Unit 2: Solar System Structure and Formation

Question 1

For every force there is an equal but opposite reaction force.

Accepted Answer

Newton's 3rd Law

Question 2

The age of our solar system is approximately

Accepted Answer

4.6 billion years

Question 3

The orbital speed of a planet with a large orbital eccentricity will...

Accepted Answer

change by a large amount throughout the planet's year

Question 4

According to the solar nebula theory, what are asteroids and comets?

Accepted Answer

Leftover planetesimals that never formed into planets.

Question 5

Force = mass x acceleration

Accepted Answer

Newton's 2nd Law

Question 6

When will a planet have the fastest speed in its orbit?

Accepted Answer

When it is closest to the Sun.

Question 7

Gravity is __________ related to mass.

Accepted Answer

directly

Question 8

When the planets formed, the temperature in our solar system was...

Accepted Answer

high near the sun and decreasing outwards

Question 9

As the planet Venus formed, temperatures in this region were around 900 K. Thus, Venus formed out of...

Accepted Answer

all substances with melting temperatures above 900 K

Question 10

A planet sweeps out equal areas of the ellipse over equal time intervals.

Accepted Answer

Kepler's 2nd Law

Question 11

Which of the following is the correct order for Terrestiral planets formation sequence?

Accepted Answer

collapse, condesation, accretion, clearing

Question 12

If a planet is in a star's Habitable Zone it...

Accepted Answer

is at the right distance to possibly have liquid water on the surface.

Question 13

All planets move in elliptical orbits, with the Sun at one focus.

Accepted Answer

Kepler's 1st Law

Question 14

The densities of planets far from the Sun are ...

Accepted Answer

low because they became massive enough during formation to retain H and He

Question 15

The frost line was the point in the early solar system where volatile material began to condense to solids.

Accepted Answer

True

Question 16

An object in motion will stay in motion and an object at rest will stay at rest unless acted on by an external force.

Accepted Answer

Newton's 1st Law

Question 17

Which of the following is NOT evidence supporting the Solar Nebula Theory?

Accepted Answer

The sun does not spin on its axis.

Question 18

Doubling a planet's orbital distance will cause the planet's orbital period to ...

Accepted Answer

more than double

Question 19

If the average distance between Earth and the Sun were doubled, what would happen to the Earth's orbital period?

Accepted Answer

increase

Question 20

Which of the following formation steps occurs for Jovian planets but not Terrestrial planets?

Accepted Answer

gas capture

Question 21

The composition of the early solar nebula is thought to be very similar to the composition of ...

Accepted Answer

the outer layers of the Sun

Question 22

The force of gravity causes a planet to slow down when it gets closer to the Sun.

Accepted Answer

False

Question 23

A planet's mass does not affect its orbital period.

Accepted Answer

True

Question 24

The square of the period of any planet is proportional to the cube of the semimajor axis.

Accepted Answer

Kepler's 3rd Law

Question 25

Gravity is __________ related to distance.

Accepted Answer

inversely

Unit 2: Solar System Structure and Formation

Questions 25

Unit 2: Solar System Structure and Formation

Questions 25