Question 1

How deep is an impact crater compared to its width?

Accepted Answer

A) 10- 20% 
B) 100- 200% 
C) 30- 40% 
D) 1- 10% 
E) 50- 100% 
A) 10- 20% 
B) 100- 200% 
C) 30- 40% 
D) 1- 10% 
E) 50- 100%

Question 2

How fast do tectonic plates move on Earth?

Accepted Answer

A) a few kilometers per century 
B) a few centimeters per century 
C) quite fast, but only during earthquakes 
D) about 1 mile per hour 
E) a few centimeters per year 
A) a few kilometers per century 
B) a few centimeters per century 
C) quite fast, but only during earthquakes 
D) about 1 mile per hour 
E) a few centimeters per year

Question 3

Which of the following describes volcanism?

Accepted Answer

A) the excavation of bowl- shaped depressions by asteroids or comets striking a planet's surface 
B) the eruption of molten rock from a planet's interior to its surface 
C) the disruption of a planet's surface by internal stresses 
D) the wearing down or building up of geological features by wind, water, ice, and other phenomena of planetary weather 
A) the excavation of bowl- shaped depressions by asteroids or comets striking a planet's surface 
B) the eruption of molten rock from a planet's interior to its surface 
C) the disruption of a planet's surface by internal stresses 
D) the wearing down or building up of geological features by wind, water, ice, and other phenomena of planetary weather

Question 4

Suppose we represent Earth with a basketball. On this scale, most of the air in Earth's atmosphere would fit in a layer that is .

Accepted Answer

A) about a half- inch thick 
B) about 6 inches thick 
C) about an inch thick 
D) about the thickness of a sheet of paper 
A) about a half- inch thick 
B) about 6 inches thick 
C) about an inch thick 
D) about the thickness of a sheet of paper

Question 5

In what ways is Earth different from the other terrestrial planets?

Accepted Answer

A) Most of its surface is covered with liquid water. 
B) Life can be found almost everywhere. 
C) Its lithosphere is broken into plates that move around. 
D) It has oxygen in its atmosphere. 
E) All of the above are true. 
A) Most of its surface is covered with liquid water. 
B) Life can be found almost everywhere. 
C) Its lithosphere is broken into plates that move around. 
D) It has oxygen in its atmosphere. 
E) All of the above are true.

Question 6

Which two factors are critical to the existence of the carbon dioxide (CO₂)cycle on Earth?

Accepted Answer

A) life and atmospheric oxygen 
B) plate tectonics and liquid water oceans 
C) life and active volcanism 
D) active volcanism and active tectonics 
A) life and atmospheric oxygen 
B) plate tectonics and liquid water oceans 
C) life and active volcanism 
D) active volcanism and active tectonics

Question 7

In the greenhouse effect, what is the direct cause of extra heating of the Earth's surface?

Accepted Answer

A) Additional carbon dioxide makes the atmosphere more opaque to infrared light, trapping part of the blackbody radiation that would normally escape into space. 
B) Additional carbon dioxide makes the atmosphere more transparent to infrared light, allowing the sun to more directly heat the surface. 
C) Additional carbon dioxide makes the atmosphere denser, and thus heat passes through it more slowly. 
A) Additional carbon dioxide makes the atmosphere more opaque to infrared light, trapping part of the blackbody radiation that would normally escape into space. 
B) Additional carbon dioxide makes the atmosphere more transparent to infrared light, allowing the sun to more directly heat the surface. 
C) Additional carbon dioxide makes the atmosphere denser, and thus heat passes through it more slowly.

Question 8

Why would the weather become more severe as the greenhouse effect increased?

