Question 1

Why couldn't life have originated on any of the Jovian planets?

Accepted Answer

Jovian planets do not have solid surfaces for water droplets to create organic rich oceans, and the strong atmospheric currents would quickly carry away any reproducing molecules into the hot, inhospitable regions of each respective planet.

Question 2

Natural selection is random.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  False

Question 3

The function of an enzyme is to ____.

Accepted Answer

A)  carry coded information to the rest of the cell 
B)  regulate chemical reactions within a cell 
C)  provide the basic building blocks of a cell 
D)  carry the genetic information of a cell 
E)  provide the structure and function of a cell 
A)  carry coded information to the rest of the cell 
B)  regulate chemical reactions within a cell 
C)  provide the basic building blocks of a cell 
D)  carry the genetic information of a cell 
E)  provide the structure and function of a cell B

Question 4

What is a key limitation to traveling outside our Solar System in search for life?

Accepted Answer

A)  We have the wrong type of fuel source to power a spacecraft. 
B)  We lack spacecraft that can escape Earth's gravity. 
C)  We lack a decent place to send spacecraft outside of our Solar System. 
D)  We have no way to communicate with an alien civilization. 
E)  We have not yet been able to develop the technology to travel far distances. 
A)  We have the wrong type of fuel source to power a spacecraft. 
B)  We lack spacecraft that can escape Earth's gravity. 
C)  We lack a decent place to send spacecraft outside of our Solar System. 
D)  We have no way to communicate with an alien civilization. 
E)  We have not yet been able to develop the technology to travel far distances.

Question 5

In addition to serving as the basic structural molecule for a cell, proteins can also be __________.

Accepted Answer

A)  nuclei 
B)  enzymes 
C)  acids 
D)  stromatolites 
E)  extremophiles 
A)  nuclei 
B)  enzymes 
C)  acids 
D)  stromatolites 
E)  extremophiles

Question 6

What makes silicon an unlikely source as the basis of life?

Accepted Answer

Though similar in structure to carbon an

Question 7

The most likely first form of life on Earth was probably an archaea-like extremophile tolerant of high temperatures.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Why do astronomers narrow their search to the "habitable zone" of other star systems?

Accepted Answer

A)  the most likely place to support planets with thick atmospheres 
B)  the least likely place to have zero ultraviolet radiation 
C)  the most likely place with liquid water, and extraterrestrial life 
D)  the most likely place to have oxygen in the atmosphere 
E)  the least likely place to have wide temperature ranges on the surfaces of planets 
A)  the most likely place to support planets with thick atmospheres 
B)  the least likely place to have zero ultraviolet radiation 
C)  the most likely place with liquid water, and extraterrestrial life 
D)  the most likely place to have oxygen in the atmosphere 
E)  the least likely place to have wide temperature ranges on the surfaces of planets

Question 9

Why can't we send a space mission to a star system outside of our own?

Accepted Answer

The bottom line is that we just don't ha

Question 10

Why couldn't life have originated on the Moon or Mercury?

Accepted Answer

For life to begin, liquid wate

Question 11

Astronomers have defined a(n) _______________ around a star as a region within which planets that orbit there have temperatures permitting the existence of liquid water.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Astronomers have defined a(n) _______________ around a...

Question 12

In Miller and Urey's experiment, what did they use to simulate the atmosphere in a sealed, glass container to produce amino acids and organic molecules?

Accepted Answer

A)  volcanic ash 
B)  electric arc 
C)  water vapor 
D)  liquid helium 
E)  nitrogen gas 
A)  volcanic ash 
B)  electric arc 
C)  water vapor 
D)  liquid helium 
E)  nitrogen gas

Question 13

A low-luminosity star has a small and narrow ____, whereas a high-luminosity star has a large and wide one.

Accepted Answer

A)  UV range 
B)  life capability 
C)  habitable zone 
D)  adaptable zone 
E)  water hole 
A)  UV range 
B)  life capability 
C)  habitable zone 
D)  adaptable zone 
E)  water hole

Question 14

Why couldn't life originate on the Moon?

Accepted Answer

A)  too many craters 
B)  not within a habitable zone in the Solar System 
C)  lack of atmosphere to keep water on its surface 
D)  lack of oxygen in its atmosphere 
E)  too cold a surface 
A)  too many craters 
B)  not within a habitable zone in the Solar System 
C)  lack of atmosphere to keep water on its surface 
D)  lack of oxygen in its atmosphere 
E)  too cold a surface

Question 15

Figure 25-1
Examine the accompanying figure  (Figure 25-1) . Which wavelength range is representative of the noise from Earth's atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

A)  a 
B)  b 
C)  c 
D)  d 
E)  e 
A)  a 
B)  b 
C)  c 
D)  d 
E)  e

Question 16

What element is found in all life on Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  hydrogen 
B)  iron 
C)  carbon 
D)  oxygen 
E)  nitrogen 
A)  hydrogen 
B)  iron 
C)  carbon 
D)  oxygen 
E)  nitrogen

Question 17

What prevents Titan from being a candidate for supporting an evolution of life?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is too far from the Sun. 
B)  Its atmosphere doesn't contain the right mixture of elements. 
C)  Its surface is covered in methane lakes. 
D)  Its surface temperature is too cold. 
E)  It is tidally locked to Saturn rather than the Sun. 
A)  It is too far from the Sun. 
B)  Its atmosphere doesn't contain the right mixture of elements. 
C)  Its surface is covered in methane lakes. 
D)  Its surface temperature is too cold. 
E)  It is tidally locked to Saturn rather than the Sun.

