Question 1

If Earth were to warm up a bit,what would happen?

Accepted Answer

A) Carbonate materials would form in the oceans more rapidly,the atmospheric CO₂ content would decrease,and the greenhouse effect would weaken slowly over time. 
B) Carbonate materials would form in the oceans more slowly,the atmospheric CO₂ content would increase,and the greenhouse effect would strengthen slowly over time. 
C) Carbonate materials would form in the oceans more rapidly,the atmospheric CO₂ content would decrease,and the greenhouse effect would strengthen slowly over time. 
D) There would be a runaway greenhouse effect,with Earth becoming ever hotter until the oceans evaporated (as may have happened on Venus). 
E) The ice caps would melt and cool Earth back to its normal temperature. 
A) Carbonate materials would form in the oceans more rapidly,the atmospheric CO₂ content would decrease,and the greenhouse effect would weaken slowly over time. 
B) Carbonate materials would form in the oceans more slowly,the atmospheric CO₂ content would increase,and the greenhouse effect would strengthen slowly over time. 
C) Carbonate materials would form in the oceans more rapidly,the atmospheric CO₂ content would decrease,and the greenhouse effect would strengthen slowly over time. 
D) There would be a runaway greenhouse effect,with Earth becoming ever hotter until the oceans evaporated (as may have happened on Venus). 
E) The ice caps would melt and cool Earth back to its normal temperature.

Question 2

Which of the following planets has a stratosphere?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 3

The "no atmosphere" temperature of a planet is never higher than the planet's actual temperature.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

Sunsets are red because

Accepted Answer

A) the Sun emits more red light when it's setting. 
B) sunlight must pass through more atmosphere then,and the atmosphere scatters even more light at bluer wavelengths,transmitting mostly red light. 
C) sunlight must pass through more atmosphere then,and the atmosphere scatters more light at red wavelengths than bluer wavelengths. 
D) the cooler atmosphere in the evening absorbs more blue light. 
E) none of the above 
A) the Sun emits more red light when it's setting. 
B) sunlight must pass through more atmosphere then,and the atmosphere scatters even more light at bluer wavelengths,transmitting mostly red light. 
C) sunlight must pass through more atmosphere then,and the atmosphere scatters more light at red wavelengths than bluer wavelengths. 
D) the cooler atmosphere in the evening absorbs more blue light. 
E) none of the above

Question 5

Why is thermal escape of atmospheric gas much easier from the Moon than from Earth?

Accepted Answer

A) The Moon's average surface temperature is lower than Earth's. 
B) The Moon lacks a global magnetic field,while Earth has one. 
C) Outgassing on the Moon releases gases with lower masses than does outgassing on Earth. 
D) The Moon's gravity is so much weaker than Earth's. 
A) The Moon's average surface temperature is lower than Earth's. 
B) The Moon lacks a global magnetic field,while Earth has one. 
C) Outgassing on the Moon releases gases with lower masses than does outgassing on Earth. 
D) The Moon's gravity is so much weaker than Earth's.

Question 6

Why did Earth retain most of its water while Venus and Mars lost theirs?

Accepted Answer

The basic answer is that Earth was at ju

Question 7

Radio communication between distant places on Earth is possible because the

Accepted Answer

A) ionosphere reflects radio signals. 
B) ionosphere transmits radio signals. 
C) stratosphere reflects radio signals. 
D) exosphere reflects radio signals. 
A) ionosphere reflects radio signals. 
B) ionosphere transmits radio signals. 
C) stratosphere reflects radio signals. 
D) exosphere reflects radio signals.

Question 8

Use the following choices to answer the atmosphere composition questions:
-Which best describes the composition of the atmosphere of Earth?

