Planet Formation and Impact History Quiz
43 Questions
0 Views

Choose a study mode

Play Quiz
Study Flashcards
Spaced Repetition
Chat to Lesson

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What are planetesimals in the context of planet formation?

  • The final stage of planetary development
  • Large celestial bodies formed from stars
  • Gases that surround a forming planet
  • Small objects that stick together to form cores (correct)

What period followed the formation of the planets characterized by a higher number of planetesimals?

  • The Lunar Cycle
  • The Heavy Bombardment (correct)
  • The Geological Era
  • The Silurian Period

What feature on Mercury and the Moon indicates a history of violent impacts?

  • Mountain Ranges
  • Mares (correct)
  • Volcanic Craters
  • Plains

Which method is effective for probing the interior of a planet?

<p>Utilizing sound waves (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does a seismometer help in studying a planet's interior?

<p>By detecting earthquake activity (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What happens to a molecular cloud as it collapses under gravity?

<p>It starts to spin faster. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What effect do collisions between particles in a molecular cloud have?

<p>They flatten the orbit of the particles. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What materials can form planetesimals inside the frost line?

<p>Metal and Rock only. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of the material inside the frost line consists of helium and hydrogen?

<p>98%. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which materials can form planetesimals outside the frost line?

<p>Metal, Rock, and Hydrogen compounds. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is true regarding the frost line?

<p>It marks the boundary for solid ice formation. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the conservation of momentum in the formation of a spinning disk of gas and dust?

<p>It causes the cloud to spin faster as it collapses. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of waves are classified as P Waves?

<p>Compressional waves (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What primarily stops S Waves from traveling?

<p>Liquid layers in the Earth (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do researchers gain insight into the Earth's internal layers?

<p>Using seismometers across multiple earthquakes (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic is associated with the Earth's core in terms of density?

<p>It is made of high density materials like iron and nickel (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role do seismometers play in understanding seismic activity?

<p>They help determine the timing of waves and their travel distance (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is true regarding vibrations and wave direction?

<p>The direction of vibrations determines the type of wave (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What effect does the state of the material have on S Waves?

<p>They are completely stopped by liquid layers (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is inferred by seismometers detecting P Waves in certain locations?

<p>There are solid layers above liquid layers (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What causes lighter materials like low density rock to float to the surface during differentiation?

<p>They are less dense than the surrounding materials. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which two materials are typically found in a planet's core?

<p>Iron and Nickel (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the dominant source of heat within a planet today?

<p>Radioactive Decay (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does convection contribute to the cooling of a planet?

<p>By transferring heat from the core to the mantle. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role does conduction play in the cooling of a planet?

<p>It maintains the rigidity of the crust. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which process was more significant during earlier stages of planet formation?

<p>Accretion (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about differentiation is correct?

<p>It leads to the separation of materials based on density. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes the mantle of a planet?

<p>It allows for convection due to its semi-rigid nature. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which factor primarily determines how quickly a planet cools?

<p>The surface area to volume ratio (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of energy transfer occurs at a slower rate than convection in planetary materials?

<p>Conduction (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

If a planet has more infrared light leaving its surface than entering from the Sun, what is the net effect on the planet's temperature?

<p>The planet will cool down (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between the radius of a planet and its volume?

<p>Volume increases exponentially with increasing radius (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which material is found in the highest density within a planet's interior?

<p>Iron and nickel (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What surface feature is common to both Mercury and the Moon?

<p>Craters (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the cooling rate of small planets compare to larger planets?

<p>Small planets cool faster based on their surface area to volume ratio (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Based on where it was formed, what is Rhea's likely composition?

<p>Mostly ice, but also rock and metal. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What depends on whether two celestial bodies will have the same temperature after a billion years?

<p>Whether they formed outside the frost line (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which distinguishing characteristic is common to terrestrial planets?

<p>Predominantly rocky compositions. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What primarily differentiates Mercury and the Moon from terrestrial planets like Earth?

<p>Their surface being covered in numerous craters. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What happens during a collision that creates a crater?

<p>The collision vaporizes the rock and causes an explosion. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why are there fewer craters on Earth, Mars, and Venus compared to the Moon and Mercury?

<p>Their surfaces are actively reshaped by geological processes. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of terrestrial planets?

<p>Presence of a thick atmosphere. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What results in the formation of craters on planetary surfaces?

<p>Direct impact from planetesimals. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Planetesimals formation

Tiny objects stick together to form the cores of planets.

Frostline

Boundary in a solar system where the temperature is cold enough for ice to form.

Protoplanetary disk

A spinning disk of gas and dust surrounding a star.

