University of New South Wales (UNSW): PHYS 1160 Introduction to Astronomy Final Test Bank

1. What is the single most important reason that astronomers have learned more about our planetary system in the last 30 years than all of history before then. a. astronomers today are a lot smarter than astronomers were earlier b. the Hubble Space Telescope c. we have been able to send spacecraft to visit many planets and satellites d. radio telescope arrays allow astronomers to make out details on the planets that they have never been able to see before e. the planets (moving in their slow orbits around the Sun) happen to be closer to the Earth in the last 30 years than at any previous time in human history ____ 2. Usually, the most distant planet from the Sun in the solar system is: a. Mercury b. Pluto c. Venus d. Neptune e. none of the above ____ 3. Which planet in the solar system has not been examined up close by spacecraft? a. Earth b. Neptune c. Pluto d. Saturn e. you can't fool me, spacecraft have now visited all the planets ____ 4. In the far future, a visiting tourist from another planetary system asks to see the most massive object in our solar system. Where would you take him/her/it? a. the Sun b. Saturn c. the asteroid belt d. Comet Halley e. Neptune ____ 5. All the planets (without exception) a. have solid surfaces b. have thick atmospheres c. have satellites orbiting around them d. revolve (orbit) around the Sun in the same direction e. rotate on their axes in the same direction that they revolve around the Sun . ____ 6. Which of the following is NOT