Accepted Answer

A) Warming would increase the evaporation of the oceans, leading to more water in the atmosphere and more frequent and severe storms. 
B) Warming of the planet would lead to terrible droughts and reduce the amount of water on the Earth. 
C) The depleted ozone layer would let in more particles from the solar wind. 
D) Warming would dry out the atmosphere and the crust, leading to devastation of the Earth through more meteor bombardment and volcanism. 
E) all of the above 
A) Warming would increase the evaporation of the oceans, leading to more water in the atmosphere and more frequent and severe storms. 
B) Warming of the planet would lead to terrible droughts and reduce the amount of water on the Earth. 
C) The depleted ozone layer would let in more particles from the solar wind. 
D) Warming would dry out the atmosphere and the crust, leading to devastation of the Earth through more meteor bombardment and volcanism. 
E) all of the above

Question 9

Which of these is the dominant mechanism for the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

A) subduction 
B) dissolving carbon dioxide in seawater 
C) formation of carbonate- rich rocks at the seafloor 
D) photosynthesis in plants 
A) subduction 
B) dissolving carbon dioxide in seawater 
C) formation of carbonate- rich rocks at the seafloor 
D) photosynthesis in plants

Question 10

Where is most of the water on Mars?

Accepted Answer

A) in deep underground deposits 
B) frozen on the peaks of its tall volcanoes 
C) in its polar caps and subsurface ground ice 
D) distributed evenly throughout its atmosphere 
E) in its clouds 
A) in deep underground deposits 
B) frozen on the peaks of its tall volcanoes 
C) in its polar caps and subsurface ground ice 
D) distributed evenly throughout its atmosphere 
E) in its clouds

Question 11

The choices below describe four hypothetical planets. Which one would you expect to have the most features of erosion? (Assume the planets orbit a star just like the Sun and that they are all the same age as the planets in our solar system.)

Accepted Answer

A) Size: same as Venus. Distance from Sun: same as Mars. Rotation rate: once every 25 hours. 
B) Size: twice as big as Earth. Distance from Sun: same as Mercury. Rotation rate: once every 6 months. 
C) Size: same as Mars. Distance from Sun: same as Earth. Rotation rate: once every 18 hours. 
D) Size: same as the Moon. Distance from Sun: same as Mars. Rotation rate: once every 10 days. 
A) Size: same as Venus. Distance from Sun: same as Mars. Rotation rate: once every 25 hours. 
B) Size: twice as big as Earth. Distance from Sun: same as Mercury. Rotation rate: once every 6 months. 
C) Size: same as Mars. Distance from Sun: same as Earth. Rotation rate: once every 18 hours. 
D) Size: same as the Moon. Distance from Sun: same as Mars. Rotation rate: once every 10 days.

Question 12

Summarize some of the evidence suggesting that Mars once had flowing water.

Accepted Answer

It has what looks like dried- up riverbe

Question 13

The current atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide on Earth is at its highest in over a million years.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

Recent evidence suggests that Mars once had a global magnetic field. Assuming this is true, which of the following could explain why Mars today lacks a global magnetic field like that of Earth?

Accepted Answer

A) Mars is too far from the Sun to have a global magnetic field. 
B) Mars rotates much slower than the Earth. 
C) The Martian core is made of rock, while Earth's core is made of metal. 
D) Mars's interior has cooled so much its molten core layer no longer undergoes convection. 
A) Mars is too far from the Sun to have a global magnetic field. 
B) Mars rotates much slower than the Earth. 
C) The Martian core is made of rock, while Earth's core is made of metal. 
D) Mars's interior has cooled so much its molten core layer no longer undergoes convection.

Question 15

If the Earth were to warm up a bit, what would happen?

Accepted Answer

A) Carbonate materials would form in the oceans more rapidly, the atmospheric CO₂ content would decrease, and the greenhouse effect would weaken. 
B) There would be a runaway greenhouse effect, with the Earth becoming ever hotter until the oceans evaporated (as may have happened on Venus). 
C) Carbonate materials would form in the oceans more rapidly, the atmospheric CO₂ content would decrease, and the greenhouse effect would strengthen. 
D) The ice caps would melt and cool the Earth back to its normal temperature. 
E) Carbonate materials would form in the oceans more slowly, the atmospheric CO₂ content would increase, and the greenhouse effect would strengthen. 
A) Carbonate materials would form in the oceans more rapidly, the atmospheric CO₂ content would decrease, and the greenhouse effect would weaken. 
B) There would be a runaway greenhouse effect, with the Earth becoming ever hotter until the oceans evaporated (as may have happened on Venus). 
C) Carbonate materials would form in the oceans more rapidly, the atmospheric CO₂ content would decrease, and the greenhouse effect would strengthen. 
D) The ice caps would melt and cool the Earth back to its normal temperature. 
E) Carbonate materials would form in the oceans more slowly, the atmospheric CO₂ content would increase, and the greenhouse effect would strengthen.

