UniverseTenth Edition

Chapter 15Vagabonds of the Solar System

Roger Freedman • Robert Geller • William Kaufmann III

Clicker Questions

The Kirkwood gaps in the asteroid belt areA. produced by very large asteroids sweeping

out paths in the asteroid belt. B. produced by a gravitational interaction

with Jupiter. C. produced by radiation pressure from the

Sun.D. present because asteroids only formed at

certain distances from the Sun. E. temporary features that are constantly

changing their distance from the Sun.Q15.1

The Kirkwood gaps in the asteroid belt areA. produced by very large asteroids sweeping

out paths in the asteroid belt. B. produced by a gravitational interaction

with Jupiter. C. produced by radiation pressure from the

Sun.D. present because asteroids only formed at

certain distances from the Sun. E. temporary features that are constantly

changing their distance from the Sun.A15.1

The largest asteroids in the asteroid belt, such as Ceres,A. are rocky and roughly spherical because their

gravity pulled them into this shape when they once were molten.

B. are rocky and irregularly shaped because their gravity is too weak to pull them into a spherical shape.

C. contain rock, are covered with ice and are roughly spherical because their gravity pulls them into this shape.

D. contain rock and ice and are irregularly shaped because their gravity is too weak to pull them into a spherical shape. Q15.2

The largest asteroids in the asteroid belt, such as Ceres,A. are rocky and roughly spherical because their

gravity pulled them into this shape when they once were molten.

B. are rocky and irregularly shaped because their gravity is too weak to pull them into a spherical shape.

C. contain rock, are covered with ice and are roughly spherical because their gravity pulls them into this shape.

D. contain rock and ice and are irregularly shaped because their gravity is too weak to pull them into a spherical shape. A15.2

The Trojan asteroids share Jupiter’s orbit and are strongly influenced by the gravity of both the Sun and Jupiter. They have orbital periods that are

A. close to Jupiter’s period.B. one-half of Jupiter’s period.C. two-thirds of Jupiter’s period.D. twice Jupiter’s period.E. randomly distributed.

Q15.3

The Trojan asteroids share Jupiter’s orbit and are strongly influenced by the gravity of both the Sun and Jupiter. They have orbital periods that are

A. close to Jupiter’s period.B. one-half of Jupiter’s period.C. two-thirds of Jupiter’s period.D. twice Jupiter’s period.E. randomly distributed.

A15.3

The trail you see behind a meteor as it moves across the sky is due toA. ices boiling off its surface due to the heat

from the Sun. B. turbulence in the air created by the meteor. C. gases being ejected from the meteor due to

heat from the Sun. D. rocky material of the meteor burning up due

to friction with the Earth’s atmosphere. E. ionization caused by the solar wind.

Q15.4

The trail you see behind a meteor as it moves across the sky is due toA. ices boiling off its surface due to the heat

from the Sun. B. turbulence in the air created by the meteor. C. gases being ejected from the meteor due to

heat from the Sun. D. rocky material of the meteor burning up due

to friction with the Earth’s atmosphere. E. ionization caused by the solar wind.

A15.4

Most regularly occurring meteor showers originateA. from meteorites in space whose mutual

gravity causes them to form a small bunch.

B. from a trail of debris left behind by a comet.

C. from groups of meteorites that have randomly bunched together.

D. from the constellation Perseus. E. from an asteroid that was long ago

pulverized in a collision. Q15.5

Most regularly occurring meteor showers originateA. from meteorites in space whose mutual

gravity causes them to form a small bunch.

B. from a trail of debris left behind by a comet.

C. from groups of meteorites that have randomly bunched together.

D. from the constellation Perseus. E. from an asteroid that was long ago

pulverized in a collision. A15.5

The Perseid meteor shower appears to come from

A. all points on the sky.B. a point in the constellation Perseus.C. the asteroid belt.D. the Kuiper belt.E. the Oort cloud.

Q15.6

The Perseid meteor shower appears to come from

A. all points on the sky.B. a point in the constellation Perseus.C. the asteroid belt.D. the Kuiper belt.E. the Oort cloud.

A15.6

Iron meteorites are easier to find on the surface of the Earth than stony meteorites becauseA. most meteors are iron. B. iron meteors are more massive than stony

meteors and are more strongly attracted by Earth’s gravity.

C. stony meteors usually burn up in the Earth’s atmosphere.

D. iron meteorites are easier to distinguish from rocks on Earth’s surface.

E. iron meteorites cause intense variations in the local surface magnetic field on Earth.Q15.7

Iron meteorites are easier to find on the surface of the Earth than stony meteorites becauseA. most meteors are iron. B. iron meteors are more massive than stony

meteors and are more strongly attracted by Earth’s gravity.

