Solar System

Accretion defines a planetary process by which ....

• protoplanets grow into planetesimals
• planetesimals grow into protoplanets
• planetesimals break apart
• planets are captured by a star

Flattening of a nebular disk is the direct result of...

• cloud rotation
• cloud condensation
• cloud contraction
• cloud cooling

A comprehensive hypothesis about the formation of a solar system needs to account for all these considerations except:

• the direction, shape, and plane of orbits
• the differentiation of the nebula into planets, star(s), and other bodies
• the number of orbiting objects
• the growth of smaller objects into larger objects.

The two ice giants in our Solar System are mainly a consequence of ....

• early formation from the nebular disk.
• being large in size.
• being located beyond the Frost Line.
• being made of gas.

Which International Astronomical Union (IAU) characteristic does Pluto fail to meet for a planet?

• It has mass enough to form a spherical body.
• It has cleared out its orbital path of other bodies.
• It orbits a star (our Sun).
• It has an elliptical orbit.

The least amount of thermal energy (heat) for the internal formation of planets comes from...

• gravitational compaction
• solar radiation (light)
• radioactive decay
• impacts during accretion

One fact that the Solar Nebular hypothesis does not explain is...

• the existence of planets.
• that orbits of all planets are in the same direction.
• the existence of life in our Solar System.
• the existence of a star

Compaction of the core of a gas cloud to form the Sun was primarily caused by...

• a shock wave
• gravity
• suction
• accretion

A planet must ...

• be relatively large
• be solid throughout
• orbit a star
• have a moon

A star "burns" by...

• combustion
• fusion
• oxidation
• fission

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-1

NGSS.HS-PS1-8