GEOL 109 EXAM 1 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Lesson 1: The Solar System
Which is the correct sequence of planets, based on increasing average radius of their
orbits? - Answer -Closest to Sun
Mercury
Venus
Earth
Mars
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
Pluto
Farthest from Sun
The inner planets __________. - Answer -NONE of these:
-have about the same size as the outer planets
-all have several moons
-have about the same composition as the outer planets
-all have orbiting systems of rings
The outer planets are hydrogen-helium mixtures, larger than the inner planets, and have
rings and moons. They contrast with the inner planets in each of these aspects.
Which statement is true for the outer planets of our solar system? - Answer -They are
largely made of hydrogen and helium.
NOT:
-they produce enough internal energy to glow like the Sun
-they have solid surfaces just below a layer of clouds
-they lack systems of rings.
The giant outer planets are not large enough to sustain nuclear fusion like stars, but
they are made of similar materials - hydrogen and helium. They have no solid surfaces
and they commonly have rings.
Water ice is __________. - Answer -most abundant on the moons of the outer planets
,Water ice is stable and common on the moons of the outer planets and into the Kuiper
belt. It is unstable in the near vacuum of the inner solar system because the
temperature is too high.
What sets the composition of the moons of the outer planets apart from the inner
planets? - Answer -The moons of the outer planets generally have lower densities.
The moons of the outer planets are too small to retain atmospheres of hydrogen and
helium and are dominantly water ice rather than nitrogen ice, which is only stable in the
far outer reaches of the solar system.
Which objects have orbits that take them the farthest from the Sun in our solar system?
- Answer -Comets
Some comets have orbital periods of hundreds of thousands of years. The group of
comets that occupies the outermost limits of the solar system is called the Oort Cloud.
Which of the following objects is most like Earth in size and composition? - Answer -
Venus
Venus is nearly the same diameter and composition to Earth. Neptune is large and
compositionally very different, and the others (Mercury, Ida, & Mars) are rocky like
Earth, but significantly smaller.
What is a major difference between planets and stars? - Answer --Planets are much
smaller in diameter than the stars around which they revolve.
-Planets do not generate energy through nuclear fusion.
Planets have rings and systems of orbiting moons and some planets (the outer planets)
lack solid surfaces.
What are the major differences between a moon and a planet? - Answer --Planets
revolve around the Sun.
-Moons revolve around a Sun-orbiting planet.
A few moons are actually bigger than Pluto and Mercury. By definition, moons (natural
satellites) don't orbit around the Sun but instead revolve around another planetary body.
Some asteroids even have moons.
Which of the following are the characteristics of the asteroid belt? - Answer --The
asteroids mark the transition from the rocky terrestrial planets to the outer planets.
-Some asteroids appear to be rocky; some seem covered with lava; others seem to be
metallic; and yet others may have water ice.
-Many meteorites that fall on Earth come from the asteroid belt.
, The largest asteroid Ceres is almost 1,000 km across. The asteroids are between Mars
and Jupiter and have a wide array of compositions.
Lesson 2: Origin of the Elements - Answer -
According to our best modern day evidence, how long ago was the Big Bang? - Answer
-About 14 billion years ago.
As of 2015, our best estimate for when the Big Bang occurred is 13.8 billion years ago.
The most basic subatomic particles include which of the following? (Select all that
apply.) - Answer -Protons, neutrons, and electrons
Protons, neutrons, and electrons are the basic subatomic particles that compose the
elements. Ions are elements that has a positive or negative charge (lost or gained
electrons). Isotopes are elements with varying number of neutrons.
How are elements heavier than iron produced? - Answer -During a supernova
explosion
Only elements up to iron are made within stars. All heavier elements are created during
the intense event of a supernova.
What is the principal method of light element (up to iron, atomic number 26) production?
- Answer -nuclear fusion
Elements up to iron are constructed by nuclear fusion within stars.
The T-Tauri phase of a star's history __________. - Answer -is typified by extreme
fluctuations in energy and a strong magnetic field
The T-tauri stage occurs near the end of a stars formation. During the T-tauri stage, the
star gives up huge amounts of energy and has a strong magnetic field. The energy may
clear away some of the loose debris surrounding the star, but it is not strong enough to
strip away the atmosphere of formed planets.
Many supernovas are the result of __________. - Answer -collapse of a star with
multiple burning shells
Supernovas occur and nuclear fusion slows down tremendously in large stars. The star
then collapses in on itself and ignites any unburned fuel causing a large explosion.
