PSC 203 – Elementary Astronomy
Spring 2009
Summary HW Assignment #1
Answer Key in Bold (email me if you have questions)
1) What is the largest object in the solar system? The Sun
2) List one object which is NOT in the solar system. More than one possible answer
Galaxies, constellations, exoplanets, ...
3) List the eight planets in order of distance from the Sun.
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
4) Which of the following distances is the largest B is largest (A is the smallest distance)
a) the Earth to the Moon b) Jupiter to Saturn c) the Earth to the Sun
5) Is the property of having many moons typical of Terrestrial or Jovian planets? Jovian
6) Which planet has the unique characteristic of rotating on its side? Uranus
7) Ice crystals are a) found through the whole solar system
b) found mainly in the inner solar system
c) found mainly in the outer solar system
8) Rocks and metals are a) found through the whole solar system
b) found mainly in the inner solar system or
c) found mainly in the outer solar system
9) Which of the following terms refers to a rock which is failing through the atmosphere:
a) meteorite b) meteoroid c) meteor
10) What is the definition difference between the “dwarf planets” and the “small bodies” in the
solar system? Dwarf Planets are large enough to form into a sphere, small bodies are
irregularly shaped
11) Is “oxygen in the atmosphere” one of the essential features necessary for life to survive? Why
or why not? It is not listed an essential feature for life in general because plants don't need
oxygen even though animals do.
12) List the bands of the EM spectrum in order from the smallest energy to the largest energy.
Radio, Microwave, Infrared, Visible, Ultraviolet, X-ray, Gamma rays
13) Will a higher temperature star produce light which appears bluer in color or redder in color?
High temperature stars are bluer in color (blue represents higher energies than red)
14) Which type of spectra is observed from a blackbody source of light?
a) continuous b) emission c) absorption