Question 1

Why is it so difficult to make a direct image of a planet around another star?

Accepted Answer

Compared to how far stars are from us,th...

Question 2

Which of the following methods has led to the most discoveries of massive planets orbiting near their parent stars?

Accepted Answer

A)  detecting the starlight reflected off the planet
B)  detecting the infrared light emitted by the planet
C)  detecting the gravitational effect of an orbiting planet by looking for the Doppler shifts in the star's spectrum
D)  detecting the shift of the star's position against the sky due to the planet's gravitational pull
E)  detecting a planet ejected from a binary star systemF) B) and C)
G) A) and E)

Question 3

As of 2008,most known extrasolar planets have been discovered by

Accepted Answer

A)  the astrometric technique.
B)  the Doppler technique.
C)  the transit technique.
D)  the Hubble Space Telescope.E) A) and B)
F) A) and C)

Question 4

A planet's size can be determined by observing its transit across a star.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

How do we expect that the first Earth-sized extrasolar planets will be discovered (if they exist) ?

Accepted Answer

A)  by the transit technique from an observatory in space
B)  with photographs from a new generation of large,ground-based observatories
C)  by NASA's Terrestrial Planet Finder mission
D)  by the Doppler techniqueE) A) and B)
F) A) and C)

Question 6

The Kepler mission has been able to measure dimmings of less than 0.01% in a star's brightness.This has allowed us to detect what size planets?

Accepted Answer

A)  planets smaller than Earth
B)  planets Earth-size only
C)  only planets larger than Earth
D)  any size planet,as long as they are in binary star systemsE) C) and D)
F) None of the above

Question 7

Approximately how many other planetary systems have been discovered to date?

Accepted Answer

A)  tens
B)  hundreds
C)  thousands
D)  tens of thousands
E)  millionsF) B) and D)
G) C) and E)

Question 8

Astronomers have discovered more planets around other stars than in our Solar System.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

The star 55 Cancri has a triple planetary system.From exoplanets.org,we find that the orbital period of the of the third,outermost planet (55 Cancri d)is 5360 days = 14.7 years.It produces a velocity offset in the star of 49.3 m/s.The star itself is spectral type G8V with mass 0.95 MSᵤn.Calculate the orbital distance and mass of 55 Cancri d.

Accepted Answer

Using the equations in mathematical insi...

Question 10

How do we think the "hot Jupiters" around other stars were formed?

Accepted Answer

A)  They formed as gas giants close to the star in the same orbits that they are seen today.
B)  They formed as dense,rocky planets close to the star in the same orbits that they are seen today.
C)  They formed as gas giants beyond the frost line and then migrated inwards.
D)  Many planets were formed around the star but coalesced into a single planet close in.
E)  They spun off from the young star when it was rapidly rotating.F) All of the above
G) None of the above

Question 11

Process of Science: Name a testable hypothesis from nebular theory that was proven true in observations of extrasolar planets.Does this mean the theory is complete?

Accepted Answer

One consequence of nebular theory is tha...

Question 12

Most of the planets discovered around other stars

Accepted Answer

A)  are more massive than Earth and orbit very far from the star.
B)  are more massive than Earth and orbit very close to the star.
C)  are less massive than Earth and orbit very far from the star.
D)  are less massive than Earth and orbit very close to the star.
E)  are found around neutron stars.F) B) and E)
G) B) and D)

Question 13

Once a planet forms in a disk-like nebula around a star,its orbit is fixed and will never change.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

Drag within the solar nebula is responsible for hot Jupiters.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

The GAIA mission obtains astrometric data of stars with accuracy in some cases better than 10 microarcseconds.In terms of angular width,what is this equal to?

Accepted Answer

A)  A human hair viewed from a distance of 20 miles
B)  A human hair viewed from a distance of 200 miles
C)  A human hair viewed from a distance of 2000 miles
D)  A human hair viewed from a distance of 20000 milesE) B) and D)
F) B) and C)

Question 16

The astrometric technique of planet detection works best for

Accepted Answer

A)  large planets around nearby stars.
B)  massive planets around nearby stars.
C)  large planets around distant stars.
D)  massive planets around distant stars.
E)  planets in edge-on orbits.F) All of the above
G) A) and B)

Question 17

Based on everything you have learned about the formation of our solar system,which of the following statements is probably not true?

Accepted Answer

A)  Only a tiny percentage of stars are surrounded by spinning disks of gas during their formation.
B)  Planets always tend to orbit their star in the same direction and approximately the same plane.
C)  Other solar systems will also have planets in the two basic categories of terrestrial and jovian.
D)  Other planetary systems will have far more numerous asteroids and comets than actual planets.E) C) and D)
F) B) and D)

Question 18

If every star had an Earth-like planet in an Earth-like orbit,how many could be detected by a transit?

