Question 1

What is the likely source of lunar ice?

Accepted Answer

A) water that was present when the Moon formed 
B) contamination from human exploration of the Moon 
C) volcanism earlier in the Moon's history 
D) impacts of meteoroids and comets 
A) water that was present when the Moon formed 
B) contamination from human exploration of the Moon 
C) volcanism earlier in the Moon's history 
D) impacts of meteoroids and comets

Question 2

Which statement about the rotations of the Moon and Mercury is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

A) Our Moon is in a 1:1 synch with the Earth, keeping the same side toward us. 
B) Mercury is in the 3:2 synch with the Sun, with the same side Sunward at perihelion. 
C) Like our Moon, Mercury does not rotate at all, keeping the same side facing the Sun. 
D) On Mercury, three days exactly equal two years. 
E) On the Moon, each "day" lasts about 15 Earth days of constant sunlight. 
A) Our Moon is in a 1:1 synch with the Earth, keeping the same side toward us. 
B) Mercury is in the 3:2 synch with the Sun, with the same side Sunward at perihelion. 
C) Like our Moon, Mercury does not rotate at all, keeping the same side facing the Sun. 
D) On Mercury, three days exactly equal two years. 
E) On the Moon, each "day" lasts about 15 Earth days of constant sunlight.

Question 3

The lunar mare are found:

Accepted Answer

A) anywhere large meteor impacts created deep basins. 
B) almost entirely on the far side, which was more likely to be hit. 
C) almost entirely on Earth side, where the crust was thinner. 
D) mainly in the south polar region, where the largest impact occurred. 
E) not at all, since no liquid water really exists on the Moon. 
A) anywhere large meteor impacts created deep basins. 
B) almost entirely on the far side, which was more likely to be hit. 
C) almost entirely on Earth side, where the crust was thinner. 
D) mainly in the south polar region, where the largest impact occurred. 
E) not at all, since no liquid water really exists on the Moon.

Question 4

Relative to the size of the planet, Mercury has the largest core of any planet.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

What is the primary source of erosion on the Moon today?

Accepted Answer

Meteorite and micrometeorite b

Question 6

If the Earth's surface temperature were increased to that of Mercury's day side, then:

Accepted Answer

A) we would lose most of our water vapor into space. 
B) the evaporating oceans would thicken the atmosphere greatly. 
C) the erupting volcanoes would greatly increase the carbon dioxide greenhouse. 
D) little would happen, as the Earth is still the same mass and surface gravity. 
E) the Earth would, like Mercury, lose all its atmospheric gases. 
A) we would lose most of our water vapor into space. 
B) the evaporating oceans would thicken the atmosphere greatly. 
C) the erupting volcanoes would greatly increase the carbon dioxide greenhouse. 
D) little would happen, as the Earth is still the same mass and surface gravity. 
E) the Earth would, like Mercury, lose all its atmospheric gases.

Question 7

What is meant by tidal locking?

Accepted Answer

The gravitational force of the

Question 8

Much of Mercury's cratered surface closely resembles the lunar ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Much of Mercury's cratered surface closely resembles...

Question 9

Mercury's surface, upon casual visual observation, most resembles what other surface in oursolar system?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Mercury's surface, upon casual visual observation, most...

Question 10

What did radar astronomers find in the polar regions of Mercury?

Accepted Answer

A) rift valleys 
B) large mare basins, such as near our Moon's south pole 
C) water ice that never melts in the deep craters 
D) polar caps of dry ice that vary seasonally, much like Mars 
E) auroral displays much like Earth's 
A) rift valleys 
B) large mare basins, such as near our Moon's south pole 
C) water ice that never melts in the deep craters 
D) polar caps of dry ice that vary seasonally, much like Mars 
E) auroral displays much like Earth's

Question 11

What causes Mercury's 3:2 spin-orbit resonance?

Accepted Answer

A) the planet's closeness to the Sun 
B) the planet's very eccentric orbit 
C) the planet's high density 
D) tidal torques operating on the planet 
E) All of the above are factors. 
A) the planet's closeness to the Sun 
B) the planet's very eccentric orbit 
C) the planet's high density 
D) tidal torques operating on the planet 
E) All of the above are factors.

