Question 1

The presence of oxygen in Earth's atmosphere is thought to result directly from what type of process?

Accepted Answer

A)  volcanic eruptions 
B)  outgassing of the oceans 
C)  original condensation of interplanetary gas clouds 
D)  biological activity of plants and animals 
A)  volcanic eruptions 
B)  outgassing of the oceans 
C)  original condensation of interplanetary gas clouds 
D)  biological activity of plants and animals D

Question 2

The smooth, dark maria on the Moon are

Accepted Answer

A)  immense basins that are smooth because they were covered by lava flows after the early heavy bombardment had ended. 
B)  immense impact basins that are smooth because earlier craters were wiped out by the impact. 
C)  areas that were still molten at the time of the early heavy bombardment and therefore show no evidence of the impacts. 
D)  regions that, although as old as the cratered highlands, escaped the early heavy bombardment. 
A)  immense basins that are smooth because they were covered by lava flows after the early heavy bombardment had ended. 
B)  immense impact basins that are smooth because earlier craters were wiped out by the impact. 
C)  areas that were still molten at the time of the early heavy bombardment and therefore show no evidence of the impacts. 
D)  regions that, although as old as the cratered highlands, escaped the early heavy bombardment. A

Question 3

Most of Earth's earthquakes occur

Accepted Answer

A)  where crustal plates are colliding, separating, or sliding past one another. 
B)  only where crustal plates are colliding head-on. 
C)  only where crustal plates are sliding past each other, as in the San Andreas fault. 
D)  more or less evenly over the entire Earth's surface. 
A)  where crustal plates are colliding, separating, or sliding past one another. 
B)  only where crustal plates are colliding head-on. 
C)  only where crustal plates are sliding past each other, as in the San Andreas fault. 
D)  more or less evenly over the entire Earth's surface. A

Question 4

What is anorthosite?

Accepted Answer

A)  rock found on the low-lying lunar plains and also in Hawaii and Iceland 
B)  powdered rock, which covers the Moon's surface like dust 
C)  an ancient rock that covers the lunar highlands 
D)  rocks created from scattered debris fused together under high temperature and pressure 
A)  rock found on the low-lying lunar plains and also in Hawaii and Iceland 
B)  powdered rock, which covers the Moon's surface like dust 
C)  an ancient rock that covers the lunar highlands 
D)  rocks created from scattered debris fused together under high temperature and pressure

Question 5

Which one of these is a characteristic of the Moon?

Accepted Answer

A)  Its isotopic abundances are nearly identical to those on Earth. 
B)  Its composition is similar to that of Earth, particularly the proportion of iron. 
C)  It has a strong magnetic field. 
D)  Its crust is thinner on the far side. 
A)  Its isotopic abundances are nearly identical to those on Earth. 
B)  Its composition is similar to that of Earth, particularly the proportion of iron. 
C)  It has a strong magnetic field. 
D)  Its crust is thinner on the far side.

Question 6

Earth has an average density that is approximately

Accepted Answer

A)  twice that of water. 
B)  equal to that of water. 
C)  more than 10 times that of water. 
D)  5 times that of water. 
A)  twice that of water. 
B)  equal to that of water. 
C)  more than 10 times that of water. 
D)  5 times that of water.

Question 7

Which of these kinds of materials is NOT found on the Moon?

Accepted Answer

A)  basalt 
B)  anorthosite 
C)  limestone 
D)  regolith 
A)  basalt 
B)  anorthosite 
C)  limestone 
D)  regolith

Question 8

Which fact first gave Alfred Wegener the idea that continents have drifted and are still drifting over Earth's surface?

Accepted Answer

A)  The ocean floors were much younger than the continents, indicating that they were still being formed. 
B)  The shapes of the east coasts of North and South America fit nicely against those of the west coasts of Europe and Africa. 
C)  A system of mountains and faults running up the middle of the Atlantic seafloor showed evidence that the crust was spreading apart there. 
D)  Volcanoes and earthquakes were localized into a well-defined "ring of fire" around the Pacific Ocean and other areas. 
A)  The ocean floors were much younger than the continents, indicating that they were still being formed. 
B)  The shapes of the east coasts of North and South America fit nicely against those of the west coasts of Europe and Africa. 
C)  A system of mountains and faults running up the middle of the Atlantic seafloor showed evidence that the crust was spreading apart there. 
D)  Volcanoes and earthquakes were localized into a well-defined "ring of fire" around the Pacific Ocean and other areas.

Question 9

Because of librations astronomers are able to see around the limb of the Moon and are able to view 59% of its surface from Earth. What is one cause of this?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Moon is not perfectly round. 
B)  Earth is not perfectly round. 
C)  The Moon does not rotate on its axis at a steady rate. 
D)  The Moon has an elliptical orbit. 
A)  The Moon is not perfectly round. 
B)  Earth is not perfectly round. 
C)  The Moon does not rotate on its axis at a steady rate. 
D)  The Moon has an elliptical orbit.

