Question 1

Suppose Mercury had oceans. What would be the length of time between successive high tides?

Accepted Answer

A)  Mercury does not have a moon, so it does not have tides. 
B)  58.7 days 
C)  88 days 
D)  176 days 
A)  Mercury does not have a moon, so it does not have tides. 
B)  58.7 days 
C)  88 days 
D)  176 days

Question 2

Where did some scientists claim that they have found direct evidence for life, either contemporary or ancient, beyond Earth that has since been disproven?

Accepted Answer

A)  in spectra of the dark deposits along fissures in the ice of Jupiter's satellite Europa 
B)  in "orange soil" found on the Moon 
C)  in the "soil" (regolith) at the Viking 2 landing site on Mars 
D)  in meteorites composed of ancient Martian rock 
A)  in spectra of the dark deposits along fissures in the ice of Jupiter's satellite Europa 
B)  in "orange soil" found on the Moon 
C)  in the "soil" (regolith) at the Viking 2 landing site on Mars 
D)  in meteorites composed of ancient Martian rock

Question 3

Suppose Mercury had 5-to-3 spin-orbit coupling and that its sidereal period remained 88 days, as now. An observer sees the Sun directly overhead in the Mercurian sky and then observes again from the same location 88 days later. Where will the Sun be in the sky? (Mercury, like Earth, rotates toward the east.)

Accepted Answer

A)  below the eastern horizon 
B)  below the western horizon 
C)  directly overhead again 
D)  directly on the opposite side of the planet 
A)  below the eastern horizon 
B)  below the western horizon 
C)  directly overhead again 
D)  directly on the opposite side of the planet

Question 4

What is the "face" on Mars?

Accepted Answer

A)  natural rock formation that looks like a face in the right light 
B)  small carved portrait placed on the Martian surface by one of the Viking landers 
C)  sculpted hill carved either by a long-dead Martian civilization or by visiting aliens 
D)  natural arrangement of volcanoes and lava plains that gives the appearance of a face when viewed from Earth 
A)  natural rock formation that looks like a face in the right light 
B)  small carved portrait placed on the Martian surface by one of the Viking landers 
C)  sculpted hill carved either by a long-dead Martian civilization or by visiting aliens 
D)  natural arrangement of volcanoes and lava plains that gives the appearance of a face when viewed from Earth

Question 5

How does the number of impact craters seen on Venus compare with the number seen on Mercury and the Moon, both of which are significantly smaller than Venus?

Accepted Answer

A)  Venus has more than either Mercury or the Moon. 
B)  Venus has more than the Moon but fewer than Mercury. 
C)  Venus has more than Mercury but fewer than the Moon. 
D)  Venus has fewer than either Mercury or the Moon. 
A)  Venus has more than either Mercury or the Moon. 
B)  Venus has more than the Moon but fewer than Mercury. 
C)  Venus has more than Mercury but fewer than the Moon. 
D)  Venus has fewer than either Mercury or the Moon.

Question 6

The surface pressure of the atmosphere of Venus compared with the surface pressure of the atmosphere of Earth is

Accepted Answer

A)  about the same. 
B)  extremely small. 
C)  about 1/100 atmosphere. 
D)  about 90 atmospheres. 
A)  about the same. 
B)  extremely small. 
C)  about 1/100 atmosphere. 
D)  about 90 atmospheres.

Question 7

When Venus is at its brightest as seen from Earth (near greatest elongation), it is

Accepted Answer

A)  the brightest celestial object in the sky other than the Sun and the Moon. 
B)  just bright enough to be seen with the unaided eye if one knows exactly where to look for it. 
C)  brighter than the full Moon, but not as bright as the Sun. 
D)  too faint to see without binoculars or a telescope. 
A)  the brightest celestial object in the sky other than the Sun and the Moon. 
B)  just bright enough to be seen with the unaided eye if one knows exactly where to look for it. 
C)  brighter than the full Moon, but not as bright as the Sun. 
D)  too faint to see without binoculars or a telescope.

Question 8

The gas that is the major constituent of the atmospheres of Venus and Mars and a minor constituent of Earth's atmosphere is

Accepted Answer

A)  oxygen. 
B)  water. 
C)  carbon dioxide. 
D)  nitrogen. 
A)  oxygen. 
B)  water. 
C)  carbon dioxide. 
D)  nitrogen.

