1. The Formation of the Solar System

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Questions and Answers

Which condition defines an object as a planet according to the IAU definition of 2006?

  • It orbits the Sun, is spherical, and has a moon
  • It orbits the Sun, is spherical, and has cleared its orbit of other objects (correct)
  • It orbits the Sun, is spherical, and has rings
  • It orbits the Sun, is large, and has cleared its orbit of other objects

Which of the following is a dwarf planet according to the text?

  • Mars
  • Saturn
  • Ceres (correct)
  • Jupiter

What type of planets are Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune classified as in the Solar System?

  • Dwarf planets
  • Terrestrial planets
  • Gas planets
  • Giant planets (correct)

What do we observe the planets as following from Earth?

<p>On or very near the line of the ecliptic (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for large planetesimals (~ 400–800 km) becoming warm internally?

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

Which galaxy is our Solar System part of?

<p>Milky Way (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the four planets closest to the Sun referred to as?

<p>Terrestrial (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the Condensation theory address?

<p>How the solar system formed (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In what year did the IAU officially define what a planet in our Solar System is?

<p>2006 (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of most planets in the Solar System regarding their orbital planes?

<p>Orbital planes that lie within 3 degrees of the ecliptic plane (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What process generates heat internally in large planetesimals?

<p>Radiogenic heating (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the four planets closest to the Sun?

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

What contributes to the formation of planets according to the text?

<p>Ice and dust in the protostellar disk (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the frost line mentioned in the text?

<p>The dividing line between terrestrial and Jovian planets (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the condensation theory explain?

<p>The formation of planets on the same plane from the protoplanetary disk (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What will the OSIRIS-REx mission return to Earth with according to the text?

<p>Material from asteroid Bennu (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What leads to the formation of a metallic core and rocky mantle in planetesimals?

<p>Internal differentiation (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic differentiates the first generation stars mentioned in the text?

<p>Massive and short-lived (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the 7° orbit of Mercury mentioned in the text?

<p>It is greater than the Moon's 5° orbit (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of planetesimals in the formation of planets according to the text?

<p>Leading to the formation of protoplanets (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the common characteristic of small planetesimals according to the text?

<p>Cool and rigid, leading to irregular shapes (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary factor contributing to the formation of sun-like stars according to the text?

<p>First generation stars being massive and short-lived (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes the planetary orbits mentioned in the text?

<p>Prograde motion with most orbital planes lying within 3° of Earth's orbit (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What led to the formation of the sun and the protoplanetary disk according to the text?

<p>Accretion disk within a nebula in the Milky Way (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What primarily causes a compass to point north?

<p>The Earth's magnetic field (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the region protected by the Earth's magnetic field called?

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

What is the primary component of Earth's atmosphere?

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

What primarily creates air pressure on the surroundings?

<p>Earth's atmosphere (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the most common gas found in the Earth’s atmosphere?

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

What protects us from electrically charged particles of the solar wind?

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

Which is the thinnest layer of the Earth?

<p>Oceanic crust (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which layer of the Earth is the hottest?

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

What are the two most common gases found in the Earth’s atmosphere?

<p>Oxygen and carbon dioxide (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the primary components of the Earth’s solid mass?

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

What is the average depth of the sea floor?

<p>4 km (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the average elevation of the land?

<p>0.8 km (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the solid, naturally occurring substances with a crystalline structure called?

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

What is the boundary between the Earth's crust and mantle called?

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

What gives a more detailed picture of the Earth's interior?

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

What is the solid portion of the Earth's interior that extends from the Moho to a depth of 660 km called?

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

What is the most abundant gas in the Earth's atmosphere?

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

Which layer of the Earth's interior is solid and composed of a mixture of iron and nickel?

<p>Inner Core (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the average depth of the sea floor variation known as?

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

Which category of material is characterized by the solidification of molten material?

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

What is the primary component of the Earth's solid mass?

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

Which layer of the Earth's interior is characterized by plastic flow and can flow at less than 15 cm per year?

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

What type of rock is formed through the cementing together of solid material?

<p>Sedimentary (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the boundary between the Earth's crust and mantle known as?

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

What is the primary role of the magnetosphere?

<p>Protect from solar wind (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary component of the Earth's atmosphere aside from nitrogen?

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

What is the primary category of material characterized by the accumulation of loose grains?

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

What is the primary category of material characterized by a solid with no orderly arrangement of atoms?

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

Flashcards

Planet Definition

Orbits the Sun, is spherical, and has cleared its orbit.

Dwarf Planet

Ceres is classified as this.

Giant Planets

Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune are called this.

Ecliptic

Planets appear on or near this line from Earth.

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Radiogenic Heating

Heating internally from radioactive decay in large planetesimals.

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Milky Way

Our Solar System is part of this galaxy.

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Terrestrial Planets

The four planets closest to the Sun.

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Condensation Theory

Explains how the solar system formed.

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Planet Definition Year

The year the IAU defined planets.

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Ecliptic Plane

Most planets orbit close to this plane.

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Planets Formation

Ice and dust contribute to the formation of this.

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Frost Line

Division between terrestrial and Jovian planets.

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Condensation Theory

Explains planets forming on the same plane.

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OSIRIS-REx

Mission returning material from asteroid Bennu.

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Internal Differentiation

Causes metallic core and rocky mantle.

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First Generation Stars

Massive and short-lived stars.

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Protoplanets

Planetesimals lead to these formations.

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Small Planetesimals

Small, cool, and irregularly shaped planetesimals.

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Sun-like Star Formation

Massive and short-lived first-generation stars leads to...

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Planetary Orbits

Prograde motion, most within 3° of Earth's.

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Sun and Disk Formation

Accretion disk within a Milky Way nebula.

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Compass Direction

Earth's magnetic field causes this.

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Magnetosphere

Region protected by Earth's magnetic field.

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Earth's Atmopshere

The primary ingredient is this.

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Air Pressure

Caused by planet's atmospheric gases.

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Most Common Gas

Nitrogen is this.

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Solar Wind Protection

Magnetosphere helps protect from it.

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Oceanic Crust

The relative thickness for this layer varies greatly.

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Earths core

Hottest of Earth's layers.

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Study Notes

Formation of the Solar System and Planets

  • Planetary orbits show prograde motion, with most orbital planes lying within 3o of Earth's orbit
  • Mercury's orbit is 7o, greater than the Moon's 5o
  • Planets exhibit a range of tilts in their axis of rotation
  • First generation stars were massive and short-lived, leading to the formation of sun-like stars
  • Ice and dust in the protostellar disk contribute to the formation of planets
  • Accretion disk within a nebula in the Milky Way formed the sun and the protoplanetary disk
  • The frost line divided the terrestrial and Jovian planets
  • Planetesimals formed from specks of dust, eventually leading to the formation of protoplanets
  • Condensation theory explains the formation of planets on the same plane from the protoplanetary disk
  • The OSIRIS-REx mission will return to Earth with material from asteroid Bennu
  • Internal differentiation of planetesimals leads to the formation of a metallic core and rocky mantle
  • Small planetesimals are cool and rigid, leading to irregular shapes; the Earth became round due to internal melting and iron accumulation

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