Question 1

One feature discovered on the Moon is a cliff called a "scarp". How do planetary scientists believe they were formed?

Accepted Answer

A)  by shrinkage of the crust as the Moon cooled 
B)  by impact 
C)  at a convergent boundary between lunar tectonic plates 
D)  by volcanism 
A)  by shrinkage of the crust as the Moon cooled 
B)  by impact 
C)  at a convergent boundary between lunar tectonic plates 
D)  by volcanism

Question 2

Earth's secondary atmosphere was a hundred times as dense as its present atmosphere, yet the temperature was only sufficient to keep liquid water from freezing and not high enough to vaporize liquid water. Why wasn't the temperature higher?

Accepted Answer

A)  Earth formed beyond the snow line and migrated inward, and at this time it was too far from the Sun to be warm enough to vaporize water. 
B)  The developing Sun was not as hot as it is now. 
C)  The secondary atmosphere contained very little carbon dioxide, so there was not enough of a greenhouse effect to enhance the temperature. 
D)  The dense secondary atmosphere enhanced Earth's albedo. With less radiation striking Earth, the temperature did not rise substantially. 
A)  Earth formed beyond the snow line and migrated inward, and at this time it was too far from the Sun to be warm enough to vaporize water. 
B)  The developing Sun was not as hot as it is now. 
C)  The secondary atmosphere contained very little carbon dioxide, so there was not enough of a greenhouse effect to enhance the temperature. 
D)  The dense secondary atmosphere enhanced Earth's albedo. With less radiation striking Earth, the temperature did not rise substantially.

Question 3

The motions of large portions of Earth's surface, the plates, are caused by

Accepted Answer

A)  pressure variations in Earth's atmosphere, both daily and seasonal. 
B)  tidal flow in oceanic waters. 
C)  flexing of Earth's surface due to solar heating and nighttime cooling. 
D)  convective flow of material in Earth's interior. 
A)  pressure variations in Earth's atmosphere, both daily and seasonal. 
B)  tidal flow in oceanic waters. 
C)  flexing of Earth's surface due to solar heating and nighttime cooling. 
D)  convective flow of material in Earth's interior.

Question 4

How many times have human beings landed on the Moon?

Accepted Answer

A)  4 times 
B)  6 times 
C)  7 times 
D)  5 times 
A)  4 times 
B)  6 times 
C)  7 times 
D)  5 times

Question 5

Which of these processes has played the greatest role in shaping the surface of the Moon?

Accepted Answer

A)  impacts of interplanetary bodies of all sizes 
B)  motions of tectonic plates, producing mountain ranges wherever they collide 
C)  erosion by wind and atmospheric gases 
D)  recent volcanic activity, producing large numbers of craterlike volcanic calderas 
A)  impacts of interplanetary bodies of all sizes 
B)  motions of tectonic plates, producing mountain ranges wherever they collide 
C)  erosion by wind and atmospheric gases 
D)  recent volcanic activity, producing large numbers of craterlike volcanic calderas

Question 6

Which one of these does NOT appear to add to the depletion of the ozone layer?

Accepted Answer

A)  some formerly common refrigerants 
B)  CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) 
C)  coronal mass ejections 
D)  the aurora 
A)  some formerly common refrigerants 
B)  CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) 
C)  coronal mass ejections 
D)  the aurora

Question 7

One of the major differences between Earth and its neighboring planets Venus and Mars is the lack of large quantities of CO2 in its atmosphere. If all three planets were originally formed with significant quantities of this gas in their atmospheres, where is the majority of this CO2 on Earth at the present time?

Accepted Answer

A)  dissociated by UV and visible sunlight into carbon and oxygen that now exists in abundance as separate chemicals 
B)  concentrated high in the atmosphere where it contributes to the greenhouse effect 
C)  dissolved in seawater, a situation that cannot arise on the neighboring planets 
D)  locked up in carbonate and carbon-rich rocks and minerals formed in the sea and on Earth's surface 
A)  dissociated by UV and visible sunlight into carbon and oxygen that now exists in abundance as separate chemicals 
B)  concentrated high in the atmosphere where it contributes to the greenhouse effect 
C)  dissolved in seawater, a situation that cannot arise on the neighboring planets 
D)  locked up in carbonate and carbon-rich rocks and minerals formed in the sea and on Earth's surface

Question 8

The hottest part of Earth's atmosphere is the

Accepted Answer

A)  lowest layer of the troposphere (near Earth's surface). 
B)  boundary of the upper troposphere with the stratosphere. 
C)  upper mesosphere. 
D)  upper ionosphere. 
A)  lowest layer of the troposphere (near Earth's surface). 
B)  boundary of the upper troposphere with the stratosphere. 
C)  upper mesosphere. 
D)  upper ionosphere.