Question 9

How have planetary scientists obtained samples of Martian rocks?

Accepted Answer

A)  Astronauts have collected rocks and returned them to Earth. 
B)  Scientists have not yet been able to obtain any Martian rocks. 
C)  Rocks were blasted off Mars by impacts and landed on Earth as meteorites. 
D)  A robotic rover collected rocks for return by its lander. 
A)  Astronauts have collected rocks and returned them to Earth. 
B)  Scientists have not yet been able to obtain any Martian rocks. 
C)  Rocks were blasted off Mars by impacts and landed on Earth as meteorites. 
D)  A robotic rover collected rocks for return by its lander.

Question 10

The severe atmospheric conditions that quickly destroyed spacecraft that soft-landed on the surface of Venus were

Accepted Answer

A)  very low temperatures, a near vacuum, and corrosive alkaline clouds and mist. 
B)  high temperatures, high pressures, and corrosive acid clouds and mist. 
C)  high temperatures, low atmospheric pressure, and intense UV radiation from the Sun. 
D)  intense sunlight, including UV radiation, very high pressures, and very low temperatures. 
A)  very low temperatures, a near vacuum, and corrosive alkaline clouds and mist. 
B)  high temperatures, high pressures, and corrosive acid clouds and mist. 
C)  high temperatures, low atmospheric pressure, and intense UV radiation from the Sun. 
D)  intense sunlight, including UV radiation, very high pressures, and very low temperatures.

Question 11

Mars has one hemisphere that is at a higher elevation than the other. In this way, it is similar to

Accepted Answer

A)  Earth. 
B)  the Moon. 
C)  Mercury. 
D)  Venus. 
A)  Earth. 
B)  the Moon. 
C)  Mercury. 
D)  Venus.

Question 12

Both impact craters and dormant volcanoes have been found on Mars. Where are they?

Accepted Answer

A)  The northern hemisphere contains most of the craters and most of the volcanoes. 
B)  The southern hemisphere contains most of the craters and most of the volcanoes. 
C)  The northern hemisphere contains most of the volcanoes, whereas most of the craters are found in the southern hemisphere. 
D)  The southern hemisphere contains most of the volcanoes, whereas most of the craters are found in the northern hemisphere. 
A)  The northern hemisphere contains most of the craters and most of the volcanoes. 
B)  The southern hemisphere contains most of the craters and most of the volcanoes. 
C)  The northern hemisphere contains most of the volcanoes, whereas most of the craters are found in the southern hemisphere. 
D)  The southern hemisphere contains most of the volcanoes, whereas most of the craters are found in the northern hemisphere.

Question 13

The planet with the highest overall density is

Accepted Answer

A)  Mercury. 
B)  Venus. 
C)  Earth. 
D)  Mars. 
A)  Mercury. 
B)  Venus. 
C)  Earth. 
D)  Mars.

Question 14

Where in the solar system did the Viking spacecraft land?

Accepted Answer

A)  on Europa, one of the moons of Jupiter 
B)  on Venus 
C)  on Mars 
D)  on Earth's Moon 
A)  on Europa, one of the moons of Jupiter 
B)  on Venus 
C)  on Mars 
D)  on Earth's Moon

Question 15

Which particular chemical associated with volcanic emissions exists in short-lived compounds but has been detected on Venus, indicating the possibility of active volcanoes on that plaent at the present time?

Accepted Answer

A)  sulfur and sulfur compounds 
B)  silicon and silicate dusts 
C)  ammonia and methane gases 
D)  carbon in carbon dioxide and carbon oxide 
A)  sulfur and sulfur compounds 
B)  silicon and silicate dusts 
C)  ammonia and methane gases 
D)  carbon in carbon dioxide and carbon oxide

Question 16

Which of these is NOT a legitimate reason to believe that the northern hemisphere of Mars has experienced more geologic activity than the southern hemisphere?

