Question 1

Which of the following planets or moons has the greatest range in surface temperature fluctuations (a high of 470˚C and a low of −170˚C)?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 2

What is potentially the smallest size (diameter)meteor that could threaten civilization on Earth?

Accepted Answer

A) 10 m 
B) 100 m 
C) 1000 m 
D) 10,000 m 
A) 10 m 
B) 100 m 
C) 1000 m 
D) 10,000 m

Question 3

Because of Mercury's proximity to the Sun,the daytime temperatures at its surface are approximately

Accepted Answer

A) 100$\degree$C. 
B) 470$\degree$C. 
C) 3000$\degree$C. 
D) 850$\degree$C. 
A) 100$\degree$C. 
B) 470$\degree$C. 
C) 3000$\degree$C. 
D) 850$\degree$C.

Question 4

Besides Earth,where have we found what look like sedimentary rocks?

Accepted Answer

A) The moon 
B) Mars 
C) Mercury 
D) Venus 
A) The moon 
B) Mars 
C) Mercury 
D) Venus

Question 5

Which of the following statements about Mars is false?

Accepted Answer

A) Mars has a thin,cold atmosphere. 
B) Mars has networks of valleys and dry river channels. 
C) Mars has liquid water and a corrosive atmosphere. 
D) Mars has a land surface much older than that of Earth. 
A) Mars has a thin,cold atmosphere. 
B) Mars has networks of valleys and dry river channels. 
C) Mars has liquid water and a corrosive atmosphere. 
D) Mars has a land surface much older than that of Earth.

Question 6

Why is the Sun's mass decreasing with time?

Accepted Answer

A) because the temperature of the Sun is increasing 
B) because the Sun is contracting 
C) because the Sun's nuclear fusion consumes mass 
D) because the Sun's volume is increasing 
A) because the temperature of the Sun is increasing 
B) because the Sun is contracting 
C) because the Sun's nuclear fusion consumes mass 
D) because the Sun's volume is increasing

Question 7

What is the process by which an originally homogeneous Earth developed a dense core and a light crust?

Accepted Answer

A) accretion 
B) compression 
C) differentiation 
D) metamorphism 
A) accretion 
B) compression 
C) differentiation 
D) metamorphism

Question 8

Which planet is surrounded by a hot atmosphere composed of carbon dioxide and clouds of sulfuric acid?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 9

Nebulae are composed primarily of which of the following elements?

Accepted Answer

A) hydrogen and helium 
B) iron and silicon 
C) hydrogen and oxygen 
D) oxygen and silicon 
A) hydrogen and helium 
B) iron and silicon 
C) hydrogen and oxygen 
D) oxygen and silicon

Question 10

The tallest volcano in the solar system is found on

Accepted Answer

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

Question 11

The Sojourner rover detected evidence for the existence of _________ on Mars.

Accepted Answer

A) granite 
B) andesite 
C) marble 
D) limestone 
A) granite 
B) andesite 
C) marble 
D) limestone

Question 12

The longest and deepest canyon in the solar system is called

Accepted Answer

A) Vallis Magellan. 
B) the Grand Canyon. 
C) Vallis Marineris. 
D) Death Valley. 
A) Vallis Magellan. 
B) the Grand Canyon. 
C) Vallis Marineris. 
D) Death Valley.

Question 13

The discovery of _________ minerals on Mars indicates that there was once water present at the surface.

Accepted Answer

A) sulfate 
B) silicate 
C) oxide 
D) carbonate 
A) sulfate 
B) silicate 
C) oxide 
D) carbonate

Question 14

After Earth,what is the best geologically known planetary body in our solar system?

Accepted Answer

A) Mars 
B) Venus 
C) the Moon 
D) Titan 
A) Mars 
B) Venus 
C) the Moon 
D) Titan

Question 15

Which of the following planets has the hottest atmosphere (475˚C)?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 16

Venus's unique surface is thought to have formed through a process of vigorous mantle convection,volcanic activity,and crustal stretching referred to as

Accepted Answer

A) plate tectonics. 
B) convective tectonics. 
C) flake tectonics. 
D) crumple tectonics. 
A) plate tectonics. 
B) convective tectonics. 
C) flake tectonics. 
D) crumple tectonics.

Question 17

The first spacecraft to land on another planet and successfully transmit data back to Earth was called

Accepted Answer

A) Mars Express. 
B) Viking 1. 
C) Pathfinder. 
D) Sojourner. 
A) Mars Express. 
B) Viking 1. 
C) Pathfinder. 
D) Sojourner.

Question 18

Which of the following planets is not geologically active?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 19

Which list shows the correct order of events in early Earth evolution?

Accepted Answer

A) accretion,impact event,differentiation 
B) impact event,accretion,differentiation 
C) differentiation,accretion,impact event 
D) accretion,differentiation,impact event 
A) accretion,impact event,differentiation 
B) impact event,accretion,differentiation 
C) differentiation,accretion,impact event 
D) accretion,differentiation,impact event

Question 20

The time in early solar system history when there were numerous crater-forming impacts is known as the time of

Accepted Answer

A) Heavy Cratering. 
B) Heavy Accretion. 
C) Heavy Bombardment. 
D) Heavy Collision. 
A) Heavy Cratering. 
B) Heavy Accretion. 
C) Heavy Bombardment. 
D) Heavy Collision.

Exam 9: Early History of the Terrestrial Planets

Which of the following planets or moons has the greatest range in surface temperature fluctuations (a high of 470˚C and a low of −170˚C)?

What is potentially the smallest size (diameter)meteor that could threaten civilization on Earth?

Because of Mercury's proximity to the Sun,the daytime temperatures at its surface are approximately

Besides Earth,where have we found what look like sedimentary rocks?

Which of the following statements about Mars is false?

Why is the Sun's mass decreasing with time?

What is the process by which an originally homogeneous Earth developed a dense core and a light crust?

Which planet is surrounded by a hot atmosphere composed of carbon dioxide and clouds of sulfuric acid?

Nebulae are composed primarily of which of the following elements?

The tallest volcano in the solar system is found on

The Sojourner rover detected evidence for the existence of _________ on Mars.

The longest and deepest canyon in the solar system is called

The discovery of _________ minerals on Mars indicates that there was once water present at the surface.

After Earth,what is the best geologically known planetary body in our solar system?

Which of the following planets has the hottest atmosphere (475˚C)?

Venus's unique surface is thought to have formed through a process of vigorous mantle convection,volcanic activity,and crustal stretching referred to as

The first spacecraft to land on another planet and successfully transmit data back to Earth was called

Which of the following planets is not geologically active?

Which list shows the correct order of events in early Earth evolution?

The time in early solar system history when there were numerous crater-forming impacts is known as the time of

The Earth System

Plate Tectonics: The Unifying Theory

Earth Materials: Minerals and Rocks

Igneous Rocks: Solids From Melts

Sedimentation: Rocks Formed by Surface Processes

Metamorphism: Alteration of Rocks by Temperature and Pressure

Deformation: Modification of Rocks by Folding and Fracturing

Clocks in Rocks: Timing the Geologic Period

History of the Continents

Geobiology: Life Interacts With Earth

Volcanoes

Earthquakes

Exploring Earths Interior

The Climate System

Weathering,erosion,and Mass Wasting: Interactions Between the Climate and Plate Tectonic Systems

The Hydrologic Cycle and Groundwater

Stream Transport: From Mountains to Oceans

Winds and Deserts

Coastlines and Ocean Basins

Glaciers: the Work of Ice

Landscapes: Tectonic and Climate Interaction

The Human Impact of Earths Environment

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