How will the Sun's life probably end? - Answer -With the formation of a planetary
nebula
Lesson 1: The Solar System
Which is the correct sequence of planets, based on increasing average radius of their
orbits? - Answer -Closest to Sun
Mercury
Venus
Earth
Mars
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
Pluto
Farthest from Sun
The inner planets __________. - Answer -NONE of these:
-have about the same size as the outer planets
-all have several moons
-have about the same composition as the outer planets
-all have orbiting systems of rings
The outer planets are hydrogen-helium mixtures, larger than the inner planets, and have
rings and moons. They contrast with the inner planets in each of these aspects.
Which statement is true for the outer planets of our solar system? - Answer -They are
largely made of hydrogen and helium.
NOT:
-they produce enough internal energy to glow like the Sun
-they have solid surfaces just below a layer of clouds
-they lack systems of rings.
The giant outer planets are not large enough to sustain nuclear fusion like stars, but
they are made of similar materials - hydrogen and helium. They have no solid surfaces
and they commonly have rings.
Water ice is __________. - Answer -most abundant on the moons of the outer planets
,Water ice is stable and common on the moons of the outer planets and into the Kuiper
belt. It is unstable in the near vacuum of the inner solar system because the
temperature is too high.
What sets the composition of the moons of the outer planets apart from the inner
planets? - Answer -The moons of the outer planets generally have lower densities.
The moons of the outer planets are too small to retain atmospheres of hydrogen and
helium and are dominantly water ice rather than nitrogen ice, which is only stable in the
far outer reaches of the solar system.
Which objects have orbits that take them the farthest from the Sun in our solar system?
- Answer -Comets
Some comets have orbital periods of hundreds of thousands of years. The group of
comets that occupies the outermost limits of the solar system is called the Oort Cloud.
Which of the following objects is most like Earth in size and composition? - Answer -
Venus
Venus is nearly the same diameter and composition to Earth. Neptune is large and
compositionally very different, and the others (Mercury, Ida, & Mars) are rocky like
Earth, but significantly smaller.
What is a major difference between planets and stars? - Answer --Planets are much
smaller in diameter than the stars around which they revolve.
-Planets do not generate energy through nuclear fusion.
Planets have rings and systems of orbiting moons and some planets (the outer planets)
lack solid surfaces.
What are the major differences between a moon and a planet? - Answer --Planets
revolve around the Sun.
-Moons revolve around a Sun-orbiting planet.
A few moons are actually bigger than Pluto and Mercury. By definition, moons (natural
satellites) don't orbit around the Sun but instead revolve around another planetary body.
Some asteroids even have moons.
Which of the following are the characteristics of the asteroid belt? - Answer --The
asteroids mark the transition from the rocky terrestrial planets to the outer planets.
-Some asteroids appear to be rocky; some seem covered with lava; others seem to be
metallic; and yet others may have water ice.
-Many meteorites that fall on Earth come from the asteroid belt.
, The largest asteroid Ceres is almost 1,000 km across. The asteroids are between Mars
and Jupiter and have a wide array of compositions.
Lesson 2: Origin of the Elements - Answer -
According to our best modern day evidence, how long ago was the Big Bang? - Answer
-About 14 billion years ago.
As of 2015, our best estimate for when the Big Bang occurred is 13.8 billion years ago.
The most basic subatomic particles include which of the following? (Select all that
apply.) - Answer -Protons, neutrons, and electrons
Protons, neutrons, and electrons are the basic subatomic particles that compose the
elements. Ions are elements that has a positive or negative charge (lost or gained
electrons). Isotopes are elements with varying number of neutrons.
How are elements heavier than iron produced? - Answer -During a supernova
explosion
Only elements up to iron are made within stars. All heavier elements are created during
the intense event of a supernova.
What is the principal method of light element (up to iron, atomic number 26) production?
- Answer -nuclear fusion
Elements up to iron are constructed by nuclear fusion within stars.
The T-Tauri phase of a star's history __________. - Answer -is typified by extreme
fluctuations in energy and a strong magnetic field
The T-tauri stage occurs near the end of a stars formation. During the T-tauri stage, the
star gives up huge amounts of energy and has a strong magnetic field. The energy may
clear away some of the loose debris surrounding the star, but it is not strong enough to
strip away the atmosphere of formed planets.
Many supernovas are the result of __________. - Answer -collapse of a star with
multiple burning shells
Supernovas occur and nuclear fusion slows down tremendously in large stars. The star
then collapses in on itself and ignites any unburned fuel causing a large explosion.
How will the Sun's life probably end? - Answer -With the formation of a planetary
nebula