Accepted Answer

A)  Most of the Martian craters are in the southern hemisphere. 
B)  Most of the Martian volcanoes are in the northern hemisphere. 
C)  The Martian magnetic field is oriented north to south, opposite Earth's magnetic field. 
D)  The southern hemisphere has a higher elevation than the northern hemisphere. 
A)  Most of the Martian craters are in the southern hemisphere. 
B)  Most of the Martian volcanoes are in the northern hemisphere. 
C)  The Martian magnetic field is oriented north to south, opposite Earth's magnetic field. 
D)  The southern hemisphere has a higher elevation than the northern hemisphere.

Question 17

Which of these correctly describes aurorae on Mars?

Accepted Answer

A)  The aurorae last only a few seconds and are the direct result of solar wind particles impacting atoms and molecules in Mars's atmosphere. 
B)  The aurorae are formed when solar storms interact with the powerful magnetic field surrounding Jupiter. 
C)  The aurorae are formed by the same mechanism as Earth's, but they are weaker because Mars lacks a strong magnetic field. 
D)  Mars does not have aurorae because it lacks a magnetic field. 
A)  The aurorae last only a few seconds and are the direct result of solar wind particles impacting atoms and molecules in Mars's atmosphere. 
B)  The aurorae are formed when solar storms interact with the powerful magnetic field surrounding Jupiter. 
C)  The aurorae are formed by the same mechanism as Earth's, but they are weaker because Mars lacks a strong magnetic field. 
D)  Mars does not have aurorae because it lacks a magnetic field.

Question 18

Earth and Mars each has about the same tilt of its spin axis with respect to its orbital plane. Earth experiences precession, which causes the DIRECTION of its spin axis to change slowly over time, but the ANGLE of tilt stays relatively constant. By contrast, the ANGLE of tilt of Mars's spin axis is NOT expected to be stable over long periods of time. Which of these is a potential explanation for this?

Accepted Answer

A)  Mars is a smaller planet, and smaller planets are all unstable in this manner. 
B)  Spin axes are stabilized by magnetism. Earth has a strong magnetic field and Mars has none. 
C)  Spin axes are stabilized by the presence of a large moon. Earth has one and Mars has none. 
D)  Mars was struck by a large object early in its history, accounting for the difference in its hemispheres. One aftereffect of this collision is a long-term instability in its spin direction. 
A)  Mars is a smaller planet, and smaller planets are all unstable in this manner. 
B)  Spin axes are stabilized by magnetism. Earth has a strong magnetic field and Mars has none. 
C)  Spin axes are stabilized by the presence of a large moon. Earth has one and Mars has none. 
D)  Mars was struck by a large object early in its history, accounting for the difference in its hemispheres. One aftereffect of this collision is a long-term instability in its spin direction.

Question 19

Mercury can be characterized as having

Accepted Answer

A)  a Moonlike surface and an Earthlike interior. 
B)  both a surface and an interior like that of Earth's Moon. 
C)  an Earthlike surface and a Moonlike interior. 
D)  a surface and an interior nothing like either the Moon or Earth. 
A)  a Moonlike surface and an Earthlike interior. 
B)  both a surface and an interior like that of Earth's Moon. 
C)  an Earthlike surface and a Moonlike interior. 
D)  a surface and an interior nothing like either the Moon or Earth.

Question 20

Temperatures on the surface of Mercury are seen to fluctuate between very cold 100 K (-173°C) and extremely hot 700 K (427°C). What does this measurement indicate about conditions on Mercury?

Accepted Answer

A)  Mercury has a very elliptical orbit, and varying distance from the Sun produces these large temperature fluctuations because intensity varies as the inverse square of the distance from the Sun. 
B)  The planet has an atmosphere in which the greenhouse effect captures solar radiation to heat the sunlit hemisphere of the planet. 
C)  The planet is close to the Sun, has no atmosphere to maintain heat from the Sun, and is rotating slowly. 
D)  Erupting volcanoes occasionally heat the planet's surface to extreme temperatures. 
A)  Mercury has a very elliptical orbit, and varying distance from the Sun produces these large temperature fluctuations because intensity varies as the inverse square of the distance from the Sun. 
B)  The planet has an atmosphere in which the greenhouse effect captures solar radiation to heat the sunlit hemisphere of the planet. 
C)  The planet is close to the Sun, has no atmosphere to maintain heat from the Sun, and is rotating slowly. 
D)  Erupting volcanoes occasionally heat the planet's surface to extreme temperatures.

Suppose Mercury had oceans. What would be the length of time between successive high tides?

