Midterm exam #3 part one

Each dot on this graph represents an extrasolar planet detected over about a four-year period by the Kepler mission? Suppose the mission had been able to continue collecting data for many years. How would you expect the graph to look different in that case?

• Additional dots would be found further to the right

• additional dots would be found above the existing dots

• additional dots would be found further to the left

• all the existing dots on the graph would move diagonally up and right

Suppose you found a star with the same mass as the Sun moving back and forth with a period of 16 months. What would you conclude?

• It has a planet orbiting at less than 1 AU

• It has a planet orbiting at greater than 1 AU

• It has a planet orbiting at exatly 1 AU

• It has a planet, but we do not have enough information to know its orbital distance

If the fusion in the Sun's core sped up slightly, releasing more energy, what would happen?

• The core would contract

• the core would expand

• the color of the sun would change

What would happen inside the Sun if a slight rise in core temperature led to a rapid rise in fusion energy?

• The core would expand and heat up

• the core would expand and cool

• the sun would blow up like a hydrogen bomb

This diagram represents a star with an orbiting planet that, as seen from Earth, periodically transits across the face of the star and disappears behind the star. If you measure the brightness of this system, at what point would it be brightest?

• Point 1

• point 2

• point 3

• point 4

What is the most geologically active object we know of in the solar system?

• earth

• mercury

• mars

• Jupiter

• lo

What affects the global circulation pattern of Earth's atmosphere

• hot air from the equator rising and cool air at the poles falling

• earth's rotation

• convection

• the coriolis effect

• all of the above

The Sky is blue because

• of the reflection of the oceans

• blue is the color of oxygen gas

• blue is the color of nitrogen gas

• the blue light in sunlight scatters more than the red light

• of clouds

According to the graph, a planet with 10 times the mass of Jupiter would have a radius about ________ as that of Jupiter

• the same

• 10 times as large

• 100 times as large

• 60% as large

What is the sunspot cycle?

• the balance of pressure and gravity in the Sun's core

• the process of fusing hydrogen into helium

• the 11-year cycle of changes in the occurrence of sunspots, flares, and solar winds

• the process by which photons from the Sun's core make their way to the surface