Question 1

Suppose Earth's atmosphere had no greenhouse gases.Then Earth's average surface temperature would be

Accepted Answer

A) 250 K,which is well below freezing. 
B) 273 K,or about the freezing point for water. 
C) 283 K,or about 5 K cooler than it is now. 
D) 288 K,or about the same as it is now. 
E) 293 K,or about 5 K warmer than it is now. 
A) 250 K,which is well below freezing. 
B) 273 K,or about the freezing point for water. 
C) 283 K,or about 5 K cooler than it is now. 
D) 288 K,or about the same as it is now. 
E) 293 K,or about 5 K warmer than it is now. A

Question 2

Which characteristic of Earth explains why we have an ultraviolet-absorbing stratosphere?

Accepted Answer

A) the existence of photosynthetic life 
B) the existence of plate tectonics 
C) the moderate surface temperature 
D) the existence of oceans 
A) the existence of photosynthetic life 
B) the existence of plate tectonics 
C) the moderate surface temperature 
D) the existence of oceans A

Question 3

All the statements below are true.Which one gives the primary reason why the surface of Venus today is some 450°C hotter than the surface of Earth?

Accepted Answer

A) Venus has a much stronger greenhouse effect than Earth. 
B) Venus is only about 73% as far from the Sun as Earth. 
C) Venus has a much higher reflectivity than Earth. 
D) Venus has a higher atmospheric pressure than Earth. 
A) Venus has a much stronger greenhouse effect than Earth. 
B) Venus is only about 73% as far from the Sun as Earth. 
C) Venus has a much higher reflectivity than Earth. 
D) Venus has a higher atmospheric pressure than Earth. A

Question 4

The proper order of the layers of a generic atmosphere from lowest altitude to highest is

Accepted Answer

A) troposphere,stratosphere,exosphere,thermosphere. 
B) troposphere,stratosphere,thermosphere,exosphere. 
C) stratosphere,troposphere,exosphere,thermosphere. 
D) stratosphere,troposphere,thermosphere,exosphere. 
E) none of the above 
A) troposphere,stratosphere,exosphere,thermosphere. 
B) troposphere,stratosphere,thermosphere,exosphere. 
C) stratosphere,troposphere,exosphere,thermosphere. 
D) stratosphere,troposphere,thermosphere,exosphere. 
E) none of the above

Question 5

What is the stratosphere?

Accepted Answer

A) the lowest layer in the atmosphere 
B) the part of the atmosphere that absorbs optical light 
C) the part of the atmosphere that absorbs ultraviolet 
D) the part of the atmosphere that absorbs X-rays 
E) the highest layer in the atmosphere 
A) the lowest layer in the atmosphere 
B) the part of the atmosphere that absorbs optical light 
C) the part of the atmosphere that absorbs ultraviolet 
D) the part of the atmosphere that absorbs X-rays 
E) the highest layer in the atmosphere

Question 6

X-rays from the Sun's corona

Accepted Answer

A) are absorbed in Earth's troposphere. 
B) are absorbed in Earth's thermosphere. 
C) cause meteor showers. 
D) break apart ozone in the stratosphere. 
E) generally reach Earth's surface and fry us. 
A) are absorbed in Earth's troposphere. 
B) are absorbed in Earth's thermosphere. 
C) cause meteor showers. 
D) break apart ozone in the stratosphere. 
E) generally reach Earth's surface and fry us.

Question 7

Suppose Venus were moved to Earth's orbit.Would it still have a runaway greenhouse effect?

Accepted Answer

A) Yes,because its water molecules dissociated and hydrogen was blown away by the solar wind,so there is no way to re-make its water. 
B) Yes,because the Earth's orbit isn't that much farther,and we are experiencing global warming. 
C) No,it is much cooler where the Earth is,so Venus would also cool down and eventually regain its riverbeds. 
D) There is no way to know. 
A) Yes,because its water molecules dissociated and hydrogen was blown away by the solar wind,so there is no way to re-make its water. 
B) Yes,because the Earth's orbit isn't that much farther,and we are experiencing global warming. 
C) No,it is much cooler where the Earth is,so Venus would also cool down and eventually regain its riverbeds. 
D) There is no way to know.

