NATS Review Exam Questions And
Correct Detailed Answers Graded A+
Why were William Herschel's telescopes particularly suited for discovering planets? - correct answers
The length of the tube= magnify (zoom in); Large mirror=collect more light;
Best collecting and magnifying power because of his telescope.
What role did Caroline Herschel play in William's discoveries? - correct answers She helped him to
develop the modern mathematical approach to astronomy
March 1781, came across a weird star when recording the positions of stars together. Thought that it
was a comet at first.
In what 2 ways did Uranus reveal itself to Herschel as a planet? - correct answers it was nebulous and
wasn't a point like a star. So, a planet had a shape, whereas stars didn't really have a shape. Also, it was
larger than the rest of the stars around it.
What is it about Uranus' orbit that classified it as a planet instead of a comet? - correct answers It had a
circular orbit, and therefore was a planet rather than a comet. Bode was the one to ultimately conclude
that the orbit's shape indicated a planet rather than a comet.
Why did the discovery of Uranus "double the size of the solar system"? - correct answers Based on the
rate of movement, led to an orbital period of 84 years, placing it 2x further away from the Sun than
Saturn
Basically, the discovery of Uranus doubled the size of our known solar system.
What is the origin of Uranus' name? - correct answers To thank the king= it was first called "George's
star"
To preserved ancient naming conventions, it was named Uranus (Greek God of the sky, the father of
Saturn, grandfather Jupiter)
What is unique about Uranus' spin? Describe (very generally) what seasons are like on Uranus due to
this feature of its spin axis. Why do astronomers think Uranus spins in this unusual manner? - correct
,answers Uranus has an interesting axial tilt. Unlike other planets, uranus obits the sun on its side (it has
a high axial tilt), possibly due to a past collision
What did Kepler believe existed between Mars and Jupiter, and why? - correct answers Kepler believed
that there was an undiscovered planet there because the gap between Mars and Jupiter was not in
harmony musically.
Explain why Bode's Law - and the discovery of Uranus - supported the idea that an undiscovered object
should exist between Mars and Jupiter. - correct answers The mystery was written about by Bode. He
talked about the orbital period and noted that the numbers of the orbital period follows an equation.
(4+3x2n, n=1,2,3...) By taking the numbers from the sequence and dividing it by ten, it would match the
orbital period. There was a number that would match right between Mars and Jupiter. When Uranus
was found, Uranus matched Bode's law, so it was seen as strong evidence that all the other planets
matched, so there had to be a planet that matched the missing orbital number between Mars and
Jupiter
How was Ceres discovered, and between which planets is it located? What is the origin of its name? -
correct answers Giuseppe Piazzi detects a star-like object in a near-circular solar orbit between Mars and
Jupiter.
Piazzi noted that it looked like a star, and then it did not correspond to the same spot.
At the 3rd day of observance, he realized that it was not a fixed star and he still noted that it was
nebulous and was still star-like. Still kept track of it until it got too close to the sun. Using the
measurements that he observed, he realized that it could fit into a circle. He calculated it to be at 2.7au,
which almost matches bode's number of 2.8au.
After months of observations, it was a planet. He named this planet Ceres, the Roman goddess of the
Harvest. Because he was from sicily which was the largest producer of grain in italy.
What was Ceres finally classified as, and why? - correct answers The status of planet lasted not very long
because it did not look like planets, but continued to look star-like no matter how magnified it got. So, it
must be small.
Herschel correctly worked out that Ceres must be smaller than the Moon, based on its star-like
appearance even at such close distances to the Earth.
So should it be considered a planet?
In the years after 1801, several other star-like objects were found in the gap between Mars and Jupiter
Initially they were called minor planets
,Herschel came up with the term Asteroid, which translates to 'star-like'
What is Ceres now known to be a part of? How does the size of Ceres compare to the other objects in
this region of space? - correct answers Known to by part of the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.
Over the next century, a circular belt containing hundreds of asteroids was discovered between Mars
and Jupiter. There are now well over 1 million asteroid identified in this belt ranging from tiny pebbles to
things 100 kilometers or so (small moons). Ceres is still the largest asteroid.
What caused astronomers to suspect the existence of a planet beyond Uranus? - correct answers
1830s=deviations found in Uranus' orbit, possibility due to an undiscovered gravity source beyond
Uranus
So, its near circular orbit was deviating from its predicted orbit, and thus something had to be
gravitationally happening to pull out of alignment.
Describe (very generally) how Neptune was discovered. - correct answers Because of the straying of
Uranus from its orbit, they predicted that there must be another planet, or essentially another source of
gravity acting on Uranus. Using Newton's law of gravity they workout where the source of gravity must
be to cause the deviation. Adams sent his information to the astronomer royal, and asked him to look
for it. It was not immediately acted on for over a year. Le Verrier, a french astronomer, also predict and
published his findings on Neptune. It was confirmed by a German colleague (Gall) shortly thereafter and
it was accepted as a planet almost right away. The discovery was initially credited to Le Verrier.
