MSU ISP 205 Final Exam Questions And
Answers Verified 100% Correct
From laboratory measurements, we know that a particular spectral line formed by
hydrogen appears at a wavelength of 486.1 nanometers (nm). The spectrum of a
particular star shows the same hydrogen line appearing at a wavelength of 480.0
nm. What can we conclude? - ANSWER -The star is moving toward us.
Why don't we glow in the dark? - ANSWER -People only emit light that is
invisible to our eyes.
Why are telescopes with larger diameter mirrors better? - ANSWER -More area
for collecting light and
Better angular resolution
Which of the following is NOT an important reason for having telescopes in
space? - ANSWER -To place the telescope closer to the stars.
Which of the following statements best explains why the planets orbit in nearly a
single plane and in the same direction around the Sun? - ANSWER -The planets
formed from a disk of rotating gas.
Why are rocky planets close to the Sun and gas giants farther out? - ANSWER -
Because the center of the solar nebula was too hot for hydrogen ices to form.
What is the leading scenario for the formation of the Moon? - ANSWER -It
formed from the material ejected in a giant impact.
Why did the solar nebula heat up as it collapsed? - ANSWER -As the cloud
shrank, its gravitational potential energy was converted to thermal energy.
Why do asteroids and comets differ in composition? - 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? - ANSWER -The
gas giants would have to form at a larger distance.
Which of the following observations of an extrasolar planet system would be
inconsistent with our theory of planet formation? - 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 ... - ANSWER -
planets could have liquid water on their surface.
Which of these observations would suggest the presence of a planet orbiting a
star? - 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 ... - 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? - ANSWER -The wavelengths of lines in
the spectrum.
What type of extrasolar planet is most easily detected by the Doppler technique? -
ANSWER -Jupiter-mass planets close to their sun.
Why is Venus so much hotter than Earth? - ANSWER -Venus has significant
amounts of carbon dioxide in its atmosphere.
Which of the following shows evidence for ancient river beds? - ANSWER -Mars.
What is the fundamental reason that Mars has become virtually geologically dead
(unlike the Earth which is geologically active)? - ANSWER -Its relatively small
mass.
Answers Verified 100% Correct
From laboratory measurements, we know that a particular spectral line formed by
hydrogen appears at a wavelength of 486.1 nanometers (nm). The spectrum of a
particular star shows the same hydrogen line appearing at a wavelength of 480.0
nm. What can we conclude? - ANSWER -The star is moving toward us.
Why don't we glow in the dark? - ANSWER -People only emit light that is
invisible to our eyes.
Why are telescopes with larger diameter mirrors better? - ANSWER -More area
for collecting light and
Better angular resolution
Which of the following is NOT an important reason for having telescopes in
space? - ANSWER -To place the telescope closer to the stars.
Which of the following statements best explains why the planets orbit in nearly a
single plane and in the same direction around the Sun? - ANSWER -The planets
formed from a disk of rotating gas.
Why are rocky planets close to the Sun and gas giants farther out? - ANSWER -
Because the center of the solar nebula was too hot for hydrogen ices to form.
What is the leading scenario for the formation of the Moon? - ANSWER -It
formed from the material ejected in a giant impact.
Why did the solar nebula heat up as it collapsed? - ANSWER -As the cloud
shrank, its gravitational potential energy was converted to thermal energy.
Why do asteroids and comets differ in composition? - 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? - ANSWER -The
gas giants would have to form at a larger distance.
Which of the following observations of an extrasolar planet system would be
inconsistent with our theory of planet formation? - 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 ... - ANSWER -
planets could have liquid water on their surface.
Which of these observations would suggest the presence of a planet orbiting a
star? - 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 ... - 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? - ANSWER -The wavelengths of lines in
the spectrum.
What type of extrasolar planet is most easily detected by the Doppler technique? -
ANSWER -Jupiter-mass planets close to their sun.
Why is Venus so much hotter than Earth? - ANSWER -Venus has significant
amounts of carbon dioxide in its atmosphere.
Which of the following shows evidence for ancient river beds? - ANSWER -Mars.
What is the fundamental reason that Mars has become virtually geologically dead
(unlike the Earth which is geologically active)? - ANSWER -Its relatively small
mass.
