Question 1

Mars has virtually no magnetic field.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

A terrestrial world's lithosphere is

Accepted Answer

A) a thin layer of rock that lies between the mantle and crust. 
B) the interior region in which the planet's magnetic field is generated. 
C) a layer of hot,molten rock encompassing the core and part of the mantle. 
D) a layer of relatively strong,rigid rock,encompassing the crust and part of the mantle. 
A) a thin layer of rock that lies between the mantle and crust. 
B) the interior region in which the planet's magnetic field is generated. 
C) a layer of hot,molten rock encompassing the core and part of the mantle. 
D) a layer of relatively strong,rigid rock,encompassing the crust and part of the mantle.

Question 3

What type of stresses broke Earth's lithosphere into plates?

Accepted Answer

A) impacts of asteroids and planetesimals 
B) internal temperature changes that caused the crust to expand and stretch 
C) the circulation of convection cells in the mantle,which dragged against the lithosphere 
D) cooling and contracting of the planet's interior,which caused the mantle and lithosphere to be compressed 
E) volcanism,which produced heavy volcanoes that bent and cracked the lithosphere 
A) impacts of asteroids and planetesimals 
B) internal temperature changes that caused the crust to expand and stretch 
C) the circulation of convection cells in the mantle,which dragged against the lithosphere 
D) cooling and contracting of the planet's interior,which caused the mantle and lithosphere to be compressed 
E) volcanism,which produced heavy volcanoes that bent and cracked the lithosphere

Question 4

What is the most important factor that determines the thickness,and therefore strength,of the lithosphere?

Accepted Answer

A) pressure 
B) viscosity 
C) composition 
D) internal temperature 
E) distance of planet from Sun 
A) pressure 
B) viscosity 
C) composition 
D) internal temperature 
E) distance of planet from Sun

Question 5

How fast do plates move on Earth?

Accepted Answer

A) a few centimeters per year 
B) a few millimeters per century 
C) a few kilometers per century 
D) quite fast,but only during earthquakes 
E) about 1 mile per hour 
A) a few centimeters per year 
B) a few millimeters per century 
C) a few kilometers per century 
D) quite fast,but only during earthquakes 
E) about 1 mile per hour

Question 6

Suppose we had a device that allowed us to see Earth's interior.If we looked at a typical region of the mantle,what would we see happening?

Accepted Answer

A) not much-on human time scales,the mantle looks like solid rock 
B) hot molten rock rising upward throughout the mantle and cool,solid rock falling downward 
C) a rapid,up-and-down churning of the material in the mantle 
D) dense metals falling downward while low-density rock rises upward 
A) not much-on human time scales,the mantle looks like solid rock 
B) hot molten rock rising upward throughout the mantle and cool,solid rock falling downward 
C) a rapid,up-and-down churning of the material in the mantle 
D) dense metals falling downward while low-density rock rises upward

Question 7

Which of the following has virtually no effect on the structure of a planet?

Accepted Answer

A) its composition 
B) its size 
C) its magnetic field 
D) its mass 
A) its composition 
B) its size 
C) its magnetic field 
D) its mass

Question 8

Steep-sided stratovolcanoes are made from lava that

Accepted Answer

A) is as runny as liquid water. 
B) has a medium viscosity. 
C) has a high viscosity. 
D) can have any viscosity. 
A) is as runny as liquid water. 
B) has a medium viscosity. 
C) has a high viscosity. 
D) can have any viscosity.

Question 9

Which of the following regions was the result of plumes of hot mantle rising in a hot spot within a plate?

Accepted Answer

A) Alaska's Aleutian Islands 
B) Japan and the Philippines 
C) the islands of Hawaii 
D) the volcano Mount St.Helens 
E) all of the above 
A) Alaska's Aleutian Islands 
B) Japan and the Philippines 
C) the islands of Hawaii 
D) the volcano Mount St.Helens 
E) all of the above

Question 10

What kind of surface features may result from tectonics?

Accepted Answer

A) mountains 
B) valleys 
C) volcanos 
D) cliffs 
E) all of the above 
A) mountains 
B) valleys 
C) volcanos 
D) cliffs 
E) all of the above

Question 11

What are the two geological features that appear to set Earth apart from all the other terrestrial worlds?

Accepted Answer

A) shield volcanoes and plate tectonics 
B) plate tectonics and widespread erosion 
C) significant volcanism and tectonics 
D) mantle convection and a thick atmosphere 
A) shield volcanoes and plate tectonics 
B) plate tectonics and widespread erosion 
C) significant volcanism and tectonics 
D) mantle convection and a thick atmosphere

Question 12

Which of the following does not provide evidence that Mars once had abundant liquid water on its surface?

Accepted Answer

A) the presence of features that look like dried up river beds 
B) the presence of "blueberries" made of the mineral hematite 
C) the presence of very old craters that appear to have been eroded by rain 
D) the presence of canali,discovered in the late 1800s by Giovanni Schiaparelli and mapped by Percival Lowell 
A) the presence of features that look like dried up river beds 
B) the presence of "blueberries" made of the mineral hematite 
C) the presence of very old craters that appear to have been eroded by rain 
D) the presence of canali,discovered in the late 1800s by Giovanni Schiaparelli and mapped by Percival Lowell

Question 13

Why are there fewer large craters on the seafloor than on the continents?