Conservation of momentum

The momentum of a system remains constant if no external force acts on it.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Molecular cloud

A cloud of gas and dust in space, the initial stage for star and planetary formation.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Planetesimals inside frostline

Only metal and rock condense and form planetesimals inside the frostline.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Planetesimals Outside frostline

Metal, rock, and hydrogen compounds can condense and form planetesimals outside the frostline.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Formation of Planets

Planetesimals collide and coalesce forming planets.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Planetesimals

Small objects that clump together to form planets.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Heavy Bombardment

A period after planet formation with many planetesimals.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Mercury's Craters

Many impact craters on Mercury's surface.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Internal Structure Study

Using seismic waves to probe the inside of a planet.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Earth's Radius

The distance from the center to the surface of Earth is 6371 km

Signup and view all the flashcards

Terrestrial Planets

Small, rocky planets (Earth, Venus, Mars, Mercury), often with thin or no atmosphere and few moons.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Composition of Rhea

Since Rhea is a moon found in the outer solar system, it likely is mostly ice, but also includes some rock and metal.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Crater

A large, bowl-shaped depression on a planet's surface, formed by an impact.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Crater Formation

A high-speed impact vaporizes surface rock causing an explosion, leaving a crater.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Earth's Moon

Earth's natural satellite, primarily composed of rock and metal.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Fewer Craters on Earth, Venus, Mars

There are fewer craters on Earth, Venus, and Mars than would be expected, given the number of early impacts.

Signup and view all the flashcards

P waves

Compression waves during an earthquake that travel through the Earth.

Signup and view all the flashcards

S waves

Side-to-side waves during an earthquake that travel through the Earth.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Seismology

The study of earthquakes and the waves they create.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Liquid Core

Earth's core contains a liquid layer that prevents S waves.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Planetary Interiors

The different layers inside planets, like rocky outer layers and iron cores.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Seismometers

Instruments that detect and measure earthquake waves.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Core composition

The densest part of a planet's interior, mostly iron and nickel.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Density variations

Different layers have varying densities, which affects how waves travel through them.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Planetary Differentiation

The process where heavier materials sink to the core of a planet while lighter materials rise to the surface, creating layers like a cake.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Planetary Interior Layers

Planets are composed of a core (iron & nickel), mantle (medium density rock), and crust (low density rock).

Signup and view all the flashcards

Why are planet interiors hot?

Planetary interiors are heated by the energy released from accretion, differentiation, and radioactive decay.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Planetary Cooling: Convection

Hot rock in the mantle rises, carrying heat towards the surface, while cooler rock sinks, creating a convection current.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Planetary Cooling: Conduction

Heat is transferred from the hot interior to the cooler surface through direct contact, mainly in the rigid crust.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Planetary Density

The amount of mass packed into a given volume, provides clues about a planet's composition.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Seismic Waves

Vibrations that travel through the Earth's interior, providing information about its structure and composition.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Planet Spin Rate

The speed at which a planet rotates on its axis, influencing its shape and interior.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Heat Conduction

The transfer of heat through a material, like rock, where energy is passed from atom to atom.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Heat Convection

Heat transfer through the movement of fluids, like air or water.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Planet Cooling: Radiation

Planets lose heat by emitting infrared light from their surface.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Cooling: Size Matters

Smaller planets cool faster than larger planets because they have a greater surface area relative to their volume.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Planet's Interior Structure

Planets have layered structures, with a dense core composed of iron and nickel, surrounded by less dense rock.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Seismic Waves for Interior Study

Scientists use seismic waves, created by earthquakes or explosions, to study the internal structure of planets.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Cratered Planets

Mercury and the Moon are heavily cratered, indicating a history of impacts from asteroids and meteoroids.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Mercury and Moon: Cratered Surfaces

The surfaces of Mercury and the Moon are covered in impact craters from asteroid and meteorite impacts.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Study Notes

Terrestrial Planets

  • Terrestrial planets are small, rocky planets with relatively thin or no atmospheres
  • They have few moons
  • Mostly made from heavy elements like rock and metal
  • Examples include Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars

Craters

  • Mercury and the Moon are covered in craters of various sizes that often overlap
  • Impacts from planetesimals create craters
  • Planetesimals travel at 100,000 km/hr
  • The collision vaporizes rock and materials during impact
  • This enormous explosion causes a crater to be left

Planet Formation

  • Tiny objects stick together to form planetesimals
  • Planetesimals are the cores of future formed planets
  • There were far more planetesimals right after planets were formed
  • This period is called the Heavy Bombardment which ended approximately 4 billion years ago

Planetary Interiors

  • Interiors are composed of different layers with various densities
  • The Crust is low density rock
  • The Mantle has medium density rock
  • The Core is high density iron and nickel
  • A planet's interior is measured using seismometer readings during earthquakes
  • These readings are combined to give a full profile of a planet's interior

Why are planet interiors hot?

  • Accretion: Dominating factor during the formation
  • Differentiation: More significant earlier than the later
  • Radioactive Decay: The most important factor for heating planets

How do planets cool?

  • Convection: Hot rocks rise and cooler rocks fall in mantle convection
  • This brings heat up from the core
  • Conduction: Carries heat through the rigid lithosphere to the surface
  • Radiation: At the surface, energy is radiated into space

Cooling: Does planetary size matter?

  • For spherical objects, volume = 4/3 πr³ and area = 4πr²
  • If the radius is doubled, volume increases by 8 times, while area increases by 4 times
  • Smaller planets have less mass and a larger surface area compared to large planets
  • Smaller planets cool faster than large planets.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Quiz Team

Related Documents

Ast101: The Sun And Its Neighbours - Terrestrial Planets Part 1 PDF

Description

Test your knowledge on planetesimals and the formation of planets with this engaging quiz. Explore the evidence of violent impacts on Mercury and the Moon and learn about methods used to probe a planet's interior. Whether you are a student or an enthusiast, this quiz provides an intriguing look into planetary science.

More Like This

Use Quizgecko on...
Browser
Open
Browser
Browser