Question 1

The component of Venus's atmosphere that is responsible for the excess heating, caused by the greenhouse effect, is

Accepted Answer

A)  water vapor. 
B)  nitrogen. 
C)  carbon dioxide. 
D)  sulfuric acid droplets. 
A)  water vapor. 
B)  nitrogen. 
C)  carbon dioxide. 
D)  sulfuric acid droplets.

Question 2

On which planetary body can distinct evidence be seen for the flow of water at an earlier time?

Accepted Answer

A)  Mars 
B)  Earth's Moon 
C)  Venus 
D)  Titan, the moon of Saturn 
A)  Mars 
B)  Earth's Moon 
C)  Venus 
D)  Titan, the moon of Saturn

Question 3

What do most astronomers believe is the source of the minute amount of oxygen in Mercury's atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

A)  sublimation of water molecules from ice at the poles 
B)  ions captured from the solar wind 
C)  decay of sulfur dioxide ejected from volcanic eruptions 
D)  bacterial activity in a permafrost layer below the surface 
A)  sublimation of water molecules from ice at the poles 
B)  ions captured from the solar wind 
C)  decay of sulfur dioxide ejected from volcanic eruptions 
D)  bacterial activity in a permafrost layer below the surface

Question 4

How do planetary scientists explain the small amounts of hydrogen and helium in Mercury's atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

A)  Mercury's large iron core has allowed it to retain these light gases from its primordial atmosphere. 
B)  They have escaped from the Sun and drifted to Mercury. Mercury does not retain them, but they are continually replenished from the Sun. 
C)  They are outgassed from Mercury's active volcanoes. 
D)  The hydrogen at least is formed when the Sun's intense ultraviolet radiation breaks apart the hydrocarbons on Mercury's surface. 
A)  Mercury's large iron core has allowed it to retain these light gases from its primordial atmosphere. 
B)  They have escaped from the Sun and drifted to Mercury. Mercury does not retain them, but they are continually replenished from the Sun. 
C)  They are outgassed from Mercury's active volcanoes. 
D)  The hydrogen at least is formed when the Sun's intense ultraviolet radiation breaks apart the hydrocarbons on Mercury's surface.

Question 5

Clouds extend above the surface of Venus to a maximum altitude of

Accepted Answer

A)  thousands of kilometers. 
B)  almost 70 km. 
C)  zero because there are no clouds on Venus. 
D)  just over 20 km. 
A)  thousands of kilometers. 
B)  almost 70 km. 
C)  zero because there are no clouds on Venus. 
D)  just over 20 km.

Question 6

A radar mapping satellite named Magellan orbited which planet in the early 1990s?

Accepted Answer

A)  Mars 
B)  Venus 
C)  Moon 
D)  Mercury 
A)  Mars 
B)  Venus 
C)  Moon 
D)  Mercury

Question 7

Which of these statements BEST describes the current understanding of the Valles Marineris?

Accepted Answer

A)  The valley system appears to have been carved almost entirely by water flowing toward the lowlands from the geological rise near Olympus Mons. 
B)  The valley system appears to be a set of parallel subduction trenches along the boundary where the northern lowlands are colliding with the southern highlands. 
C)  The valley system appears to have formed entirely by cracking and faulting of the Martian surface, without noticeable intervention of erosion by water. 
D)  One side of the valley system formed primarily by cracking and faulting of the Martian surface, but some valleys at the eastern end appear to have been carved by water. 
A)  The valley system appears to have been carved almost entirely by water flowing toward the lowlands from the geological rise near Olympus Mons. 
B)  The valley system appears to be a set of parallel subduction trenches along the boundary where the northern lowlands are colliding with the southern highlands. 
C)  The valley system appears to have formed entirely by cracking and faulting of the Martian surface, without noticeable intervention of erosion by water. 
D)  One side of the valley system formed primarily by cracking and faulting of the Martian surface, but some valleys at the eastern end appear to have been carved by water.

Question 8

The Martian valley Valles Marineris is shown in Figure 8-27 of the text. How long is this valley in terms of Earth distances?

Accepted Answer

A)  half the length of Earth's equator, about 20,000 km 
B)  about 50 km, a significant distance on this small planet 
C)  a few hundred kilometers-New York to Washington, DC 
D)  the full width of the North American continent at midlatitudes-a few thousand kilometers 
A)  half the length of Earth's equator, about 20,000 km 
B)  about 50 km, a significant distance on this small planet 
C)  a few hundred kilometers-New York to Washington, DC 
D)  the full width of the North American continent at midlatitudes-a few thousand kilometers

Question 9

The cloud structure in the atmosphere of Venus can be described as

Accepted Answer

A)  a clear layer at the surface, a haze layer above it, a thick layer of permanent clouds, and then more haze. 
B)  a permanent and thick cloud layer, extending almost to ground level. 
C)  isolated clouds forming and dissipating all the time, with clear sky between them. 
D)  mostly clear sky with occasional thin, high clouds and dust. 
A)  a clear layer at the surface, a haze layer above it, a thick layer of permanent clouds, and then more haze. 
B)  a permanent and thick cloud layer, extending almost to ground level. 
C)  isolated clouds forming and dissipating all the time, with clear sky between them. 
D)  mostly clear sky with occasional thin, high clouds and dust.

