Question

5. Other Solar Systems. Suppose we found a solar system with the properties described (note that these are not real discoveries!). In light of our theory of solar system formation, decide whether the discovery should be considered reasonable or surprising. Explain your answers.

A. A solar system has four large jovian planets in its inner solar system and seven

small planets made of rock and metal in its outer solar system.

B. A solar system has five terrestrial planets in its inner solar system and three jovian

planets in its outer solar system.

C. A solar system has ten planets that all orbit the star in approximately the same

plane. However, five planets orbit in one direction (counterclockwise) while the

other five orbit in the opposite direction (clockwise).

D. A solar system contains only comets and asteroids, but no large planets.

E. A solar system has four Earth-size terrestrial planets. Each of the four planets has a single moon that is nearly identical in size to Earth’s moon.

Answer 1

A). A solar system has four large jovian planets in its inner solar system and seven small planets made of rock and metal in its outer solar system.

Surprising - The jovian planets need to be where its too cold and terrestrial planets need to be where its not too cold

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B) A solar system has five terrestrial planets in its inner solar system and three jovian planets in its outer solar system.

Reasonable - This matches our understanding of solar system

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C) A solar system has ten planets that all orbit the star in approximately the same plane. However, five planets orbit in one direction (counterclockwise) while the other five orbit in the opposite direction (clockwise).

Surprising as all of them are in same plane, a collision is very likely

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D) A solar system contains only comets and asteroids, but no large planets.

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E. A solar system has four Earth-size terrestrial planets. Each of the four planets has a single moon that is nearly identical in size to Earth’s moon.

This is reasonable as it is same as our solar system.