Edge Solar System Quiz

Which of the following are terrestrial planets?

• only Earth
• the Earth, Moon, and Venus
• Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars
• Mercury, Venus, Earth, Moon, and Mars

The major difference(s) between the terrestrial and jovian planets involve(s)

• mass
• density
• rotation speed
• mass and density

Which of the following defines density?

• mass times surface gravity
• mass divided by volume
• size divided by weight
• mass times surface area

Compared with terrestrial planets, jovian planets share all of the following characteristics except

• low density.
• large size
• many moons
• slower rotation. 

Asteroids are evidence of

• a planet that once orbited the Sun but later was destroyed.
• ancient material from the formation of the solar system.
• a collision between Jupiter and one of its larger moons.
• comets that were trapped by Jupiter’s gravitational field.

The condensation theory explains why

• our planet Earth has water and rain
• stars are more likely to form large planets orbiting very near.
• terrestrial planets are different from jovian planets.
• the Moon formed near the Earth. 

Any theory of the origin of the Solar System must explain all of these EXCEPT Mars 

• the orbits of the planets are nearly circular, and in the same plane.
• the direction that planets orbit the Sun is opposite to the Sun’s spin.
• the terrestrial planets have higher density and lower mass.
• comets do not necessarily orbit in the plane of the solar system.

Any theory of the origin of the Solar System must explain all of these EXCEPT Mars 

• the orbits of the planets are nearly circular, and in the same plane.
• the direction that planets orbit the Sun is opposite to the Sun’s spin.
• the terrestrial planets have higher density and lower mass.
• comets do not necessarily orbit in the plane of the solar system.

What is the name of the theory that is currently used to describe the formation of the solar system?

• Perturbation Theory
• Condensation Theory
• Differentiation Theory
• Close-encounter Theory

The condensation sequence theory explains why

• our planet Earth has water and rain.
• stars are more likely to form large planets orbiting very near.
• terrestrial planets are different from jovian planets.
• the Moon formed near the Earth