Practice Test

Please solve the following questions. This is not a real exam, it will not be graded, and you do not need to submit your solutions to anyone. The questions are simply intended to help you practice for the real exam.

These questions will not appear in the exam itself. Students who don't genuinely attempt to solve the questions on their own, and only memorize the solutions, will have a very hard time in the actual exam!

This sample exam is online, but the real exam will be given in person, at a time and place indicated on the course website.

THIS IS NOT THE ACTUAL EXAM!
THIS IS JUST A PRACTICE EXAM!
THE REAL EXAM IS IN PERSON!

If you need any clarifications for these questions, you can ask for them on the course Teams channel.

Question 1

Which state of matter is the Sun in?

Plasma.
Liquid.
Solid.

Question 2

What are Trans-Neptunian objects?

Another name for dwarf planets.
Planet-like objects similar to Neptune.
Planet-like objects beyond the orbit of Neptune.

Question 3

What was the purpose of the Magellan mission?

To explore Mars.
To explore Venus.
To explore Mercury.

Question 4

The first astronauts to walk on the Moon were from...

Apollo 10
Apollo 17
Apollo 11

Question 5

Where in the solar system have humans visited in person, other than Earth?

Mars.
The Moon.
The Moon and Mars.

Question 6

When should we expect the most sunspots?

During a solar minimum.
Halfway between a solar maximum and minimum.
During a solar maximum.

Question 7

When was planet Earth created?

Several thousand years ago.
Several million years ago.
Several billion years ago.

Question 8

The inner planets are...

Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars.
Mercury and Venus.

Question 9

What was the purpose of the DART mission?

To change the path of a moon that was a dangerous threat to Earth.
To change the path of an asteroid that was a dangerous threat to Earth.
To change the path of an asteroid that was not a threat to Earth.

Question 10

Which of the following layers of the Sun is the highest?

The chromosphere.
The photosphere.
The corona.

Question 11

The giant planets are...

Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
Uranus and Neptune.
Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars.

Question 12

Which planet has the largest orbital eccentricity?

Venus.
Mercury.
Mars.

Question 13

Which planets in the solar system do not have moons?

Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
Mercury and Venus.

Question 14

What is the purpose of the planned Artemis II mission?

A crewed mission to fly to the Moon and land on it.
A crewed mission to fly to the Moon but not land on it.
An uncrewed mission to fly to the Moon but not land on it.

Question 15

What is the main purpose of the Parker Solar Probe?

To test whether the Sun's energy is produced by nuclear fusion in its core.
To study the Sun's corona and solar wind from closer to the Sun than any previous spacecraft.
To collect samples of material from the Sun and return them to Earth.

Question 16

Is the smallest planet in the solar system also the least massive?

No.
Yes.
Depends how the size is measured.

Question 17

I have 800 g of a radioactive material with a half-life of 6 months. How much mass will remain from the original material after 1 year?

700 g.
100 g.
200 g.

Question 18

So far, spacecraft sent by humans have explored...

Only planets.
The Sun, planets, moons, asteroids, and comets.
Only planets and moons.

Question 19

What is the fastest human-made spacecraft?

The Parker Solar Probe.
DART.
Juno.

Question 20

How is a dwarf planet defined by the IAU?

An object that is in direct orbit around the Sun and rounded by its own gravity, but does not clear its neighborhood.
An object that is in direct orbit around the Sun, but not rounded by its own gravity and does not clear its neighborhood.
An object that is in direct orbit around the Sun, rounded by its own gravity, and clears its neighborhood.

Question 21

Which of the following planets has been explored the most by spacecraft?

Jupiter.
Mars.
Neptune.

Question 22

What was the purpose of the Galileo mission?

To explore Saturn.
To explore Jupiter.
To explore Neptune.

Question 23

I have 800 g of a radioactive material with a half-life of 4 months. How much mass will remain from the original material after 1 year?

200 g.
100 g.
700 g.

Question 24

Which planets in the solar system have rings?

Jupiter and Saturn.
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars.

Question 25

Is the least dense planet in the solar system also the least massive?

Depends how the mass is measured.
No.
Yes.