Where did some scientists claim that they have found direct evidence for life, either contemporary or ancient, beyond Earth that has since been disproven?

What is the "face" on Mars?

How does the number of impact craters seen on Venus compare with the number seen on Mercury and the Moon, both of which are significantly smaller than Venus?

The surface pressure of the atmosphere of Venus compared with the surface pressure of the atmosphere of Earth is

When Venus is at its brightest as seen from Earth (near greatest elongation), it is

The gas that is the major constituent of the atmospheres of Venus and Mars and a minor constituent of Earth's atmosphere is

How have planetary scientists obtained samples of Martian rocks?

The severe atmospheric conditions that quickly destroyed spacecraft that soft-landed on the surface of Venus were

Mars has one hemisphere that is at a higher elevation than the other. In this way, it is similar to

Both impact craters and dormant volcanoes have been found on Mars. Where are they?

The planet with the highest overall density is

Where in the solar system did the Viking spacecraft land?

Which particular chemical associated with volcanic emissions exists in short-lived compounds but has been detected on Venus, indicating the possibility of active volcanoes on that plaent at the present time?

Which of these is NOT a legitimate reason to believe that the northern hemisphere of Mars has experienced more geologic activity than the southern hemisphere?

Which of these correctly describes aurorae on Mars?

Mercury can be characterized as having

Temperatures on the surface of Mercury are seen to fluctuate between very cold 100 K (-173°C) and extremely hot 700 K (427°C). What does this measurement indicate about conditions on Mercury?

Discovering the Night Sky

Gravitation and the Motion of the Planets

Light and Telescopes

Atomic Physics and Spectra

Exoplanets and the Formation of Planetary Systems

Formation of the Solar System

Earth and the Moon

The Outer Planets

Vagabonds of the Solar System

The Sun: Our Extraordinary Star

Characterizing Stars

The Lives of Stars From Birth Through Middle Age

The Death of Stars

Black Holes: Matters of Gravity

The Milky Way Galaxy

Galaxies

Quasars and Other Active Galaxies

Cosmology

Astrobiology

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Exam 8: The Other Terrestrial Planets

Suppose Mercury had oceans. What would be the length of time between successive high tides?

Where did some scientists claim that they have found direct evidence for life, either contemporary or ancient, beyond Earth that has since been disproven?

What is the "face" on Mars?

How does the number of impact craters seen on Venus compare with the number seen on Mercury and the Moon, both of which are significantly smaller than Venus?

The surface pressure of the atmosphere of Venus compared with the surface pressure of the atmosphere of Earth is

When Venus is at its brightest as seen from Earth (near greatest elongation), it is

The gas that is the major constituent of the atmospheres of Venus and Mars and a minor constituent of Earth's atmosphere is

How have planetary scientists obtained samples of Martian rocks?

The severe atmospheric conditions that quickly destroyed spacecraft that soft-landed on the surface of Venus were

Mars has one hemisphere that is at a higher elevation than the other. In this way, it is similar to

Both impact craters and dormant volcanoes have been found on Mars. Where are they?

The planet with the highest overall density is

Where in the solar system did the Viking spacecraft land?

Which particular chemical associated with volcanic emissions exists in short-lived compounds but has been detected on Venus, indicating the possibility of active volcanoes on that plaent at the present time?

Which of these is NOT a legitimate reason to believe that the northern hemisphere of Mars has experienced more geologic activity than the southern hemisphere?

Which of these correctly describes aurorae on Mars?

Mercury can be characterized as having

Temperatures on the surface of Mercury are seen to fluctuate between very cold 100 K (-173°C) and extremely hot 700 K (427°C). What does this measurement indicate about conditions on Mercury?

Discovering the Night Sky

Gravitation and the Motion of the Planets

Light and Telescopes

Atomic Physics and Spectra

Exoplanets and the Formation of Planetary Systems

Formation of the Solar System

Earth and the Moon

The Outer Planets

Vagabonds of the Solar System

The Sun: Our Extraordinary Star

Characterizing Stars

The Lives of Stars From Birth Through Middle Age

The Death of Stars

Black Holes: Matters of Gravity

The Milky Way Galaxy

Galaxies

Quasars and Other Active Galaxies

Cosmology

Astrobiology

Filters