Accepted Answer

A) mostly carbon dioxide 
B) individual atoms,such as sodium and potassium 
C) mostly molecular nitrogen,with a lesser amount of molecular oxygen 
D) mostly molecular oxygen,with a lesser amount of molecular nitrogen 
E) mostly methane,with a lesser amount of carbon dioxide 
A) mostly carbon dioxide 
B) individual atoms,such as sodium and potassium 
C) mostly molecular nitrogen,with a lesser amount of molecular oxygen 
D) mostly molecular oxygen,with a lesser amount of molecular nitrogen 
E) mostly methane,with a lesser amount of carbon dioxide

Question 9

The strength of the Coriolis effect depends on

Accepted Answer

A) a planet's distance from the Sun. 
B) the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. 
C) a planet's size and rotation rate. 
D) a planet's temperature. 
E) the tilt of a planet's axis. 
A) a planet's distance from the Sun. 
B) the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. 
C) a planet's size and rotation rate. 
D) a planet's temperature. 
E) the tilt of a planet's axis.

Question 10

How might weather patterns change due to global warming? What effect might it have on sea levels?

Accepted Answer

Rainfall patterns will likely change;spr

Question 11

Use the following choices to answer the atmosphere composition questions:
-Which best describes the composition of the atmosphere of Venus?

Accepted Answer

A) mostly carbon dioxide 
B) individual atoms,such as sodium and potassium 
C) mostly molecular nitrogen,with a lesser amount of molecular oxygen 
D) mostly molecular oxygen,with a lesser amount of molecular nitrogen 
E) mostly methane,with a lesser amount of carbon dioxide 
A) mostly carbon dioxide 
B) individual atoms,such as sodium and potassium 
C) mostly molecular nitrogen,with a lesser amount of molecular oxygen 
D) mostly molecular oxygen,with a lesser amount of molecular nitrogen 
E) mostly methane,with a lesser amount of carbon dioxide

Question 12

Why would the weather become more severe as the greenhouse effect increased?

Accepted Answer

A) Warming would increase the evaporation of the oceans,leading to more water in the atmosphere and more frequent and severe storms. 
B) Warming of the planet would lead to terrible droughts and reduce the amount of water on Earth. 
C) Warming would dry out the atmosphere and the crust,leading to devastation of Earth through more meteor bombardment and volcanism. 
D) The depleted ozone layer would let in more particles from the solar wind. 
E) all of the above 
A) Warming would increase the evaporation of the oceans,leading to more water in the atmosphere and more frequent and severe storms. 
B) Warming of the planet would lead to terrible droughts and reduce the amount of water on Earth. 
C) Warming would dry out the atmosphere and the crust,leading to devastation of Earth through more meteor bombardment and volcanism. 
D) The depleted ozone layer would let in more particles from the solar wind. 
E) all of the above

Question 13

The most recent ice age ended

Accepted Answer

A) about 1000 years ago. 
B) about 10,000 years ago. 
C) about 100,000 years ago. 
D) about one million years ago. 
E) hundreds of millions of years ago. 
A) about 1000 years ago. 
B) about 10,000 years ago. 
C) about 100,000 years ago. 
D) about one million years ago. 
E) hundreds of millions of years ago.

Question 14

Briefly describe how the solar wind affects magnetospheres and how aurora are produced.

Accepted Answer

Some particles from the solar wind get t

Question 15

Use the following choices to answer the atmosphere composition questions:
-Which best describes the composition of the atmosphere of Mercury?

Accepted Answer

A) mostly carbon dioxide 
B) individual atoms,such as sodium and potassium 
C) mostly molecular nitrogen,with a lesser amount of molecular oxygen 
D) mostly molecular oxygen,with a lesser amount of molecular nitrogen 
E) mostly methane,with a lesser amount of carbon dioxide 
A) mostly carbon dioxide 
B) individual atoms,such as sodium and potassium 
C) mostly molecular nitrogen,with a lesser amount of molecular oxygen 
D) mostly molecular oxygen,with a lesser amount of molecular nitrogen 
E) mostly methane,with a lesser amount of carbon dioxide

Question 16

How would the atmospheric temperature structure differ from the generic structure if a planet had a reasonably thick atmosphere but no ultraviolet-absorbing gases? Which of the terrestrial planets have this structure?

