to see all the planets in the solar system at close distances
D to use the unusual alignment of the planets to harness the force of gravity on the Earth
the formation of planets requires
A condensation due to the force of gravity in a turbulent cloud
B a balance between the centrifugal force and gravity
C rapid rotation of a condensation
D a very large condensation
tides are caused by
A a bulge in the Earth's surface
B magnetic fields between the Earth and the moon
C gravitational attraction of the moon and the sun on the oceans
D no choice
comparing the Jovian and terrestrial planets in terms of their group characteristics, which of these is (are) correct?
A the Jovian planets have a lower density.
B the Jovian planets are more massive.
C the Jovian planets have stronger magnetic fields.
D the Jovian planets have many more satellites.
E all of the above.
a planetary system around a nearby star might be detected by
A observing a planet with a very large telescope in space
B by measuring the parallax of the star
C by measuring the Doppler shift of the planet
D by detecting the orbit of the star as it reacts to the motion of the planets
the retrograde rotation of Venus is
A normal
B of unknown origin
C uncertain
D no choice
consider the cores of the terrestrial planets. choose the correct order of planets from largest to smallest metallic cores.
A Venus, Earth, Mars, Mercury
B Earth, Venus, Mars, Mercury
C Mercury, Mars, Venus, Earth
D Earth, Mercury, Venus, Mars
E Earth, Venus, Mercury, Mars
Mercury is hard to observe because it
A is faint
B is always close to the sun
C radiates mostly in the infrared
D is behind another planet
the movement of the vernal equinox is due to
A the tilt of the Earth's axis from the perpendicular to its orbital plane
B precession
C the fact that the plane of the moon's orbit is not in the plane of the Earth's orbit
D no choice
the first step in the formation of a planet is
A contraction of cloud of gas under the force of gravity
B sticking of dust grains as they collide
C a close encounter between two stars which pulls matter from one of the stars
D formation of a rapidly rotating planetary cloud of gas
a superior planet displays retrograde motion when it is near
A opposition
B superior conjunction
C inferior conjunction
D quadrature
Kepler's second law (equal areas in equal times) implies that the planets move
A fastest when closest to the sun
B fastest when furthest from the sun
C at the same speed all the time
D in elliptical orbits.
in the solar system most planets and satellites
A move in random directions
B move in unpredictable directions
C move in a common direction
D do not move at all
the banded appearance of the giant planets is due to
A their cool surface temperatures
B their rapid rotation
C structures in the atmospheres
D unknown influences
the differential rotation of Jupiter gives us information about Jupiter's
A surface features
B atmosphere
C interior
D no choice
which of the following is still a possibility for the existence of extraterrestrial life
A Venus
B Mars
C Jupiter
D moon?
the shape of a planet's orbit is given by the
A eccentricity
B semi-major axis
C perihelion distance
D true anomaly
the rings of Saturn are thought to be
A solid
B gaseous
C millions of dust particles
D no choice
retrograde motion occurs when
A the planet and the Earth pass each other on the same side of the sun
B the planet and the Earth pass each other on opposite sides of the sun
C the planet is at quadrature
D no choice
which of the following has the greatest average density
A Earth
B Saturn
C Jupiter
D a comet?
albedo is
A a famous spanish astronomer
B the phenomenon that occurs when the moon passes in front of the sun
C the alignment of any three bodies
D a measure of the reflecting power of an object
which of the following is contrary to the regular motion of most of the objects in the solar system
A the very rapid rotation of Jupiter
B the fact that the moon keeps the same side toward the Earth at all times
C the large number of moons that circle Jupiter
D the slow backward rotation of Venus
how many times during a year will an inferior planet be at opposition?
A 0
B 1
C 2
D 3
the planets are thought to have
A originated in the cloud of dust and gas from which the sun formed
B been captured when they came close to the sun
C resulted from the near passage of a star
D resulted from an explosion in the sun
what is (are) the major difference(s) between Jovian and terrestrial planets?
A terrestrial planets have larger diameters.
B terrestrial planets are composed of denser materials.
C Jovian planets are less evolved.
D (b) and (c).
E all of the above.
the terrestrial planets are ______ then the Jovian planets.