Question 16

From where did the oxygen in the Earth's atmosphere originate?

Accepted Answer

A) atmospheric bombardment 
B) outgassing from volcanoes 
C) chemical reactions between gas in the upper atmosphere and the solar wind 
D) photosynthesis from plant life and single- celled organisms 
E) oxidation of surface rocks 
A) atmospheric bombardment 
B) outgassing from volcanoes 
C) chemical reactions between gas in the upper atmosphere and the solar wind 
D) photosynthesis from plant life and single- celled organisms 
E) oxidation of surface rocks

Question 17

Why do we think Mercury contracted after it formed?

Accepted Answer

The surface of Mercury is marked by long

Question 18

Which of the following best explain what we think happened to outgassed water vapor on Venus?

Accepted Answer

A) It is frozen as water ice in craters near the poles. 
B) Water was removed from the atmosphere by chemical reactions with surface rock. 
C) Ultraviolet light split the water molecules, and the hydrogen then escaped to space. 
D) It turned into carbon dioxide by reacting with nitrogen in Venus's atmosphere. 
A) It is frozen as water ice in craters near the poles. 
B) Water was removed from the atmosphere by chemical reactions with surface rock. 
C) Ultraviolet light split the water molecules, and the hydrogen then escaped to space. 
D) It turned into carbon dioxide by reacting with nitrogen in Venus's atmosphere.

Question 19

The two most important processes in heating the interiors of the terrestrial worlds are _.

Accepted Answer

A) (1)heat deposited by the process of formation; (2)heat that came from the gravitational potential energy of incoming planetesimals 
B) (1)heat from convection; (2)heat from thermal radiation 
C) (1)volcanism; (2)tectonics 
D) (1)heat deposited by the process of formation; (2)heat released by radioactive decay 
A) (1)heat deposited by the process of formation; (2)heat that came from the gravitational potential energy of incoming planetesimals 
B) (1)heat from convection; (2)heat from thermal radiation 
C) (1)volcanism; (2)tectonics 
D) (1)heat deposited by the process of formation; (2)heat released by radioactive decay

Question 20

The choices below describe four hypothetical planets. Which one's surface would you expect to be most crowded with impact craters? (Assume the planets orbit a star just like the Sun and that they are all the same age as the planets in our solar system.)

Accepted Answer

A) Size: twice as big as Earth. Distance from Sun: same as Mercury. Rotation rate: once every 6 months. 
B) Size: same as Mars. Distance from Sun: same as Earth. Rotation rate: once every 18 hours. 
C) Size: same as the Moon. Distance from Sun: same as Mars. Rotation rate: once every 10 days. 
D) Size: same as Venus. Distance from Sun: same as Mars. Rotation rate: once every 25 hours. 
A) Size: twice as big as Earth. Distance from Sun: same as Mercury. Rotation rate: once every 6 months. 
B) Size: same as Mars. Distance from Sun: same as Earth. Rotation rate: once every 18 hours. 
C) Size: same as the Moon. Distance from Sun: same as Mars. Rotation rate: once every 10 days. 
D) Size: same as Venus. Distance from Sun: same as Mars. Rotation rate: once every 25 hours.

How deep is an impact crater compared to its width?

How fast do tectonic plates move on Earth?

Which of the following describes volcanism?

Suppose we represent Earth with a basketball. On this scale, most of the air in Earth's atmosphere would fit in a layer that is .

In what ways is Earth different from the other terrestrial planets?

Which two factors are critical to the existence of the carbon dioxide (CO₂)cycle on Earth?

