Question 1

Where in the solar system would one find the Caloris Impact Basin?

Accepted Answer

A)  on Jupiter's outer Galilean satellite, Callisto 
B)  on Mars 
C)  on Mercury 
D)  on the Moon 
A)  on Jupiter's outer Galilean satellite, Callisto 
B)  on Mars 
C)  on Mercury 
D)  on the Moon

Question 2

Where would the Sun appear to rise on Venus if one could see through the clouds?

Accepted Answer

A)  in the north because Venus has its spin axis parallel to the plane of its orbit 
B)  in the west 
C)  in the east 
D)  The Sun would not rise or set because Venus rotates synchronously, always keeping one side toward the Sun. 
A)  in the north because Venus has its spin axis parallel to the plane of its orbit 
B)  in the west 
C)  in the east 
D)  The Sun would not rise or set because Venus rotates synchronously, always keeping one side toward the Sun.

Question 3

The mechanism of the "greenhouse effect," which has resulted in very high temperatures on the surface of Venus (and moderate temperatures on Earth), can be described as solar

Accepted Answer

A)  UV and visible radiation heating the planet surface, the infrared emissions of which are trapped by carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. 
B)  UV and visible radiation entering the clouds and triggering chemical reactions in the carbon dioxide and sulfur compounds, the released energy then heating the atmosphere. 
C)  UV and visible radiation being absorbed by the carbon dioxide of the atmosphere, thereby heating it. 
D)  infrared radiation heating the planet surface that then emits visible and UV radiation that is trapped by carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. 
A)  UV and visible radiation heating the planet surface, the infrared emissions of which are trapped by carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. 
B)  UV and visible radiation entering the clouds and triggering chemical reactions in the carbon dioxide and sulfur compounds, the released energy then heating the atmosphere. 
C)  UV and visible radiation being absorbed by the carbon dioxide of the atmosphere, thereby heating it. 
D)  infrared radiation heating the planet surface that then emits visible and UV radiation that is trapped by carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Question 4

The unstable chemicals dissolved in the Martian regolith suggest that the amount of ultraviolet radiation reaching the surface of Mars is much greater than the amount reaching the surface of Earth. The Martian atmosphere lacks which constituent in sufficient quantities to absorb incoming ultraviolet radiation?

Accepted Answer

A)  Oxygen 
B)  Ozone 
C)  carbon dioxide 
D)  Nitrogen 
A)  Oxygen 
B)  Ozone 
C)  carbon dioxide 
D)  Nitrogen

Question 5

Most of the information astronomers have about Mercury's surface comes from

Accepted Answer

A)  Earth-based telescopic observations. 
B)  Mariner 10. 
C)  MESSENGER. 
D)  landings by robotic spacecraft. 
A)  Earth-based telescopic observations. 
B)  Mariner 10. 
C)  MESSENGER. 
D)  landings by robotic spacecraft.

Question 6

Because Mercury has no appreciable atmosphere, its surface shows extreme temperature changes between night and day, with a range of about

Accepted Answer

A)  600 K. 
B)  900 K. 
C)  20 K. 
D)  60 K. 
A)  600 K. 
B)  900 K. 
C)  20 K. 
D)  60 K.

Question 7

The main reason for the very high temperature (750 K) on the surface of the planet Venus is thought to be

Accepted Answer

A)  chemical reactions between constituents of the atmosphere, particularly sulfuric acid. 
B)  radiation from hot lava, produced by intense and continuous volcanic action. 
C)  continuous bombardment of the surface by solar wind particles and meteoroids. 
D)  absorption of visible radiation by the Venusian surface and the subsequent trapping of infrared radiation emitted by the surface, by the atmosphere, and clouds. 
A)  chemical reactions between constituents of the atmosphere, particularly sulfuric acid. 
B)  radiation from hot lava, produced by intense and continuous volcanic action. 
C)  continuous bombardment of the surface by solar wind particles and meteoroids. 
D)  absorption of visible radiation by the Venusian surface and the subsequent trapping of infrared radiation emitted by the surface, by the atmosphere, and clouds.

