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30. Planets in our solar system are classified according to all of the 40. The metallic hydrogen that surrounds the core of Jupiter is not
following characteristics except a. a liquid.
a. density. b. under tremendous pressure.
b. size. c. a gas.
c. nature of the atmosphere. d. a conductor of electric currents.
d. inhabitants. 41. A shooting star is a (an)
31. What separates the terrestrial planets from the giant planets? a. meteoroid.
a. Mars b. meteor.
b. Asteroid belt c. meteorite.
c. Empty space d. asteroid.
d. The Moon
Answers
32. The planet that has the shortest “year” among the eight
1. d 2. c 3. b 4. a 5. c 6. b 7. b 8. c 9. d 10. b 11. b 12. a 13. c 14. d
planets is
15. a 16. c 17. c 18. c 19. b 20. a 21. a 22. c 23. c 24. b 25. a 26. d
a. Jupiter.
27. d 28. c 29. d 30. d 31. b 32. c 33. b 34. d 35. b 36. b 37. c 38. c
b. Neptune.
39. b 40. c 41. b
c. Mercury.
d. Earth.
33. What planet is called the morning star and the evening star, QUESTIONS FOR THOUGHT
depending on its position with respect to the Sun?
a. Mercury 1. Describe the protoplanet nebular model of the origin of the solar
b. Venus system. Which part or parts of this model seem least credible to
c. Mars you? Explain. What information could you look for today that
d. Saturn would cause you to accept or modify this least credible part of
34. Venus “shines” because it is the model?
a. composed of rocky materials. 2. What are the basic differences between the terrestrial planets and
b. covered with metallic iron and nickel. the giant planets? Describe how the protoplanet nebular model
c. powered by fusion reactions. accounts for these differences.
d. covered with clouds that reflect sunlight.
3. Describe the surface and atmospheric conditions on Mars.
35. On Venus, the sun rises in the west. This is so because
4. What evidence exists that Mars at one time had abundant liquid
a. the Venus day is very long.
water? If Mars did have liquid water at one time, what happened
b. Venus rotates in the opposite direction of its revolution.
to it and why?
c. Venus is the second planet from the Sun.
5. Describe the internal structure of Jupiter and Saturn.
d. Venus is covered with clouds and the Sun cannot be seen
until later in its day. 6. What are the rings of Saturn?
36. The “sister” planet to Earth is 7. Describe some of the unusual features found on the moons
a. Mercury. of Jupiter.
b. Venus. 8. What are the similarities and the differences between the Sun
c. Mars. and Jupiter?
d. Moon. 9. Give one idea about why the Great Red Spot exists on Jupiter.
37. What feature on Mars was considered by some to be evidence of Does the existence of a similar spot on Saturn support or not
life on Mars? support this idea? Explain.
a. Ice caps 10. What is so unusual about the motions and orbits of Venus and
b. Red color Uranus?
c. Channels or canals
11. What evidence exists today that the number of rocks and rock
d. Radio signals
particles floating around in the solar system was much greater in
38. Jupiter radiates twice as much energy as it receives from the Sun the past soon after the planets formed?
because of
12. Using the properties of the planets other than Earth, discuss the
a. internal fusion reactions.
possibilities of life on each of the other planets.
b. rapid gravitational expansion of the planet.
13. What are “shooting stars”? Where do they come from? Where do
c. slow gravitational compression of the planet.
they go?
d. internal fission reactions.
14. What is an asteroid? What evidence indicates that asteroids are
39. The Great Red Spot is thought to be
parts of a broken-up planet? What evidence indicates that
a. a low-pressure region with stagnant clouds.
asteroids are not parts of a broken-up planet?
b. a high-pressure region with high cold clouds.
15. Where do comets come from? Why are astronomers so
c. hydrogen and helium storms.
interested in studying the physical and chemical structure of a
d. ammonia and sulfur clouds.
comet?
16. What is a meteor? What is the most likely source of meteors?
17. What is a meteorite? What is the most likely source of meteorites?
402 CHAPTER 15 The Solar System 15-26