Question 10

Craters are not apparent on Earth at the present time in the abundance seen on the Moon because

Accepted Answer

A)  plate tectonics has returned cratered surface layers into Earth's interior, and weathering has obliterated the more recent craters. 
B)  the Moon protected Earth from impacts, which resulted in the craters and maria on the Moon. 
C)  all the potentially damaging interplanetary bodies were stopped by Earth's atmosphere. 
D)  interplanetary objects have avoided Earth during its history. 
A)  plate tectonics has returned cratered surface layers into Earth's interior, and weathering has obliterated the more recent craters. 
B)  the Moon protected Earth from impacts, which resulted in the craters and maria on the Moon. 
C)  all the potentially damaging interplanetary bodies were stopped by Earth's atmosphere. 
D)  interplanetary objects have avoided Earth during its history.

Question 11

The age of the Moon is determined primarily by

Accepted Answer

A)  measurements of radioactive elements and radioactive dating. 
B)  radiocarbon dating of remnants of living material such as plant life. 
C)  measurements of the relative concentrations of easily melted and evaporated substances, the "volatiles," and the less volatile materials, the "refractory" elements. 
D)  careful crater counts over different regions of the Moon and comparison to known meteoroid densities in space. 
A)  measurements of radioactive elements and radioactive dating. 
B)  radiocarbon dating of remnants of living material such as plant life. 
C)  measurements of the relative concentrations of easily melted and evaporated substances, the "volatiles," and the less volatile materials, the "refractory" elements. 
D)  careful crater counts over different regions of the Moon and comparison to known meteoroid densities in space.

Question 12

There are half a dozen large maria on the side of the Moon facing Earth and only one small mare on the far side. Which of these explanations is the MOST likely?

Accepted Answer

A)  Earth's larger mass attracted many heavy bombardment particles. Some of those that missed Earth hit the near side of the Moon. 
B)  Originally, there were probably as many large maria on the far side as on the near side, but subsequent bombardments erased most of them on the far side, while the near side was shielded from such bombardments by Earth's presence. 
C)  It is believed that the Moon was formed elsewhere in the solar system, so astronomers have no clue to its very early history-including this asymmetry in the maria. 
D)  The crust on the far side is thicker (because of Earth's pull on the Moon's core), and thus it was more difficult for lava to flow into large craters on the far side. 
A)  Earth's larger mass attracted many heavy bombardment particles. Some of those that missed Earth hit the near side of the Moon. 
B)  Originally, there were probably as many large maria on the far side as on the near side, but subsequent bombardments erased most of them on the far side, while the near side was shielded from such bombardments by Earth's presence. 
C)  It is believed that the Moon was formed elsewhere in the solar system, so astronomers have no clue to its very early history-including this asymmetry in the maria. 
D)  The crust on the far side is thicker (because of Earth's pull on the Moon's core), and thus it was more difficult for lava to flow into large craters on the far side.

Question 13

If the current theory of the formation of the Moon is correct, all but one of these statements about Earth before the Moon's creation is true. Which one?

Accepted Answer

A)  It was season-less. 
B)  Its mantle was significantly larger than it is at present. 
C)  Its iron core was significantly larger than it is at present. 
D)  Earth rotated faster than it does now. 
A)  It was season-less. 
B)  Its mantle was significantly larger than it is at present. 
C)  Its iron core was significantly larger than it is at present. 
D)  Earth rotated faster than it does now.

Question 14

If astronauts were to set up a permanent settlement on the near side of the Moon, how often would the Sun rise and set as seen by a resident of this base?

Accepted Answer

A)  never-the Sun would remain essentially motionless in the sky 
B)  365 times each year 
C)  about once each month 
D)  once each year 
A)  never-the Sun would remain essentially motionless in the sky 
B)  365 times each year 
C)  about once each month 
D)  once each year

Question 15

How quickly is the Moon spiraling away from Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  a few centimeters per million years 
B)  The Moon is not moving away from Earth because its orbit is governed by Newton's laws. 
C)  a few centimeters per century 
D)  a few centimeters per year 
A)  a few centimeters per million years 
B)  The Moon is not moving away from Earth because its orbit is governed by Newton's laws. 
C)  a few centimeters per century 
D)  a few centimeters per year

Question 16

What is the lowest layer in Earth's atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

A)  thermosphere 
B)  magnetosphere 
C)  troposphere 
D)  stratosphere 
A)  thermosphere 
B)  magnetosphere 
C)  troposphere 
D)  stratosphere

Question 17

The Moon is getting farther from Earth. Will this continue forever?

Accepted Answer

A)  Yes. The Moon will always drift away from Earth. 
B)  No. When Earth's rotation slows to zero (because of tidal friction), the recession will end. 
C)  No. When Earth's rotation slows to match the motion of the Moon (synchronous rotation), the recession will end. 
D)  No. Earth's rotation will slow to a stop and then reverse direction. At that point the Moon will begin to move closer to Earth again. 
A)  Yes. The Moon will always drift away from Earth. 
B)  No. When Earth's rotation slows to zero (because of tidal friction), the recession will end. 
C)  No. When Earth's rotation slows to match the motion of the Moon (synchronous rotation), the recession will end. 
D)  No. Earth's rotation will slow to a stop and then reverse direction. At that point the Moon will begin to move closer to Earth again.