Question 10

Where in the planetary system is the massive extinct supervolcano Olympus Mons?

Accepted Answer

A)  on the mountain range Ishtar Terra on Venus 
B)  on Earth 
C)  on Mars 
D)  on Io, one of the moons of Jupiter 
A)  on the mountain range Ishtar Terra on Venus 
B)  on Earth 
C)  on Mars 
D)  on Io, one of the moons of Jupiter

Question 11

Compared with the surface of Earth, the surface of Venus is

Accepted Answer

A)  very smooth and flat, with no mountains or structure. 
B)  extremely rugged, with deep valleys and many high volcanic mountains. 
C)  completely covered with innumerable, overlapping craters and old crater walls, which constitute mountain ranges. 
D)  almost completely flat and relatively smooth, except for two high volcanic mountain ranges. 
A)  very smooth and flat, with no mountains or structure. 
B)  extremely rugged, with deep valleys and many high volcanic mountains. 
C)  completely covered with innumerable, overlapping craters and old crater walls, which constitute mountain ranges. 
D)  almost completely flat and relatively smooth, except for two high volcanic mountain ranges.

Question 12

Which of these aspects is the MOST similar across all of the terrestrial planets?

Accepted Answer

A)  All four terrestrial planets have permanent global magnetic fields. 
B)  All four terrestrial planets have strong day-night temperature variations. 
C)  All four terrestrial planets have an iron core, rocky mantle, and crust composed of lighter elements. 
D)  The four terrestrial planets have similar counts of craters per square mile on their surfaces. 
A)  All four terrestrial planets have permanent global magnetic fields. 
B)  All four terrestrial planets have strong day-night temperature variations. 
C)  All four terrestrial planets have an iron core, rocky mantle, and crust composed of lighter elements. 
D)  The four terrestrial planets have similar counts of craters per square mile on their surfaces.

Question 13

In what way did optical illusion mislead earlier visual observers of Mars?

Accepted Answer

A)  Chance alignments of faint dark features looked like manufactured canals, and variable dark areas near the equator were interpreted as vegetation. 
B)  Moving areas of obscured detail on the planet were interpreted as massive flash floods rather than dust storms. 
C)  Apparent movement of surface features due to seeing fluctuations of images when viewed through Earth's atmosphere were interpreted as evidence of movement of life-forms, or Martians. 
D)  Volcano structures were seen as eye-shaped images and were interpreted as having been made by intelligent beings to indicate their presence on Mars. 
A)  Chance alignments of faint dark features looked like manufactured canals, and variable dark areas near the equator were interpreted as vegetation. 
B)  Moving areas of obscured detail on the planet were interpreted as massive flash floods rather than dust storms. 
C)  Apparent movement of surface features due to seeing fluctuations of images when viewed through Earth's atmosphere were interpreted as evidence of movement of life-forms, or Martians. 
D)  Volcano structures were seen as eye-shaped images and were interpreted as having been made by intelligent beings to indicate their presence on Mars.

Question 14

The highest daytime temperature reached on the surface of Mercury is

Accepted Answer

A)  961°C, high enough to melt silver. 
B)  430°C, high enough to melt lead and tin. 
C)  0°C, high enough to melt water ice. 
D)  100°C, high enough to boil water. 
A)  961°C, high enough to melt silver. 
B)  430°C, high enough to melt lead and tin. 
C)  0°C, high enough to melt water ice. 
D)  100°C, high enough to boil water.

Question 15

Mercury is BEST seen from Earth with the unaided eye at what time of the day?

Accepted Answer

A)  near midday, when it is seen through the least amount of Earth's atmosphere 
B)  close to dawn or dusk, when Mercury is at positions of greatest east or west elongation 
C)  at midnight, when Mercury is at opposition and highest in the sky 
D)  during the daytime, when Mercury is at superior conjunction 
A)  near midday, when it is seen through the least amount of Earth's atmosphere 
B)  close to dawn or dusk, when Mercury is at positions of greatest east or west elongation 
C)  at midnight, when Mercury is at opposition and highest in the sky 
D)  during the daytime, when Mercury is at superior conjunction

Question 16

Suppose Mercury had 5-to-3 spin-orbit coupling and that its sidereal period remained 88 days, as now. What would be the time from noon to noon on Mercury, in days?

Accepted Answer

A)  88 
B)  147 
C)  264 
D)  440 
A)  88 
B)  147 
C)  264 
D)  440

Question 17

Which of these signatures of water is NOT seen on Mars?