Question 9

Which of these places on Earth experiences frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity because of its location? See Figure 7-8 in the text.

Accepted Answer

A)  central Canada 
B)  Australia 
C)  Brazil 
D)  Alaska 
A)  central Canada 
B)  Australia 
C)  Brazil 
D)  Alaska

Question 10

What is the distribution of maria on the Moon's surface?

Accepted Answer

A)  Maria are largely confined to the hemisphere facing Earth; there are only a few small maria on the distant side. 
B)  Maria are distributed uniformly over the Moon's surface, as expected from random bombardment by debris from space. 
C)  There are only a few large maria on the Earth-facing side of the Moon but many smaller maria on the far side. 
D)  The large maria seen on the Earth-facing side of the Moon are matched by equivalent maria at diametrically opposite positions on the Moon, but only the near side has small maria. 
A)  Maria are largely confined to the hemisphere facing Earth; there are only a few small maria on the distant side. 
B)  Maria are distributed uniformly over the Moon's surface, as expected from random bombardment by debris from space. 
C)  There are only a few large maria on the Earth-facing side of the Moon but many smaller maria on the far side. 
D)  The large maria seen on the Earth-facing side of the Moon are matched by equivalent maria at diametrically opposite positions on the Moon, but only the near side has small maria.

Question 11

Of what material is the core of Earth composed?

Accepted Answer

A)  mostly iron 
B)  roughly half rock and half iron 
C)  titanium and nickel 
D)  rock of similar composition to that in the crust, but much denser 
A)  mostly iron 
B)  roughly half rock and half iron 
C)  titanium and nickel 
D)  rock of similar composition to that in the crust, but much denser

Question 12

The pressure in the atmosphere of Earth varies with altitude by

Accepted Answer

A)  decreasing smoothly with altitude, dropping by about half for every 5.5 km. 
B)  increasing over a small altitude range above the surface of Earth (about 1 km) and then decreasing smoothly with increasing altitude. 
C)  remaining a constant up to the height of the highest mountains, then decreasing rapidly. 
D)  decreasing and increasing several times with increasing altitude, following the temperature variation. 
A)  decreasing smoothly with altitude, dropping by about half for every 5.5 km. 
B)  increasing over a small altitude range above the surface of Earth (about 1 km) and then decreasing smoothly with increasing altitude. 
C)  remaining a constant up to the height of the highest mountains, then decreasing rapidly. 
D)  decreasing and increasing several times with increasing altitude, following the temperature variation.

Question 13

"It has a cool, solid surface with an atmosphere of nitrogen and oxygen and clouds of water vapor." Which of the planets fits this description?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 14

If Earth is known to have an average albedo of 0.31, what percentage of the sunlight hitting Earth is absorbed by it?

Accepted Answer

A)  100% - 0.31% = 99.69%-that is, most of it 
B)  31% 
C)  0.31%, or very little-most of it is reflected into space. 
D)  69% 
A)  100% - 0.31% = 99.69%-that is, most of it 
B)  31% 
C)  0.31%, or very little-most of it is reflected into space. 
D)  69%

Question 15

The highlands ringing Mare Imbrium are a typical lunar mountain chain. How is it believed they were formed?

Accepted Answer

A)  by shrinkage of the crust as the Moon cooled 
B)  by impact 
C)  at a convergent boundary between lunar tectonic plates 
D)  by volcanism 
A)  by shrinkage of the crust as the Moon cooled 
B)  by impact 
C)  at a convergent boundary between lunar tectonic plates 
D)  by volcanism

Question 16

The older, lighter-colored, and heavily cratered highlands take up _____ of the total lunar surface.

Accepted Answer

A)  more than 4/5 
B)  less than 1/5 
C)  between 1/3 and 1/2 
D)  between 1/2 and 3/4 
A)  more than 4/5 
B)  less than 1/5 
C)  between 1/3 and 1/2 
D)  between 1/2 and 3/4

Question 17

Earth's stratosphere is warmer than the layers above and below it because

Accepted Answer

A)  the methane released when fossil fuel is burned collects in this layer and absorbs infrared light. 
B)  warm air heated by contact with the ground rises into the stratosphere and heats it. 
C)  ozone in the stratosphere absorbs specific wavelengths of ultraviolet radiation from the Sun. 
D)  carbon dioxide in the stratosphere absorbs infrared light radiated outward by the ground. 
A)  the methane released when fossil fuel is burned collects in this layer and absorbs infrared light. 
B)  warm air heated by contact with the ground rises into the stratosphere and heats it. 
C)  ozone in the stratosphere absorbs specific wavelengths of ultraviolet radiation from the Sun. 
D)  carbon dioxide in the stratosphere absorbs infrared light radiated outward by the ground.

