Question 1

Which of these is true of the oxygen in Earth's atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

A)  Oxygen is the most abundant gas in Earth's atmosphere. 
B)  Oxygen is very chemically reactive. 
C)  The oxygen in Earth's atmosphere exists not as pure oxygen but only in chemical combination with hydrogen in water, carbon in carbon dioxide, and nitrogen in nitrogen oxides. 
D)  Oxygen is the heaviest molecule in Earth's atmosphere. 
A)  Oxygen is the most abundant gas in Earth's atmosphere. 
B)  Oxygen is very chemically reactive. 
C)  The oxygen in Earth's atmosphere exists not as pure oxygen but only in chemical combination with hydrogen in water, carbon in carbon dioxide, and nitrogen in nitrogen oxides. 
D)  Oxygen is the heaviest molecule in Earth's atmosphere.

Question 2

The highest tides on Earth's oceans occur at

Accepted Answer

A)  full Moon or new Moon. 
B)  any time, because they are driven by the action of winds in Earth's atmosphere. 
C)  full Moon but not at new Moon. 
D)  quarter Moon. 
A)  full Moon or new Moon. 
B)  any time, because they are driven by the action of winds in Earth's atmosphere. 
C)  full Moon but not at new Moon. 
D)  quarter Moon.

Question 3

What effect, if any, does the pressure to which a material is subjected have on the melting temperature of the material?

Accepted Answer

A)  There is no effect of pressure on melting temperature. 
B)  Within Earth's interior the pressure is decreased (compared to the surface), causing the melting temperature to increase (compared to the surface). 
C)  Within Earth's interior the pressure is increased (compared to the surface), causing the melting temperature to decrease (compared to the surface). 
D)  Within Earth's interior the pressure is increased (compared to the surface), causing the melting temperature to increase (compared to the surface). 
A)  There is no effect of pressure on melting temperature. 
B)  Within Earth's interior the pressure is decreased (compared to the surface), causing the melting temperature to increase (compared to the surface). 
C)  Within Earth's interior the pressure is increased (compared to the surface), causing the melting temperature to decrease (compared to the surface). 
D)  Within Earth's interior the pressure is increased (compared to the surface), causing the melting temperature to increase (compared to the surface).

Question 4

Which of these mechanisms is MOST likely to have taken place while Earth was molten to form the present structure of Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  All materials were thoroughly mixed by convection in the molten state, and Earth remained mixed as it cooled. 
B)  Hydrogen and helium became highly compressed by gravity and sank to the core below a layer of heavier rocky material. 
C)  Lighter elements sank to the center, leaving the heavier material to form the rocky surface as cooling proceeded. 
D)  Heavy elements sank to the center under gravity while lighter materials rose to the surface and solidified into rocks. 
A)  All materials were thoroughly mixed by convection in the molten state, and Earth remained mixed as it cooled. 
B)  Hydrogen and helium became highly compressed by gravity and sank to the core below a layer of heavier rocky material. 
C)  Lighter elements sank to the center, leaving the heavier material to form the rocky surface as cooling proceeded. 
D)  Heavy elements sank to the center under gravity while lighter materials rose to the surface and solidified into rocks.

Question 5

Several space probes have searched for evidence of water on the Moon. What have they concluded?

Accepted Answer

A)  There is no water on the Moon, in ice or liquid form. 
B)  There is water ice near the Moon's poles but no liquid water. 
C)  There is water ice near the Moon's poles and evidence for rare liquid water flows on its surface. 
D)  The question of whether water ice exists on the Moon remains unanswered. 
A)  There is no water on the Moon, in ice or liquid form. 
B)  There is water ice near the Moon's poles but no liquid water. 
C)  There is water ice near the Moon's poles and evidence for rare liquid water flows on its surface. 
D)  The question of whether water ice exists on the Moon remains unanswered.

Question 6

What is the name given to the two doughnut-shaped regions where high-energy charged particles are trapped by Earth's magnetic field in Earth's magnetosphere?

Accepted Answer

A)  Van Allen belts 
B)  auroral ovals 
C)  ionospheric E and F layers 
D)  ozone layers 
A)  Van Allen belts 
B)  auroral ovals 
C)  ionospheric E and F layers 
D)  ozone layers

Question 7

What would be perhaps the most striking feature that a visiting traveler from outer space would notice on approaching Earth, having examined the rest of the solar system?

Accepted Answer

A)  distinctive and impressive mountain ranges 
B)  large quantity of liquid water on the surface 
C)  earthquakes occurring on the solid parts of the surface 
D)  evidence of volcanoes and lava flow 
A)  distinctive and impressive mountain ranges 
B)  large quantity of liquid water on the surface 
C)  earthquakes occurring on the solid parts of the surface 
D)  evidence of volcanoes and lava flow

Question 8

What were the dominant gases in Earth's second atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

A)  nitrogen and oxygen 
B)  carbon dioxide and water vapor 
C)  methane and ammonia 
D)  hydrogen and helium 
A)  nitrogen and oxygen 
B)  carbon dioxide and water vapor 
C)  methane and ammonia 
D)  hydrogen and helium

Question 9

Suppose there is an exceptionally strong high tide (a spring tide) right now. Approximately how long will it be until an exceptionally weak tide (neap tide) occurs?

