Ch. 28 The Planets 50 Questions

Front

What causes a spinning nebular cloud to flatten into a disk?

Back

Increased gravitational pull at the center of the disk.

Front

What is the origin of comets?

Back

Comets come from the Oort cloud.

Front

Which planet is known to be shrinking and what is the reason for this?

Back

Mercury is shrinking due to its large, hot core.

Front

Which two planets have atmospheres that are very similar in composition to the Sun?

Back

Jupiter and Saturn.

Front

Which planet has the greatest orbital eccentricity?

Back

Mercury.

Front

What is the definition of gravitational pull?

Back

The force of attraction between two masses, which causes objects to be drawn towards each other.

Front

What is the Oort cloud?

Back

A theoretical cloud of predominantly icy objects that exist in the outermost reaches of the solar system, believed to be the source of long-period comets.

Front

What is the significance of a planet's core temperature?

Back

A planet's core temperature can influence geological activity and physical changes, such as shrinking.

Front

How do Jupiter and Saturn's atmospheres compare to the Sun's?

Back

They are primarily composed of hydrogen and helium, similar to the Sun's composition.

Front

What does orbital eccentricity measure?

Back

Orbital eccentricity measures the deviation of an orbit from being circular; higher values indicate more elongated orbits.