What is the origin of Neptune's name, and why was this name chosen? - correct answers Named
'Neptune': the roman god of the sea due to its obvious bluefish color, suggested by Gaul
Is Neptune consistent with Bode's Law? What does this tell us about Bode's Law? - correct answers
Orbital Radius deviated from Bode's law, indicating the law was a coincidence. Bode's law predicted
38.8au, but Neptune was at 30au.
How were Uranus' and Neptune's masses determined? How do their masses compare to the other
planets in our solar system? (Specific numbers not necessary - just general comparisons.) - correct
answers Using the size and mass and orbit of the of the largest moons observed of Uranus and Neptune,
you can calculate the mass of the planet. Neptune=17x times the mass of Earth. Using angular size
measurements, you can determine the size. Quite massive, but not as big as Jupiter.
, What type of planet are Uranus and Neptune characterized as, and why? - correct answers Ice giants
because they are low density, which indicates that they are a gas giant. But because it is distant from the
sun, there is a layer of ice .
What is unique about Neptune's largest moon, Triton? What do astronomers think may have caused this
to occur? - correct answers Triton is interesting because it is a retrograde moon, which possibly from
collision or captured. All other moons in Neptune move prograde
Triton thought to be formed else because of retrograde motion and the orbit is very elliptical and far
from Neptune.
Describe (very generally) the modern theory of the origin of our solar system. Why is it called the
'nebular hypothesis'? - correct answers Predicted that nebula is where stars are born.It starts with a self
gravitating nebula. Newton's laws indicate that eventually things will be draw to the center, and will
create a spin. It will create a equatorial bulge. More and more particles will be drawn to the center,
which causes it to spin faster. Eventually because of centrifugal forces it will flatten out in to a disc. The
density at the center will have the most gravity and continues to pull things in until it collapse in on itself
and becomes a star.
It is called the nebular hypothesis because it hypothesized that a solar system is formed in a nebula.
Use the nebular hypothesis to explain why all the planets in our solar system are codirectional and
coplanar. - correct answers The surrounding disc is starting to clump and they behave like snowballs and
within the disc there are gaps that are formed, making proto-planets. Which results in a flat planet
around the star
Solar system features: the planetary orbits are codirectional and coplanar
Explanation: the planets originate from the same spinning gas cloud.
Use the nebular hypothesis to explain the existence of the asteroid belt. - correct answers Solar system
feature: belts of asteroid between Mars and Jupiter
Explanation: matter couldn't coalesce due to Jupiter's gravity
Also, the asteroid belt= the ring of rocky debris remain because the gravity field is unique. Gravitation
pull from the Sun and also from Jupiter.
Feels 3 sources of gravity:
-The sun (keep clumps in orbit)
-Self gravity (pulling into a planet)
Correct Detailed Answers Graded A+
Why were William Herschel's telescopes particularly suited for discovering planets? - correct answers
The length of the tube= magnify (zoom in); Large mirror=collect more light;
Best collecting and magnifying power because of his telescope.
What role did Caroline Herschel play in William's discoveries? - correct answers She helped him to
develop the modern mathematical approach to astronomy
March 1781, came across a weird star when recording the positions of stars together. Thought that it
was a comet at first.
In what 2 ways did Uranus reveal itself to Herschel as a planet? - correct answers it was nebulous and
wasn't a point like a star. So, a planet had a shape, whereas stars didn't really have a shape. Also, it was
larger than the rest of the stars around it.
What is it about Uranus' orbit that classified it as a planet instead of a comet? - correct answers It had a
circular orbit, and therefore was a planet rather than a comet. Bode was the one to ultimately conclude
that the orbit's shape indicated a planet rather than a comet.
Why did the discovery of Uranus "double the size of the solar system"? - correct answers Based on the
rate of movement, led to an orbital period of 84 years, placing it 2x further away from the Sun than
Saturn
Basically, the discovery of Uranus doubled the size of our known solar system.
What is the origin of Uranus' name? - correct answers To thank the king= it was first called "George's
star"
To preserved ancient naming conventions, it was named Uranus (Greek God of the sky, the father of
Saturn, grandfather Jupiter)
What is unique about Uranus' spin? Describe (very generally) what seasons are like on Uranus due to
this feature of its spin axis. Why do astronomers think Uranus spins in this unusual manner? - correct
,answers Uranus has an interesting axial tilt. Unlike other planets, uranus obits the sun on its side (it has
a high axial tilt), possibly due to a past collision
What did Kepler believe existed between Mars and Jupiter, and why? - correct answers Kepler believed
that there was an undiscovered planet there because the gap between Mars and Jupiter was not in
harmony musically.
Explain why Bode's Law - and the discovery of Uranus - supported the idea that an undiscovered object
should exist between Mars and Jupiter. - correct answers The mystery was written about by Bode. He
talked about the orbital period and noted that the numbers of the orbital period follows an equation.
(4+3x2n, n=1,2,3...) By taking the numbers from the sequence and dividing it by ten, it would match the
orbital period. There was a number that would match right between Mars and Jupiter. When Uranus
was found, Uranus matched Bode's law, so it was seen as strong evidence that all the other planets
matched, so there had to be a planet that matched the missing orbital number between Mars and
Jupiter
How was Ceres discovered, and between which planets is it located? What is the origin of its name? -
correct answers Giuseppe Piazzi detects a star-like object in a near-circular solar orbit between Mars and
Jupiter.
