IPS MidTerm Review

The Sun releases an enormous amount of energy (2.41 x 10^30 Mega Electron Volts per second) and has done so for at least 4 billion years. What information from the data table below most strongly supports the conclusion that the Sun’s energy source is a nuclear reaction rather than a chemical reaction?

• Nuclear reactions release less energy per reaction than chemical reactions.

• Chemical reactions produce water, which is found on Earth.

• The vastly longer time period (10 billion years) sustained by the nuclear reaction aligns with the Sun's known age and stability.

• Chemical reactions have a more complex equation.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-1

Based on the evidence regarding the vast amount of energy released over a very long time, the Sun's energy is produced by:

• Chemical combustion (burning).

• Nuclear fusion.

• Nuclear fission.

• Gravitational contraction.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-1

Based on what we know about nuclear fusion, what will happen to the amount of hydrogen in the Sun’s core over time?

• It will increase because hydrogen is a product of the reaction.

• It will stay the same because the Sun is an infinite resource.

• It will decrease because hydrogen is consumed as a reactant in the process.

• It will instantly turn into helium.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-1

What is the single most important property of a star that determines its life cycle, stability, and eventual final stage?

• Its distance from Earth.

• Its rotation speed.

• Its mass.

• Its chemical composition (specifically, the percentage of oxygen)

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-1

When comparing different stars, what general pattern exists between a star's color and its temperature?

• Red stars are the hottest; blue stars are the coolest.

• All stars are the same temperature regardless of color.

• Blue stars are the hottest; red stars are the coolest.

• Green stars are the hottest, but they are very rare.

Refer to the diagram 'Life Cycle of a Star'. A star that has many times the mass of our Sun will have a much shorter, more dramatic life cycle. What are 2 possible final results of the collapse following a supernova explosion of a high-mass star?

• A. A Black Hole

• B. A Planetary Nebula

• C. A Red Dwarf

• D. A Main Sequence Star

• E. Neutron Star

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-3

What is the most accurate definition of an exoplanet?

• Any object outside of Earth's solar system.

• A planet that is larger than Jupiter.

• A planet that is not rocky and is made entirely of gas.

• A planet that orbits a star other than our Sun.

According to the table above, which method accounts for the largest percentage of confirmed exoplanet discoveries?

• Radial Velocity, as it was the first widely used method.

• Microlensing, as it can detect rogue planets.

• Transit, as it is highly effective and used by the dedicated Kepler and TESS space telescopes.

• Direct Imaging (not listed), as it is the only way to photograph a planet.

The Habitable Zone (or "Goldilocks Zone") is an orbital region around a star where:

• A planet's surface temperature is suitable for liquid water to exist

• The star's gravity is strong enough to hold onto a planet.

• Planets are always the same size as Earth.

• The planet has a thick atmosphere of oxygen and nitrogen.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

How do scientists primarily gather evidence to build a computational model of the Earth's deep interior, where direct observation is impossible?

• By observing the gravitational pull of the Sun and Moon.

• By analyzing the chemical composition of rocks found in the deepest mines.

• By studying the travel times and paths of seismic waves (P-waves and S-waves) generated by earthquakes.

• By measuring the volume of volcanic lava erupted onto the surface.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS2-3