Astronomy 1010 Exam #2 Chapter 10 Questions and Answers Fully Solved Latest Version 2025-2026
Jupiter and Saturn, despite being considerably farther from us than the inner terrestrial planets, are very
bright in our sky. Which of the following choices are possible explanations for this?
Choose one or more:
A. Dust obscures our view of the inner planets more than the outer ones.
B. They are more reflective (higher albedo) than most of the terrestrial planets.
C. Since they are closer to stars, more starlight is reflected off of them than the inner planets.
D. They are larger than the terrestrial planets.
E. They are so hot that they emit blackbody radiation that peaks in the visible. - AnswersB. They are
more reflective (higher albedo) than most of the terrestrial planets.
D. They are larger than the terrestrial planets.
Uranus is visible to the naked eye, a bit brighter than the faintest naked-eye stars. However, it was not
until well after the invention of the telescope in the late 18th century that Uranus was accidently
discovered. How could people have missed this naked-eye planet until then?
Compare Uranus's properties in the following chart to the other planets, then select the option that
could explain why Uranus was harder to discover.
Choose one:
A. None of the listed properties should have any effect on its ease of discovery.
B. It has a longer rotation period than Jupiter and Saturn.
C. It has a longer orbital period than Jupiter and Saturn.
D. Its rotation axis is tilted nearly on its side (high obliquity). - AnswersC. It has a longer orbital period
than Jupiter and Saturn.
After it was discovered, astronomers predicted Uranus's orbit using Newton's laws of motion and
gravity, which had worked extremely well for all of the other planets. To their surprise, they found that
their observations of Uranus's motion through the sky did not match their predictions. Which of the
following would be the most logical next step?
, Choose one:
A. Newton's laws of motion and gravity have been falsified, so they should be scrapped in favor of a
completely new hypothesis.
B. If the data doesn't match Newton's laws of motion and gravity, then the data must be bad, so this
finding should be disregarded.
C. Newton's laws of motion and gravity must be modified to match the data.
D. Check for other previously undiscovered factors that might alter Uranus's orbit while still allowing it
to obey Newton's laws of motion and gravity. - AnswersD. Check for other previously undiscovered
factors that might alter Uranus's orbit while still allowing it to obey Newton's laws of motion and gravity.
Uranus's orbit did not appear to behave according to Newton's laws of motion and gravity. The most
likely culprit for Uranus's misbehaving orbit was the gravitational influence of another planet. Using
Newton's laws, astronomers were able to calculate exactly where they would expect this still-
undiscovered planet to be. When telescopes were pointed at this position, Neptune was seen. What
does this imply?
Choose one:
A. Newton's laws have been verified by yet another test, so we should use them with high confidence
until and unless they are falsified by future tests.
B. Newton's laws have been verified by yet another test, but there is still not enough evidence for them,
so they should be treated with cautious skepticism.
C. Newton's laws have been falsified.
D. Newton's laws have been verified as absolute truth. - AnswersA. Newton's laws have been verified by
yet another test, so we should use them with high confidence until and unless they are falsified by
future tests.
Once all the giant planets were discovered, scientists could compare their properties to learn something
about them. Study this picture, and choose the following options that match your observations.
Choose one or more:
A. All of the planets have bands of alternating colors.
B. Some planets differ considerably in color from one another.
Jupiter and Saturn, despite being considerably farther from us than the inner terrestrial planets, are very
bright in our sky. Which of the following choices are possible explanations for this?
Choose one or more:
A. Dust obscures our view of the inner planets more than the outer ones.
B. They are more reflective (higher albedo) than most of the terrestrial planets.
C. Since they are closer to stars, more starlight is reflected off of them than the inner planets.
D. They are larger than the terrestrial planets.
E. They are so hot that they emit blackbody radiation that peaks in the visible. - AnswersB. They are
more reflective (higher albedo) than most of the terrestrial planets.
D. They are larger than the terrestrial planets.
Uranus is visible to the naked eye, a bit brighter than the faintest naked-eye stars. However, it was not
until well after the invention of the telescope in the late 18th century that Uranus was accidently
discovered. How could people have missed this naked-eye planet until then?
Compare Uranus's properties in the following chart to the other planets, then select the option that
could explain why Uranus was harder to discover.
Choose one:
A. None of the listed properties should have any effect on its ease of discovery.
B. It has a longer rotation period than Jupiter and Saturn.
C. It has a longer orbital period than Jupiter and Saturn.
D. Its rotation axis is tilted nearly on its side (high obliquity). - AnswersC. It has a longer orbital period
than Jupiter and Saturn.
After it was discovered, astronomers predicted Uranus's orbit using Newton's laws of motion and
gravity, which had worked extremely well for all of the other planets. To their surprise, they found that
their observations of Uranus's motion through the sky did not match their predictions. Which of the
following would be the most logical next step?
, Choose one:
A. Newton's laws of motion and gravity have been falsified, so they should be scrapped in favor of a
completely new hypothesis.
B. If the data doesn't match Newton's laws of motion and gravity, then the data must be bad, so this
finding should be disregarded.
C. Newton's laws of motion and gravity must be modified to match the data.
D. Check for other previously undiscovered factors that might alter Uranus's orbit while still allowing it
to obey Newton's laws of motion and gravity. - AnswersD. Check for other previously undiscovered
factors that might alter Uranus's orbit while still allowing it to obey Newton's laws of motion and gravity.
Uranus's orbit did not appear to behave according to Newton's laws of motion and gravity. The most
likely culprit for Uranus's misbehaving orbit was the gravitational influence of another planet. Using
Newton's laws, astronomers were able to calculate exactly where they would expect this still-
undiscovered planet to be. When telescopes were pointed at this position, Neptune was seen. What
does this imply?
Choose one:
A. Newton's laws have been verified by yet another test, so we should use them with high confidence
until and unless they are falsified by future tests.
B. Newton's laws have been verified by yet another test, but there is still not enough evidence for them,
so they should be treated with cautious skepticism.
C. Newton's laws have been falsified.
D. Newton's laws have been verified as absolute truth. - AnswersA. Newton's laws have been verified by
yet another test, so we should use them with high confidence until and unless they are falsified by
future tests.
Once all the giant planets were discovered, scientists could compare their properties to learn something
about them. Study this picture, and choose the following options that match your observations.
Choose one or more:
A. All of the planets have bands of alternating colors.
B. Some planets differ considerably in color from one another.
