EASPC Unit 3 Review

What are dwarf planets?

• Planets that are smaller than terrestrial planets

• Planets that are larger than Jovian planets

• Round objects that orbit the sun but are too small to be considered a planet

• Planets that have a solid surface

Which planet appears red because the dust on the surface contains iron oxide? It is the most studied planet, other than Earth, has polar ice caps, and contains evidence that liquid water once existed on its surface. This planet has two satellites named Phobos and Deimos.

• Mercury

• Venus

• Mars

• Jupiter

Which planet appears a pale yellow color because its upper atmosphere contains ammonia crystals? It is the least dense planet and could float on water. Located about 9.5 times farther from the sun than the Earth, the light from the sun takes over an hour to reach the surface of this planet. Surrounding this planet are large rings composed of billions of small chunks of ice and rock.

• Neptune

• Saturn

• Uranus

• Jupiter

Every 84 years, which planet makes a complete orbit around the sun? This Jovian planet is unique because it spins sideways at a 99-degree tilt. It has faint rings and its clouds are made up of hydrogen sulphide, the same gas that gives rotten eggs their unpleasant smell.

• Uranus

• Neptune

• Saturn

• Jupiter

A year on which planet is only 88 days, however a day on the planet lasts 176 Earth days. It has no moons or rings because of its low gravity and lack of atmosphere. Drastic and frequent temperature changes occur on this planet. It is the smallest planet with a cratered surface and an enormous iron core.

• Mercury

• Venus

• Mars

• Jupiter

Dark, cold, and whipped by supersonic winds, which icy gas giant is orbited by Triton and 13 other known satellites? Huge spinning storms called Great Dark Spots periodically appear on this planet. This planet is located the farthest from the sun and is the coldest planet.

• Uranus

• Neptune

• Saturn

• Jupiter

Which is the densest planet and the only planet with liquid water on its surface? This planet has one moon and orbits the sun every 365 days. Its atmosphere is made up of approximately 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen. It is tectonically active and the interior is composed of a crust, mantle, and core.

• Mercury

• Venus

• Earth

• Mars

The Olympus Mons Shield Volcano is the tallest mountain in the solar system and is located on which planet?

• Mercury

• Venus

• Mars

• Jupiter

According to the Nebular Theory, how was the solar system formed?

• By the collision of two galaxies

• By the explosion of a supernova

• By the fusion of hydrogen atoms

• By the clumping together of matter in a rotating disk

Which of the following is a characteristic of terrestrial planets?

• They have a gaseous composition

• They have a solid rock and metal composition

• They have a large number of moons

• They have a thick atmosphere