Question 1

Which of these events would NOT be a consequence of the destruction of the ozone layer on Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  large-scale (perhaps total) destruction of life on Earth 
B)  large-scale freezing of the oceans 
C)  drastic increase in ultraviolet radiation at Earth's surface 
D)  elimination of the rise in temperature in the stratosphere 
A)  large-scale (perhaps total) destruction of life on Earth 
B)  large-scale freezing of the oceans 
C)  drastic increase in ultraviolet radiation at Earth's surface 
D)  elimination of the rise in temperature in the stratosphere

Question 2

In which layer of Earth's atmosphere is the ozone layer located?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 3

Which scientific approach gives the MOST information about the deep interior of Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  deep drilling of exploratory holes for science and mineral recovery (e.g., oil) 
B)  study of lava flows from volcanoes 
C)  measurement of cosmic neutrinos, which pass very easily through Earth 
D)  worldwide measurement of low-frequency seismic waves produced by earthquakes 
A)  deep drilling of exploratory holes for science and mineral recovery (e.g., oil) 
B)  study of lava flows from volcanoes 
C)  measurement of cosmic neutrinos, which pass very easily through Earth 
D)  worldwide measurement of low-frequency seismic waves produced by earthquakes

Question 4

The source of the aurora (northern/southern lights) on Earth is

Accepted Answer

A)  natural decay of radioactive elements. 
B)  reflection of sunlight off the polar ice sheets. 
C)  small meteorites burning up in Earth's atmosphere. 
D)  charged particles trapped by Earth's magnetic field interacting with the atmosphere. 
A)  natural decay of radioactive elements. 
B)  reflection of sunlight off the polar ice sheets. 
C)  small meteorites burning up in Earth's atmosphere. 
D)  charged particles trapped by Earth's magnetic field interacting with the atmosphere.

Question 5

Which of these terms does NOT label a region of Earth's atmosphere or near-Earth environment?

Accepted Answer

A)  ionosphere 
B)  troposphere 
C)  stratosphere 
D)  chromosphere 
A)  ionosphere 
B)  troposphere 
C)  stratosphere 
D)  chromosphere

Question 6

How many times does the Moon rotate on its axis each time it orbits around Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  zero because the Moon does not rotate on its axis at all 
B)  exactly once 
C)  anywhere from $3 / 4$ to 1
$1 / 4$ times, depending on the time of year 
D)  Twice 
A)  zero because the Moon does not rotate on its axis at all 
B)  exactly once 
C)  anywhere from $3 / 4$ to 1
$1 / 4$ times, depending on the time of year 
D)  Twice

Question 7

The waves that geologists and geophysicists use to probe the inside of Earth are

Accepted Answer

A)  seismic waves. 
B)  X-rays. 
C)  gravitational waves. 
D)  radio waves. 
A)  seismic waves. 
B)  X-rays. 
C)  gravitational waves. 
D)  radio waves.

Question 8

What happens to the temperature as one goes upward in Earth's ionosphere?

Accepted Answer

A)  The temperature drops as one gets farther from the warm Earth. 
B)  The temperature drops because the faster (warmer) molecules escape into space, leaving behind the slower (colder) molecules. 
C)  The temperature rises because of the absorption of ultraviolet energy by the ozone layer. 
D)  The temperature rises because of the absorption of ultraviolet energy ionizes molecules. 
A)  The temperature drops as one gets farther from the warm Earth. 
B)  The temperature drops because the faster (warmer) molecules escape into space, leaving behind the slower (colder) molecules. 
C)  The temperature rises because of the absorption of ultraviolet energy by the ozone layer. 
D)  The temperature rises because of the absorption of ultraviolet energy ionizes molecules.

Question 9

Most of the craters on the Moon are thought to have been caused by

Accepted Answer

A)  collapse of volcanic domes, leaving central peaks in the craters. 
B)  volcanic activity, leaving behind volcano craters similar to those on Earth. 
C)  continuous bombardment throughout the Moon's life, including the present and recent past, by large and small asteroids. 
D)  intense bombardment by large and small bodies over some specific early period in the Moon's history. 
A)  collapse of volcanic domes, leaving central peaks in the craters. 
B)  volcanic activity, leaving behind volcano craters similar to those on Earth. 
C)  continuous bombardment throughout the Moon's life, including the present and recent past, by large and small asteroids. 
D)  intense bombardment by large and small bodies over some specific early period in the Moon's history.