Question 18

What is a typical speed of drift for a continent sliding over Earth's surface?

Accepted Answer

A)  a few centimeters per century 
B)  a few centimeters per year 
C)  a few centimeters per million years 
D)  a few meters per year 
A)  a few centimeters per century 
B)  a few centimeters per year 
C)  a few centimeters per million years 
D)  a few meters per year

Question 19

Continental drift on Earth is a result of

Accepted Answer

A)  water percolating down through geological fault zones, acting both as a lubricant and as a hydraulic pump. 
B)  the momentum of impacts from large meteorites hitting the early Earth. 
C)  large-scale circulation of partly molten or plastic rock in Earth's interior. 
D)  flexing of Earth's surface by lunar and solar tides. 
A)  water percolating down through geological fault zones, acting both as a lubricant and as a hydraulic pump. 
B)  the momentum of impacts from large meteorites hitting the early Earth. 
C)  large-scale circulation of partly molten or plastic rock in Earth's interior. 
D)  flexing of Earth's surface by lunar and solar tides.

Question 20

What causes the phenomenon of the aurora?

Accepted Answer

A)  Solar ultraviolet light excites ozone molecules in the ozone layer. 
B)  Charged particles from the magnetosphere strike atoms in the upper atmosphere, causing them to emit characteristic colors of light. 
C)  Light from solar flares reflects from high-altitude clouds in Earth's atmosphere. 
D)  Charged particles emit light as they spiral along magnetic field lines in the magnetosphere. 
A)  Solar ultraviolet light excites ozone molecules in the ozone layer. 
B)  Charged particles from the magnetosphere strike atoms in the upper atmosphere, causing them to emit characteristic colors of light. 
C)  Light from solar flares reflects from high-altitude clouds in Earth's atmosphere. 
D)  Charged particles emit light as they spiral along magnetic field lines in the magnetosphere.

One feature discovered on the Moon is a cliff called a "scarp". How do planetary scientists believe they were formed?

Earth's secondary atmosphere was a hundred times as dense as its present atmosphere, yet the temperature was only sufficient to keep liquid water from freezing and not high enough to vaporize liquid water. Why wasn't the temperature higher?

The motions of large portions of Earth's surface, the plates, are caused by

How many times have human beings landed on the Moon?

Which of these processes has played the greatest role in shaping the surface of the Moon?

Which one of these does NOT appear to add to the depletion of the ozone layer?

The hottest part of Earth's atmosphere is the

Which of these places on Earth experiences frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity because of its location? See Figure 7-8 in the text.

What is the distribution of maria on the Moon's surface?

Of what material is the core of Earth composed?

The pressure in the atmosphere of Earth varies with altitude by

"It has a cool, solid surface with an atmosphere of nitrogen and oxygen and clouds of water vapor." Which of the planets fits this description?

If Earth is known to have an average albedo of 0.31, what percentage of the sunlight hitting Earth is absorbed by it?

The highlands ringing Mare Imbrium are a typical lunar mountain chain. How is it believed they were formed?

The older, lighter-colored, and heavily cratered highlands take up _____ of the total lunar surface.

Earth's stratosphere is warmer than the layers above and below it because

What is a typical speed of drift for a continent sliding over Earth's surface?

Continental drift on Earth is a result of

What causes the phenomenon of the aurora?

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

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Exam 7: Earth and the Moon

One feature discovered on the Moon is a cliff called a "scarp". How do planetary scientists believe they were formed?

Earth's secondary atmosphere was a hundred times as dense as its present atmosphere, yet the temperature was only sufficient to keep liquid water from freezing and not high enough to vaporize liquid water. Why wasn't the temperature higher?

The motions of large portions of Earth's surface, the plates, are caused by

How many times have human beings landed on the Moon?

Which of these processes has played the greatest role in shaping the surface of the Moon?

Which one of these does NOT appear to add to the depletion of the ozone layer?

The hottest part of Earth's atmosphere is the

Which of these places on Earth experiences frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity because of its location? See Figure 7-8 in the text.

What is the distribution of maria on the Moon's surface?

Of what material is the core of Earth composed?

The pressure in the atmosphere of Earth varies with altitude by

"It has a cool, solid surface with an atmosphere of nitrogen and oxygen and clouds of water vapor." Which of the planets fits this description?

If Earth is known to have an average albedo of 0.31, what percentage of the sunlight hitting Earth is absorbed by it?

The highlands ringing Mare Imbrium are a typical lunar mountain chain. How is it believed they were formed?

The older, lighter-colored, and heavily cratered highlands take up _____ of the total lunar surface.

Earth's stratosphere is warmer than the layers above and below it because

What is a typical speed of drift for a continent sliding over Earth's surface?

Continental drift on Earth is a result of

What causes the phenomenon of the aurora?

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