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 of the following layers of the Sun is the highest?

The chromosphere.
The photosphere.
The corona.

Question 2

What is the main purpose of the Parker Solar Probe?

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.
To test whether the Sun's energy is produced by nuclear fusion in its core.

Question 3

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

Apollo 17
Apollo 10
Apollo 11

Question 4

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?

100 g.
200 g.
700 g.

Question 5

What was the purpose of the Magellan mission?

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

Question 6

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

Depends how the mass is measured.
Yes.
No.

Question 7

What was the purpose of the Galileo mission?

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

Question 8

Which state of matter is the Sun in?

Liquid.
Plasma.
Solid.

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

When was planet Earth created?

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

Question 11

The inner planets are...

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

Question 12

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 13

Is the largest planet in the solar system also the most massive?

Depends how the size is measured.
Yes.
No.

Question 14

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

Mars.
The Moon.
The Moon and Mars.

Question 15

Which planet has the largest orbital eccentricity?

Venus.
Mercury.
Mars.

Question 16

What is the purpose of the planned Artemis II mission?

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

Question 17

Which planets in the solar system do not have rings?

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

Question 18

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

Mars.
Neptune.
Jupiter.

Question 19

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 20

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

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

Question 21

Which planets in the solar system have moons?

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

Question 22

The giant planets are...

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

Question 23

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 clear 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 24

What is the fastest human-made spacecraft?

DART.
Juno.
The Parker Solar Probe.

Question 25

When should we expect the most sunspots?

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