In the greenhouse effect, what is the direct cause of extra heating of the Earth's surface?

Why would the weather become more severe as the greenhouse effect increased?

Which of these is the dominant mechanism for the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere?

Where is most of the water on Mars?

The choices below describe four hypothetical planets. Which one would you expect to have the most features of erosion? (Assume the planets orbit a star just like the Sun and that they are all the same age as the planets in our solar system.)

Summarize some of the evidence suggesting that Mars once had flowing water.

The current atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide on Earth is at its highest in over a million years.

Recent evidence suggests that Mars once had a global magnetic field. Assuming this is true, which of the following could explain why Mars today lacks a global magnetic field like that of Earth?

If the Earth were to warm up a bit, what would happen?

From where did the oxygen in the Earth's atmosphere originate?

Why do we think Mercury contracted after it formed?

Which of the following best explain what we think happened to outgassed water vapor on Venus?

The two most important processes in heating the interiors of the terrestrial worlds are _.

The choices below describe four hypothetical planets. Which one's surface would you expect to be most crowded with impact craters? (Assume the planets orbit a star just like the Sun and that they are all the same age as the planets in our solar system.)

A Modern View of the Universe

Discovering the Universe for Yourself

The Science of Astronomy

Making Sense of the Universe: Understanding Motion, Energy, and Gravity

Light: the Cosmic Messenger

Formation of the Solar System

Jovian Planet System

Asteroids, Comets, and Dwarf Planets: Their Nature, Orbits, and Impacts

Other Planetary Systems: the New Science of Distant Worlds

Our Star

Surveying the Stars

Star Stuff

The Bizarre Stellar Graveyard

Our Galaxy

A Universe of Galaxies

The Birth of the Universe

Dark Matter, Dark Energy, and the Fate of the Universe

Life in the Universe

Filters

Exam 7: Earth and the Terrestrial Worlds

How deep is an impact crater compared to its width?

How fast do tectonic plates move on Earth?

Which of the following describes volcanism?

Suppose we represent Earth with a basketball. On this scale, most of the air in Earth's atmosphere would fit in a layer that is .

In what ways is Earth different from the other terrestrial planets?

Which two factors are critical to the existence of the carbon dioxide (CO₂)cycle on Earth?

In the greenhouse effect, what is the direct cause of extra heating of the Earth's surface?

Why would the weather become more severe as the greenhouse effect increased?

Which of these is the dominant mechanism for the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere?

Where is most of the water on Mars?

The choices below describe four hypothetical planets. Which one would you expect to have the most features of erosion? (Assume the planets orbit a star just like the Sun and that they are all the same age as the planets in our solar system.)

Summarize some of the evidence suggesting that Mars once had flowing water.

The current atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide on Earth is at its highest in over a million years.

Recent evidence suggests that Mars once had a global magnetic field. Assuming this is true, which of the following could explain why Mars today lacks a global magnetic field like that of Earth?

If the Earth were to warm up a bit, what would happen?

From where did the oxygen in the Earth's atmosphere originate?

Why do we think Mercury contracted after it formed?

Which of the following best explain what we think happened to outgassed water vapor on Venus?

The two most important processes in heating the interiors of the terrestrial worlds are _.

The choices below describe four hypothetical planets. Which one's surface would you expect to be most crowded with impact craters? (Assume the planets orbit a star just like the Sun and that they are all the same age as the planets in our solar system.)

A Modern View of the Universe

Discovering the Universe for Yourself

The Science of Astronomy

Making Sense of the Universe: Understanding Motion, Energy, and Gravity

Light: the Cosmic Messenger

Formation of the Solar System

Jovian Planet System

Asteroids, Comets, and Dwarf Planets: Their Nature, Orbits, and Impacts

Other Planetary Systems: the New Science of Distant Worlds

Our Star

Surveying the Stars

Star Stuff

The Bizarre Stellar Graveyard

Our Galaxy

A Universe of Galaxies

The Birth of the Universe

Dark Matter, Dark Energy, and the Fate of the Universe

Life in the Universe

Filters