Question 8

The reason there are very few impact craters on the surface of Venus compared with the surfaces of Mercury and Mars is thought to be that

Accepted Answer

A)  wind erosion from the dense atmosphere of Venus and chemical action from its corrosive clouds and mist have destroyed most craters. 
B)  the thick atmosphere of Venus has protected it from most incoming objects, and the surface has melted periodically to obliterate old craters. 
C)  plate tectonic motions have recycled the surface of Venus several times since the main bombardment of the planetary system occurred. 
D)  ocean waters that covered Venus at earlier times washed away any evidence of cratering. 
A)  wind erosion from the dense atmosphere of Venus and chemical action from its corrosive clouds and mist have destroyed most craters. 
B)  the thick atmosphere of Venus has protected it from most incoming objects, and the surface has melted periodically to obliterate old craters. 
C)  plate tectonic motions have recycled the surface of Venus several times since the main bombardment of the planetary system occurred. 
D)  ocean waters that covered Venus at earlier times washed away any evidence of cratering.

Question 9

Spacecraft from which country or countries have landed on the surface of Venus?

Accepted Answer

A)  United States and former Soviet Union 
B)  No country has yet successfully landed spacecraft on the surface of Venus. 
C)  United States 
D)  former Soviet Union 
A)  United States and former Soviet Union 
B)  No country has yet successfully landed spacecraft on the surface of Venus. 
C)  United States 
D)  former Soviet Union

Question 10

How has the age of Mercury's intercrater plains been estimated?

Accepted Answer

A)  from residual radioactivity within the plains compared to areas outside, as measured by the Mariner 10 spacecraft 
B)  by comparing the albedo of the plains to areas outside because material becomes lighter as it gets older, as it does on the Moon 
C)  from radioactive dating of rocks returned to Earth by the Mariner 10 spacecraft 
D)  by comparing the number of craters per unit area within the plains to areas outside 
A)  from residual radioactivity within the plains compared to areas outside, as measured by the Mariner 10 spacecraft 
B)  by comparing the albedo of the plains to areas outside because material becomes lighter as it gets older, as it does on the Moon 
C)  from radioactive dating of rocks returned to Earth by the Mariner 10 spacecraft 
D)  by comparing the number of craters per unit area within the plains to areas outside

Question 11

The Mariner 10 spacecraft was placed in an elliptical orbit around the Sun, with the period of its orbit twice that of the period of Mercury's orbit. What is the length of the semimajor axis of Mariner 10's orbit?

Accepted Answer

A)  0.48 au 
B)  0.61 au 
C)  0.39 au 
D)  0.0125 au 
A)  0.48 au 
B)  0.61 au 
C)  0.39 au 
D)  0.0125 au

Question 12

An Earth-based telescopic view of Venus shows

Accepted Answer

A)  a crater-covered surface of reddish color. 
B)  evidence of ice-covered polar caps and huge dust storms. 
C)  a smooth, dark surface with few mountain ranges. 
D)  a completely cloud-shrouded planet. 
A)  a crater-covered surface of reddish color. 
B)  evidence of ice-covered polar caps and huge dust storms. 
C)  a smooth, dark surface with few mountain ranges. 
D)  a completely cloud-shrouded planet.

Question 13

Mercury has a higher proportion of iron in its makeup than does Earth. So how does Mercury's density compare to Earth's density?

Accepted Answer

A)  Mercury must have the higher density. 
B)  Earth has the greater density because larger masses always have greater densities. 
C)  Mercury has the smaller density because the non-iron portion of its makeup is very light, porous materials that more than compensate for the greater proportion of iron. 
D)  Earth has the greater density because Earth's iron is more dense than Mercury's iron, thanks to the greater pressure experienced at the core of Earth compared to that at Mercury's core. 
A)  Mercury must have the higher density. 
B)  Earth has the greater density because larger masses always have greater densities. 
C)  Mercury has the smaller density because the non-iron portion of its makeup is very light, porous materials that more than compensate for the greater proportion of iron. 
D)  Earth has the greater density because Earth's iron is more dense than Mercury's iron, thanks to the greater pressure experienced at the core of Earth compared to that at Mercury's core.

