Question 1

In the context of planetary geology,what do we mean by outgassing?

Accepted Answer

A) the release by volcanism of gases that had been trapped in a planetary interior 
B) the loss of atmospheric gas to outer space 
C) another name for a volcanic eruption 
D) the evaporation of water that adds water vapor (a gas)to an atmosphere 
A) the release by volcanism of gases that had been trapped in a planetary interior 
B) the loss of atmospheric gas to outer space 
C) another name for a volcanic eruption 
D) the evaporation of water that adds water vapor (a gas)to an atmosphere

Question 2

What is the fundamental reason that Mars,unlike Earth,has become virtually geologically dead?

Accepted Answer

A) its small size compared to Earth 
B) its large size compared to Earth 
C) its farther distance than Earth to the Sun 
D) its closer distance than Earth to the Sun 
E) its rapid rotation compared to Earth
F)its slow rotation compared to Earth 
A) its small size compared to Earth 
B) its large size compared to Earth 
C) its farther distance than Earth to the Sun 
D) its closer distance than Earth to the Sun 
E) its rapid rotation compared to Earth
F)its slow rotation compared to Earth

Question 3

What are the circumstances under which convection can occur in a substance?

Accepted Answer

A) when the substance is subjected to a strong magnetic field 
B) when dense material is being added to the substance 
C) when the substance is strongly shaken or disturbed by a strong wind 
D) when the substance is strongly cooled from underneath 
E) when the substance is strongly heated from underneath 
A) when the substance is subjected to a strong magnetic field 
B) when dense material is being added to the substance 
C) when the substance is strongly shaken or disturbed by a strong wind 
D) when the substance is strongly cooled from underneath 
E) when the substance is strongly heated from underneath

Question 4

Some of the oldest continental crust on Earth lies in

Accepted Answer

A) Hawaii. 
B) California. 
C) the Great Plains. 
D) the deep South. 
E) Northeastern Canada. 
A) Hawaii. 
B) California. 
C) the Great Plains. 
D) the deep South. 
E) Northeastern Canada.

Question 5

There is no erosion of surface features on the Moon.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

How did the lunar maria form?

Accepted Answer

A) Large impacts fractured the Moon's lithosphere,allowing lava to fill the impact basins. 
B) The early bombardment created heat that melted the lunar surface in the regions of the maria. 
C) Volatiles escaping from the Moon's interior heated and eroded the surface in the regions of the maria. 
D) The giant impact that created the Moon left smooth areas that we call the maria. 
E) The maria are the result of gradual erosion by micrometeorites striking the Moon. 
A) Large impacts fractured the Moon's lithosphere,allowing lava to fill the impact basins. 
B) The early bombardment created heat that melted the lunar surface in the regions of the maria. 
C) Volatiles escaping from the Moon's interior heated and eroded the surface in the regions of the maria. 
D) The giant impact that created the Moon left smooth areas that we call the maria. 
E) The maria are the result of gradual erosion by micrometeorites striking the Moon.

Question 7

Which of the following is not an example of tectonics?

Accepted Answer

A) the gradual disappearance of a crater rim as a result of wind and rain 
B) the formation of a cliff when the lithosphere shrinks 
C) the slow movement of Earth's lithospheric plates 
D) the stretching of the crust by underlying mantle convection 
A) the gradual disappearance of a crater rim as a result of wind and rain 
B) the formation of a cliff when the lithosphere shrinks 
C) the slow movement of Earth's lithospheric plates 
D) the stretching of the crust by underlying mantle convection

Question 8

Higher temperatures make rocks weaker.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

Ridges in the middle of the ocean are places where

Accepted Answer

A) one plate slides under another,returning older crust to the mantle. 
B) hot mantle material rises upward,creating volcanic islands. 
C) hot mantle material rises upward and spreads sideways,pushing the plates apart. 
D) plates push together,creating ocean mountain chains. 
E) plates slip sideways relative to one another. 
A) one plate slides under another,returning older crust to the mantle. 
B) hot mantle material rises upward,creating volcanic islands. 
C) hot mantle material rises upward and spreads sideways,pushing the plates apart. 
D) plates push together,creating ocean mountain chains. 
E) plates slip sideways relative to one another.

Question 10

The polar caps on Mars are composed of

Accepted Answer

A) pure solid carbon dioxide. 
B) pure water ice. 
C) mostly solid carbon dioxide and some water ice. 
D) mostly water ice and some solid carbon dioxide. 
E) There are no polar caps on Mars. 
A) pure solid carbon dioxide. 
B) pure water ice. 
C) mostly solid carbon dioxide and some water ice. 
D) mostly water ice and some solid carbon dioxide. 
E) There are no polar caps on Mars.

Question 11

Summarize some of the evidence suggesting that Mars once had flowing water.

Accepted Answer

It has what looks like dried-up riverbed

Question 12

The major processes that heat the interiors of the terrestrial worlds are

Accepted Answer

A) (1)Heat deposited as the planets were built from planetesimals;(2)heat of accretion;(3)heat that came from the gravitational potential energy of incoming planetesimals. 
B) (1)Heat of accretion;(2)heat from convection;(3)heat from thermal radiation. 
C) (1)Heat deposited as the planets were built from planetesimals;(2)heat deposited as the planets underwent differentiation;(3)heat released by radioactive decay. 
D) (1)Volcanism;(2)tectonics;(3)erosion. 
A) (1)Heat deposited as the planets were built from planetesimals;(2)heat of accretion;(3)heat that came from the gravitational potential energy of incoming planetesimals. 
B) (1)Heat of accretion;(2)heat from convection;(3)heat from thermal radiation. 
C) (1)Heat deposited as the planets were built from planetesimals;(2)heat deposited as the planets underwent differentiation;(3)heat released by radioactive decay. 
D) (1)Volcanism;(2)tectonics;(3)erosion.

