BYU Geology 109 Exam 1
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_8tpepp
1. Lesson 1 - The Solar 1. A planet is a body, not large enough to generate nuclear fusion reactions,
System that orbits a star. Planets are largely composed of metals, silicates, ices, and
Major concepts (for gases.
reference) 2. The solar system contains eight official planets, several dwarf planets, and
24 other planetary bodies (moons, asteroids, and distant icy bodies) with
diameters greater than about 350 km. Some icy comets in the far distant
reaches of the solar system may also be this large.
3. The small inner planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars) are composed
mostly of silicate rocks and metals; the outer planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus,
and Neptune) are much larger, consist mostly of gaseous hydrogen and
helium, and ice, and have large systems of icy moons. Pluto, a dwarf planet,
is similar to the moons of the outer planets in size and composition.
4. The asteroids, fragments of once larger silicate and metallic bodies, orbit
the Sun and are concentrated between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.
5. Comets are small icy bodies formed in the outer solar system. If their orbits
change, they may enter the inner solar system for a short time before they
vaporize and break up.
2. Which is the correct Mercury
sequence of planets, Venus
based on increas- Earth
ing average radius of Mars
their orbits? Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
Pluto
3. Which statement is b) They are largely made of hydrogen and helium.
true for the outer
planets of our solar
system?
, BYU Geology 109 Exam 1
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_8tpepp
a) They produce
enough internal en-
ergy to glow like the
Sun.
b) They are large-
ly made of hydrogen
and helium.
c) They have solid
surfaces just below a
layer of clouds.
d) They lack systems
of rings.
4. Water ice is most on the moons of the outer planets.
abundant...
5. What sets the com- d) The moons of the outer planets generally have lower densities.
position of the
moons of the out-
er planets apart from
the inner planets?
a) The moons of the
outer planets have
abundant hydrogen
and helium -- like
the planets around
which they revolve.
b) The moons of
the outer planets are
dominated by nitro-
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_8tpepp
1. Lesson 1 - The Solar 1. A planet is a body, not large enough to generate nuclear fusion reactions,
System that orbits a star. Planets are largely composed of metals, silicates, ices, and
Major concepts (for gases.
reference) 2. The solar system contains eight official planets, several dwarf planets, and
24 other planetary bodies (moons, asteroids, and distant icy bodies) with
diameters greater than about 350 km. Some icy comets in the far distant
reaches of the solar system may also be this large.
3. The small inner planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars) are composed
mostly of silicate rocks and metals; the outer planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus,
and Neptune) are much larger, consist mostly of gaseous hydrogen and
helium, and ice, and have large systems of icy moons. Pluto, a dwarf planet,
is similar to the moons of the outer planets in size and composition.
4. The asteroids, fragments of once larger silicate and metallic bodies, orbit
the Sun and are concentrated between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.
5. Comets are small icy bodies formed in the outer solar system. If their orbits
change, they may enter the inner solar system for a short time before they
vaporize and break up.
2. Which is the correct Mercury
sequence of planets, Venus
based on increas- Earth
ing average radius of Mars
their orbits? Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
Pluto
3. Which statement is b) They are largely made of hydrogen and helium.
true for the outer
planets of our solar
system?
, BYU Geology 109 Exam 1
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_8tpepp
a) They produce
enough internal en-
ergy to glow like the
Sun.
b) They are large-
ly made of hydrogen
and helium.
c) They have solid
surfaces just below a
layer of clouds.
d) They lack systems
of rings.
4. Water ice is most on the moons of the outer planets.
abundant...
5. What sets the com- d) The moons of the outer planets generally have lower densities.
position of the
moons of the out-
er planets apart from
the inner planets?
a) The moons of the
outer planets have
abundant hydrogen
and helium -- like
the planets around
which they revolve.
b) The moons of
the outer planets are
dominated by nitro-
