AST101 - Midterm 1 Questions With Verified Answers
What constitutes a terrestrial planet? - correct answer ✔ ✔ Small,
Rocky, relatively thin or no Atmosphere, few moons, made from heavy
elements
The Order of the Solar System - correct answer ✔ ✔ Mercury,
Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
What are the terrestrial planets? - correct answer ✔ ✔ The four inner
planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars.
What are common characteristics of terrestrial planets? - correct answer
✔ ✔ They are small, rocky, have relatively thin or no atmosphere,
few moons, and are made from heavy elements.
What is unique about Mercury's atmosphere? - correct answer ✔ ✔
Mercury has no atmosphere, resulting in a highly cratered surface.
,What is the temperature range on Mercury? - correct answer ✔ ✔
Temperature fluctuates between -170°C and 425°C.
What is Venus's atmosphere primarily composed of? - correct answer ✔
✔ A thick carbon dioxide (CO2) atmosphere.
What effect does Venus's atmosphere have on its temperature? - correct
answer ✔ ✔ The runaway greenhouse effect makes it consistently
460°C everywhere.
How does Venus rotate compared to Earth? - correct answer ✔ ✔
Venus rotates very slowly and in the opposite direction (backwards).
What is a significant feature of Earth's atmosphere? - correct answer ✔
✔ It is composed of oxygen (O2) and nitrogen (N2), and oceans
regulate CO2 levels.
What is notable about Mars's atmosphere? - correct answer ✔ ✔
Mars has a very thin CO2 atmosphere and evidence of past oceans.
What are the Jovian planets? - correct answer ✔ ✔ The four outer
planets: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
, What is a common characteristic of Jovian planets? - correct answer ✔
✔ They are gas giants, significantly larger than terrestrial planets.
What is the largest planet in the solar system? - correct answer ✔ ✔
Jupiter
What type of atmosphere surrounds Jupiter? - correct answer ✔ ✔
Thick gaseous atmosphere surrounding a giant ball of liquid hydrogen
How many moons does Jupiter have? - correct answer ✔ ✔ More
than 60 known moons
What is Saturn known for? - correct answer ✔ ✔ Its rings and being
the second-largest planet in the solar system
What is unique about Uranus's rotation? - correct answer ✔ ✔ Its
rotation axis is tilted 98 degrees
What is Neptune's notable atmospheric feature? - correct answer ✔ ✔
It has the strongest winds in the solar system, reaching up to 2,100
km/h
What constitutes a terrestrial planet? - correct answer ✔ ✔ Small,
Rocky, relatively thin or no Atmosphere, few moons, made from heavy
elements
The Order of the Solar System - correct answer ✔ ✔ Mercury,
Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
What are the terrestrial planets? - correct answer ✔ ✔ The four inner
planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars.
What are common characteristics of terrestrial planets? - correct answer
✔ ✔ They are small, rocky, have relatively thin or no atmosphere,
few moons, and are made from heavy elements.
What is unique about Mercury's atmosphere? - correct answer ✔ ✔
Mercury has no atmosphere, resulting in a highly cratered surface.
,What is the temperature range on Mercury? - correct answer ✔ ✔
Temperature fluctuates between -170°C and 425°C.
What is Venus's atmosphere primarily composed of? - correct answer ✔
✔ A thick carbon dioxide (CO2) atmosphere.
What effect does Venus's atmosphere have on its temperature? - correct
answer ✔ ✔ The runaway greenhouse effect makes it consistently
460°C everywhere.
How does Venus rotate compared to Earth? - correct answer ✔ ✔
Venus rotates very slowly and in the opposite direction (backwards).
What is a significant feature of Earth's atmosphere? - correct answer ✔
✔ It is composed of oxygen (O2) and nitrogen (N2), and oceans
regulate CO2 levels.
What is notable about Mars's atmosphere? - correct answer ✔ ✔
Mars has a very thin CO2 atmosphere and evidence of past oceans.
What are the Jovian planets? - correct answer ✔ ✔ The four outer
planets: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
, What is a common characteristic of Jovian planets? - correct answer ✔
✔ They are gas giants, significantly larger than terrestrial planets.
What is the largest planet in the solar system? - correct answer ✔ ✔
Jupiter
What type of atmosphere surrounds Jupiter? - correct answer ✔ ✔
Thick gaseous atmosphere surrounding a giant ball of liquid hydrogen
How many moons does Jupiter have? - correct answer ✔ ✔ More
than 60 known moons
What is Saturn known for? - correct answer ✔ ✔ Its rings and being
the second-largest planet in the solar system
What is unique about Uranus's rotation? - correct answer ✔ ✔ Its
rotation axis is tilted 98 degrees
What is Neptune's notable atmospheric feature? - correct answer ✔ ✔
It has the strongest winds in the solar system, reaching up to 2,100
km/h
