Exploring Fomalhaut's Star System

Explain the process of planetary formation around Fomalhaut and how it compares to the formation of planets in our Solar System.

• Fomalhaut's planets form through direct collapse, unlike the Solar System's accretion process.

• Both Fomalhaut and the Solar System's planets form through accretion of dust and gas in a protoplanetary disk.

• Fomalhaut's planets form from the collision of large asteroids, unlike the Solar System's accretion process.

• Fomalhaut's planets form through gravitational instability, unlike the Solar System's accretion process.

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DOK Level 3: Strategic Thinking

Describe the main characteristics of Fomalhaut's disk.

• It is a thin, featureless disk with no gaps.

• It is a thick, dusty disk with a prominent gap.

• It is a thin, icy disk with multiple rings.

• It is a thick, gaseous disk with no gaps.

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DOK Level 2: Skill/Concept

How do stellar winds influence the formation of planets in the Fomalhaut system?

• Stellar winds help in the accretion of dust particles.

• Stellar winds disperse the gas and dust, hindering planet formation.

• Stellar winds have no significant effect on planet formation.

• Stellar winds create new planets by compressing gas clouds.

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DOK Level 2: Skill/Concept

What was the method used to discover exoplanets in the Fomalhaut system?

• Radial velocity method.

• Transit photometry.

• Direct imaging.

• Gravitational microlensing.

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DOK Level 2: Skill/Concept

Analyze the evolution of Fomalhaut's system from its formation to its current state.

• Fomalhaut's system has remained unchanged since its formation.

• Fomalhaut's system has evolved from a dense gas cloud to a system with a prominent debris disk and exoplanets.

• Fomalhaut's system has lost all its gas and dust, leaving only rocky planets.

• Fomalhaut's system has evolved into a binary star system with no planets.

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DOK Level 3: Strategic Thinking

What is the significance of the gap observed in Fomalhaut's disk?

• It indicates the presence of a planet.

• It is a natural feature of all protoplanetary disks.

• It is caused by the star's magnetic field.

• It is a result of stellar winds.

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DOK Level 2: Skill/Concept

Evaluate the impact of Fomalhaut's stellar winds on the disk's structure.

• Stellar winds compress the disk, making it denser.

• Stellar winds clear out the inner regions of the disk.

• Stellar winds have no impact on the disk's structure.

• Stellar winds create new gaps in the disk.

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DOK Level 3: Strategic Thinking

What are the primary components of Fomalhaut's disk?

• Hydrogen gas and rocky debris.

• Dust and ice particles.

• Helium gas and metallic elements.

• Methane gas and organic compounds.

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DOK Level 2: Skill/Concept

Discuss the role of direct imaging in the discovery of Fomalhaut's exoplanets.

• Direct imaging allows for the detection of exoplanets by observing their transit across the star.

• Direct imaging captures the light reflected off the exoplanets, making them visible.

• Direct imaging measures the gravitational influence of exoplanets on the star.

• Direct imaging detects the radio emissions from exoplanets.

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DOK Level 3: Strategic Thinking

How does the presence of a debris disk around Fomalhaut affect the potential habitability of its exoplanets?

• It increases the potential habitability by providing essential materials.

• It decreases the potential habitability due to frequent collisions.

• It has no effect on the potential habitability.

• It makes the exoplanets too hot for life.

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DOK Level 2: Skill/Concept