Question 1

Which of the following statements about Mars is not true?

Accepted Answer

A) We have landed spacecraft on its surface. 
B) It is considered part of our inner solar system. 
C) We could survive on Mars without spacesuits,as long as we brought oxygen in scuba tanks. 
D) It has some liquid water today,but used to have large amounts of flowing water. 
A) We have landed spacecraft on its surface. 
B) It is considered part of our inner solar system. 
C) We could survive on Mars without spacesuits,as long as we brought oxygen in scuba tanks. 
D) It has some liquid water today,but used to have large amounts of flowing water. C

Question 2

Which of the following statements is not an observed pattern of motion in our solar system?

Accepted Answer

A) Most planets orbit at the same speed. 
B) All planets orbit the Sun in the same direction. 
C) Most planetary orbits lie nearly in the same plane. 
D) Most planets rotate in the same direction in which they orbit. 
E) Almost all moons orbit their planet in the same direction as the planet's rotation. 
A) Most planets orbit at the same speed. 
B) All planets orbit the Sun in the same direction. 
C) Most planetary orbits lie nearly in the same plane. 
D) Most planets rotate in the same direction in which they orbit. 
E) Almost all moons orbit their planet in the same direction as the planet's rotation. A

Question 3

Venus has a higher average surface temperature than Mercury.Why?

Accepted Answer

A) because it is closer to the Sun 
B) because its surface is heated by an extreme greenhouse effect 
C) because its surface is covered with hot lava from numerous active volcanoes 
D) because its slow rotation gives it more time to heat up in sunlight 
A) because it is closer to the Sun 
B) because its surface is heated by an extreme greenhouse effect 
C) because its surface is covered with hot lava from numerous active volcanoes 
D) because its slow rotation gives it more time to heat up in sunlight B

Question 4

The planet closest in size to Earth is

Accepted Answer

A) Mercury. 
B) Venus. 
C) the Moon. 
D) Mars. 
E) Pluto. 
A) Mercury. 
B) Venus. 
C) the Moon. 
D) Mars. 
E) Pluto.

Question 5

For the following questions,classify the spacecraft in one of these categories:
-Curiosity

Accepted Answer

A) Earth orbiter 
B) flyby 
C) planetary orbiter 
D) lander 
A) Earth orbiter 
B) flyby 
C) planetary orbiter 
D) lander

Question 6

The jovian planets in our solar system are

Accepted Answer

A) Mercury,Venus,Earth,and Mars. 
B) Jupiter,Saturn,Uranus,Neptune,Pluto,and Eris. 
C) Jupiter,Saturn,Uranus,and Neptune. 
D) Io,Europa,Ganymede,and Callisto. 
A) Mercury,Venus,Earth,and Mars. 
B) Jupiter,Saturn,Uranus,Neptune,Pluto,and Eris. 
C) Jupiter,Saturn,Uranus,and Neptune. 
D) Io,Europa,Ganymede,and Callisto.

Question 7

Which of the following is not a characteristic of the inner planets?

Accepted Answer

A) They are relatively smaller than the outer planets. 
B) They all have solid,rocky surfaces. 
C) Their orbits are relatively closely spaced. 
D) They all have substantial atmospheres. 
E) They have very few,if any,satellites. 
A) They are relatively smaller than the outer planets. 
B) They all have solid,rocky surfaces. 
C) Their orbits are relatively closely spaced. 
D) They all have substantial atmospheres. 
E) They have very few,if any,satellites.

Question 8

Which of the following is not a major pattern of motion in the solar system?

Accepted Answer

A) Nearly all comets orbit the Sun in same direction and roughly the same plane. 
B) Most of the solar system's large moons orbit in their planet's equatorial plane. 
C) The Sun and most of the planets rotate in the same direction in which the planets orbit the Sun. 
D) All of the planets orbit the Sun in the same direction-counterclockwise as viewed from above Earth's north pole. 
A) Nearly all comets orbit the Sun in same direction and roughly the same plane. 
B) Most of the solar system's large moons orbit in their planet's equatorial plane. 
C) The Sun and most of the planets rotate in the same direction in which the planets orbit the Sun. 
D) All of the planets orbit the Sun in the same direction-counterclockwise as viewed from above Earth's north pole.

Question 9

Which of the following statements about Pluto is not true?

Accepted Answer

A) It has more in common with comets in the Kuiper belt than it does with the jovian planets. 
B) It is orbited by at least three moons. 
C) Its mass is less than 1% of Earth's mass. 
D) It is the largest known object that is considered to be a dwarf planet. 
A) It has more in common with comets in the Kuiper belt than it does with the jovian planets. 
B) It is orbited by at least three moons. 
C) Its mass is less than 1% of Earth's mass. 
D) It is the largest known object that is considered to be a dwarf planet.

Question 10

When we say that jovian planets contain significant amounts of hydrogen compounds,we mean all the following chemicals except

Accepted Answer

A) water. 
B) carbon dioxide. 
C) ammonia. 
D) methane. 
A) water. 
B) carbon dioxide. 
C) ammonia. 
D) methane.

Question 11

Choose from the spacecraft below for the following questions:
-used a sky crane to lower itself to the surface of Mars

Accepted Answer

A) Curiosity 
B) New Horizon 
C) Cassini 
D) Hubble Space Telescope 
E) Galileo orbiter 
A) Curiosity 
B) New Horizon 
C) Cassini 
D) Hubble Space Telescope 
E) Galileo orbiter

Question 12

Briefly summarize the differences between terrestrial and jovian planets.

