1. Astronomers discover an exoplanet that both transits its parent star and is d
ID: 160627 • Letter: 1
Question
1.
Astronomers discover an exoplanet that both transits its parent star and is detectable through the radial velocity wobble method. Since we can estimate the radius of the planet from the transit method, what property can we calculate for the planet since it also causes the star to wobble?
2.
How is Pluto most like a planet?
3.
Why are "hot Jupiters" the easiest exoplanets to find?
4.
Using the radial velocity "wobble" method, Astronomers discover two planets orbiting two different stars. In both cases, the stars are identical, and the planets are both 1 AU away from their parent star. However, one planet causes its star to wobble with a velocity of 5 m/s, while the other causes its star to wobble by 10 m/s. What is the most likely difference between these two planets?
5.
Astronomers believe that Jupiter formed a mini-Solar System of its own. That is, during the time when the Solar System was forming, a smaller disk of material formed around Jupiter, and many of its large moons formed as solid "planets" orbiting Jupiter, just like the planets formed around the Sun. What should these moons be like?
1.
Astronomers discover an exoplanet that both transits its parent star and is detectable through the radial velocity wobble method. Since we can estimate the radius of the planet from the transit method, what property can we calculate for the planet since it also causes the star to wobble?
A) its amount of reflected starlightB) whether it has an atmosphere
C) its density
D) its age
E) its chemical composition
2.
How is Pluto most like a planet?
A) It is the most massive body in its region of the Solar SystemB) It has a similar composition to Neptune
C) It has an atmosphere and is nearly spherical
D) It is as massive as the inner planets
3.
Why are "hot Jupiters" the easiest exoplanets to find?
A) They are easy to image directly by simply taking a picture with HubbleB) They give rise to "square bottomed" dips in the light curve of their star, which are easy to pick out in "planet hunters"
C) They are the only type of planet that are always seen to transit their star as seen from Earth
D) They cause the star to wobble by a larger velocity than smaller, more distant planets
4.
Using the radial velocity "wobble" method, Astronomers discover two planets orbiting two different stars. In both cases, the stars are identical, and the planets are both 1 AU away from their parent star. However, one planet causes its star to wobble with a velocity of 5 m/s, while the other causes its star to wobble by 10 m/s. What is the most likely difference between these two planets?
A) One is more massive than the otherB) One has a larger radius than the other
C) One is more dense than the other
D) One is hotter than the other
5.
Astronomers believe that Jupiter formed a mini-Solar System of its own. That is, during the time when the Solar System was forming, a smaller disk of material formed around Jupiter, and many of its large moons formed as solid "planets" orbiting Jupiter, just like the planets formed around the Sun. What should these moons be like?
A) They are beyond the snow line, so primarily icyB) All hydrogen and helium
C) Identical in composition to Pluto
D) Like the terrestrial planets, primarily rocky with almost no ice
Explanation / Answer
1.
Answer: C) its density
Explanation: Radial velocity method and transit method give the radius and size of a planet. These two methods can also help to determine the density of the planet.
2.
Answer: C) It has an atmosphere and is nearly spherical
Pluto is a dwarf planet, but it has a spherical structure and an atmosphere like other planets. These two reasons are favourable to consider Pluto as a planet.
Pluto fails in meeting the following planetary condition:
Cleared its orbital neighborhood:
It does not allow other objects enter its orbit. If any object enters its orbit, the planet should have the capacity to absorb such objects and other debris in the orbit, other than moons, because of the high gravitation force of the moons. Hence, Pluto is not a planet.
3.
Answer: C) They are the only type of planet that are always seen to transit their star as seen from Earth
Explanation: Exoplanets are also called “Hot Jupiters”. They are always seen to transit their star as seen from the Earth.
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