Accepted Answer

A)  6 hours 
B)  1 week 
C)  1 month 
D)  1 year 
A)  6 hours 
B)  1 week 
C)  1 month 
D)  1 year

Question 10

Seismic evidence suggests that Earth's core spins about 2 $\degree$more per year than the surface. In roughly how many years will the surface and the core have the same relative orientation they do today?

Accepted Answer

A)  2 
B)  50 
C)  90 
D)  180 
A)  2 
B)  50 
C)  90 
D)  180

Question 11

Earth is much larger than the Moon, yet it has far fewer craters. Which statement is NOT an explanation for the disparity in crater numbers?

Accepted Answer

A)  Earth's atmosphere caused many smaller impactors to burn up before striking the surface. 
B)  Some older craters on Earth were worn away by the action of wind and rain. 
C)  Some older craters on Earth were eradicated as parts of the crust are constantly subducted. 
D)  Earth's larger gravity tends to focus the orbits of near misses so that they hit the Moon instead. 
A)  Earth's atmosphere caused many smaller impactors to burn up before striking the surface. 
B)  Some older craters on Earth were worn away by the action of wind and rain. 
C)  Some older craters on Earth were eradicated as parts of the crust are constantly subducted. 
D)  Earth's larger gravity tends to focus the orbits of near misses so that they hit the Moon instead.

Question 12

Looking down on the North Pole of Earth, the high tide bulges of Earth's oceans are

Accepted Answer

A)  exactly along the line defined by the center of Earth and the center of the Moon. 
B)  exactly along the line defined by the center of Earth and the center of the Sun. 
C)  east and west of the line defined in (
A)  with the bulge nearer the Moon being east of this line. 
D)  east and west of the line defined in (
A)  with the bulge nearer the Moon being west of this line. 
A)  exactly along the line defined by the center of Earth and the center of the Moon. 
B)  exactly along the line defined by the center of Earth and the center of the Sun. 
C)  east and west of the line defined in (
A)  with the bulge nearer the Moon being east of this line. 
D)  east and west of the line defined in (
A)  with the bulge nearer the Moon being west of this line.

Question 13

When do spring tides occur?

Accepted Answer

A)  only when the Moon and the Sun line up on the same side of Earth, at new Moon 
B)  whenever the Earth-Moon line makes a 90° angle to the Earth-Sun line 
C)  whenever Earth, the Moon, and the Sun form a straight line, regardless of which side of Earth the Moon is on (i.e., at the times of full Moon and new Moon) 
D)  only when the Moon, Earth, and the Sun form a straight line, with the Moon on the opposite side of Earth from the Sun, at full Moon 
A)  only when the Moon and the Sun line up on the same side of Earth, at new Moon 
B)  whenever the Earth-Moon line makes a 90° angle to the Earth-Sun line 
C)  whenever Earth, the Moon, and the Sun form a straight line, regardless of which side of Earth the Moon is on (i.e., at the times of full Moon and new Moon) 
D)  only when the Moon, Earth, and the Sun form a straight line, with the Moon on the opposite side of Earth from the Sun, at full Moon

Question 14

Which of these is the LEAST common feature of lunar craters?

Accepted Answer

A)  a central peak 
B)  an oval shape 
C)  an ejecta blanket 
D)  terraced crater walls 
A)  a central peak 
B)  an oval shape 
C)  an ejecta blanket 
D)  terraced crater walls

Question 15

During what part of the Moon's life were most of the craters formed?

Accepted Answer

A)  between about 800 million and 1.5 billion years after the Moon formed 
B)  during the first 800 million years 
C)  approximately evenly from when the Moon first formed until the present day 
D)  during the first 200 million years 
A)  between about 800 million and 1.5 billion years after the Moon formed 
B)  during the first 800 million years 
C)  approximately evenly from when the Moon first formed until the present day 
D)  during the first 200 million years

Question 16

Astronauts at a Moon base that can be seen from Earth will NEVER see

Accepted Answer

A)  one side of Earth because the Moon revolves at the same rate as Earth rotates. 
B)  the stars moving through their sky because the Moon does not rotate. 
C)  Earthrise or Earthset. 
D)  sunrise or sunset because the Sun will always remain in their sky. 
A)  one side of Earth because the Moon revolves at the same rate as Earth rotates. 
B)  the stars moving through their sky because the Moon does not rotate. 
C)  Earthrise or Earthset. 
D)  sunrise or sunset because the Sun will always remain in their sky.

Question 17

The atmosphere breathed now is the _____ atmosphere Earth has had.

Accepted Answer

A)  third 
B)  second 
C)  seventh 
D)  first 
A)  third 
B)  second 
C)  seventh 
D)  first

Question 18

Ozone in the stratosphere performs an important task that protects life on Earth. What is it?