Question 13

What process has shaped Earth's surface more than any other?

Accepted Answer

A) impact cratering 
B) volcanism 
C) plate tectonics 
D) erosion 
E) acid rain 
A) impact cratering 
B) volcanism 
C) plate tectonics 
D) erosion 
E) acid rain

Question 14

The reason that small planets tend to lose interior heat faster than larger planets is essentially the same as the reason that

Accepted Answer

A) a large baked potato takes longer to cool than a small baked potato. 
B) gas bubbles form and rise upward in boiling water. 
C) Earth contains more metal than the Moon. 
D) thunderstorms tend to form on hot summer days. 
A) a large baked potato takes longer to cool than a small baked potato. 
B) gas bubbles form and rise upward in boiling water. 
C) Earth contains more metal than the Moon. 
D) thunderstorms tend to form on hot summer days.

Question 15

How does seafloor crust differ from continental crust?

Accepted Answer

A) Seafloor crust is thicker,older,and higher in density. 
B) Seafloor crust is thicker,younger,and lower in density. 
C) Seafloor crust is thinner,younger,and higher in density. 
D) Seafloor crust is thinner,older,and lower in density. 
A) Seafloor crust is thicker,older,and higher in density. 
B) Seafloor crust is thicker,younger,and lower in density. 
C) Seafloor crust is thinner,younger,and higher in density. 
D) Seafloor crust is thinner,older,and lower in density.

Question 16

Which internal heat source still generates heat within the terrestrial worlds today?

Accepted Answer

A) heat of accretion 
B) heat from differentiation 
C) heat from convection 
D) heat from radioactive decay 
A) heat of accretion 
B) heat from differentiation 
C) heat from convection 
D) heat from radioactive decay

Question 17

Olympus Mons is a

Accepted Answer

A) shield volcano on Mars. 
B) stratovolcano on Mercury. 
C) large lava plain on the Moon. 
D) shield volcano on Venus. 
E) stratovolcano on the Moon. 
A) shield volcano on Mars. 
B) stratovolcano on Mercury. 
C) large lava plain on the Moon. 
D) shield volcano on Venus. 
E) stratovolcano on the Moon.

Question 18

How have we been able to construct detailed maps of surface features on Venus?

Accepted Answer

A) by studying Venus from Earth with powerful telescopes 
B) by studying Venus with powerful optical telescopes on spacecraft that were sent to orbit Venus 
C) by making computer models of geological processes on Venus 
D) by using radar from spacecraft that were sent to orbit Venus 
E) by landing spacecraft on the surface for close-up study 
A) by studying Venus from Earth with powerful telescopes 
B) by studying Venus with powerful optical telescopes on spacecraft that were sent to orbit Venus 
C) by making computer models of geological processes on Venus 
D) by using radar from spacecraft that were sent to orbit Venus 
E) by landing spacecraft on the surface for close-up study

Question 19

Which of the following show evidence of ancient river beds?

Accepted Answer

A) the Moon 
B) Mercury 
C) Venus 
D) Mars 
E) all of the above 
A) the Moon 
B) Mercury 
C) Venus 
D) Mars 
E) all of the above

Question 20

The process in which one plate slides under another is called subduction and is marked by deep ocean trenches.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 9: Planetary Geology: Earth and the Other Terrestrial Worlds

In the context of planetary geology,what do we mean by outgassing?

What is the fundamental reason that Mars,unlike Earth,has become virtually geologically dead?

What are the circumstances under which convection can occur in a substance?

Some of the oldest continental crust on Earth lies in

There is no erosion of surface features on the Moon.

How did the lunar maria form?

Which of the following is not an example of tectonics?

Higher temperatures make rocks weaker.

Ridges in the middle of the ocean are places where

The polar caps on Mars are composed of

Summarize some of the evidence suggesting that Mars once had flowing water.

The major processes that heat the interiors of the terrestrial worlds are

What process has shaped Earth's surface more than any other?

The reason that small planets tend to lose interior heat faster than larger planets is essentially the same as the reason that

How does seafloor crust differ from continental crust?

Which internal heat source still generates heat within the terrestrial worlds today?

Olympus Mons is a

How have we been able to construct detailed maps of surface features on Venus?

Which of the following show evidence of ancient river beds?

The process in which one plate slides under another is called subduction and is marked by deep ocean trenches.

A Modern View of the Universe

Discovering the Universe for Yourself

The Science of Astronomy

Making Sense of the Universe: Understanding Motion, Energy, and Gravity

Light and Matter: Reading Messages from the Cosmos

Telescopes: Portals of Discovery

Our Planetary System

Formation of the Solar System

Planetary Atmospheres: Earth and the Other Terrestrial Worlds

Jovian Planet Systems

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

Other Planetary Systems: The New Science of Distant Worlds

Our Star

Surveying the Stars

Star Birth

Star Stuff

The Bizarre Stellar Graveyard

Our Galaxy

Galaxies and the Foundations of Modern Cosmology

Galaxy Evolution

The Birth of the Universe

Dark Matter, Dark Energy, and the Fate of the Universe

Life in the Universe

Celestial Timekeeping and Navigation

Space and Time

Spacetime and Gravity

Building Blocks of the Universe

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