Origins of the Solar System

What was the initial state of the region where our solar system formed?

• A cluster of stars

• A huge thin cloud of gas

• A dense cloud of dust

• A black hole

Who proposed the nebula theory of solar system formation?

• Galileo Galilei

• Emmanuel Kant

• Albert Einstein

• Isaac Newton

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-6

What type of radiation does the Spitzer Space Telescope use to observe the universe?

• Ultraviolet

• X-ray

• Infrared

• Gamma

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS4-4

What event is believed to have triggered the collapse of our solar nebula?

• A massive solar flare

• A nearby supernova explosion

• A collision with another galaxy

• The formation of a black hole

What is the primary force that pulls particles together in the early stages of planetary formation?

• Magnetic force

• Centrifugal force

• Nuclear force

• Electrostatic force

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS2-4

What is the 'frost line' in the context of the solar system?

• The limit of the sun's gravitational influence

• The boundary where water can exist as a liquid

• The distance from the sun where it is cold enough for hydrogen compounds to condense

• The edge of the asteroid belt

What evidence suggests that the moon contains material that was once part of the Earth?

• Similar atmospheric composition

• Magnetic field similarities

• Chemical isotopes in lunar samples

• The presence of water

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-6

What phenomenon is referred to as the 'late heavy bombardment'?

• A period of intense volcanic activity on Earth

• The migration of gas giants

• A phase of frequent meteorite impacts on the moon and Earth

• The formation of the asteroid belt

What is the significance of the two-to-one resonance between Jupiter and Saturn?

• It led to the formation of the Kuiper belt

• It triggered the late heavy bombardment

• It caused them to switch places

• It stabilized their orbits

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-4

What could have happened if Saturn had been slightly larger?

• It would have formed a second sun

• It could have destroyed all smaller planets

• It would have become a gas giant

• It could have formed a new asteroid belt