2. Choose the incorrect set of characteristics.

Uranus has an atmosphere of hydrogen, helium, methane and maybe ammonia.
The interiors of Uranus and Neptune are probably similar to Jupiter's.
The same pole of Uranus is always pointed toward the sun.
Uranus' rotational axis is tilted more than 90^o so it is nearly in the plane of its orbit.

3. The magnetic field of Uranus and Neptune are

weak and have strange orientations with respect to their rotational axis.
fairly strong and have strange orientations with respect to their rotational axis.
very similar in orientation and strength to the Earths.
basically nonexistent.

4. The rings of Uranus are

too dark to be discovered from Earth.
chunks of ice similar to those in Saturn's rings.
very old and therefore rather dark.
composed of dark particles perhaps covered by some carbon-like material.

5. Miranda, a moon of

Uranus, appears to be a reassembled body of fragments.
Neptune, appears to be a reassembled body of fragments.
Neptune, appears to be a jigsaw puzzle of ring and moon fragments.
Uranus, appears to be a jigsaw puzzle of ring and moon fragments.

6. The presence of Neptune was predicted by observing

changes in the orbital motion of Uranus.
changes in the rotational speed of Uranus.
the way it occulted (eclipsed) stars.
changes in the orbital speed of Uranus and Pluto.

7. The atmosphere of Neptune is similar to that of Uranus except it has more

ammonia which makes it look bluish.
helium which absorbs the red colors.
ammonia which absorbs the red colors.
methane which absorbs the red colors.

8. Choose the incorrect statement concerning Neptune.

A great dark spot, somewhat like Jupiter's Great Red Spot, has been seen on its surface.
Neptune's rings are "clumpy"; that is, they exist in arc segments.
Neptune only has small moons.
Neptune has strong winds.

9. Triton's bright surface probably means it is a

rather new surface covered with water ice.
fairly old surface covered with frozen methane.
fairly old surface covered with frozen nitrogen and methane.
fairly new surface covered with frozen nitrogen and methane.

10. The nitrogen geysers on Triton

may indicate heat energy created from the recent capture of the moon by Neptune.
are probably created by a large hot core.
are actually composed of water and ammonia.
probably only occur when Neptune (and Triton) are nearest the sun.

11. Another planet was thought to exist beyond Neptune because of

discrepancies in the orbital motion of Neptune.
further discrepancies in the orbital motion of Uranus.
changes in the motion of Neptune.
the unique retrograde, highly inclined orbit of Triton.

12. From spectral studies of Pluto we know that

Pluto has a moon.
nitrogen, methane, and probably carbon monoxide are found there.
nitrogen, methane and helium are found there.
nitrogen geysers probably exist there

13. Choose the correct statement.

Pluto is thought to be a planetesimal left over from the early formation of the solar system.
Pluto's moon is very small compared to Pluto.
Objects seen beyond Pluto are like large comets the size of Pluto.
Planet X is the only large object seen beyond Pluto.

Lesson 25 "Meteorites, Asteroids and Comets"

14. Choose the incorrect association.

Typical shooting star - meteor - size of a grain of sand.
Typical shooting star - meteorite - size of a grain of sand.
Typical shooting star - meteor - debris from comets.
Larger fragments - meteorites - often composed of iron.

15. The basic types (classes) of meteorites are

nickel, irony and stoney.
nickel, irony and carbonaceous.
irony, stoney and carbonaceous.
nickel, irony and condrites.

16. Meteorites are the

oldest objects we have found; they show us the chemical mixture which formed the solar system.
heaviest material known; they show us the chemical mixture which formed the solar system.
densest material known; they formed in the centers of differentiated planetesimals.
most primitive material we have found; they formed in the centers of comets.

17. Jupiter's gravity has

captured comets converting them to asteroids.
kept chunks of rock between it and Mars from accreting into a planet(s).
kept chunks of rock between it and Saturn from accreting into a planet(s).
thrown debris outward which was captured by Saturn to form rings.

18. The close association between meteorites and asteroids is because

asteroids contain the densest materials known.
meteorites tend to come from the direction of the asteroid belt.
asteroids contain the most primitive materials in the solar system.
the categories of asteroids are basically the same as the types of meteorites.

19. Which of the following would best describe Comet Halley if one could view it right now ?

Comet Halley consists of a nucleus that is an irregularly shaped ice ball with dark, carbon-like material.
Comet Halley consists of a large, irregular nucleus made almost entirely from organic material and rock.
Comet Halley consists of a very large, irregular nucleus made almost entirely from organic material.
Comet Halley consists of a small, irregular nucleus with a large coma and tail.

20. Gravity has played a major role in the lives of comets. First the gravity of

Jupiter "flung" them into space and then the sun's gravity pulled them back
Uranus and Neptune "flung" them into space and then the sun's gravity pulled them back.
the inner planets "flung" them into space and a passing star "flung" them back.
Uranus and Neptune (and other Jovian planets) "flung" them into space and a passing star "flung" them back.

21. Choose the incorrect statement concerning asteroids with Earth intersecting trajectories (paths).

Most are about 1.0 kilometer or 0.6 mile across.
Many have their trajectories created by collisions within the asteroid belt.
Several large asteroids cross between the Earth and the moon every year.
Once a year an asteroid hits our atmosphere with the force of an atomic bomb.

22. What does the formation of Meteor Crater in Arizona, Sudbury Crater in Canada and the K-T Boundary Event all have in common?

They were all created by meteors.
They were all caused by asteroids.
They all caused animals to become extinct.
They all contributed to the extinction of dinosaurs.

23. The K-T Boundary Event is thought to have been caused by a (see Helps & Hints)

10 kilometer object that struck Tunguska, Siberia about 65 million years ago.
1 kilometer object that struck Yucatan, Mexico about 100 million years ago.
1 kilometer object that collided with the Earth and created a cooling effect that led to the extinction of dinosaurs.
large object that struck Yucatan, Mexico about 65 million years ago.

24. Which of the following would be the most likely sequence of events produced by a large object colliding with the Earth?

large fires or huge tsunami followed by an impact winter and ozone destruction.
large fires or huge tsunami followed by acid rain and an ice age.
a large crater forms followed by cooling, widespread fires and acid rain.
cooling, cratering, widespread fires and ozone depletion.

25. The foreknowledge of an asteroid's impact on the Earth may give us time to (choose the one not mentioned in the telelesson).

store food
evacuate the impact zone
shatter the object with nuclear bombs
nudge the object into a different path by exploding a bomb near it

Prepared by: Mike Mitchell

Be sure to review your quizzes before taking the test.