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

When was planet Earth created?

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

Question 2

What was the purpose of the Cassini-Huygens mission?

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

Question 3

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

Apollo 10
Apollo 11
Apollo 17

Question 4

The giant planets are...

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

Question 5

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?

700 g.
200 g.
100 g.

Question 6

Which state of matter is the Sun in?

Liquid.
Plasma.
Solid.

Question 7

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

Mars.
The Moon.
The Moon and Mars.

Question 8

When should we expect the most sunspots?

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

Question 9

How is a dwarf planet defined by the IAU?

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

Question 10

How close to the Sun will the Parker Solar Probe get?

7 million km.
43.5 million km.
0.7 million km.

Question 11

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?

100 g.
200 g.
700 g.

Question 12

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

The photosphere.
The chromosphere.
The corona.

Question 13

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

No.
Depends how the mass is measured.
Yes.

Question 14

What was the purpose of the DART mission?

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

Question 15

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

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

Question 16

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

No.
Yes.
Depends how the size is measured.

Question 17

What is the purpose of the planned Artemis II mission?

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

Question 18

What was the purpose of the Magellan mission?

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

Question 19

Which planet has the largest orbital eccentricity?

Mars.
Venus.
Mercury.

Question 20

Which planets in the solar system have rings?

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

Question 21

What is the fastest human-made spacecraft?

Juno.
DART.
The Parker Solar Probe.

Question 22

The inner planets are...

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

Question 23

What are Trans-Neptunian objects?

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

Question 24

Which planets in the solar system do not have moons?

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

Question 25

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

Neptune.
Jupiter.
Mars.