Question 1

The effects of the collision of a large Mars-sized body with the Earth about 4.5 Ga is proposed to have caused

Accepted Answer

A) a magma ocean to form at Earth's surface. 
B) an increase in Earth's speed of rotation. 
C) Earth's spin axis to tilt. 
D) a magma ocean to form at Earth's surface,Earth's speed of rotation to increase,and Earth's spin axis to tilt. 
A) a magma ocean to form at Earth's surface. 
B) an increase in Earth's speed of rotation. 
C) Earth's spin axis to tilt. 
D) a magma ocean to form at Earth's surface,Earth's speed of rotation to increase,and Earth's spin axis to tilt.

Question 2

Future astronauts working on the planet Mars might have their visibility obscured by long-lasting and planet-engulfing

Accepted Answer

A) snow storms. 
B) fog. 
C) sand storms. 
D) micrometeorite showers. 
A) snow storms. 
B) fog. 
C) sand storms. 
D) micrometeorite showers.

Question 3

The grandest canyon in the solar system,namely Vallis Marineris,is ____ km long and ____ km deep?

Accepted Answer

A) 10,000; 10 
B) 50; 2 
C) 1000; 5 
D) 4000; 8 
A) 10,000; 10 
B) 50; 2 
C) 1000; 5 
D) 4000; 8

Question 4

Which of the following solar system bodies is least likely to have water ice on its surface?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 5

Which of the following is not one of the giant outer planets?

Accepted Answer

A) Neptune 
B) Uranus 
C) Saturn 
D) Pluto 
A) Neptune 
B) Uranus 
C) Saturn 
D) Pluto

Question 6

Which of the following is the accepted explanation of the Moon's origin?

Accepted Answer

A) It was torn out of Earth (fission theory). 
B) It was captured by Earth (capture theory). 
C) It accreted next to Earth (accretion theory). 
D) It formed when a Mars-sized object collided with Earth (collision theory). 
A) It was torn out of Earth (fission theory). 
B) It was captured by Earth (capture theory). 
C) It accreted next to Earth (accretion theory). 
D) It formed when a Mars-sized object collided with Earth (collision theory).

Question 7

NASA's Viking missions went to which planet/moon?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 8

According to the nebular hypothesis,the inner planets are dense and rocky because

Accepted Answer

A) the inner planets were the first to condense from the solar nebula. 
B) the lighter gases were blown away by the Sun's radiation. 
C) heavy elements were created by fusion within the inner planets. 
D) the inner planets' gravitational pull attracted dense material from the outer planets. 
A) the inner planets were the first to condense from the solar nebula. 
B) the lighter gases were blown away by the Sun's radiation. 
C) heavy elements were created by fusion within the inner planets. 
D) the inner planets' gravitational pull attracted dense material from the outer planets.

Question 9

Currently,there is a lot of excitement about the potential of life on other planets.One of the concerns is the size of the planet.Some planets might simply be too big.Why is that an issue?

Accepted Answer

A) The distances for the organism to travel might be too great. 
B) The planet might not have or be able to retain an atmosphere. 
C) A large planet might stay hot longer and life could not take hold. 
D) High gravity might crush any potential creatures. 
A) The distances for the organism to travel might be too great. 
B) The planet might not have or be able to retain an atmosphere. 
C) A large planet might stay hot longer and life could not take hold. 
D) High gravity might crush any potential creatures.

Question 10

Which of the following is no longer considered a "true" planet?

Accepted Answer

A) Mercury 
B) Earth 
C) Uranus 
D) Pluto 
A) Mercury 
B) Earth 
C) Uranus 
D) Pluto

Question 11

Mars is also called the Red Planet because of

Accepted Answer

A) the reflection of the Sun's rays on the surface gives it a red appearance. 
B) the abundance of iron oxide minerals on the surface gives it a red appearance. 
C) heat radiating from the interior gives it a red appearance. 
D) the broad expanses of lava on the surface give it a red appearance. 
A) the reflection of the Sun's rays on the surface gives it a red appearance. 
B) the abundance of iron oxide minerals on the surface gives it a red appearance. 
C) heat radiating from the interior gives it a red appearance. 
D) the broad expanses of lava on the surface give it a red appearance.

Question 12

Mercury's thin atmosphere is composed mostly of

Accepted Answer

A) helium. 
B) oxygen. 
C) hydrogen. 
D) sulfur dioxide. 
A) helium. 
B) oxygen. 
C) hydrogen. 
D) sulfur dioxide.

Question 13

The Mars rovers are also called the robotic geologists because they can

Accepted Answer

A) analyze minerals. 
B) study the atmosphere. 
C) collect samples. 
D) analyze minerals,study the atmosphere,and collect samples. 
A) analyze minerals. 
B) study the atmosphere. 
C) collect samples. 
D) analyze minerals,study the atmosphere,and collect samples.

Question 14

What caused dust and condensing material to accrete into planetesimals?

Accepted Answer

A) gravitational attraction and collisions 
B) nuclear fusion 
C) heating of gases 
D) rotation of the proto-Sun 
A) gravitational attraction and collisions 
B) nuclear fusion 
C) heating of gases 
D) rotation of the proto-Sun

Question 15

What is the name of the most recent rover on Mars?

Accepted Answer

A) Chance 
B) Curiosity 
C) Opportunity 
D) Spirit 
A) Chance 
B) Curiosity 
C) Opportunity 
D) Spirit

Question 16

What kinds of rocks are found in the lunar maria?

Accepted Answer

A) andesite 
B) granite 
C) peridotite 
D) basalt 
A) andesite 
B) granite 
C) peridotite 
D) basalt

Question 17

Water is present on Mars as

Accepted Answer

A) polar ice caps. 
B) vapor in the atmosphere. 
C) small surface ponds and streams. 
D) oceans. 
A) polar ice caps. 
B) vapor in the atmosphere. 
C) small surface ponds and streams. 
D) oceans.

Question 18

How can planetary surfaces be dated?

Accepted Answer

A) crater counting 
B) isotopic methods 
C) with both A and B 
D) It is impossible to date planetary surfaces. 
A) crater counting 
B) isotopic methods 
C) with both A and B 
D) It is impossible to date planetary surfaces.

Exam 9: Early History of the Terrestrial Planets

The effects of the collision of a large Mars-sized body with the Earth about 4.5 Ga is proposed to have caused

Future astronauts working on the planet Mars might have their visibility obscured by long-lasting and planet-engulfing

The grandest canyon in the solar system,namely Vallis Marineris,is ____ km long and ____ km deep?

Which of the following solar system bodies is least likely to have water ice on its surface?

Which of the following is not one of the giant outer planets?

Which of the following is the accepted explanation of the Moon's origin?

NASA's Viking missions went to which planet/moon?

According to the nebular hypothesis,the inner planets are dense and rocky because

Currently,there is a lot of excitement about the potential of life on other planets.One of the concerns is the size of the planet.Some planets might simply be too big.Why is that an issue?

Which of the following is no longer considered a "true" planet?

Mars is also called the Red Planet because of

Mercury's thin atmosphere is composed mostly of

The Mars rovers are also called the robotic geologists because they can

What caused dust and condensing material to accrete into planetesimals?

What is the name of the most recent rover on Mars?

What kinds of rocks are found in the lunar maria?

Water is present on Mars as

How can planetary surfaces be dated?

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

Filters

The grandest canyon in the solar system,namely Vallis Marineris,is km long and km deep?