C. stony meteors usually burn up in the Earth’s atmosphere.

D. iron meteorites are easier to distinguish from rocks on Earth’s surface.

E. iron meteorites cause intense variations in the local surface magnetic field on Earth.A15.7

The presence of a radioactive isotope of aluminum in the Allende meteorite is evidence thatA. a nearby supernova explosion occurred about

4.6 billion years ago, creating this radioactive element.

B. the early solar nebula was hot enough to produce nuclear fusion far outside the region where the Sun formed.

C. this meteorite came from the Sun. D. this meteorite had been significantly heated by

the Sun. E. the solar wind altered aluminum to form the

isotope.Q15.8

The presence of a radioactive isotope of aluminum in the Allende meteorite is evidence thatA. a nearby supernova explosion occurred about

4.6 billion years ago, creating this radioactive element.

B. the early solar nebula was hot enough to produce nuclear fusion far outside the region where the Sun formed.

C. this meteorite came from the Sun. D. this meteorite had been significantly heated by

the Sun. E. the solar wind altered aluminum to form the

isotope.A15.8

Comet tails appear only when a comet moves into the inner solar system. This is becauseA. they are too difficult to see when they are in

the outer solar system. B. heat from the Sun causes ices on the comet to

vaporize.C. the solar wind erodes the surface of the comet. D. the Sun’s gravity pulls material from the

surface of the comet, leaving a trail of material behind the comet.

E. tidal forces from the Jovian planets disperse the tails.Q15.9

Comet tails appear only when a comet moves into the inner solar system. This is becauseA. they are too difficult to see when they are in

the outer solar system. B. heat from the Sun causes ices on the comet to

vaporize.C. the solar wind erodes the surface of the comet. D. the Sun’s gravity pulls material from the

surface of the comet, leaving a trail of material behind the comet.

E. tidal forces from the Jovian planets disperse the tails.A15.9

The antitail of Comet Hale-Bopp shown here appears to be in front of the comet. This is due toA. the orientation of the comet

with respect to the Earth.B. the pressure of the solar

wind.C. tidal forces from the Jovian

planets.D. the distance of the comet

from the sun.E. collisions with meteorites.

Q15.10

The antitail of Comet Hale-Bopp shown here appears to be in front of the comet. This is due toA. the orientation of the comet

with respect to the Earth.B. the pressure of the solar

wind.C. tidal forces from the Jovian

planets.D. the distance of the comet

from the sun.E. collisions with meteorites.

A15.10

The blue color of the ion tail of Comet Hale-Bopp was due to A. radioactive hydrogen.B. carbon-bearing

molecules in the ion tail emitting light.

C. water evaporating.D. sunlight reflecting off the

ions.E. an optical illusion.

Q15.11

The blue color of the ion tail of Comet Hale-Bopp was due to A. radioactive hydrogen.B. carbon-bearing molecules

in the ion tail emitting light.

C. water evaporating.D. sunlight reflecting off the

ions.E. an optical illusion.

A15.11

The white color of the dust tail of Comet Hale-Bopp was due to

A. radioactive hydrogen.B. carbon-bearing

molecules in the dust tail emitting light.

C. water evaporating.D. sunlight reflecting off

the dust .E. an optical illusion.

Q15.12

The white color of the dust tail of Comet Hale-Bopp was due to

A. radioactive hydrogen.B. carbon-bearing

molecules in the dust tail emitting light.

C. water evaporating.D. sunlight reflecting off

the dust .E. an optical illusion.

A15.12

Most short-period comets are thought to originate in the _____ whereas long-period comets are thought to come from the ______ .

A. Oort Cloud / Kuiper BeltB. Kuiper Belt / Oort CloudC. Lagrange Points / Oort CloudD. Lagrange Points / Kuiper Belt E. Kuiper Belt / Lagrange Points

Q15.13

Most short-period comets are thought to originate in the _____ whereas long-period comets are thought to come from the ______ .

A. Oort Cloud / Kuiper BeltB. Kuiper Belt / Oort CloudC. Lagrange Points / Oort CloudD. Lagrange Points / Kuiper Belt E. Kuiper Belt / Lagrange Points

A15.13

Pluto was “declassified” as a major planet becauseA. international sentiment turned against the

U. S. B. Pluto is spherical in shape.C. Pluto does not gravitationally dominate its

neighborhood, is in a highly inclined orbit, and does not fit either a terrestrial or Jovian classification in terms of composition.

D. Pluto is inside the Oort Cloud.E. Pluto has only three satellites.

Q15.14

Pluto was “declassified” as a major planet becauseA. international sentiment turned against the

U. S. B. Pluto is spherical in shape.C. Pluto does not gravitationally dominate its

neighborhood, is in a highly inclined orbit, and does not fit either a terrestrial or Jovian classification in terms of composition.

D. Pluto is inside the Oort Cloud.E. Pluto has only three satellites.

A15.14