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Questions and Answers
The terrestrial planets do not include:
The terrestrial planets do not include:
What is the name for the cloud of interstellar gas and dust that condensed to form the entire solar system, including the sun and planets?
What is the name for the cloud of interstellar gas and dust that condensed to form the entire solar system, including the sun and planets?
Solar nebula
A _____ is an object that may one day become a _____ if it survives its journey through Earth's atmosphere.
A _____ is an object that may one day become a _____ if it survives its journey through Earth's atmosphere.
meteoroid, meteorite
What are the names of the four inner planets?
What are the names of the four inner planets?
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This is a minor planet that's made up of metal and/or rock:
This is a minor planet that's made up of metal and/or rock:
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What is the correct order of the planets, starting with the nearest to the sun?
What is the correct order of the planets, starting with the nearest to the sun?
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This is a small icy body that orbits in the solar system and develops a tail of gas as it approaches the sun:
This is a small icy body that orbits in the solar system and develops a tail of gas as it approaches the sun:
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What are the Jovian planets?
What are the Jovian planets?
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What is the theory that posits that the planets and sun in the solar system formed from the solar nebula called?
What is the theory that posits that the planets and sun in the solar system formed from the solar nebula called?
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The sun and planets formed from the same ball of gas and dust.
The sun and planets formed from the same ball of gas and dust.
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What is the hypothesis that states that our solar system formed from a sudden and improbable event?
What is the hypothesis that states that our solar system formed from a sudden and improbable event?
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What is the implication of the solar nebula theory?
What is the implication of the solar nebula theory?
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How does Venus rotate?
How does Venus rotate?
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How does Uranus rotate?
How does Uranus rotate?
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Why are the orbits of the planets in the same plane?
Why are the orbits of the planets in the same plane?
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What is one possible hypothesis for the odd rotation of Venus?
What is one possible hypothesis for the odd rotation of Venus?
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Why do the planets all revolve in the same direction?
Why do the planets all revolve in the same direction?
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What is the best scientific approximation for the age of our solar system?
What is the best scientific approximation for the age of our solar system?
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The time it takes for half the atoms of a radioactive sample to decay is known as a:
The time it takes for half the atoms of a radioactive sample to decay is known as a:
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What can we conclude about the Earth and moon if everything in our solar system formed from the solar nebula?
What can we conclude about the Earth and moon if everything in our solar system formed from the solar nebula?
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If a radioactive element called XYZ-80 has a half-life of 5 million years and only 25% remains, how many years have passed?
If a radioactive element called XYZ-80 has a half-life of 5 million years and only 25% remains, how many years have passed?
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What are isotopes?
What are isotopes?
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The ice line was located in between which planets in the solar nebula?
The ice line was located in between which planets in the solar nebula?
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Where would you expect metals to condense?
Where would you expect metals to condense?
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What is the uncompressed density of a planet?
What is the uncompressed density of a planet?
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What is the process of forming solid particles from the solar nebula known as?
What is the process of forming solid particles from the solar nebula known as?
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The solar nebula has basically the same composition throughout but the condensate that formed in any one region depended on the local temperature.
The solar nebula has basically the same composition throughout but the condensate that formed in any one region depended on the local temperature.
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What is the process that describes the formation of solid particles from the solar nebula?
What is the process that describes the formation of solid particles from the solar nebula?
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In order for planetesimals to form, what must occur first?
In order for planetesimals to form, what must occur first?
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What is a protoplanet?
What is a protoplanet?
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What is the process of solid particles sticking to one another to form a larger particle called?
What is the process of solid particles sticking to one another to form a larger particle called?
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Which of these is an early solar system body of small to medium size that combines with other planetesimals to form protoplanets?
Which of these is an early solar system body of small to medium size that combines with other planetesimals to form protoplanets?
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What is known as the settling and separation of material based on density?
What is known as the settling and separation of material based on density?
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Study Notes
Terrestrial and Jovian Planets
- Terrestrial planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars; rocky surfaces and closer to the sun.
- Jovian planets: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune; gas giants with thick atmospheres.
Solar System Formation
- Cosmic origins traced to the solar nebula, a cloud of interstellar gas and dust.
- Solar nebular theory suggests the sun and planets formed from this same solar nebula.
- A catastrophic hypothesis posits that a sudden event, like a star collision, could initiate solar system formation.
Planetary Characteristics and Dynamics
- Orbital arrangement of planets lies in the same plane due to their formation in a rotating disk of gas.
- Venus rotates clockwise, while Uranus has a unique side-on rotation.
- The ice line is situated between Mars and Jupiter, impacting the formation of different materials.
Planet Formation Processes
- Formation processes include condensation (solid particle formation) and accretion (sticking of particles to create larger bodies).
- Planetesimals are early solar system bodies assembling into protoplanets.
- The uncompressed density indicates a planet's density under the assumption of no gravitational compression.
Age and Composition of the Solar System
- The solar system is approximately 4.6 billion years old.
- Isotopes are variations of elements, with the same proton count but different neutron numbers.
- It is presumed that Earth and the Moon have similar ages, formed from the same material.
Half-Life and Radioactive Decay
- Half-life refers to the time required for half of a radioactive substance to decay.
- Example scenario: If 25% of a radioactive isotope remains, 10 million years have passed, given a 5 million-year half-life.
Density and Materials in the Solar System
- Metals condensed closer to the sun during the formation of the solar system.
- Variations in element condensates were affected by local temperatures in the solar nebula.
Miscellaneous
- Meteoroids can become meteorites if they survive Earth's atmosphere.
- The process of solid material separation according to density is essential for understanding planetary formation.
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