Piazzi noted that it looked like a star, and then it did not correspond to the same spot.
At the 3rd day of observance, he realized that it was not a fixed star and he still noted that it was
nebulous and was still star-like. Still kept track of it until it got too close to the sun. Using the
measurements that he observed, he realized that it could fit into a circle. He calculated it to be at 2.7au,
which almost matches bode's number of 2.8au.
After months of observations, it was a planet. He named this planet Ceres, the Roman goddess of the
Harvest. Because he was from sicily which was the largest producer of grain in italy.
What was Ceres finally classified as, and why? - correct answers The status of planet lasted not very long
because it did not look like planets, but continued to look star-like no matter how magnified it got. So, it
must be small.
Herschel correctly worked out that Ceres must be smaller than the Moon, based on its star-like
appearance even at such close distances to the Earth.
So should it be considered a planet?
In the years after 1801, several other star-like objects were found in the gap between Mars and Jupiter
Initially they were called minor planets
,Herschel came up with the term Asteroid, which translates to 'star-like'
What is Ceres now known to be a part of? How does the size of Ceres compare to the other objects in
this region of space? - correct answers Known to by part of the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.
Over the next century, a circular belt containing hundreds of asteroids was discovered between Mars
and Jupiter. There are now well over 1 million asteroid identified in this belt ranging from tiny pebbles to
things 100 kilometers or so (small moons). Ceres is still the largest asteroid.
What caused astronomers to suspect the existence of a planet beyond Uranus? - correct answers
1830s=deviations found in Uranus' orbit, possibility due to an undiscovered gravity source beyond
Uranus
So, its near circular orbit was deviating from its predicted orbit, and thus something had to be
gravitationally happening to pull out of alignment.
Describe (very generally) how Neptune was discovered. - correct answers Because of the straying of
Uranus from its orbit, they predicted that there must be another planet, or essentially another source of
gravity acting on Uranus. Using Newton's law of gravity they workout where the source of gravity must
be to cause the deviation. Adams sent his information to the astronomer royal, and asked him to look
for it. It was not immediately acted on for over a year. Le Verrier, a french astronomer, also predict and
published his findings on Neptune. It was confirmed by a German colleague (Gall) shortly thereafter and
it was accepted as a planet almost right away. The discovery was initially credited to Le Verrier.
What is the origin of Neptune's name, and why was this name chosen? - correct answers Named
'Neptune': the roman god of the sea due to its obvious bluefish color, suggested by Gaul
Is Neptune consistent with Bode's Law? What does this tell us about Bode's Law? - correct answers
Orbital Radius deviated from Bode's law, indicating the law was a coincidence. Bode's law predicted
38.8au, but Neptune was at 30au.
How were Uranus' and Neptune's masses determined? How do their masses compare to the other
planets in our solar system? (Specific numbers not necessary - just general comparisons.) - correct
answers Using the size and mass and orbit of the of the largest moons observed of Uranus and Neptune,
you can calculate the mass of the planet. Neptune=17x times the mass of Earth. Using angular size
measurements, you can determine the size. Quite massive, but not as big as Jupiter.
, What type of planet are Uranus and Neptune characterized as, and why? - correct answers Ice giants
because they are low density, which indicates that they are a gas giant. But because it is distant from the
sun, there is a layer of ice .
What is unique about Neptune's largest moon, Triton? What do astronomers think may have caused this
to occur? - correct answers Triton is interesting because it is a retrograde moon, which possibly from
collision or captured. All other moons in Neptune move prograde
Triton thought to be formed else because of retrograde motion and the orbit is very elliptical and far
from Neptune.
Describe (very generally) the modern theory of the origin of our solar system. Why is it called the
'nebular hypothesis'? - correct answers Predicted that nebula is where stars are born.It starts with a self
gravitating nebula. Newton's laws indicate that eventually things will be draw to the center, and will
create a spin. It will create a equatorial bulge. More and more particles will be drawn to the center,
which causes it to spin faster. Eventually because of centrifugal forces it will flatten out in to a disc. The
density at the center will have the most gravity and continues to pull things in until it collapse in on itself
and becomes a star.
It is called the nebular hypothesis because it hypothesized that a solar system is formed in a nebula.
Use the nebular hypothesis to explain why all the planets in our solar system are codirectional and
coplanar. - correct answers The surrounding disc is starting to clump and they behave like snowballs and
within the disc there are gaps that are formed, making proto-planets. Which results in a flat planet
around the star
Solar system features: the planetary orbits are codirectional and coplanar
Explanation: the planets originate from the same spinning gas cloud.
Use the nebular hypothesis to explain the existence of the asteroid belt. - correct answers Solar system
feature: belts of asteroid between Mars and Jupiter
Explanation: matter couldn't coalesce due to Jupiter's gravity
Also, the asteroid belt= the ring of rocky debris remain because the gravity field is unique. Gravitation
pull from the Sun and also from Jupiter.
Feels 3 sources of gravity:
-The sun (keep clumps in orbit)
-Self gravity (pulling into a planet)
