Astronomy: Exam 1, Chapter 3
||Newest Exam
Which statement correctly describes the way the planet sizes are shown compared to
their orbits?
Hints
Jupiter is shown correctly to scale with its orbit, but all the other planets are too large.
The planets should all be about twice as large as shown.
The planets are all much too large compared to their orbits.
The planet sizes are correctly shown on the same scale as the orbits. -CORRECT
ANSWER The planets are all much too large compared to their orbits.
Kepler's first law states that the orbit of each planet is an ellipse with the Sun at one
focus. Which of the following statements describe a characteristic of the solar system
that is explained by Kepler's first law?
The Sun is located slightly off-center from the middle of each planet's orbit.
All the planets orbit the Sun in nearly the same plane.
Inner planets orbit the Sun at higher speed than outer planets.
Pluto moves faster when it is closer to the Sun than when it is farther from the Sun.
Earth is slightly closer to the Sun on one side of its orbit than on the other side.
Venus orbits the Sun faster than Earth orbits the Sun. -CORRECT ANSWER The Sun
is located slightly off-center from the middle of each planet's orbit.
Earth is slightly closer to the Sun on one side of its orbit than on the other side.
Kepler's second law states that as a planet orbits the Sun, it sweeps out equal areas in
equal times. Which of the following statements describe a characteristic of the solar
system that is explained by Kepler's second law?
Inner planets orbit the Sun at higher speed than outer planets.
Earth is slightly closer to the Sun on one side of its orbit than on the other side.
Pluto moves faster when it is closer to the Sun than when it is farther from the Sun.
All the planets orbit the Sun in nearly the same plane.
Venus orbits the Sun faster than Earth orbits the Sun.
The Sun is located slightly off-center from the middle of each planet's orbit. -CORRECT
ANSWER Pluto moves faster when it is closer to the Sun than when it is farther from
the Sun.
Kepler's third law states that a planet's orbital period, p, is related to its average
(semimajor axis) orbital distance, a, according to the mathematical relationship p2=a3.
Which of the following statements describe a characteristic of the solar system that is
explained by Kepler's third law?
, All the planets orbit the Sun in nearly the same plane.
Earth is slightly closer to the Sun on one side of its orbit than on the other side.
Pluto moves faster when it is closer to the Sun than when it is farther from the Sun.
Venus orbits the Sun faster than Earth orbits the Sun.
Inner planets orbit the Sun at higher speed than outer planets. -CORRECT ANSWER
Venus orbits the Sun faster than Earth orbits the Sun.
Inner planets orbit the Sun at higher speed than outer planets.
Earth is slightly closer to the Sun in January than in July. How does the area swept out
by Earth's orbit around the Sun during the 31 days of January compare to the area
swept out during the 31 days of July?
Both areas are the same.
The area swept out in January is larger.
The area swept out in July is larger. -CORRECT ANSWER Both areas are the same.
All of the following statements are true. Which one can be explained by Kepler's second
law?
All the planets orbit the Sun in nearly the same plane.
The Sun is not in the precise center of Saturn's orbit.
Mars moves faster in its orbit when it is closer to the Sun than when it is farther from the
Sun.
Venus orbits the Sun at a faster orbital speed than Earth.
Earth is slightly closer to the Sun in January than in July. -CORRECT ANSWER Mars
moves faster in its orbit when it is closer to the Sun than when it is farther from the Sun.
Jupiter orbits the Sun at an average distance of 5.203 AU and takes 11.86years to
complete each orbit. Based on these facts, which statement is true?
Jupiter's orbital period is 5.2032 times Earth's orbital period.
5.2032=11.863
11.862=5.2033
Jupiter's orbital period is 5.2033 times Earth's orbital period. -CORRECT ANSWER
11.862=5.2033
You discover an asteroid that orbits the Sun with the same 1-year orbital period as
Earth. Which of the following statements must be true?
The asteroid has a more eccentric orbit than Earth.
The asteroid shares the same orbit around the Sun as Earth.
The asteroid has the same perihelion distance as Earth.
The asteroid will eventually collide with Earth.
The asteroid's average (semimajor axis) distance from the Sun is 1AU. -CORRECT
ANSWER The asteroid's average (semimajor axis) distance from the Sun is 1AU.
||Newest Exam
Which statement correctly describes the way the planet sizes are shown compared to
their orbits?
