ASTRONOMY 1010 FINAL EXAM GSU
CORRECT 100%
Planetary ___ have common plane and direction, low eccentricity; - ANSWER orbits
___shows similar order; - ANSWER Rotation
Moons have similar ___. - ANSWER motions
Orbital spacing ___random. - ANSWER not
Terrestrial and Jovian planets show ___ and composition - ANSWER trends in size
The collapse of an interstellar cloud. As the cloud contracts, it rotates faster, and the
outer parts flatten into a disk. This can be observed happening elsewhere in our Galaxy
today. As disk cools, solid grains form; more volatile ices found only in the outer part.
Accretion of grains (sticky collisions) produce planets; - ANSWER The collapse of an
interstellar cloud. As the cloud contracts, it rotates faster, and the outer parts flatten into
a disk. This can be observed happening elsewhere in our Galaxy today. As disk cools,
solid grains form; more volatile ices found only in the outer part. Accretion of grains
(sticky collisions) produce planets;
Jovian planets grow even larger by attracting ___abundant gases. - ANSWER cold
Many extrasolar planets (orbiting other stars) have been found in the last decade by ___
techniques. Most are "hot Jupiters" but this is probably a selection effect. - ANSWER
Doppler or transit
Factors influencing the odds of life as we know it include the number of stars, the
fraction like the Sun, fraction not binary or multiple, fraction with planets, and the
number of nice planets per star. Harder to quantify factors: origin of life, intelligence,
and survival. - ANSWER Factors influencing the odds of life as we know it include the
number of stars, the fraction like the Sun, fraction not binary or multiple, fraction with
planets, and the number of nice planets per star. Harder to quantify factors: origin of life,
intelligence, and survival.
There is ___ that would satisfy an astronomer that other civilizations have visited us as
"UFOs". - ANSWER no evidence
___ would be faster and cheaper. - ANSWER Radio signals
Most probable would be the detection of a greeting from a more advanced civilization,
or perhaps just picking up their radio noise. No results to date, but the next few decades
may give the answer. - ANSWER Most probable would be the detection of a greeting
, from a more advanced civilization, or perhaps just picking up their radio noise. No
results to date, but the next few decades may give the answer.
Detecting message content would be much more difficult than just the raw signal's
existence, and require much more sensitivity than currently available. - ANSWER
Detecting message content would be much more difficult than just the raw signal's
existence, and require much more sensitivity than currently available.
It's too late to hide. Another equally-advanced civilization would have the same tools to
find us. - ANSWER It's too late to hide. Another equally-advanced civilization would
have the same tools to find us.
Methane and ammonia are simple molecules found in Jovian planet atmospheres. They
consist of carbon and nitrogen, respectively, bonded with what other element? -
ANSWER Hydrogen
What is the correct list in order of the sun with the Jovian planets? - ANSWER Jupiter,
Saturn. Uranus, Neptune
Temperatures in Saturn's clouds are actually higher than what we would expect if they
were only determined by amount of absorbed sunlight. What is the primary cause of this
temperature excess in the clouds? - ANSWER The interior of Saturn still radiates
gravitationally-produced energy
Imagine a probe descending into Jupiter's atmosphere. As you leave the bottom layer of
the atmosphere what would you find next? - ANSWER An ocean of liquid hydrogen
Which best describes the location of the Kuiper Belt ? - ANSWER A thick disk beginning
at about 30 AU and extending out a few hundred AU in the ecliptic plane
What would move across your night sky in just a few seconds? - ANSWER Meteor
Why has Pluto's status as a planet been downgraded? - ANSWER It's composition and
orbit are similar to the many other large Kuiper Belt Objects.
In visible light, which Jovian planet showed almost no evidence of the belts and zones
seen in the atmospheres of others? - ANSWER Uranus
Why do we think the moon Triton will fragment into pieces at some point in the future? -
ANSWER Its retrograde orbit will cause to spiral in too close to the planet.
What is the composition of a typical comet nucleus? - ANSWER Rock, ice, and dust
You are in Tucson, Arizona, at 32 degrees north latitude and 111 degrees west
longitude. What is the altitude of the North Star? - ANSWER 32 degrees above the
horizon.
