Astro quiz 3

The nebular theory of the origin of the solar system was proposed by

• Galileo

• Buffon

• Laplace

• Non of the above

The passing star mechanism of the origin of the solar system was proposed by

• Descartes

• Laplace

• Buffon

• none of the above

Which of the following observations would support the solar nebula theory over the passing star hypothesis?

• proving that most of the solar like stars near the sun also have planets orbiting them.

• proving that none of the stars near the sun has planets orbiting them

• finding a planet located beyond the orbit of Pluto

• proving that Mercury has the same uncompressed density as Earth

Which one supports the solar nebula theory of the origin of the solar system?

• Planets are round.

• The sun is the least massive object in the solar system.

• Disks are common around young stars.

• Disks are rare around young stars.

The oldest rocks found on Earth are about ____________ years old.

• 10 billion

• 5.3 billion

• 4.4 billion

• 3.9 billion

Which of the following is not a characteristic of the terrestrial planets?

• low average density

• orbits inside the asteroids

• craters in old surfaces

• very few satellites

A(n) __________ is a solar system object that enters Earth's atmosphere and becomes very hot due to friction between the object and Earth's atmosphere.

• asteroid

• meteor

• comet

• meteoroid

The age of the solar system is believed to be approximately 4.6 billions years old based on the data from

• samples of lunar rocks.

• samples of earth rocks.

• samples of meteorites.

• All of the above

• Non of the above

In observations, _______has a heavy element core, and a deep atmosphere made mostly of hydrogen.

• Uranus

• Mars

• Venus

• an asteroid

The current atmosphere of Earth is believed to be

• the remnants of the original gas from the solar nebula attracted by the protoplanet.

• the result of the melting and vaporizing of the glaciers from the last ice age.

• composed primarily of hydrogen and helium.

• composed of gases that were baked from the rocks sometime after the planet formed.