Question 12

The lunar mare radioactively date back to 4.6 billion years, at the origin of the Moon, hencetheir dark color due to this aging.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

Describe the relation between Mercury's spin and orbit.

Accepted Answer

Mercury rotates on i

Question 14

Ice has been detected near the poles of both the Moon and Mercury.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

The oldest known features of Mercury's surface formed:

Accepted Answer

A) about 4.6 billion years ago. 
B) about 3.9-3.2 billion years ago. 
C) just under 4 billion years ago. 
D) less than a billion years ago. 
A) about 4.6 billion years ago. 
B) about 3.9-3.2 billion years ago. 
C) just under 4 billion years ago. 
D) less than a billion years ago.

Question 16

Mercury's rotation and revolution are an example of a 3:2 resonance.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

What is the primary source of erosion on the Moon? Why does change take so long there?

Accepted Answer

A constant fall of meteoroids from space

Question 18

Lunar volcanism is obvious from the huge mare basins, and the more localized ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Lunar volcanism is obvious from the huge...

Question 19

Because of their low surface gravities, the Moon and Mercury lack ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Because of their low surface gravities, the...

Question 20

Ice is widely observed in the dark floors of many craters all over the surface of the Moon.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 8: The Moon and Mercury: Scorched and Battered Worlds

What is the likely source of lunar ice?

Which statement about the rotations of the Moon and Mercury is FALSE?

The lunar mare are found:

Relative to the size of the planet, Mercury has the largest core of any planet.

What is the primary source of erosion on the Moon today?

If the Earth's surface temperature were increased to that of Mercury's day side, then:

What is meant by tidal locking?

Much of Mercury's cratered surface closely resembles the lunar ________.

Mercury's surface, upon casual visual observation, most resembles what other surface in oursolar system?

What did radar astronomers find in the polar regions of Mercury?

What causes Mercury's 3:2 spin-orbit resonance?

The lunar mare radioactively date back to 4.6 billion years, at the origin of the Moon, hencetheir dark color due to this aging.

Describe the relation between Mercury's spin and orbit.

Ice has been detected near the poles of both the Moon and Mercury.

The oldest known features of Mercury's surface formed:

Mercury's rotation and revolution are an example of a 3:2 resonance.

What is the primary source of erosion on the Moon? Why does change take so long there?

Lunar volcanism is obvious from the huge mare basins, and the more localized ________.

Because of their low surface gravities, the Moon and Mercury lack ________.

Ice is widely observed in the dark floors of many craters all over the surface of the Moon.

Charting the Heavens: The Foundations of Astronomy

The Copernican Revolution: The Birth of Modern Science

Radiation: Information From the Cosmos

Spectroscopy: the Inner Workings of Atoms

Telescopes: The Tools of Astronomy

The Solar System: Comparative Planetology and Formation Models

Earth: Our Home in Space

Venus: Earths Sister Planet

Mars: a Near Miss for Life

Jupiter: Giant of the Solar System

Saturn: Spectacular Rings and Mysterious Moons

Uranus and Neptune: The Outer Worlds of the Solar System

Solar System Debris: Keys to Our Origin

Exoplanets: Planetary Systems Beyond Our Own

The Sun: Our Parent Star

The Stars: Giants, Dwarfs, and the Main Sequence

The Interstellar Medium: Gas and Dust Among the Stars

Star Formation: a Traumatic Birth

Stellar Evolution: The Life and Death of a Star

Stellar Explosions: Novae, Supernovae, and the Formation of the Elements

Neutron Stars and Black Holes: Strange States of Matter

The Milky Way Galaxy: a Spiral in Space

Galaxies: Building Blocks of the Universe

Galaxies and Dark Matter: The Large-Scale Structure of the Cosmos

Cosmology: The Big Bang and the Fate of the Universe

The Early Universe: Toward the Beginning of Time

Life in the Universe: Are We Alone

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