CORRECT 100%
Planetary ___ have common plane and direction, low eccentricity; - ANSWER orbits
___shows similar order; - ANSWER Rotation
Moons have similar ___. - ANSWER motions
Orbital spacing ___random. - ANSWER not
Terrestrial and Jovian planets show ___ and composition - ANSWER trends in size
The collapse of an interstellar cloud. As the cloud contracts, it rotates faster, and the
outer parts flatten into a disk. This can be observed happening elsewhere in our Galaxy
today. As disk cools, solid grains form; more volatile ices found only in the outer part.
Accretion of grains (sticky collisions) produce planets; - ANSWER The collapse of an
interstellar cloud. As the cloud contracts, it rotates faster, and the outer parts flatten into
a disk. This can be observed happening elsewhere in our Galaxy today. As disk cools,
solid grains form; more volatile ices found only in the outer part. Accretion of grains
(sticky collisions) produce planets;
Jovian planets grow even larger by attracting ___abundant gases. - ANSWER cold
Many extrasolar planets (orbiting other stars) have been found in the last decade by ___
techniques. Most are "hot Jupiters" but this is probably a selection effect. - ANSWER
Doppler or transit
Factors influencing the odds of life as we know it include the number of stars, the
fraction like the Sun, fraction not binary or multiple, fraction with planets, and the
number of nice planets per star. Harder to quantify factors: origin of life, intelligence,
and survival. - ANSWER Factors influencing the odds of life as we know it include the
number of stars, the fraction like the Sun, fraction not binary or multiple, fraction with
planets, and the number of nice planets per star. Harder to quantify factors: origin of life,
intelligence, and survival.
There is ___ that would satisfy an astronomer that other civilizations have visited us as
"UFOs". - ANSWER no evidence
___ would be faster and cheaper. - ANSWER Radio signals
Most probable would be the detection of a greeting from a more advanced civilization,
or perhaps just picking up their radio noise. No results to date, but the next few decades
may give the answer. - ANSWER Most probable would be the detection of a greeting
, from a more advanced civilization, or perhaps just picking up their radio noise. No
results to date, but the next few decades may give the answer.
Detecting message content would be much more difficult than just the raw signal's
existence, and require much more sensitivity than currently available. - ANSWER
Detecting message content would be much more difficult than just the raw signal's
existence, and require much more sensitivity than currently available.
It's too late to hide. Another equally-advanced civilization would have the same tools to
find us. - ANSWER It's too late to hide. Another equally-advanced civilization would
have the same tools to find us.
Methane and ammonia are simple molecules found in Jovian planet atmospheres. They
consist of carbon and nitrogen, respectively, bonded with what other element? -
ANSWER Hydrogen
What is the correct list in order of the sun with the Jovian planets? - ANSWER Jupiter,
Saturn. Uranus, Neptune
Temperatures in Saturn's clouds are actually higher than what we would expect if they
were only determined by amount of absorbed sunlight. What is the primary cause of this
temperature excess in the clouds? - ANSWER The interior of Saturn still radiates
gravitationally-produced energy
Imagine a probe descending into Jupiter's atmosphere. As you leave the bottom layer of
the atmosphere what would you find next? - ANSWER An ocean of liquid hydrogen
Which best describes the location of the Kuiper Belt ? - ANSWER A thick disk beginning
at about 30 AU and extending out a few hundred AU in the ecliptic plane
What would move across your night sky in just a few seconds? - ANSWER Meteor
Why has Pluto's status as a planet been downgraded? - ANSWER It's composition and
orbit are similar to the many other large Kuiper Belt Objects.
In visible light, which Jovian planet showed almost no evidence of the belts and zones
seen in the atmospheres of others? - ANSWER Uranus
Why do we think the moon Triton will fragment into pieces at some point in the future? -
ANSWER Its retrograde orbit will cause to spiral in too close to the planet.
What is the composition of a typical comet nucleus? - ANSWER Rock, ice, and dust
You are in Tucson, Arizona, at 32 degrees north latitude and 111 degrees west
longitude. What is the altitude of the North Star? - ANSWER 32 degrees above the
horizon.
