Page 1 of 22
MSU ISP 205 FINAL EXAM | FREQUENTLY
TESTED QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS | BRAND NEW!
Which gas is colder? - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > Molecular hydrogen
What is the leading scenario for the formation of the Moon? - ✔✔✔
Correct Answer > It formed from the material ejected in a giant
impact.
Why did the solar nebula heat up as it collapsed? - ✔✔✔ Correct
Answer > As the cloud shrank, its gravitational potential energy
was converted to thermal energy.
Why do asteroids and comets differ in composition? - ✔✔✔ Correct
Answer > Asteroids formed inside the frost line, while comets
formed outside.
If the freezing point of ices of all types was at a much lower
temperature, what change would that imply for the formation of
our solar system? - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > The gas giants would have
to form at a larger distance.
,Page 2 of 22
Which of the following observations of an extrasolar planet
system would be inconsistent with our theory of planet
formation? - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > About half of the planets around a
star orbit in one direction, and half in the other direction.
The habitable zone is defined as a region around a star where ... -
✔✔✔ Correct Answer > planets could have liquid water on their
surface.
Which of these observations would suggest the presence of a
planet orbiting a star? - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > A slight decrease in
the brightness of a star that repeats multiple times with regular
periods.
A "hot jupiter" is a gas giant with similar mass to jupiter, but ... -
✔✔✔ Correct Answer > it is much closer to its star making its
atmosphere much hotter.
You are looking for extrasolar planets using the Doppler
technique. What features are most important for you to measure?
- ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > The wavelengths of lines in the spectrum.
, Page 3 of 22
What type of extrasolar planet is most easily detected by the
Doppler technique? - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > Jupiter-mass planets
close to their sun.
Why is Venus so much hotter than Earth? - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer >
Venus has significant amounts of carbon dioxide in its
atmosphere.
Which of the following shows evidence for ancient river beds? -
✔✔✔ Correct Answer > Mars.
What is the fundamental reason that Mars has become virtually
geologically dead (unlike the Earth which is geologically active)?
- ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > Its relatively small mass.
If the polar ice decreases, what would happen, and why? - ✔✔✔
Correct Answer > Warming, because more sunlight is absorbed.
What kind of thermal radiation does the Earth emit? - ✔✔✔ Correct
Answer > infrared light
Why does increasing the amount a greenhouse gas increase the
temperature of a planet? - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > Greenhouse gases
absorb infrared light.
MSU ISP 205 FINAL EXAM | FREQUENTLY
TESTED QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS | BRAND NEW!
Which gas is colder? - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > Molecular hydrogen
What is the leading scenario for the formation of the Moon? - ✔✔✔
Correct Answer > It formed from the material ejected in a giant
impact.
Why did the solar nebula heat up as it collapsed? - ✔✔✔ Correct
Answer > As the cloud shrank, its gravitational potential energy
was converted to thermal energy.
Why do asteroids and comets differ in composition? - ✔✔✔ Correct
Answer > Asteroids formed inside the frost line, while comets
formed outside.
If the freezing point of ices of all types was at a much lower
temperature, what change would that imply for the formation of
our solar system? - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > The gas giants would have
to form at a larger distance.
,Page 2 of 22
Which of the following observations of an extrasolar planet
system would be inconsistent with our theory of planet
formation? - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > About half of the planets around a
star orbit in one direction, and half in the other direction.
The habitable zone is defined as a region around a star where ... -
✔✔✔ Correct Answer > planets could have liquid water on their
surface.
Which of these observations would suggest the presence of a
planet orbiting a star? - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > A slight decrease in
the brightness of a star that repeats multiple times with regular
periods.
A "hot jupiter" is a gas giant with similar mass to jupiter, but ... -
✔✔✔ Correct Answer > it is much closer to its star making its
atmosphere much hotter.
You are looking for extrasolar planets using the Doppler
technique. What features are most important for you to measure?
- ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > The wavelengths of lines in the spectrum.
, Page 3 of 22
What type of extrasolar planet is most easily detected by the
Doppler technique? - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > Jupiter-mass planets
close to their sun.
Why is Venus so much hotter than Earth? - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer >
Venus has significant amounts of carbon dioxide in its
atmosphere.
Which of the following shows evidence for ancient river beds? -
✔✔✔ Correct Answer > Mars.
What is the fundamental reason that Mars has become virtually
geologically dead (unlike the Earth which is geologically active)?
- ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > Its relatively small mass.
If the polar ice decreases, what would happen, and why? - ✔✔✔
Correct Answer > Warming, because more sunlight is absorbed.
What kind of thermal radiation does the Earth emit? - ✔✔✔ Correct
Answer > infrared light
Why does increasing the amount a greenhouse gas increase the
temperature of a planet? - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > Greenhouse gases
absorb infrared light.