Accepted Answer

It would have no str

Question 17

All of the following have occurred over long periods of time on Earth.Which one is not thought to have played a major role in long-term changes in Earth's climate?

Accepted Answer

A) changes in the Earth's axis tilt 
B) changes in the Earth's overall reflectivity 
C) a gradual rise in the atmospheric content of oxygen 
D) changes in the atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases 
A) changes in the Earth's axis tilt 
B) changes in the Earth's overall reflectivity 
C) a gradual rise in the atmospheric content of oxygen 
D) changes in the atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases

Question 18

Which of the following is not a characteristic of the seasons on Mars?

Accepted Answer

A) Global winds tend to blow from the summer pole toward the winter pole,sometimes initiating global sand storms. 
B) The polar caps shrink in summer and grow in winter. 
C) As on Earth,the seasons are caused primarily by axis tilt and orbital distance has virtually no effect. 
D) The seasons last almost twice as long on Mars as on Earth. 
A) Global winds tend to blow from the summer pole toward the winter pole,sometimes initiating global sand storms. 
B) The polar caps shrink in summer and grow in winter. 
C) As on Earth,the seasons are caused primarily by axis tilt and orbital distance has virtually no effect. 
D) The seasons last almost twice as long on Mars as on Earth.

Question 19

Why does atmospheric pressure decrease as you go higher in altitude on Earth?

Accepted Answer

A) Gravity gets much weaker with altitude. 
B) The weight of the atmosphere above you decreases with altitude. 
C) Temperature decreases with altitude and lower temperature tends to mean lower pressure. 
D) There are fewer greenhouse gases at higher altitude. 
A) Gravity gets much weaker with altitude. 
B) The weight of the atmosphere above you decreases with altitude. 
C) Temperature decreases with altitude and lower temperature tends to mean lower pressure. 
D) There are fewer greenhouse gases at higher altitude.

Question 20

What are oxidation reactions?

Accepted Answer

A) reactions that produce oxygen atoms 
B) reactions that destroy oxygen atoms 
C) reactions that remove oxygen from the atmosphere,such as fire and rust 
D) reactions that convert CO₂ to O₂ 
E) all of the above,i.e. ,any reaction involving oxygen 
A) reactions that produce oxygen atoms 
B) reactions that destroy oxygen atoms 
C) reactions that remove oxygen from the atmosphere,such as fire and rust 
D) reactions that convert CO₂ to O₂ 
E) all of the above,i.e. ,any reaction involving oxygen

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

If Earth were to warm up a bit,what would happen?

Which of the following planets has a stratosphere?

The "no atmosphere" temperature of a planet is never higher than the planet's actual temperature.

Sunsets are red because

Why is thermal escape of atmospheric gas much easier from the Moon than from Earth?

Why did Earth retain most of its water while Venus and Mars lost theirs?

Radio communication between distant places on Earth is possible because the

Use the following choices to answer the atmosphere composition questions: -Which best describes the composition of the atmosphere of Earth?

The strength of the Coriolis effect depends on

How might weather patterns change due to global warming? What effect might it have on sea levels?

Use the following choices to answer the atmosphere composition questions: -Which best describes the composition of the atmosphere of Venus?

Why would the weather become more severe as the greenhouse effect increased?

The most recent ice age ended

Briefly describe how the solar wind affects magnetospheres and how aurora are produced.

Use the following choices to answer the atmosphere composition questions: -Which best describes the composition of the atmosphere of Mercury?

How would the atmospheric temperature structure differ from the generic structure if a planet had a reasonably thick atmosphere but no ultraviolet-absorbing gases? Which of the terrestrial planets have this structure?

All of the following have occurred over long periods of time on Earth.Which one is not thought to have played a major role in long-term changes in Earth's climate?

Which of the following is not a characteristic of the seasons on Mars?

Why does atmospheric pressure decrease as you go higher in altitude on Earth?

What are oxidation reactions?

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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