The Solar System – ASTR 121

Second Midterm – November 0, 2015, 09:00-09:50

Instructions:  Print your name and student identification number at the top of this page.  Answer each of the questions A through J in the space provided.  Be clear and thorough in your answers using sentences, labeled diagrams, and formulas with symbols defined, where appropriate.  Each question is worth two points.

A.  Give two basic differences between terrestrial and jovian planets.

B.  Where did the solar nebula come from?

C.  Describe two categories of materials in the solar nebula which condensed in the inner Solar System.

D.  What is the leading hypothesis for the Moon's formation?

E.  What are two properties of exoplanets we can measure with current detection methods?

F.  What is differentiation in the interiors of terrestrial planets?

G.  Why does the Earth have an atmosphere and oceans?

H.  What is the greenhouse effect?

I.  Choose a feature on the surface of Mars and explain its origin.

J.  Why is it surprising that Venus lacks plate tectonics?