Chapter 16 Study Guide (From Quiz)

All planets orbit the Sun:

A. the same direction that that the Sun rotates on its axis.
B. in a direction that is about 90 degrees to the way that the Sun rotates on its axis.
C. in a direction opposite to the way that the Sun rotates on its axis.
D. in different directions, some of which are the same direction that the Sun rotates on its axis.
E. none of the above.

A

The tail of a comet always points away from __________.

A. the nearest asteroid
B. Jupiter
C. the nearest star
D. the Moon
E. none of the above

C

The Kuiper belt separates:

A. the main part of the solar system from the Oort cloud.
B. the inner from the outer part of the Oort cloud.
C. Neptune from Uranus.
D. Mars from Jupiter.
E. the inner and outer parts of the solar system.

A

Differentiation means that:

A. the same density of materials should be found at the surface of a planet as at the center.
B. less dense materials should be found at the surface of a planet.
C. more dense materials should be found at the surface of a planet.
D. all of the above
E. none of the above

B

Humans bones have a strength and density to compensate for:

A. gravity of Earth.
B. all of the above
C. none of the above
D. gravity of Jupiter.
E. gravity of a supermassive exoplanet.

A

Earth formed approximately __________ billion years ago.

A. 5.5
B. 4.0
C. 5.0
D. 4.5
E. 6.0

D

The Earth's layered composition is a consequence of:

A. differentiation of materials.
B. the great bombardment.
C. isolation.
D. condensation currents.
E. plate tectonics.

A

Why are the Jovian planets formed from materials different from the terrestrial planets?

A. The composition of elements in a planet was a random process after the Big Bang
B. Only the terrestrial planets formed from planetesimals.
C. When the solar system first formed, the heaviest elements sank toward the center of the nebulae and the lightest elements floated out.
D. Terrestrial planets were protected by the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.
E. Gaseous Jovian planets, formed farther away from the heat of the Sun, are formed from light weight nebulae "dust."

E

What two elements comprise most of a nebula?

A. hydrogen and helium
B. oxygen and hydrogen
C. carbon and hydrogen
D. helium and lithium
E. hydrogen and nitrogen

A

According to the nebular hypothesis, the solar system began as:

A. a cloud containing approximately equal amounts of all naturally occurring elements
B. a cloud of dust and gas.
C. a vast area of totally empty space.
D. a rapidly rotating sun.
E. two comets that collided with a tremendous impact.

B

What new astronomical information resulted from the impact of the comet Shoemaker-Levy on Jupiter in 1994?

A. effect of hydrogen bombs on Jupiter's atmosphere
B. mineral analysis of Jupiter's core
C. the number of volcanoes located within 100 km of the impact
D. composition of atmosphere beneath the planet's surface
E. amount of water in Jupiter's atmosphere

D

A comparison of asteroids and terrestrial planets would reveal that both are:

A. made primarily of gases.
B. composed of chunks of ice surrounded by solid material.
C. relatively rocky and small.
D. large and dense, compared to the Jovian planets.
E. located beyond the effect of solar heat and wind.

C

Scientists study meteorites:

A. to find out more about other parts of the solar system.
B. because they contain the material from which the solar system was made.
C. to find out more about how and when the Earth was created.
D. for all the above reasons.

D

The impact collision theory of the Moon's formation:

A. states that the Moon was formed elsewhere in the Solar System and was captured by Earth's gravitational force.
B. was disproved by samples from the Apollo lunar missions.
C. suggests that the Moon was formed by light, less dense materials that floated into the orbit around the Earth.
D. states that the Earth was struck by a huge object, causing a large amount of mantle material to be blown into orbit.
E. suggests that the Moon was thrown from a spinning Earth.

D

The composition of the Earth's Moon is most like:

A. Mars.
B. the core of the earth.
C. a comet.
D. the Earth's mantle.
E. the Earth's crustal material.

D

The mantle of the Earth can be described as:

A. primarily gaseous.
B. resembling a metallic core.
C. being like the surface of the Earth.
D. helium, oxygen, magnesium, silicon.
E. containing hot, soft rock.

E

The inner core at the center of the Earth:

A. is made from rocks similar to those on the Earth's surface.
B. is under low pressure, but at a very high temperature.
C. is liquid.
D. contains a mixture of solids, liquids, and gases.
E. is solid.

E

Which of the following is true about jovian planets?

A. They have shorter years than terrestrial planets.
B. They have higher densities than terrestrial planets.
C. They have shorter days than terrestrial planets.
D. They have fewer moons than terrestrial planets.

C