Question 8

Why is the sky blue (on Earth)?

Accepted Answer

A) because the Sun emits mostly blue light 
B) because molecules scatter red light more effectively than blue light 
C) because deep space is blue in color 
D) because molecules scatter blue light more effectively than red light 
A) because the Sun emits mostly blue light 
B) because molecules scatter red light more effectively than blue light 
C) because deep space is blue in color 
D) because molecules scatter blue light more effectively than red light

Question 9

Which two factors are critical to the existence of the carbon dioxide (CO₂)cycle on Earth?

Accepted Answer

A) life and atmospheric oxygen 
B) life and active volcanism 
C) plate tectonics and liquid water oceans 
D) active volcanism and active tectonics 
A) life and atmospheric oxygen 
B) life and active volcanism 
C) plate tectonics and liquid water oceans 
D) active volcanism and active tectonics

Question 10

What are greenhouse gases?

Accepted Answer

A) gases that absorb visible light 
B) gases that absorb ultraviolet light 
C) gases that absorb infrared light 
D) gases that transmit visible light 
E) gases that transmit infrared light 
A) gases that absorb visible light 
B) gases that absorb ultraviolet light 
C) gases that absorb infrared light 
D) gases that transmit visible light 
E) gases that transmit infrared light

Question 11

Why does the burning of fossil fuels increase the greenhouse effect on Earth?

Accepted Answer

A) Burning fuel warms the planet. 
B) Burning releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. 
C) Burning depletes the amount of ozone,thereby warming the planet. 
D) Burning produces infrared light,which is then trapped by existing greenhouse gases. 
E) All of the above are true. 
A) Burning fuel warms the planet. 
B) Burning releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. 
C) Burning depletes the amount of ozone,thereby warming the planet. 
D) Burning produces infrared light,which is then trapped by existing greenhouse gases. 
E) All of the above are true.

Question 12

What is the difference in meaning between the terms weather and climate?

Accepted Answer

A) Weather refers to local conditions,and climate refers to global conditions. 
B) Weather refers to short-term variations in conditions,and climate refers to long-term variations in conditions. 
C) Weather refers to small storms,and climate refers to large storms. 
D) Weather refers to wind and rain,and climate refers to processes like convection. 
E) There is no difference between weather and climate. 
A) Weather refers to local conditions,and climate refers to global conditions. 
B) Weather refers to short-term variations in conditions,and climate refers to long-term variations in conditions. 
C) Weather refers to small storms,and climate refers to large storms. 
D) Weather refers to wind and rain,and climate refers to processes like convection. 
E) There is no difference between weather and climate.

Question 13

Why does Earth have so much more oxygen (O₂)than Venus or Mars?

Accepted Answer

The answer to this question is simply th

Question 14

Van Allen belts are regions encircling Earth where charged particles get trapped by the magnetosphere.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

Briefly describe how human activity is affecting Earth's ozone layer.

Accepted Answer

Human-made chemicals called CFCs rise in

Question 16

What do we mean by a runaway greenhouse effect?

Accepted Answer

A) a greenhouse effect that starts on a planet but later disappears as gases are lost to space 
B) a greenhouse effect that heats a planet so much that its surface rock melts 
C) a process that heats a planet like a greenhouse effect,but that involves a completely different mechanism of heating that doesn't actually involve greenhouse gases 
D) a greenhouse effect that keeps getting stronger until all of a planet's greenhouse gases are in its atmosphere 
A) a greenhouse effect that starts on a planet but later disappears as gases are lost to space 
B) a greenhouse effect that heats a planet so much that its surface rock melts 
C) a process that heats a planet like a greenhouse effect,but that involves a completely different mechanism of heating that doesn't actually involve greenhouse gases 
D) a greenhouse effect that keeps getting stronger until all of a planet's greenhouse gases are in its atmosphere

Question 17

Suppose Earth were to cool down a little.How would the carbon dioxide cycle tend to restore temperatures to normal?