Accepted Answer

A)  1 in 2
B)  1 in 20
C)  1 in 200
D)  1 in 2,000
E)  1 in 20,000F) C) and D)
G) B) and E)

Question 19

What do models suggest make up the clouds on "hot Jupiters"?

Accepted Answer

A)  ammonia
B)  methane
C)  water
D)  rock dust
E)  sodiumF) None of the above
G) B) and D)

Question 20

In general,which type of planet would you expect to cause the largest Doppler shift in the spectrum of its star?

Accepted Answer

A)  a massive planet that is close to its star
B)  a massive planet that is far from its star
C)  a low-mass planet that is close to its star
D)  a low-mass planet that is far from its starE) B) and D)
F) All of the above

Exam 13: Other Planetary Systems: The New Science of Distant Worlds

The Kepler mission has been able to measure dimmings of less than 0.01% in a star's brightness.This has allowed us to detect what size planets?

Correct Answer
verified

Which of the following methods has led to the most discoveries of massive planets orbiting near their parent stars?

Correct Answer
verified

Astronomers have discovered more planets around other stars than in our Solar System.

Correct Answer
verified

Why is it so difficult to make a direct image of a planet around another star?

Correct Answer
verified
Compared to how far stars are from us,th...
View Answer

Drag within the solar nebula is responsible for hot Jupiters.

Correct Answer
verified

In general,which type of planet would you expect to cause the largest Doppler shift in the spectrum of its star?

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified
Using the equations in mathematical insi...
View Answer

Process of Science: Name a testable hypothesis from nebular theory that was proven true in observations of extrasolar planets.Does this mean the theory is complete?

Correct Answer
verified
One consequence of nebular theory is tha...
View Answer

As of 2008,most known extrasolar planets have been discovered by

Correct Answer
verified

The astrometric technique of planet detection works best for

Correct Answer
verified

A planet's size can be determined by observing its transit across a star.

Correct Answer
verified

The GAIA mission obtains astrometric data of stars with accuracy in some cases better than 10 microarcseconds.In terms of angular width,what is this equal to?

Correct Answer
verified

What do models suggest make up the clouds on "hot Jupiters"?

Correct Answer
verified

How do we think the "hot Jupiters" around other stars were formed?

Correct Answer
verified

How do we expect that the first Earth-sized extrasolar planets will be discovered (if they exist) ?

Correct Answer
verified

Based on everything you have learned about the formation of our solar system,which of the following statements is probably not true?

Correct Answer
verified

Once a planet forms in a disk-like nebula around a star,its orbit is fixed and will never change.

Correct Answer
verified

Most of the planets discovered around other stars

Correct Answer
verified

Approximately how many other planetary systems have been discovered to date?

Correct Answer
verified

If every star had an Earth-like planet in an Earth-like orbit,how many could be detected by a transit?

Correct Answer
verified

Exam 13: Other Planetary Systems: The New Science of Distant Worlds

The Kepler mission has been able to measure dimmings of less than 0.01% in a star's brightness.This has allowed us to detect what size planets?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following methods has led to the most discoveries of massive planets orbiting near their parent stars?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Astronomers have discovered more planets around other stars than in our Solar System.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Why is it so difficult to make a direct image of a planet around another star?

Correct AnswerverifiedCompared to how far stars are from us,th...View AnswerShow Answer

Drag within the solar nebula is responsible for hot Jupiters.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In general,which type of planet would you expect to cause the largest Doppler shift in the spectrum of its star?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct AnswerverifiedUsing the equations in mathematical insi...View AnswerShow Answer

Process of Science: Name a testable hypothesis from nebular theory that was proven true in observations of extrasolar planets.Does this mean the theory is complete?

Correct AnswerverifiedOne consequence of nebular theory is tha...View AnswerShow Answer

As of 2008,most known extrasolar planets have been discovered by

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The astrometric technique of planet detection works best for

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

A planet's size can be determined by observing its transit across a star.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The GAIA mission obtains astrometric data of stars with accuracy in some cases better than 10 microarcseconds.In terms of angular width,what is this equal to?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What do models suggest make up the clouds on "hot Jupiters"?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

How do we think the "hot Jupiters" around other stars were formed?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

How do we expect that the first Earth-sized extrasolar planets will be discovered (if they exist) ?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Based on everything you have learned about the formation of our solar system,which of the following statements is probably not true?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Once a planet forms in a disk-like nebula around a star,its orbit is fixed and will never change.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Most of the planets discovered around other stars

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Approximately how many other planetary systems have been discovered to date?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

If every star had an Earth-like planet in an Earth-like orbit,how many could be detected by a transit?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified
Compared to how far stars are from us,th...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified
Using the equations in mathematical insi...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified
One consequence of nebular theory is tha...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
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