Accepted Answer

Terrestrial planets are metallic or rock

Question 13

Which of the following observations indicates that conditions on Mars may have been suitable for life in the past?

Accepted Answer

A) There are very large extinct volcanoes on Mars. 
B) There is a very deep and long canyon that extends across Mars. 
C) There is liquid water as well as a significant number of dried-up riverbeds on Mars. 
D) Mars has polar caps made of "dry ice." 
E) Mars has two small moons. 
A) There are very large extinct volcanoes on Mars. 
B) There is a very deep and long canyon that extends across Mars. 
C) There is liquid water as well as a significant number of dried-up riverbeds on Mars. 
D) Mars has polar caps made of "dry ice." 
E) Mars has two small moons.

Question 14

In what way is Venus most similar to Earth?

Accepted Answer

A) Both planets are nearly the same size. 
B) Both planets have very similar atmospheres. 
C) Both planets have similar surface geology. 
D) Both planets have warm days and cool nights. 
A) Both planets are nearly the same size. 
B) Both planets have very similar atmospheres. 
C) Both planets have similar surface geology. 
D) Both planets have warm days and cool nights.

Question 15

Process of Science: Pluto is no longer considered a planet.Explain the new discoveries that led to this change.

Accepted Answer

In recent years,astronomers have found n

Question 16

For the following questions,classify the spacecraft in one of these categories:
-landed on Mars in 1976

Accepted Answer

A) Earth orbiter 
B) flyby 
C) planetary orbiter 
D) lander 
E)  Viking 1, 2 
A) Earth orbiter 
B) flyby 
C) planetary orbiter 
D) lander 
E)  Viking 1, 2

Question 17

Choose from the spacecraft below for the following questions:
-carried a probe that landed on Titan

Accepted Answer

A) Curiosity 
B) New Horizon 
C) Cassini 
D) Hubble Space Telescope 
E) Galileo orbiter 
A) Curiosity 
B) New Horizon 
C) Cassini 
D) Hubble Space Telescope 
E) Galileo orbiter

Question 18

For the following questions,classify the spacecraft in one of these categories:
-Hubble Space Telescope

Accepted Answer

A) Earth orbiter 
B) flyby 
C) planetary orbiter 
D) lander 
A) Earth orbiter 
B) flyby 
C) planetary orbiter 
D) lander

Question 19

Which of the following best describes Pluto in terms of the general characteristics of terrestrial and jovian planets?

Accepted Answer

A) size and density similar to terrestrial planets;distance and composition similar to jovian planets 
B) size and solid surface similar to terrestrial planets;distance similar to jovian planets 
C) size and distance similar to terrestrial planets;gaseous surface and composition similar to jovian planets 
D) solid surface and density similar to terrestrial planets;temperature and composition similar to jovian planets 
E) solid surface and temperature similar to terrestrial planets;distance and density similar to jovian planets 
A) size and density similar to terrestrial planets;distance and composition similar to jovian planets 
B) size and solid surface similar to terrestrial planets;distance similar to jovian planets 
C) size and distance similar to terrestrial planets;gaseous surface and composition similar to jovian planets 
D) solid surface and density similar to terrestrial planets;temperature and composition similar to jovian planets 
E) solid surface and temperature similar to terrestrial planets;distance and density similar to jovian planets

Question 20

Based on the frequency with which we see comets from Earth,astronomers estimate the total number of comets in the solar system to be

Accepted Answer

A) 100 million. 
B) 1 billion. 
C) 10 billion. 
D) 100 billion. 
E) 1 trillion. 
A) 100 million. 
B) 1 billion. 
C) 10 billion. 
D) 100 billion. 
E) 1 trillion.

Exam 7: Our Planetary System

Which of the following statements about Mars is not true?

Which of the following statements is not an observed pattern of motion in our solar system?

Venus has a higher average surface temperature than Mercury.Why?

The planet closest in size to Earth is

For the following questions,classify the spacecraft in one of these categories: -Curiosity

The jovian planets in our solar system are

Which of the following is not a characteristic of the inner planets?

Which of the following is not a major pattern of motion in the solar system?

Which of the following statements about Pluto is not true?

When we say that jovian planets contain significant amounts of hydrogen compounds,we mean all the following chemicals except

Choose from the spacecraft below for the following questions: -used a sky crane to lower itself to the surface of Mars

Briefly summarize the differences between terrestrial and jovian planets.

Which of the following observations indicates that conditions on Mars may have been suitable for life in the past?

In what way is Venus most similar to Earth?

Process of Science: Pluto is no longer considered a planet.Explain the new discoveries that led to this change.

For the following questions,classify the spacecraft in one of these categories: -landed on Mars in 1976

Choose from the spacecraft below for the following questions: -carried a probe that landed on Titan

For the following questions,classify the spacecraft in one of these categories: -Hubble Space Telescope

Which of the following best describes Pluto in terms of the general characteristics of terrestrial and jovian planets?

Based on the frequency with which we see comets from Earth,astronomers estimate the total number of comets in the solar system to be

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Planetary Geology: Earth and the Other Terrestrial Worlds

Planetary Atmospheres: Earth and the Other Terrestrial Worlds

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Asteroids, Comets, and Dwarf Planets: Their Nature, Orbits, and Impacts

Other Planetary Systems: The New Science of Distant Worlds

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