This set of Spaceflight Mechanics Multiple Choice Questions & Answers (MCQs) focuses on “Interplanetary Trajectories”.
1. How far does the solar system extend from the sun?
a) 0.5 light year
b) 1 light year
c) 2 light year
d) 10 light year
View Answer
Explanation: Solar system is the volume of space around the sun which extends up to 1 light year from the sun. This is the region where the planets and celestial bodies orbit.
2. What percent of matter is comprised by sun in the solar system?
a) 88.2%
b) 90%
c) 99.86%
d) 100%
View Answer
Explanation: Sun is the densest material in the solar system and makes up to 99.86% of the solar system which is most of it. Its mass is as much as 332,900 Earth masses.
3. What causes the auroral effects on polar regions of the earth?
a) Lunar gravity
b) Solar flares
c) Tidal waves
d) Magnetic field fluctuations
View Answer
Explanation: There’s a cyclic solar activity which occurs after every 11 year. This leads to massive solar flares which are high energy solar particles that interacts with earth’s atmosphere. This leads to auroral effects at the poles.
4. Where is the Kuiper belt located in the solar system?
a) Between Mars and Jupiter
b) Beyond Saturn
c) Beyond Neptune
d) Beyond heliosphere
View Answer
Explanation: Kuiper belt is a donut shaped region of icy celestial objects that are leftovers from the solar system’s history. It is larger than the asteroid belt which is located between Mars and Jupiter. This is located beyond Neptune and comprises of 3 dwarf planets.
5. Where is the asteroid belt located in the solar system?
a) Between Mars and Jupiter
b) Beyond Saturn
c) Beyond Neptune
d) Beyond heliosphere
View Answer
Explanation: There’s a region in the solar system which contains millions of asteroids known as the asteroid belt. This is located between Mars and Jupiter. The total mass of the Kuiper belt is still less compared to Pluto’s mass and is thinly distributed making it possible for spacecrafts travelling through it without any collision.
6. Which of these celestial bodies is composed of frozen gas and solid particles which come from outer regions of the solar system?
a) Asteroid
b) Moon
c) Planet
d) Comet
View Answer
Explanation: Comets are very small objects that are made up of ice, dust and gasses. When they travel close to sun, it releases the gases forming a tail. These tails can be as long as 108 km.
7. Which of these objects is a solid debris from comet, asteroid etc. which travels to reach the surface of planet or moon?
a) Asteroid
b) Moon
c) Meteorite
d) Comet
View Answer
Explanation: Meteorite is a solid debris present in the solar system which is a result of aftermath from a collision of a comet, asteroid. They tend to travel to the planet or moon’s surface by surviving through the atmosphere. While entering the planet’s atmosphere, it becomes a meteor which glows up due to the friction causing it to radiate heat and energy.
8. Which of these determines the cosmic boundary of the solar system?
a) Kuiper belt
b) Pluto
c) Tyche
d) Oort cloud
View Answer
Explanation: Oort cloud is a theoretical cloud which surrounds sun at distance ranging from 2000-200,00 AU. This lies beyond the heliosphere and marks the end of the solar system boundary.
9. Which of these planets lack a gaseous atmosphere?
a) Mercury
b) Venus
c) Jupiter
d) Mars
View Answer
Explanation: All inner and outer planets have gaseous atmosphere present except for Mercury and Pluto. Instead of atmosphere, Mercury consists of an exosphere composed of atoms which are blasted from the surface by solar wind and striking meteoroids.
10. Jovian planets are composed of thin atmosphere surrounding the solid structure.
a) True
b) False
View Answer
Explanation: Jovian planets are Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune which are gas giants. They are known as outer planets as they are farther away from the sun compared to the inner planets. These planets unlike the terrestrial planets have a dense atmosphere surrounding massive layers of gas. It is made up of hydrogen and helium and lack any solid surface.
11. What is the rotation period of Jupiter about its axis?
a) 10 hours
b) 16 hours
c) 24 hours
d) 17 hours
View Answer
Explanation: Jupiter is among the 4 Jovian planets which are slightly oblong unlike the terrestrial planets. They have a faster rotation period which flattens out the spherical shape making it more oblate. Jupiter, Saturn have a rotation period of 10 hours whereas Uranus and Neptune have rotation period of 16-17 hours.
12. Which is the largest asteroid present in the asteroid belt?
a) Vesta
b) Eros
c) Charon
d) Ceres
View Answer
Explanation: Kuiper belt is a region of millions of asteroid present between Mars and Jupiter. It has 4 large asteroid which makes up most of its mass. Among the four, Ceres is the largest object with diameter of 940 km. It is considered to be the 25th largest celestial body present in the solar system.
13. The only parameter distinguishing a comet from a asteroid is the presence of atmosphere.
a) True
b) False
View Answer
Explanation: Comets are distinguished from asteroids by the presence of atmosphere around its nucleus. The atmosphere comprises of the come, which is the central part surrounding the nucleus and the tail, which is the dust or gases being released due to solar pressure.
14. If the meteor glows with a color blue-green, when which of the metal is present in it?
a) Sodium
b) Iron
c) Magnesium
d) Calcium
View Answer
Explanation: Meteor which glowing takes different hues of colours based on the metal that predominates other metal present in it. As the meteor is ablaze and ionizes, the colour is emitted. When the metal content is sodium, it emits orange-yellow, when it is iron, it reflects yellow colour, in case of magnesium it shows blue-green colour and when there’s presence of calcium, it emits violet colour.
More MCQs on Interplanetary Trajectories:
- Interplanetary Trajectories MCQ (Set 2)
- Interplanetary Trajectories MCQ (Set 3)
- Interplanetary Trajectories MCQ (Set 4)
- Interplanetary Trajectories MCQ (Set 5)
Sanfoundry Global Education & Learning Series – Spaceflight Mechanics.
To practice all areas of Spaceflight Mechanics, here is complete set of 1000+ Multiple Choice Questions and Answers.
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