Question 10

What is the approximate ratio of nitrogen to oxygen in Earth's atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

A)  1 part nitrogen to 2 parts oxygen 
B)  4 parts nitrogen to 1 part oxygen 
C)  1 part nitrogen to 4 parts oxygen 
D)  equal parts nitrogen and oxygen 
A)  1 part nitrogen to 2 parts oxygen 
B)  4 parts nitrogen to 1 part oxygen 
C)  1 part nitrogen to 4 parts oxygen 
D)  equal parts nitrogen and oxygen

Question 11

Which one of these is NOT a consequence of Earth's magnetic field?

Accepted Answer

A)  the Van Allen belts 
B)  the aurora 
C)  protection from the solar wind (which might otherwise deplete Earth's atmosphere) 
D)  a partially liquid, rotating iron core 
A)  the Van Allen belts 
B)  the aurora 
C)  protection from the solar wind (which might otherwise deplete Earth's atmosphere) 
D)  a partially liquid, rotating iron core

Question 12

Some evidence for water has recently been discovered on the Moon in the form of

Accepted Answer

A)  ice in deep craters near the south pole, perpetually shaded from sunlight. 
B)  thin, hazy clouds overlaying the dark polar regions, where they are shaded from the Sun's heat. 
C)  permafrost embedded in the centers of the large, dark maria, their darker color showing the presence of frost. 
D)  fluid water flowing in deep tunnels (some of which have collapsed to form rilles on the lunar surface), where it is protected from solar radiation. 
A)  ice in deep craters near the south pole, perpetually shaded from sunlight. 
B)  thin, hazy clouds overlaying the dark polar regions, where they are shaded from the Sun's heat. 
C)  permafrost embedded in the centers of the large, dark maria, their darker color showing the presence of frost. 
D)  fluid water flowing in deep tunnels (some of which have collapsed to form rilles on the lunar surface), where it is protected from solar radiation.

Question 13

What effect does an increase in pressure have on the temperature at which rock melts?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is not yet known-the temperature needed to melt rock has not yet been achieved in the laboratory. 
B)  An increase of pressure increases the melting temperature. 
C)  An increase of pressure has no effect on the melting temperature because the melting temperature is independent of pressure. 
D)  An increase of pressure lowers the melting temperature. 
A)  It is not yet known-the temperature needed to melt rock has not yet been achieved in the laboratory. 
B)  An increase of pressure increases the melting temperature. 
C)  An increase of pressure has no effect on the melting temperature because the melting temperature is independent of pressure. 
D)  An increase of pressure lowers the melting temperature.

Question 14

The troposphere of Earth is the

Accepted Answer

A)  atmospheric layer closest to the ground. 
B)  atmospheric layer above the mesosphere. 
C)  uppermost layer of solid rock below the planet's crust. 
D)  atmospheric layer that contains the highest concentration of ozone. 
A)  atmospheric layer closest to the ground. 
B)  atmospheric layer above the mesosphere. 
C)  uppermost layer of solid rock below the planet's crust. 
D)  atmospheric layer that contains the highest concentration of ozone.

Question 15

The Moon produces tidal disturbances on the oceans of Earth. In most places on Earth, there are

Accepted Answer

A)  two equal high tides and one low tide per day. 
B)  two high and two low tides per day. 
C)  one high tide and one low tide per day. 
D)  one high tide and one low tide per month. 
A)  two equal high tides and one low tide per day. 
B)  two high and two low tides per day. 
C)  one high tide and one low tide per day. 
D)  one high tide and one low tide per month.

Question 16

What is the name of a long, winding crack in a lunar mare?

Accepted Answer

A)  rille 
B)  caldera 
C)  rift zone 
D)  regolith 
A)  rille 
B)  caldera 
C)  rift zone 
D)  regolith

Question 17

By dating Moon rocks astronomers can determine the Moon's age. How long ago did the Moon form?

Accepted Answer

A)  The maria are about 3.8 billion years old, suggesting that the entire Moon was molten at that time, so that is its probable age. 
B)  The oldest rocks in the lunar highlands are about 4.3 billion years old, so that must be the age of the Moon. 
C)  Radioactive dating of Moon rocks brought back to Earth show that the Moon must be about 4.5 billion years old. 
D)  Because it cooled and solidified almost to its core, the Moon must be at least a billion years older than Earth. Its age, therefore, must be at least 5.5 billion years. 
A)  The maria are about 3.8 billion years old, suggesting that the entire Moon was molten at that time, so that is its probable age. 
B)  The oldest rocks in the lunar highlands are about 4.3 billion years old, so that must be the age of the Moon. 
C)  Radioactive dating of Moon rocks brought back to Earth show that the Moon must be about 4.5 billion years old. 
D)  Because it cooled and solidified almost to its core, the Moon must be at least a billion years older than Earth. Its age, therefore, must be at least 5.5 billion years.

