Question 1

What is the most intriguing piece of evidence that suggests that the Martian meteorite ALH84001 may have once contained life?

Accepted Answer

A)  molecules of DNA were found inside 
B)  oxygen gas was found trapped inside the meteorite 
C)  amino acids were found inside 
D)  highly magnified images of carbonate grains found inside reveal rod-shaped structures that look much like terrestrial nanobacteria 
A)  molecules of DNA were found inside 
B)  oxygen gas was found trapped inside the meteorite 
C)  amino acids were found inside 
D)  highly magnified images of carbonate grains found inside reveal rod-shaped structures that look much like terrestrial nanobacteria D

Question 2

If the Earth has a radius of 6378 km and the dwarf planet Pluto a radius of 1187 km, what is the approximate Pluto to Earth surface area-to-volume ratio?

Accepted Answer

A)  0.19 
B)  7.5 
C)  5.4 
D)  2.1 
A)  0.19 
B)  7.5 
C)  5.4 
D)  2.1 C

Question 3

Which of the following statements is an overall summary of the findings from the Viking biology experiments?

Accepted Answer

A)  the martial soil showed no signs of chemical or biological activity 
B)  the Martian soil showed clear signs of biological activity 
C)  the Martian soil is chemically reactive but shows no signs of biological activity 
D)  the Martian soil contained organic molecules but showed no signs of biological activity 
A)  the martial soil showed no signs of chemical or biological activity 
B)  the Martian soil showed clear signs of biological activity 
C)  the Martian soil is chemically reactive but shows no signs of biological activity 
D)  the Martian soil contained organic molecules but showed no signs of biological activity C

Question 4

During winter at a particular pole on Mars, some of the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

Accepted Answer

A)  freezes out onto the surface 
B)  escapes into space 
C)  condenses into liquid on the surface 
D)  is destroyed by ultraviolet radiation from the Sun 
A)  freezes out onto the surface 
B)  escapes into space 
C)  condenses into liquid on the surface 
D)  is destroyed by ultraviolet radiation from the Sun

Question 5

For water to have been stable on Mars in the past,

Accepted Answer

A)  temperature must have been higher and the atmospheric pressure lower 
B)  temperature must have been lower and the atmospheric pressure higher 
C)  both the temperature and the atmospheric pressure must have been higher 
D)  both the temperature and the atmospheric pressure must have been lower 
A)  temperature must have been higher and the atmospheric pressure lower 
B)  temperature must have been lower and the atmospheric pressure higher 
C)  both the temperature and the atmospheric pressure must have been higher 
D)  both the temperature and the atmospheric pressure must have been lower

Question 6

Why was the Martian meteorite ALH84001 singled out for intense study?

Accepted Answer

A)  it is the only Martian meteorite that has even been discovered 
B)  the meteorite appeared to be giving off methane gas 
C)  it is a very young rock originating from the Tharsis region 
D)  it is a very old rock, dating back from the time when Mars probably had liquid water on its surface 
A)  it is the only Martian meteorite that has even been discovered 
B)  the meteorite appeared to be giving off methane gas 
C)  it is a very young rock originating from the Tharsis region 
D)  it is a very old rock, dating back from the time when Mars probably had liquid water on its surface

Question 7

Why is the possible contamination of the Earth by Martian microbes in a future sample return mission not considered to be a significant problem?

Accepted Answer

A)  Martian microbes will certainly be destroyed by terrestrial microbes 
B)  any Martian microbes will be destroyed by high-energy particles and radiation on their trip back to Earth 
C)  Martian microbes will be rapidly destroyed by oxygen in the Earth's atmosphere 
D)  Martian microbes are likely to be quite different than terrestrial microbes and, hence, will probably not be able to affect life on Earth 
A)  Martian microbes will certainly be destroyed by terrestrial microbes 
B)  any Martian microbes will be destroyed by high-energy particles and radiation on their trip back to Earth 
C)  Martian microbes will be rapidly destroyed by oxygen in the Earth's atmosphere 
D)  Martian microbes are likely to be quite different than terrestrial microbes and, hence, will probably not be able to affect life on Earth

Question 8

Where is probably the best place to find life on Mars today?

Accepted Answer

A)  inside craters that used to be filled with water 
B)  in the Mariner Valley 
C)  in the residual polar caps 
D)  in geologically active areas like Tharsis where subsurface water may exist 
A)  inside craters that used to be filled with water 
B)  in the Mariner Valley 
C)  in the residual polar caps 
D)  in geologically active areas like Tharsis where subsurface water may exist

Question 9

Compared to the summer, the atmospheric pressure above a Martian polar cap in winter is

Accepted Answer

A)  lower 
B)  about the same 
C)  slightly higher 
D)  much higher 
A)  lower 
B)  about the same 
C)  slightly higher 
D)  much higher

Question 10

The geological history of Mars is divided into different

Accepted Answer

A)  eons 
B)  eras 
C)  periods 
D)  epochs 
A)  eons 
B)  eras 
C)  periods 
D)  epochs

Question 11

Due to its elliptical orbit, Mars is closer to the Sun on average during summer in the Southern Hemisphere. This means Southern Summer on Mars will be

Accepted Answer

A)  short and hot 
B)  long and hot 
C)  long and mild 
D)  short and mild 
A)  short and hot 
B)  long and hot 
C)  long and mild 
D)  short and mild

Question 12

What did the Martian surface look like from the Viking lander sites?