Accepted Answer

A) The seafloor crust is younger than the continental crust. 
B) The oceans slow large impactors and prevent them from making craters. 
C) The oceans erode away craters faster than erosion processes on land. 
D) Large impactors primarily strike land masses. 
E) Large impactors aim for life-forms such as dinosaurs. 
A) The seafloor crust is younger than the continental crust. 
B) The oceans slow large impactors and prevent them from making craters. 
C) The oceans erode away craters faster than erosion processes on land. 
D) Large impactors primarily strike land masses. 
E) Large impactors aim for life-forms such as dinosaurs.

Question 14

Why is erosion more effective on Earth than on Venus or Mars?

Accepted Answer

Erosion on Earth arises primarily from p

Question 15

In the context of plate tectonics,what is a subduction zone?

Accepted Answer

A) a place where a seafloor plate is sliding under a continental plate 
B) a place where two plates are slipping sideways against one another 
C) a place where two plates are pulling apart 
D) a place where two continental plates are colliding 
A) a place where a seafloor plate is sliding under a continental plate 
B) a place where two plates are slipping sideways against one another 
C) a place where two plates are pulling apart 
D) a place where two continental plates are colliding

Question 16

Many scientists suspect that Venus has a stronger and thicker lithosphere than Earth.If this is true,which of the following could explain it?

Accepted Answer

A) the high surface temperature that has "baked out" all the liquid water from Venus's crust and mantle 
B) the smaller size of Venus,which has allowed it to lose much more internal heat than Earth 
C) the slow rotation of Venus 
D) the apparent lack of plate tectonics on Venus 
A) the high surface temperature that has "baked out" all the liquid water from Venus's crust and mantle 
B) the smaller size of Venus,which has allowed it to lose much more internal heat than Earth 
C) the slow rotation of Venus 
D) the apparent lack of plate tectonics on Venus

Question 17

Which two geological processes appear to have been most important in shaping the present surface of Venus?

Accepted Answer

A) impacts and volcanoes 
B) impacts and tectonics 
C) tectonics and erosion 
D) volcanoes and tectonics 
E) volcanoes and erosion 
A) impacts and volcanoes 
B) impacts and tectonics 
C) tectonics and erosion 
D) volcanoes and tectonics 
E) volcanoes and erosion

Question 18

Under what circumstances can differentiation occur in a planet?

Accepted Answer

A) The planet must have a rocky surface. 
B) The planet must be made of both metal and rock. 
C) The planet must have an atmosphere. 
D) The planet must be geologically active,that is,have volcanoes,planetquakes,and erosion from weather. 
E) The planet must have a molten interior. 
A) The planet must have a rocky surface. 
B) The planet must be made of both metal and rock. 
C) The planet must have an atmosphere. 
D) The planet must be geologically active,that is,have volcanoes,planetquakes,and erosion from weather. 
E) The planet must have a molten interior.

Question 19

Briefly explain why NASA chose Gale Crater as target site of exploration for Curiosity.

Accepted Answer

There are many exposed layers of tilted

Question 20

Which of the following does not provide evidence that Mars once had large amounts of flowing water?

Accepted Answer

A) the presence of what looks like dried-up riverbeds 
B) the presence of impact craters that appear to have formed in mud 
C) the presence of vast canals discovered in the late 1800s by Giovanni Schiaparelli and mapped by Percival Lowell 
D) rocks of many different types jumbled together,as would occur if there had once been a great flood in the region,found by the Mars Pathfinder 
E) some very old craters that appear to have been eroded by rain 
A) the presence of what looks like dried-up riverbeds 
B) the presence of impact craters that appear to have formed in mud 
C) the presence of vast canals discovered in the late 1800s by Giovanni Schiaparelli and mapped by Percival Lowell 
D) rocks of many different types jumbled together,as would occur if there had once been a great flood in the region,found by the Mars Pathfinder 
E) some very old craters that appear to have been eroded by rain

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

Mars has virtually no magnetic field.

A terrestrial world's lithosphere is

What type of stresses broke Earth's lithosphere into plates?

What is the most important factor that determines the thickness,and therefore strength,of the lithosphere?

How fast do plates move on Earth?

Suppose we had a device that allowed us to see Earth's interior.If we looked at a typical region of the mantle,what would we see happening?

Which of the following has virtually no effect on the structure of a planet?

Steep-sided stratovolcanoes are made from lava that

Which of the following regions was the result of plumes of hot mantle rising in a hot spot within a plate?

What kind of surface features may result from tectonics?

What are the two geological features that appear to set Earth apart from all the other terrestrial worlds?

Which of the following does not provide evidence that Mars once had abundant liquid water on its surface?

Why are there fewer large craters on the seafloor than on the continents?

Why is erosion more effective on Earth than on Venus or Mars?

In the context of plate tectonics,what is a subduction zone?

Many scientists suspect that Venus has a stronger and thicker lithosphere than Earth.If this is true,which of the following could explain it?

Which two geological processes appear to have been most important in shaping the present surface of Venus?

Under what circumstances can differentiation occur in a planet?

Briefly explain why NASA chose Gale Crater as target site of exploration for Curiosity.

Which of the following does not provide evidence that Mars once had large amounts of flowing water?

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