Question 18

How old are the lunar maria?

Accepted Answer

A)  less than 1 billion years old 
B)  4.0 to 4.3 billion years old 
C)  3.1 to 3.8 billion years old 
D)  1.8 to 2.6 billion years old 
A)  less than 1 billion years old 
B)  4.0 to 4.3 billion years old 
C)  3.1 to 3.8 billion years old 
D)  1.8 to 2.6 billion years old

Question 19

The oldest material found on the Moon during crewed and noncrewed exploration was

Accepted Answer

A)  smooth, dark glass formed by meteoritic impact. 
B)  water ice locked into permafrost on the surface of the Moon. 
C)  anorthositic rocks from the highlands. 
D)  basalt rocks from the mare basins. 
A)  smooth, dark glass formed by meteoritic impact. 
B)  water ice locked into permafrost on the surface of the Moon. 
C)  anorthositic rocks from the highlands. 
D)  basalt rocks from the mare basins.

Question 20

Why is it that terrestrial planets are thought to have dense iron cores?

Accepted Answer

A)  Thermonuclear reactions produced iron as a fusion product in the earlier phases of planetary evolution (thermonuclear accretion). 
B)  During the formation of the planets, heavy elements accumulated first, followed by the accretion of lighter elements onto them (bimodal accretion). 
C)  The planets were molten early in their lives, and the heavy elements sank and lighter materials floated to the surface (planetary differentiation). 
D)  Magnetism in the iron was sufficiently powerful to pull iron atoms to the center as the planet formed (magnetic sorting). 
A)  Thermonuclear reactions produced iron as a fusion product in the earlier phases of planetary evolution (thermonuclear accretion). 
B)  During the formation of the planets, heavy elements accumulated first, followed by the accretion of lighter elements onto them (bimodal accretion). 
C)  The planets were molten early in their lives, and the heavy elements sank and lighter materials floated to the surface (planetary differentiation). 
D)  Magnetism in the iron was sufficiently powerful to pull iron atoms to the center as the planet formed (magnetic sorting).

Which of these events would NOT be a consequence of the destruction of the ozone layer on Earth?

In which layer of Earth's atmosphere is the ozone layer located?

Which scientific approach gives the MOST information about the deep interior of Earth?

The source of the aurora (northern/southern lights) on Earth is

Which of these terms does NOT label a region of Earth's atmosphere or near-Earth environment?

How many times does the Moon rotate on its axis each time it orbits around Earth?

The waves that geologists and geophysicists use to probe the inside of Earth are

What happens to the temperature as one goes upward in Earth's ionosphere?

Most of the craters on the Moon are thought to have been caused by

What is the approximate ratio of nitrogen to oxygen in Earth's atmosphere?

Which one of these is NOT a consequence of Earth's magnetic field?

Some evidence for water has recently been discovered on the Moon in the form of

What effect does an increase in pressure have on the temperature at which rock melts?

The troposphere of Earth is the

The Moon produces tidal disturbances on the oceans of Earth. In most places on Earth, there are

What is the name of a long, winding crack in a lunar mare?

By dating Moon rocks astronomers can determine the Moon's age. How long ago did the Moon form?

How old are the lunar maria?

The oldest material found on the Moon during crewed and noncrewed exploration was

Why is it that terrestrial planets are thought to have dense iron cores?

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

Which of these events would NOT be a consequence of the destruction of the ozone layer on Earth?

In which layer of Earth's atmosphere is the ozone layer located?

Which scientific approach gives the MOST information about the deep interior of Earth?

The source of the aurora (northern/southern lights) on Earth is

Which of these terms does NOT label a region of Earth's atmosphere or near-Earth environment?

How many times does the Moon rotate on its axis each time it orbits around Earth?

The waves that geologists and geophysicists use to probe the inside of Earth are

What happens to the temperature as one goes upward in Earth's ionosphere?

Most of the craters on the Moon are thought to have been caused by

What is the approximate ratio of nitrogen to oxygen in Earth's atmosphere?

Which one of these is NOT a consequence of Earth's magnetic field?

Some evidence for water has recently been discovered on the Moon in the form of

What effect does an increase in pressure have on the temperature at which rock melts?

The troposphere of Earth is the

The Moon produces tidal disturbances on the oceans of Earth. In most places on Earth, there are

What is the name of a long, winding crack in a lunar mare?

By dating Moon rocks astronomers can determine the Moon's age. How long ago did the Moon form?

How old are the lunar maria?

The oldest material found on the Moon during crewed and noncrewed exploration was

Why is it that terrestrial planets are thought to have dense iron cores?

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