Question 18

The creation of the magnetic field of Earth is thought to be influenced by

Accepted Answer

A)  a magnetized solid iron core in Earth's interior. 
B)  the flow of solar wind particles around and within Earth's outer atmospheric region, the magnetosphere, which produces an equivalent electric current. 
C)  electric currents flowing in the electricity-conducting liquid core of Earth. 
D)  localized magnetic anomalies, frozen into place in the crust near Earth's surface. 
A)  a magnetized solid iron core in Earth's interior. 
B)  the flow of solar wind particles around and within Earth's outer atmospheric region, the magnetosphere, which produces an equivalent electric current. 
C)  electric currents flowing in the electricity-conducting liquid core of Earth. 
D)  localized magnetic anomalies, frozen into place in the crust near Earth's surface.

Question 19

A rille is a

Accepted Answer

A)  pattern seen in the tail of a comet. 
B)  type of geological fault on Venus. 
C)  meandering canyon on Mars. 
D)  shallow winding valley on the Moon. 
A)  pattern seen in the tail of a comet. 
B)  type of geological fault on Venus. 
C)  meandering canyon on Mars. 
D)  shallow winding valley on the Moon.

Question 20

Why did Earth's earliest atmosphere, composed primarily of hydrogen and helium, NOT last long?

Accepted Answer

A)  Hydrogen is highly reactive, and it soon became bound into chemical compounds in Earth's rocks. 
B)  Hydrogen and helium are light gases, and they soon escaped into space. 
C)  Biological activity very quickly combined the hydrogen with oxygen to form water. 
D)  The hydrogen soon became dissolved in Earth's oceans. 
A)  Hydrogen is highly reactive, and it soon became bound into chemical compounds in Earth's rocks. 
B)  Hydrogen and helium are light gases, and they soon escaped into space. 
C)  Biological activity very quickly combined the hydrogen with oxygen to form water. 
D)  The hydrogen soon became dissolved in Earth's oceans.

The presence of oxygen in Earth's atmosphere is thought to result directly from what type of process?

The smooth, dark maria on the Moon are

Most of Earth's earthquakes occur

What is anorthosite?

Which one of these is a characteristic of the Moon?

Earth has an average density that is approximately

Which of these kinds of materials is NOT found on the Moon?

Which fact first gave Alfred Wegener the idea that continents have drifted and are still drifting over Earth's surface?

Because of librations astronomers are able to see around the limb of the Moon and are able to view 59% of its surface from Earth. What is one cause of this?

Craters are not apparent on Earth at the present time in the abundance seen on the Moon because

The age of the Moon is determined primarily by

There are half a dozen large maria on the side of the Moon facing Earth and only one small mare on the far side. Which of these explanations is the MOST likely?

If the current theory of the formation of the Moon is correct, all but one of these statements about Earth before the Moon's creation is true. Which one?

If astronauts were to set up a permanent settlement on the near side of the Moon, how often would the Sun rise and set as seen by a resident of this base?

How quickly is the Moon spiraling away from Earth?

What is the lowest layer in Earth's atmosphere?

The Moon is getting farther from Earth. Will this continue forever?

The creation of the magnetic field of Earth is thought to be influenced by

A rille is a

Why did Earth's earliest atmosphere, composed primarily of hydrogen and helium, NOT last long?

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

The Other Terrestrial Planets

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 7: Earth and the Moon

The presence of oxygen in Earth's atmosphere is thought to result directly from what type of process?

The smooth, dark maria on the Moon are

Most of Earth's earthquakes occur

What is anorthosite?

Which one of these is a characteristic of the Moon?

Earth has an average density that is approximately

Which of these kinds of materials is NOT found on the Moon?

Which fact first gave Alfred Wegener the idea that continents have drifted and are still drifting over Earth's surface?

Because of librations astronomers are able to see around the limb of the Moon and are able to view 59% of its surface from Earth. What is one cause of this?

Craters are not apparent on Earth at the present time in the abundance seen on the Moon because

The age of the Moon is determined primarily by

There are half a dozen large maria on the side of the Moon facing Earth and only one small mare on the far side. Which of these explanations is the MOST likely?

If the current theory of the formation of the Moon is correct, all but one of these statements about Earth before the Moon's creation is true. Which one?

If astronauts were to set up a permanent settlement on the near side of the Moon, how often would the Sun rise and set as seen by a resident of this base?

How quickly is the Moon spiraling away from Earth?

What is the lowest layer in Earth's atmosphere?

The Moon is getting farther from Earth. Will this continue forever?

The creation of the magnetic field of Earth is thought to be influenced by

A rille is a

Why did Earth's earliest atmosphere, composed primarily of hydrogen and helium, NOT last long?

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

The Other Terrestrial Planets

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