Hints
Jupiter is shown correctly to scale with its orbit, but all the other planets are too large.
The planets should all be about twice as large as shown.
The planets are all much too large compared to their orbits.
The planet sizes are correctly shown on the same scale as the orbits. -CORRECT
ANSWER The planets are all much too large compared to their orbits.
Kepler's first law states that the orbit of each planet is an ellipse with the Sun at one
focus. Which of the following statements describe a characteristic of the solar system
that is explained by Kepler's first law?
The Sun is located slightly off-center from the middle of each planet's orbit.
All the planets orbit the Sun in nearly the same plane.
Inner planets orbit the Sun at higher speed than outer planets.
Pluto moves faster when it is closer to the Sun than when it is farther from the Sun.
Earth is slightly closer to the Sun on one side of its orbit than on the other side.
Venus orbits the Sun faster than Earth orbits the Sun. -CORRECT ANSWER The Sun
is located slightly off-center from the middle of each planet's orbit.
Earth is slightly closer to the Sun on one side of its orbit than on the other side.
Kepler's second law states that as a planet orbits the Sun, it sweeps out equal areas in
equal times. Which of the following statements describe a characteristic of the solar
system that is explained by Kepler's second law?
Inner planets orbit the Sun at higher speed than outer planets.
Earth is slightly closer to the Sun on one side of its orbit than on the other side.
Pluto moves faster when it is closer to the Sun than when it is farther from the Sun.
All the planets orbit the Sun in nearly the same plane.
Venus orbits the Sun faster than Earth orbits the Sun.
The Sun is located slightly off-center from the middle of each planet's orbit. -CORRECT
ANSWER Pluto moves faster when it is closer to the Sun than when it is farther from
the Sun.
Kepler's third law states that a planet's orbital period, p, is related to its average
(semimajor axis) orbital distance, a, according to the mathematical relationship p2=a3.
Which of the following statements describe a characteristic of the solar system that is
explained by Kepler's third law?
, All the planets orbit the Sun in nearly the same plane.
Earth is slightly closer to the Sun on one side of its orbit than on the other side.
Pluto moves faster when it is closer to the Sun than when it is farther from the Sun.
Venus orbits the Sun faster than Earth orbits the Sun.
Inner planets orbit the Sun at higher speed than outer planets. -CORRECT ANSWER
Venus orbits the Sun faster than Earth orbits the Sun.
Inner planets orbit the Sun at higher speed than outer planets.
Earth is slightly closer to the Sun in January than in July. How does the area swept out
by Earth's orbit around the Sun during the 31 days of January compare to the area
swept out during the 31 days of July?
Both areas are the same.
The area swept out in January is larger.
The area swept out in July is larger. -CORRECT ANSWER Both areas are the same.
All of the following statements are true. Which one can be explained by Kepler's second
law?
All the planets orbit the Sun in nearly the same plane.
The Sun is not in the precise center of Saturn's orbit.
Mars moves faster in its orbit when it is closer to the Sun than when it is farther from the
Sun.
Venus orbits the Sun at a faster orbital speed than Earth.
Earth is slightly closer to the Sun in January than in July. -CORRECT ANSWER Mars
moves faster in its orbit when it is closer to the Sun than when it is farther from the Sun.
Jupiter orbits the Sun at an average distance of 5.203 AU and takes 11.86years to
complete each orbit. Based on these facts, which statement is true?
Jupiter's orbital period is 5.2032 times Earth's orbital period.
5.2032=11.863
11.862=5.2033
Jupiter's orbital period is 5.2033 times Earth's orbital period. -CORRECT ANSWER
11.862=5.2033
You discover an asteroid that orbits the Sun with the same 1-year orbital period as
Earth. Which of the following statements must be true?
The asteroid has a more eccentric orbit than Earth.
The asteroid shares the same orbit around the Sun as Earth.
The asteroid has the same perihelion distance as Earth.
The asteroid will eventually collide with Earth.
The asteroid's average (semimajor axis) distance from the Sun is 1AU. -CORRECT
ANSWER The asteroid's average (semimajor axis) distance from the Sun is 1AU.