A larger, more massive and denser
B smaller, less massive and denser
C smaller, more massive and less dense
D larger, less massive and less dense
the fact that the seasons change is due to
A the ellipticity of the Earth's orbit
B the rotation of the Earth
C the tilt of the Earth's axis from the perpendicular to its orbital plane
D no choice
Jupiter grew to a large size as it formed because
A of its very rapid rotation
B it efficiently swept up matter in the solar cloud over a long period of time
C it formed from very large dust grains
D it formed early compared to the other planets, before most of the matter fell into the sun
which is not true of Saturn's rings
A they are very thin
B they are composed of relatively small particles
C they are outside the roche limit of Saturn
D stars can be seen through them?
the synodic period of a superior planet is always
A less than one year
B longer than its sidereal period
C given by bode's law
D longer than one year
Kepler's second law can be applied
A only at conjunctions and oppositions
B anytime
C only at greatest elongation
D no choice
compared to the terrestrial planets, the giant planets are
A denser
B closer to the sun
C smaller
D less dense
highest tides occur near
A full moon
B new moon
C different lunar phases
D no choice
Jupiter's surface appears to be banded because of
A intense magnetic fields at the surface
B the rapid rotation
C the perturbations of Jupiter's moons
D no choice
if the Earth were not in orbit around the sun it would
A remain stationary in space
B fall into the sun
C move away from the sun
D disintegrate
which planet emits radio waves
A Venus
B Mars
C Jupiter
D Saturn?
which planet has retrograde rotation?
A Mercury
B Venus
C Mars
D no choice
which of the following planets never transits the sun as seen from Mars
A Mercury
B Earth
C Jupiter
D no choice
which of the following is not a characteristic of the Jovian planets?
A low average density
B orbits outside the asteroids
C hydrogen-poor composition
D large diameters
bode's law can
A explain why the planets are at certain distances from the sun
B explain why the planets have circular orbits
C predict the distances of the planets, but not why they have those distances
D no choice
Kepler's third law is useful for predicting
A the shape of Earth satellite orbit
B the height necessary for a synchronous Earth orbit
C times of inferior conjunction for Jovian planets
D no choice
all terrestrial planets are _______ than the Jovian planets
A smaller
B closer to the sun
C more dense
D all of the above
Ptolemy's theory placed the Earth
A at the center of the universe
B at the center of the solar system, but far from the center of the universe
C in orbit around the sun
D in orbit around the moon
Kepler's laws apply to the motion of
A the planets around the sun
B binary stars
C Earth satellites
D all of these
the rate of rotation of the planets depends upon
A how fast their original condensations were rotating
B their size only
C their distance from the sun only
D their chemical composition
which object normally has the most elongated orbit
A Mercury
B moon
C comet
D Pluto?
compared to the planets which formed first, the last planets to form in the solar system are
A farther from the sun
B larger
C smaller
D less dense
which of the following rotates backwards
A Venus
B Mars
C Jupiter
D Saturn?
where on the surface of the Earth is the centrifugal force weakest
A equator
B Wichita
C Australia
D north pole
which of the following is not a characteristic of the terrestrial planets?
A low average density
B orbits inside the asteroids
C craters in old surfaces
D small diameters
which of the following Jovian planets has the lowest density?
A Jupiter
B Saturn
C Uranus
D Neptune
an example of an occultation is
A Mercury passing in front of the sun
B the moon passing in front of Saturn
C an annular solar eclipse
D the meeting of the three witches in macbeth
the Earth is slightly flattened from a perfect spherical shape because of
A its rotation
B the pull of the sun and moon
C storms on the sun's surface
D its molten core
bode's law describes (approximately) which of the following properties of the planets?
A relative sizes
B relative orbital periods
C relative distances from the sun
D relative colors
the clouds on Jupiter appear banded because of
A erosion on the surface
B heating effects from the sun
C motion of its moons
D its rapid rate of rotation
the wobbling of the Earth's axis with a period of 26,000 years is called
A precession
B syzygy
C quadrature
D no choice
as seen from space, the whole Earth appears
A as a blue-white planet
B predominately brown or grey
C obviously flattened due to its rotation
D obviously inhabited by some form of biological life
which of the following planets would show phases when viewed from Mars
A Mercury
B Mars
C Jupiter
D Pluto
Kepler's orbit laws apply to the motion of
A Earth satellites
B binary stars
C planets
D any orbiting body
which of the following planets has the densest atmosphere
A Mercury
B Venus
C Earth
D Mars?
the common occupance of planetary systems is supported by the existence of
A galaxies
B quasars
C clouds of gas in our galaxy
D binary stars
which of the following is not true of the solar system
A all planets revolve in roughly the same plane
B all planets revolve in the same direction
C most of the mass of the solar system is concentrated in the sun
D planetary orbits are randomly oriented
the inner four planets are
A composed primarily of gaseous material
B too close to the sun to support life
C composed primarily of rocky material
D starlike in appearance when viewed from the Earth
the rotation of the solar system was caused by
A the forces of gravity within the solar system
B collisions within the solar system
C magnetic forces in the solar system
D the motion of the turbulent cloud from which the solar system formed
the giant planets are composed primarily of
A hydrogen and helium
B carbon dioxide
C iron
D rocky materials
the atmospheres of Venus and Mars are composed primarily of
A hydrogen and helium
B carbon dioxide
C methane
D ammonia
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