Habitable Zone

The Goldilocks Zone is determined by the

• mass and brightness of the planet

• mass of the planet

• mass and temperture of the star

• gravity of the star

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

Which helps protect the earth from radiation?

• Water

• Atmosphere

• Mantle

• Gravity

The larger the star, the __________________ the habitable zone.

• larger

• smaller

• closer to the star

• further away from the star

The Goldilocks zone refers to the habitable zone around a star where the temperature is just right for life on a planet. In our solar system, Venus, Earth, and Mars are considered to be in this zone, but this is not the only factor determining whether or not a planet can support life. Which factors contribute to Earth having liquid water while Venus and Mars do not?

• Venus has a thin carbon dioxide atmosphere and a fraction of the atmospheric pressure of sea level on Earth.

• Earth's distance from the sun allows it to maintain a stable climate suitable for liquid water.

• The distance of Earth from the sun keeps water from boiling and evaporating away.

• Venus is too close to the sun, causing any water to evaporate quickly.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

What is the primary factor that determines the location of a star's habitable zone?

• The star's mass and temperature

• The planet's atmosphere

• The distance of the planet from the star

• The presence of water on the planet

Which of the following planets is most likely to be found in the habitable zone of a star?

• A gas giant with a thick atmosphere

• A rocky planet with a thin atmosphere

• A planet with no atmosphere

• A planet with a highly elliptical orbit