Accepted Answer

A) Cooler temperatures cause volcanoes to become more active,so they release more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than they do when temperatures are warmer. 
B) Cooler temperatures allow carbon dioxide to form rain and rain out of the atmosphere. 
C) Cooler temperatures mean more ice and more erosion,which somehow makes the planet warm up. 
D) Cooler temperatures lead to slower formation of carbonate minerals in the ocean,so carbon dioxide released by volcanism builds up in the atmosphere and strengthens the greenhouse effect. 
A) Cooler temperatures cause volcanoes to become more active,so they release more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than they do when temperatures are warmer. 
B) Cooler temperatures allow carbon dioxide to form rain and rain out of the atmosphere. 
C) Cooler temperatures mean more ice and more erosion,which somehow makes the planet warm up. 
D) Cooler temperatures lead to slower formation of carbonate minerals in the ocean,so carbon dioxide released by volcanism builds up in the atmosphere and strengthens the greenhouse effect.

Question 18

What is the troposphere?

Accepted Answer

A) the lowest layer in the atmosphere 
B) the part of the atmosphere that absorbs optical light 
C) the part of the atmosphere that absorbs ultraviolet 
D) the part of the atmosphere that absorbs X-rays 
E) the highest layer in the atmosphere 
A) the lowest layer in the atmosphere 
B) the part of the atmosphere that absorbs optical light 
C) the part of the atmosphere that absorbs ultraviolet 
D) the part of the atmosphere that absorbs X-rays 
E) the highest layer in the atmosphere

Question 19

Which of the following correctly lists the terrestrial worlds in order from the thickest atmosphere to the thinnest atmosphere? (Note: Mercury and the Moon are considered together in this question. )

Accepted Answer

A) Venus,Mars,Moon/Mercury,Earth 
B) Mars,Venus,Earth,Moon/Mercury 
C) Earth,Venus,Mars,Moon/Mercury 
D) Venus,Earth,Mars,Moon/Mercury 
A) Venus,Mars,Moon/Mercury,Earth 
B) Mars,Venus,Earth,Moon/Mercury 
C) Earth,Venus,Mars,Moon/Mercury 
D) Venus,Earth,Mars,Moon/Mercury

Question 20

What is the importance of the carbon dioxide (CO₂)cycle?

Accepted Answer

A) It makes the growth of continents possible. 
B) It allows for an ultraviolet-absorbing stratosphere. 
C) It regulates the carbon dioxide concentration of our atmosphere,keeping temperatures moderate. 
D) It will prevent us from suffering any consequences from global warming. 
A) It makes the growth of continents possible. 
B) It allows for an ultraviolet-absorbing stratosphere. 
C) It regulates the carbon dioxide concentration of our atmosphere,keeping temperatures moderate. 
D) It will prevent us from suffering any consequences from global warming.

Exam 10: Planetary Atmospheres: Earth and the Other Terrestrial Worlds

Suppose Earth's atmosphere had no greenhouse gases.Then Earth's average surface temperature would be

Which characteristic of Earth explains why we have an ultraviolet-absorbing stratosphere?

All the statements below are true.Which one gives the primary reason why the surface of Venus today is some 450°C hotter than the surface of Earth?

The proper order of the layers of a generic atmosphere from lowest altitude to highest is

What is the stratosphere?

X-rays from the Sun's corona

Suppose Venus were moved to Earth's orbit.Would it still have a runaway greenhouse effect?

Why is the sky blue (on Earth)?

Which two factors are critical to the existence of the carbon dioxide (CO₂)cycle on Earth?

What are greenhouse gases?

Why does the burning of fossil fuels increase the greenhouse effect on Earth?

What is the difference in meaning between the terms weather and climate?

Why does Earth have so much more oxygen (O₂)than Venus or Mars?

Van Allen belts are regions encircling Earth where charged particles get trapped by the magnetosphere.

Briefly describe how human activity is affecting Earth's ozone layer.

What do we mean by a runaway greenhouse effect?

Suppose Earth were to cool down a little.How would the carbon dioxide cycle tend to restore temperatures to normal?

What is the troposphere?

Which of the following correctly lists the terrestrial worlds in order from the thickest atmosphere to the thinnest atmosphere? (Note: Mercury and the Moon are considered together in this question. )

What is the importance of the carbon dioxide (CO₂)cycle?

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 Geology: 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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