Accepted Answer

A)  Ozone absorbs the solar wind as it streams into Earth, thereby protecting life from dangerous ionizing radiation. 
B)  Ozone absorbs much of the dangerous solar ultraviolet light. 
C)  Ozone acts as a disinfectant, killing dangerous viruses and bacteria that drift in all the time from space before they can reach Earth. 
D)  Ozone absorbs infrared radiation, thereby providing a comfortable atmospheric temperature on the surface of Earth. 
A)  Ozone absorbs the solar wind as it streams into Earth, thereby protecting life from dangerous ionizing radiation. 
B)  Ozone absorbs much of the dangerous solar ultraviolet light. 
C)  Ozone acts as a disinfectant, killing dangerous viruses and bacteria that drift in all the time from space before they can reach Earth. 
D)  Ozone absorbs infrared radiation, thereby providing a comfortable atmospheric temperature on the surface of Earth.

Question 19

Where are Earth's Van Allen radiation belts located?

Accepted Answer

A)  in the magnetosphere 
B)  in the stratosphere 
C)  in the molten iron core 
D)  in the atmosphere above the auroral regions, centered over the north and south magnetic poles 
A)  in the magnetosphere 
B)  in the stratosphere 
C)  in the molten iron core 
D)  in the atmosphere above the auroral regions, centered over the north and south magnetic poles

Question 20

One effect of the tidal drag of the ocean waters on Earth is

Accepted Answer

A)  tilting of its spin axis farther and farther away from the perpendicular to the ecliptic. 
B)  slowing down of its spin rate. 
C)  speeding up of its rate of spin, thereby gaining energy from the Moon's orbital motion. 
D)  speeding up of its orbital motion around the Sun. 
A)  tilting of its spin axis farther and farther away from the perpendicular to the ecliptic. 
B)  slowing down of its spin rate. 
C)  speeding up of its rate of spin, thereby gaining energy from the Moon's orbital motion. 
D)  speeding up of its orbital motion around the Sun.

Which of these is true of the oxygen in Earth's atmosphere?

The highest tides on Earth's oceans occur at

What effect, if any, does the pressure to which a material is subjected have on the melting temperature of the material?

Which of these mechanisms is MOST likely to have taken place while Earth was molten to form the present structure of Earth?

Several space probes have searched for evidence of water on the Moon. What have they concluded?

What is the name given to the two doughnut-shaped regions where high-energy charged particles are trapped by Earth's magnetic field in Earth's magnetosphere?

What would be perhaps the most striking feature that a visiting traveler from outer space would notice on approaching Earth, having examined the rest of the solar system?

What were the dominant gases in Earth's second atmosphere?

Suppose there is an exceptionally strong high tide (a spring tide) right now. Approximately how long will it be until an exceptionally weak tide (neap tide) occurs?

Seismic evidence suggests that Earth's core spins about 2 $\degree$ more per year than the surface. In roughly how many years will the surface and the core have the same relative orientation they do today?

Earth is much larger than the Moon, yet it has far fewer craters. Which statement is NOT an explanation for the disparity in crater numbers?

Looking down on the North Pole of Earth, the high tide bulges of Earth's oceans are

When do spring tides occur?

Which of these is the LEAST common feature of lunar craters?

During what part of the Moon's life were most of the craters formed?

Astronauts at a Moon base that can be seen from Earth will NEVER see

The atmosphere breathed now is the _____ atmosphere Earth has had.

Ozone in the stratosphere performs an important task that protects life on Earth. What is it?

Where are Earth's Van Allen radiation belts located?

One effect of the tidal drag of the ocean waters on Earth is

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

Which of these is true of the oxygen in Earth's atmosphere?

The highest tides on Earth's oceans occur at

What effect, if any, does the pressure to which a material is subjected have on the melting temperature of the material?

Which of these mechanisms is MOST likely to have taken place while Earth was molten to form the present structure of Earth?

Several space probes have searched for evidence of water on the Moon. What have they concluded?

What is the name given to the two doughnut-shaped regions where high-energy charged particles are trapped by Earth's magnetic field in Earth's magnetosphere?

What would be perhaps the most striking feature that a visiting traveler from outer space would notice on approaching Earth, having examined the rest of the solar system?

What were the dominant gases in Earth's second atmosphere?

Suppose there is an exceptionally strong high tide (a spring tide) right now. Approximately how long will it be until an exceptionally weak tide (neap tide) occurs?

Seismic evidence suggests that Earth's core spins about 2 °\degree° more per year than the surface. In roughly how many years will the surface and the core have the same relative orientation they do today?

Earth is much larger than the Moon, yet it has far fewer craters. Which statement is NOT an explanation for the disparity in crater numbers?

Looking down on the North Pole of Earth, the high tide bulges of Earth's oceans are

When do spring tides occur?

Which of these is the LEAST common feature of lunar craters?

During what part of the Moon's life were most of the craters formed?

Astronauts at a Moon base that can be seen from Earth will NEVER see

The atmosphere breathed now is the _____ atmosphere Earth has had.

Ozone in the stratosphere performs an important task that protects life on Earth. What is it?

Where are Earth's Van Allen radiation belts located?

One effect of the tidal drag of the ocean waters on Earth is

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

Seismic evidence suggests that Earth's core spins about 2 $\degree$ more per year than the surface. In roughly how many years will the surface and the core have the same relative orientation they do today?