Question 14

How does Mercury rotate, relative to the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A)  Mercury rotates relatively quickly, so that a solar day (from sunrise to the next sunrise) on Mercury is just a bit shorter than on Earth. 
B)  Mercury rotates in a retrograde direction; consequently, the Sun rises in the west each day and sets in the east. 
C)  Mercury turns the same side (Caloris Basin) toward the Sun at all times, much as the Moon turns the same side toward Earth. 
D)  Mercury alternately turns one side (Caloris Basin) toward the Sun at one perihelion and the opposite side toward the Sun at the next perihelion. 
A)  Mercury rotates relatively quickly, so that a solar day (from sunrise to the next sunrise) on Mercury is just a bit shorter than on Earth. 
B)  Mercury rotates in a retrograde direction; consequently, the Sun rises in the west each day and sets in the east. 
C)  Mercury turns the same side (Caloris Basin) toward the Sun at all times, much as the Moon turns the same side toward Earth. 
D)  Mercury alternately turns one side (Caloris Basin) toward the Sun at one perihelion and the opposite side toward the Sun at the next perihelion.

Question 15

Which of these is NOT a sign of former tectonic activity that has been found on Mars?

Accepted Answer

A)  the Valles Marineris 
B)  interlocked magnetic fields along extended regions 
C)  remnants of global magnetism 
D)  long lines of dormant volcanoes marking ancient plate boundaries 
A)  the Valles Marineris 
B)  interlocked magnetic fields along extended regions 
C)  remnants of global magnetism 
D)  long lines of dormant volcanoes marking ancient plate boundaries

Question 16

Some radiant energy "leaks" through the cloud layers of Venus and escapes into space. How much energy is this?

Accepted Answer

A)  less than the amount of radiant energy absorbed by Venus 
B)  just enough to balance the amount of radiant energy absorbed by Venus 
C)  more than the amount of radiant energy absorbed by Venus 
D)  considerably more on the night side of Venus than on the day side 
A)  less than the amount of radiant energy absorbed by Venus 
B)  just enough to balance the amount of radiant energy absorbed by Venus 
C)  more than the amount of radiant energy absorbed by Venus 
D)  considerably more on the night side of Venus than on the day side

Question 17

Hot-spot volcanism is a process that

Accepted Answer

A)  produces gigantic volcanoes on Venus and Mars and chains of smaller volcanoes on Earth (e.g., the Hawaiian Islands). 
B)  produces dome-shaped rises on Venus and Mars and mid-ocean ridges on Earth (e.g., the Mid-Atlantic Ridge). 
C)  produces large rift valleys on Mars, Venus, and Earth (e.g., the Great Rift Valley of Africa). 
D)  does not operate on Venus or Mars but produces folded mountain chains and subduction zones on Earth (e.g., along the west coasts of North America and South America). 
A)  produces gigantic volcanoes on Venus and Mars and chains of smaller volcanoes on Earth (e.g., the Hawaiian Islands). 
B)  produces dome-shaped rises on Venus and Mars and mid-ocean ridges on Earth (e.g., the Mid-Atlantic Ridge). 
C)  produces large rift valleys on Mars, Venus, and Earth (e.g., the Great Rift Valley of Africa). 
D)  does not operate on Venus or Mars but produces folded mountain chains and subduction zones on Earth (e.g., along the west coasts of North America and South America).

