Question 32·Medium·Command of Evidence
Characteristics of Five Recently Discovered Gas Exoplanets
| Exoplanet designation | Mass (Jupiters) | Radius (Jupiters) | Orbital period (days) | Distance from the Sun (parsecs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOI-640 b | 0.88 | 1.771 | 5.003 | 340 |
| TOI-1601 b | 0.99 | 1.239 | 5.331 | 336 |
| TOI-628 b | 6.33 | 1.060 | 3.409 | 178 |
| TOI-1478 b | 0.85 | 1.060 | 10.180 | 153 |
| TOI-1333 b | 2.37 | 1.396 | 4.720 | 200 |
“Hot Jupiters” are gas planets that have a mass of at least 0.25 Jupiters and an orbital period of fewer than 10 days, while “warm Jupiters” are gas planets that meet the same mass criterion but have orbital periods of more than 10 days.
In 2021, Michigan State University astronomer Joseph Rodriguez and colleagues announced the discovery of five new gas exoplanets and asserted that four are hot Jupiters and one is a warm Jupiter.
Which choice best describes data from the table that support Rodriguez and colleagues’ assertion?
For data-based Reading & Writing questions, start by underlining the exact numerical conditions in the text (here, the mass cutoff and the orbital-period limits for hot vs. warm Jupiters). Then go straight to the relevant columns in the table and quickly verify how many entries meet each condition—ignore extra columns like radius or distance unless they are explicitly part of the definition. Once you know the pattern in the data (for example, how many planets fit each category), eliminate any answer choices that use the wrong column, misstate a number, or mention details that don’t directly support the claim; the correct choice will accurately summarize the key data that match the assertion.
Hints
Focus on the definitions, not the story
Underline or note the exact conditions that define hot Jupiters and warm Jupiters. What two numerical properties are used to classify them?
Identify the relevant columns in the table
Ignore radius and distance for now. Look only at the mass and orbital period columns. Do all planets meet the mass requirement? How many have orbital periods under 10 days and how many over 10?
Connect the counts to the assertion
Rodriguez and colleagues claim there are four hot Jupiters and one warm Jupiter. Once you know how many planets have short vs. long orbital periods, which answer choice states that pattern and also mentions the mass condition?
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify the key criteria in the definitions
The passage defines the two categories:
- Hot Jupiters: gas planets with mass at least 0.25 Jupiters and orbital period fewer than 10 days.
- Warm Jupiters: gas planets with mass at least 0.25 Jupiters and orbital period more than 10 days.
So the only columns that matter are Mass (Jupiters) and Orbital period (days). Radius and distance from the Sun do not affect whether a planet is hot or warm.
Check the mass criterion for all five planets
Look at the Mass (Jupiters) column:
- TOI-640 b: 0.88
- TOI-1601 b: 0.99
- TOI-628 b: 6.33
- TOI-1478 b: 0.85
- TOI-1333 b: 2.37
Each of these masses is greater than 0.25. That means all five planets satisfy the mass requirement for being either a hot or a warm Jupiter.
Check the orbital periods to see how many are hot vs. warm
Now look at the Orbital period (days) column:
- TOI-640 b: 5.003 (less than 10)
- TOI-1601 b: 5.331 (less than 10)
- TOI-628 b: 3.409 (less than 10)
- TOI-1478 b: 10.180 (greater than 10)
- TOI-1333 b: 4.720 (less than 10)
So four planets have orbital periods under 10 days, and one planet (TOI-1478 b) has an orbital period over 10 days.
Match the data to the astronomers’ assertion and the choices
Rodriguez and colleagues said that four planets are hot Jupiters (mass at least 0.25 and period under 10 days) and one is a warm Jupiter (mass at least 0.25 and period over 10 days). From the table:
- All five planets have mass greater than 0.25.
- Exactly four have orbital periods less than 10 days, and the remaining one, TOI-1478 b, has an orbital period greater than 10 days.
The only choice that correctly and directly states both of these facts is D) Each of the planets has a mass greater than 0.25 Jupiters, and all except for TOI-1478 b have an orbital period of less than 10 days.