Question 18

Half the stars in the Milky Way Galaxy are members of a binary system, many of which are likely to support life on planets.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

What was needed to develop in Earth's atmosphere to protect organisms from the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation?

Accepted Answer

A)  weather patterns 
B)  a nitrogenous layer 
C)  a greenhouse effect 
D)  an ozone layer 
E)  reflective clouds 
A)  weather patterns 
B)  a nitrogenous layer 
C)  a greenhouse effect 
D)  an ozone layer 
E)  reflective clouds

Question 20

Earth's early oceans were filled with a rich mixture of organic compounds called the ___________.

Accepted Answer

primordial

Why couldn't life have originated on any of the Jovian planets?

Natural selection is random.

The function of an enzyme is to ____.

What is a key limitation to traveling outside our Solar System in search for life?

In addition to serving as the basic structural molecule for a cell, proteins can also be __________.

What makes silicon an unlikely source as the basis of life?

The most likely first form of life on Earth was probably an archaea-like extremophile tolerant of high temperatures.

Why do astronomers narrow their search to the "habitable zone" of other star systems?

Why can't we send a space mission to a star system outside of our own?

Why couldn't life have originated on the Moon or Mercury?

Astronomers have defined a(n) _______________ around a star as a region within which planets that orbit there have temperatures permitting the existence of liquid water.

In Miller and Urey's experiment, what did they use to simulate the atmosphere in a sealed, glass container to produce amino acids and organic molecules?

A low-luminosity star has a small and narrow ____, whereas a high-luminosity star has a large and wide one.

Why couldn't life originate on the Moon?

Figure 25-1 Examine the accompanying figure (Figure 25-1) . Which wavelength range is representative of the noise from Earth's atmosphere?

What element is found in all life on Earth?

What prevents Titan from being a candidate for supporting an evolution of life?

Half the stars in the Milky Way Galaxy are members of a binary system, many of which are likely to support life on planets.

What was needed to develop in Earth's atmosphere to protect organisms from the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation?

Earth's early oceans were filled with a rich mixture of organic compounds called the ___________.

Here and Now

A User S Guide to the Sky

Moon Phases and Eclipses

Origins of Modern Astronomy

Gravity

Light and Telescopes

Atoms and Spectra

The Sun

Origin of the Solar System and Extrasolar Planets

Earth the Active Planet

The Moon and Mercury: Comparing Airless Worlds

Venus and Mars

Jupiter and Saturn

Uranus Neptune Pluto and the Kuiper Belt

Meteorites Asteroids and Comets

Filters

Exam 17: Astrobiology: Life on Other Worlds

Why couldn't life have originated on any of the Jovian planets?

Natural selection is random.

The function of an enzyme is to ____.

What is a key limitation to traveling outside our Solar System in search for life?

In addition to serving as the basic structural molecule for a cell, proteins can also be __________.

What makes silicon an unlikely source as the basis of life?

The most likely first form of life on Earth was probably an archaea-like extremophile tolerant of high temperatures.

Why do astronomers narrow their search to the "habitable zone" of other star systems?

Why can't we send a space mission to a star system outside of our own?

Why couldn't life have originated on the Moon or Mercury?

Astronomers have defined a(n) _______________ around a star as a region within which planets that orbit there have temperatures permitting the existence of liquid water.

In Miller and Urey's experiment, what did they use to simulate the atmosphere in a sealed, glass container to produce amino acids and organic molecules?

A low-luminosity star has a small and narrow ____, whereas a high-luminosity star has a large and wide one.

Why couldn't life originate on the Moon?

Figure 25-1 Examine the accompanying figure (Figure 25-1) . Which wavelength range is representative of the noise from Earth's atmosphere?

What element is found in all life on Earth?

What prevents Titan from being a candidate for supporting an evolution of life?

Half the stars in the Milky Way Galaxy are members of a binary system, many of which are likely to support life on planets.

What was needed to develop in Earth's atmosphere to protect organisms from the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation?

Earth's early oceans were filled with a rich mixture of organic compounds called the ___________.

Here and Now

A User S Guide to the Sky

Moon Phases and Eclipses

Origins of Modern Astronomy

Gravity

Light and Telescopes

Atoms and Spectra

The Sun

Origin of the Solar System and Extrasolar Planets

Earth the Active Planet

The Moon and Mercury: Comparing Airless Worlds

Venus and Mars

Jupiter and Saturn

Uranus Neptune Pluto and the Kuiper Belt

Meteorites Asteroids and Comets

Filters