Accepted Answer

A)  evidence of permafrost under the Martian surface 
B)  meltwater pools at the edges of the polar caps 
C)  water ice (as opposed to carbon dioxide ice) in the polar caps 
D)  occasional clouds around the large volcanoes 
A)  evidence of permafrost under the Martian surface 
B)  meltwater pools at the edges of the polar caps 
C)  water ice (as opposed to carbon dioxide ice) in the polar caps 
D)  occasional clouds around the large volcanoes

Question 18

The history of Mercury can be summarized as

Accepted Answer

A)  mostly volcanic activity and crustal deformation; the only craters to survive were formed within the last billion years. 
B)  thin crust forming at first, followed by extensive bombardment, the craters from which were then covered by lava flows that produced extensive lava plains between the remaining craters. 
C)  early cooling to form a thick crust, with no evidence of volcanism or lava flows at any time. 
D)  rapid cooling to form a thick crust during the early bombardment, with a few isolated lava flows and very dense cratering everywhere else. 
A)  mostly volcanic activity and crustal deformation; the only craters to survive were formed within the last billion years. 
B)  thin crust forming at first, followed by extensive bombardment, the craters from which were then covered by lava flows that produced extensive lava plains between the remaining craters. 
C)  early cooling to form a thick crust, with no evidence of volcanism or lava flows at any time. 
D)  rapid cooling to form a thick crust during the early bombardment, with a few isolated lava flows and very dense cratering everywhere else.

Question 19

The conditions on the surface of Venus are

Accepted Answer

A)  no atmosphere, hence very variable temperatures under direct sunlight. 
B)  a low-pressure, low-temperature, carbon dioxide atmosphere. 
C)  a high-pressure, high-temperature, carbon dioxide atmosphere. 
D)  a dense atmosphere of methane, ammonia, and water at a low temperature. 
A)  no atmosphere, hence very variable temperatures under direct sunlight. 
B)  a low-pressure, low-temperature, carbon dioxide atmosphere. 
C)  a high-pressure, high-temperature, carbon dioxide atmosphere. 
D)  a dense atmosphere of methane, ammonia, and water at a low temperature.

Question 20

In one orbit around the Sun, Mercury rotates around its axis how many times?

Accepted Answer

A)  twice 
B)  3 times 
C)  1 $1 / 2$  times 
D)  once, in a synchronous orbit 
A)  twice 
B)  3 times 
C)  1 $1 / 2$  times 
D)  once, in a synchronous orbit

The component of Venus's atmosphere that is responsible for the excess heating, caused by the greenhouse effect, is

On which planetary body can distinct evidence be seen for the flow of water at an earlier time?

What do most astronomers believe is the source of the minute amount of oxygen in Mercury's atmosphere?

How do planetary scientists explain the small amounts of hydrogen and helium in Mercury's atmosphere?

Clouds extend above the surface of Venus to a maximum altitude of

A radar mapping satellite named Magellan orbited which planet in the early 1990s?

Which of these statements BEST describes the current understanding of the Valles Marineris?

The Martian valley Valles Marineris is shown in Figure 8-27 of the text. How long is this valley in terms of Earth distances?

The cloud structure in the atmosphere of Venus can be described as

Where in the planetary system is the massive extinct supervolcano Olympus Mons?

Compared with the surface of Earth, the surface of Venus is

Which of these aspects is the MOST similar across all of the terrestrial planets?

In what way did optical illusion mislead earlier visual observers of Mars?

The highest daytime temperature reached on the surface of Mercury is

Mercury is BEST seen from Earth with the unaided eye at what time of the day?

Suppose Mercury had 5-to-3 spin-orbit coupling and that its sidereal period remained 88 days, as now. What would be the time from noon to noon on Mercury, in days?

Which of these signatures of water is NOT seen on Mars?

The history of Mercury can be summarized as

The conditions on the surface of Venus are

In one orbit around the Sun, Mercury rotates around its axis how many times?

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

The component of Venus's atmosphere that is responsible for the excess heating, caused by the greenhouse effect, is

On which planetary body can distinct evidence be seen for the flow of water at an earlier time?

What do most astronomers believe is the source of the minute amount of oxygen in Mercury's atmosphere?

How do planetary scientists explain the small amounts of hydrogen and helium in Mercury's atmosphere?

Clouds extend above the surface of Venus to a maximum altitude of

A radar mapping satellite named Magellan orbited which planet in the early 1990s?

Which of these statements BEST describes the current understanding of the Valles Marineris?

The Martian valley Valles Marineris is shown in Figure 8-27 of the text. How long is this valley in terms of Earth distances?

The cloud structure in the atmosphere of Venus can be described as

Where in the planetary system is the massive extinct supervolcano Olympus Mons?

Compared with the surface of Earth, the surface of Venus is

Which of these aspects is the MOST similar across all of the terrestrial planets?

In what way did optical illusion mislead earlier visual observers of Mars?

The highest daytime temperature reached on the surface of Mercury is

Mercury is BEST seen from Earth with the unaided eye at what time of the day?

Suppose Mercury had 5-to-3 spin-orbit coupling and that its sidereal period remained 88 days, as now. What would be the time from noon to noon on Mercury, in days?

Which of these signatures of water is NOT seen on Mars?

The history of Mercury can be summarized as

The conditions on the surface of Venus are

In one orbit around the Sun, Mercury rotates around its axis how many times?

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