Astronomy 210 Quiz 7, Spring Semester 2011
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA
The inner planets of the solar system are composed of metals/rocks, while the outer planets are composed of ices/gases because of the sun's:
(A) gravity.
(B) strong winds.
(C) heat.
(D) magnetic fields.
Correct answer: (C)
Heat generated by the sun means that volatiles cannot condense to start forming the cores of the inner terrestrial planets, while further out, where it is cooler, volatiles can condense to start forming the outer jovian planets.
Section 30676
Exam code: quiz07Sq5h
(A) : 7 students
(B) : 0 students
(C) : 23 students
(D) : 9 students
(No response: 1 student)
"Success level": 61% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.64
Compare to an older version of this question from Spring 2010.
Showing posts with label nebular disk. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nebular disk. Show all posts
20100525
Astronomy quiz question: condensation sequence hypothesis
Astronomy 210 Quiz 7, Spring Semester 2010
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA
According to the condensation sequence hypothesis, why are the inner planets of the solar system composed of metals/rocks, while the outer planets are composed of ices/gases?
(A) The gravitational pull of the sun.
(B) The sun's magnetic fields.
(C) Strong winds generated by the sun.
(D) Heat generated by the sun.
Correct answer: (D)
Heat generated by the sun means that volatiles cannot condense to start forming the cores of the inner terrestrial planets, while further out, where it is cooler, volatiles can condense to start forming the outer jovian planets.
Section 30676
(A) : 10 students
(B) : 16 students
(C) : 3 students
(D) : 38 students
"Success level": 58% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.55
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA
According to the condensation sequence hypothesis, why are the inner planets of the solar system composed of metals/rocks, while the outer planets are composed of ices/gases?
(A) The gravitational pull of the sun.
(B) The sun's magnetic fields.
(C) Strong winds generated by the sun.
(D) Heat generated by the sun.
Correct answer: (D)
Heat generated by the sun means that volatiles cannot condense to start forming the cores of the inner terrestrial planets, while further out, where it is cooler, volatiles can condense to start forming the outer jovian planets.
Section 30676
(A) : 10 students
(B) : 16 students
(C) : 3 students
(D) : 38 students
"Success level": 58% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.55
20090516
Astronomy quiz question: carbonaceous chondrules
Astronomy 210 Quiz 7, Spring Semester 2009
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA
A carbonaceous chondrite meteorite may be a sample of the early solar system because:
(A) it has surfaces covered with craters.
(B) it contains metallic elements such as iron and nickel.
(C) its trajectory came from beyond the solar system.
(D) it is composed of volatile (easily vaporized) compounds.
Section 30674
(A) : 9 students
(B) : 8 students
(C) : 5 students
(D) : 10 students
Correct answer: (D)
Larger meteorites, and materials from larger bodies have been melted such that any delicate molecular compounds would have decomposed.
"Difficulty level": 35% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.58
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA
A carbonaceous chondrite meteorite may be a sample of the early solar system because:
(A) it has surfaces covered with craters.
(B) it contains metallic elements such as iron and nickel.
(C) its trajectory came from beyond the solar system.
(D) it is composed of volatile (easily vaporized) compounds.
Section 30674
(A) : 9 students
(B) : 8 students
(C) : 5 students
(D) : 10 students
Correct answer: (D)
Larger meteorites, and materials from larger bodies have been melted such that any delicate molecular compounds would have decomposed.
"Difficulty level": 35% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.58
20080331
Astronomy clicker question: extrasolar planet orbits
Astronomy 10, Spring Semester 2008
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA
Astronomy 10 learning goal Q7.5
Students were asked the following clicker question (Classroom Performance System, einstruction.com) in the middle of their learning cycle:
[0.3 points.] How did "extrasolar" giant planets in small, eccentric orbits form?
(A) They were formed very close to their stars, in eccentric orbits.
(B) They were formed very far from their stars, in circular orbits, but their orbits were disrupted by collisions with other protoplanets, and spiraled inwards.
(C) They were formed very far from their stars, in circular orbits, but they lost angular momentum to the protoplanetary disk, and spiraled inwards.
(D) They were produced by material ejected from a collision between two stars.
Correct answer: not revealed yet (see discussion below).
Student responses
Section 4160
(A) : 0 students
(B) : 20 students
(C) : 4 students
(D) : 1 student
Section 5166
(A) : 11 students
(B) : 8 students
(C) : 7 students
(D) : 6 students
The students in section 4160 chose impacts on protoplanets (response (B)) over the correct response (C) of (gradual) angular momentum redistribution, after a discussion earlier in the same lecture about angular momentum transfer from the young Sun to its nebular disk. This prompted a refresher on this same subject immediately afterwards.
In section 5166, after showing the lack of consensus in their replies, students were asked to discuss their responses with each other before responding again, with a moderate shift towards the correct answer.
Student responses
Section 5166
(A) : 8 students
(B) : 8 students
(C) : 13 students
(D) : 3 students
Correct answer: (C)
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA
Astronomy 10 learning goal Q7.5
Students were asked the following clicker question (Classroom Performance System, einstruction.com) in the middle of their learning cycle:
[0.3 points.] How did "extrasolar" giant planets in small, eccentric orbits form?
(A) They were formed very close to their stars, in eccentric orbits.
(B) They were formed very far from their stars, in circular orbits, but their orbits were disrupted by collisions with other protoplanets, and spiraled inwards.
(C) They were formed very far from their stars, in circular orbits, but they lost angular momentum to the protoplanetary disk, and spiraled inwards.
(D) They were produced by material ejected from a collision between two stars.
Correct answer: not revealed yet (see discussion below).
Student responses
Section 4160
(A) : 0 students
(B) : 20 students
(C) : 4 students
(D) : 1 student
Section 5166
(A) : 11 students
(B) : 8 students
(C) : 7 students
(D) : 6 students
The students in section 4160 chose impacts on protoplanets (response (B)) over the correct response (C) of (gradual) angular momentum redistribution, after a discussion earlier in the same lecture about angular momentum transfer from the young Sun to its nebular disk. This prompted a refresher on this same subject immediately afterwards.
In section 5166, after showing the lack of consensus in their replies, students were asked to discuss their responses with each other before responding again, with a moderate shift towards the correct answer.
Student responses
Section 5166
(A) : 8 students
(B) : 8 students
(C) : 13 students
(D) : 3 students
Correct answer: (C)
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