BYU GEOLOGY 109 EXAM 1QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Lesson 1 - The Solar System
Major concepts (for reference) - Answer -1. A planet is a body, not large enough to
generate nuclear fusion reactions, that orbits a star. Planets are largely composed of
metals, silicates, ices, and gases.
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.
Which is the correct sequence of planets, based on increasing average radius of their
orbits? - Answer -Mercury
Venus
Earth
Mars
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
Pluto
Which statement is true for the outer planets of our solar system?
a) They produce enough internal energy to glow like the Sun.
b) They are largely made of hydrogen and helium.
c) They have solid surfaces just below a layer of clouds.
d) They lack systems of rings. - Answer -b) They are largely made of hydrogen and
helium.
Water ice is most abundant... - Answer -on the moons of the outer planets.
, What sets the composition of the moons of the outer 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 nitrogen ice.
c) The moons of the outer planets generally have more iron metal and are denser than
those of the inner planets.
d) The moons of the outer planets generally have lower densities. - Answer -d) The
moons of the outer planets generally have lower densities.
Which objects have orbits that take them the farthest from the Sun in our solar system?
a) Comets
b) Asteroids
c) Pluto and its moon Charon
d) Galilean satellites - Answer -a) Comets
Which of the following objects is most like Earth in size and composition?
a) Mercury
b) Ida
c) Mars
d) Venus
e) Neptune - Answer -d) Venus
What is a major difference between planets and stars? (Select all that apply.)
a) Planets are much smaller in diameter than the stars around which they revolve.
b) Planets do not generate energy through nuclear fusion.
c) Planets do not have systems of smaller bodies in orbits around them like many stars
do.
d) Planets have solid surfaces, and stars do not. - Answer -a) Planets are much smaller
in diameter than the stars around which they revolve.
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b) Planets do not generate energy through nuclear fusion.
What are the major differences between a moon and a planet? (Select all that apply.)
a) Planets revolve around the Sun.
b) Moons revolve around a Sun-orbiting planet.
c) Moons are smaller than any of the planets.
d) Except for Earth's moon, all other moons orbit the Sun between Mars and Jupiter. -
Answer -a) Planets revolve around the Sun.
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b) Moons revolve around a Sun-orbiting planet.
Lesson 1 - The Solar System
Major concepts (for reference) - Answer -1. A planet is a body, not large enough to
generate nuclear fusion reactions, that orbits a star. Planets are largely composed of
metals, silicates, ices, and gases.
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.
Which is the correct sequence of planets, based on increasing average radius of their
orbits? - Answer -Mercury
Venus
Earth
Mars
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
Pluto
Which statement is true for the outer planets of our solar system?
a) They produce enough internal energy to glow like the Sun.
b) They are largely made of hydrogen and helium.
c) They have solid surfaces just below a layer of clouds.
d) They lack systems of rings. - Answer -b) They are largely made of hydrogen and
helium.
Water ice is most abundant... - Answer -on the moons of the outer planets.
, What sets the composition of the moons of the outer 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 nitrogen ice.
c) The moons of the outer planets generally have more iron metal and are denser than
those of the inner planets.
d) The moons of the outer planets generally have lower densities. - Answer -d) The
moons of the outer planets generally have lower densities.
Which objects have orbits that take them the farthest from the Sun in our solar system?
a) Comets
b) Asteroids
c) Pluto and its moon Charon
d) Galilean satellites - Answer -a) Comets
Which of the following objects is most like Earth in size and composition?
a) Mercury
b) Ida
c) Mars
d) Venus
e) Neptune - Answer -d) Venus
What is a major difference between planets and stars? (Select all that apply.)
a) Planets are much smaller in diameter than the stars around which they revolve.
b) Planets do not generate energy through nuclear fusion.
c) Planets do not have systems of smaller bodies in orbits around them like many stars
do.
d) Planets have solid surfaces, and stars do not. - Answer -a) Planets are much smaller
in diameter than the stars around which they revolve.
&
b) Planets do not generate energy through nuclear fusion.
What are the major differences between a moon and a planet? (Select all that apply.)
a) Planets revolve around the Sun.
b) Moons revolve around a Sun-orbiting planet.
c) Moons are smaller than any of the planets.
d) Except for Earth's moon, all other moons orbit the Sun between Mars and Jupiter. -
Answer -a) Planets revolve around the Sun.
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b) Moons revolve around a Sun-orbiting planet.