Question 18

On which planet have planetary scientists observed prominent but variable ice caps?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 19

"This planet has a cool, solid surface, a thin carbon dioxide atmosphere, and occasional dust clouds." Which planet fits this description?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 20

Mercury's orbit has a semimajor axis of 0.387 au. How large would the Sun appear to be in the sky (in angular diameter) as seen by someone on Mercury, compared with its angular diameter from Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  same size because it is the same Sun 
B)  about 1.5 times larger 
C)  about 6.25 times larger 
D)  about 2.5 times larger 
A)  same size because it is the same Sun 
B)  about 1.5 times larger 
C)  about 6.25 times larger 
D)  about 2.5 times larger

Where in the solar system would one find the Caloris Impact Basin?

Where would the Sun appear to rise on Venus if one could see through the clouds?

The mechanism of the "greenhouse effect," which has resulted in very high temperatures on the surface of Venus (and moderate temperatures on Earth), can be described as solar

Most of the information astronomers have about Mercury's surface comes from

Because Mercury has no appreciable atmosphere, its surface shows extreme temperature changes between night and day, with a range of about

The main reason for the very high temperature (750 K) on the surface of the planet Venus is thought to be

The reason there are very few impact craters on the surface of Venus compared with the surfaces of Mercury and Mars is thought to be that

Spacecraft from which country or countries have landed on the surface of Venus?

How has the age of Mercury's intercrater plains been estimated?

The Mariner 10 spacecraft was placed in an elliptical orbit around the Sun, with the period of its orbit twice that of the period of Mercury's orbit. What is the length of the semimajor axis of Mariner 10's orbit?

An Earth-based telescopic view of Venus shows

Mercury has a higher proportion of iron in its makeup than does Earth. So how does Mercury's density compare to Earth's density?

How does Mercury rotate, relative to the Sun?

Which of these is NOT a sign of former tectonic activity that has been found on Mars?

Some radiant energy "leaks" through the cloud layers of Venus and escapes into space. How much energy is this?

Hot-spot volcanism is a process that

On which planet have planetary scientists observed prominent but variable ice caps?

"This planet has a cool, solid surface, a thin carbon dioxide atmosphere, and occasional dust clouds." Which planet fits this description?

Mercury's orbit has a semimajor axis of 0.387 au. How large would the Sun appear to be in the sky (in angular diameter) as seen by someone on Mercury, compared with its angular diameter from Earth?

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

Exam 8: The Other Terrestrial Planets

Where in the solar system would one find the Caloris Impact Basin?

Where would the Sun appear to rise on Venus if one could see through the clouds?

The mechanism of the "greenhouse effect," which has resulted in very high temperatures on the surface of Venus (and moderate temperatures on Earth), can be described as solar

Most of the information astronomers have about Mercury's surface comes from

Because Mercury has no appreciable atmosphere, its surface shows extreme temperature changes between night and day, with a range of about

The main reason for the very high temperature (750 K) on the surface of the planet Venus is thought to be

The reason there are very few impact craters on the surface of Venus compared with the surfaces of Mercury and Mars is thought to be that

Spacecraft from which country or countries have landed on the surface of Venus?

How has the age of Mercury's intercrater plains been estimated?

The Mariner 10 spacecraft was placed in an elliptical orbit around the Sun, with the period of its orbit twice that of the period of Mercury's orbit. What is the length of the semimajor axis of Mariner 10's orbit?

An Earth-based telescopic view of Venus shows

Mercury has a higher proportion of iron in its makeup than does Earth. So how does Mercury's density compare to Earth's density?

How does Mercury rotate, relative to the Sun?

Which of these is NOT a sign of former tectonic activity that has been found on Mars?

Some radiant energy "leaks" through the cloud layers of Venus and escapes into space. How much energy is this?

Hot-spot volcanism is a process that

On which planet have planetary scientists observed prominent but variable ice caps?

"This planet has a cool, solid surface, a thin carbon dioxide atmosphere, and occasional dust clouds." Which planet fits this description?

Mercury's orbit has a semimajor axis of 0.387 au. How large would the Sun appear to be in the sky (in angular diameter) as seen by someone on Mercury, compared with its angular diameter from Earth?

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