Habitable Planets

What is the band of potential habitability?

• the right distance from a star for an atmosphere to form

• the right distance from a star for a terrestrial planet to form

• the right distance and temperature for liquid water

• the right distance to protect a planet from the sun's UV rays

Compared to a smaller, cooler star, a giant hot star's habitable zone would be found _________________.

• at a much greater distance

• at a much smaller distance

• at a much higher temperature

• at a much lower temperature

Which of the following is not a characteristic of a habitable planet?

• Earth-sized

• terrestrial planet

• Within its stars habitable zone

• gas giant

Why are big bright stars less likely to have habitable planets than smaller stars?

• they are too long lived

• they are short lived and run out of hydrogen fuel quickly

• they are too bright

• they do not produce enough heat

Why are very small stars less likely to have habitable planets than average sized stars (like our sun)?

• the habitable zones would be so close that planets would be tidally locked

• the habitable zones would be so close that planets would not orbit

• the habitable zones would be so far that the planets would be too cold

• the habitable zones would be very narrow, so it is unlikely any planets would be in it

What is the best place to look for habitable planets?

• Around giant, hot stars

• Around small, cool stars

• Around sun-like stars (average size and temperature)

• Around white dwarfs

Future missions will use telescopes to sense the reflected light of exoplanets. What biosignatures will these missions search for?

• carbon dioxide, sulfuric acid

• methane, nitroxide

• glucose, sulfur dioxide

• water vapor, oxygen, ozone

What is the term 'goldilocks zone' a nickname for?

• habitable zone

• mid-sized stars like our sun

• mid-sized planets like our Earth

• atmospheres of the right thickness

What is the Moon's most important role in making the Earth habitable?

• causing tides

• stabilizing Earth's axial tilt

• causing seasons on Earth

• blocking Earth from the sun's UV rays

Why are there seasons on Earth?

• the Earth's axis is tilted about 23.4 degrees

• the Earth wobbles on it's axis from 0-90 degrees

• the Moon's gravity causes seasons

• the Earth orbiting the sun causes seasons

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1