Accepted Answer

A)  a dry, dusty, boulder-strewn desert 
B)  a huge canyon stretching out to the horizon 
C)  flat, dark volcanic rocks out to the horizon 
D)  very mountainous with huge volcanoes in the distance 
A)  a dry, dusty, boulder-strewn desert 
B)  a huge canyon stretching out to the horizon 
C)  flat, dark volcanic rocks out to the horizon 
D)  very mountainous with huge volcanoes in the distance

Question 13

A future astronaut exploring Mars would

Accepted Answer

A)  need to stay inside a spacecraft at all times 
B)  be able to walk on the surface at any time wearing only warm clothing 
C)  need to wear a spacesuit at all times 
D)  need to wear a spacesuit only during the winter 
A)  need to stay inside a spacecraft at all times 
B)  be able to walk on the surface at any time wearing only warm clothing 
C)  need to wear a spacesuit at all times 
D)  need to wear a spacesuit only during the winter

Question 14

Results from the Phoenix lander and Curiosity rover suggest that the positive result from the Viking Labeled Release experiment was probably due to

Accepted Answer

A)  the destruction of organic molecules by oxygen released when perchlorates in the soil decomposed on heating 
B)  terrestrial contamination from the robotic arm which took the samples 
C)  a malfunction in the experiment 
D)  high levels of radioactivity in the soil 
A)  the destruction of organic molecules by oxygen released when perchlorates in the soil decomposed on heating 
B)  terrestrial contamination from the robotic arm which took the samples 
C)  a malfunction in the experiment 
D)  high levels of radioactivity in the soil

Question 15

Seasonal variations on Mars are due

Accepted Answer

A)  only to its changing distance from the Sun 
B)  only to its axis tilt 
C)  to changes in the amounts of energy emitted by the Sun 
D)  both to its axis tilt and its changing distance from the Sun 
A)  only to its changing distance from the Sun 
B)  only to its axis tilt 
C)  to changes in the amounts of energy emitted by the Sun 
D)  both to its axis tilt and its changing distance from the Sun

Question 16

Why is the claim of fossilized life in the Martian meteorite ALH84001 controversial?

Accepted Answer

A)  it is doubtful that the rock actually came from Mars 
B)  the proposed fossilized organisms in no way resemble any kind of life found on Earth 
C)  the rock is too young to have fossilized life within it 
D)  there are many possible nonbiological explanations for the observed evidence 
A)  it is doubtful that the rock actually came from Mars 
B)  the proposed fossilized organisms in no way resemble any kind of life found on Earth 
C)  the rock is too young to have fossilized life within it 
D)  there are many possible nonbiological explanations for the observed evidence

Question 17

Gale Crater is the site of exploration for which Mars rover?

Accepted Answer

A)  Spirit 
B)  Opportunity 
C)  Curiosity 
D)  Sojourner 
A)  Spirit 
B)  Opportunity 
C)  Curiosity 
D)  Sojourner

Question 18

Which of the following is not a Mars rover?

Accepted Answer

A)  Spirit 
B)  Sojourner 
C)  Curiosity 
D)  Viking 
A)  Spirit 
B)  Sojourner 
C)  Curiosity 
D)  Viking

Question 19

What is the most significant drawback of possibly sending humans to Mars?

Accepted Answer

A)  the fact that there would be no possible source of water on the surface 
B)  the high probability of contamination of the Martian surface by microbes associated with human beings 
C)  the high probability of Martian microbes contamination of contaminating the crew 
D)  the fact that astronauts could not breathe in the Martian atmosphere 
A)  the fact that there would be no possible source of water on the surface 
B)  the high probability of contamination of the Martian surface by microbes associated with human beings 
C)  the high probability of Martian microbes contamination of contaminating the crew 
D)  the fact that astronauts could not breathe in the Martian atmosphere

Question 20

Liquid water cannot exist for very long on the surface of Mars today because

Accepted Answer

A)  it gets rapidly destroyed by intense solar radiation 
B)  its surface temperature is too high 
C)  it rapidly reacts with the Martian surface to form peroxides 
D)  its atmosphere is too thin 
A)  it gets rapidly destroyed by intense solar radiation 
B)  its surface temperature is too high 
C)  it rapidly reacts with the Martian surface to form peroxides 
D)  its atmosphere is too thin

What is the most intriguing piece of evidence that suggests that the Martian meteorite ALH84001 may have once contained life?

If the Earth has a radius of 6378 km and the dwarf planet Pluto a radius of 1187 km, what is the approximate Pluto to Earth surface area-to-volume ratio?

Which of the following statements is an overall summary of the findings from the Viking biology experiments?

During winter at a particular pole on Mars, some of the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

For water to have been stable on Mars in the past,

Why was the Martian meteorite ALH84001 singled out for intense study?

Why is the possible contamination of the Earth by Martian microbes in a future sample return mission not considered to be a significant problem?

Where is probably the best place to find life on Mars today?

Compared to the summer, the atmospheric pressure above a Martian polar cap in winter is

The geological history of Mars is divided into different

Due to its elliptical orbit, Mars is closer to the Sun on average during summer in the Southern Hemisphere. This means Southern Summer on Mars will be

What did the Martian surface look like from the Viking lander sites?

A future astronaut exploring Mars would

Results from the Phoenix lander and Curiosity rover suggest that the positive result from the Viking Labeled Release experiment was probably due to

Seasonal variations on Mars are due

Why is the claim of fossilized life in the Martian meteorite ALH84001 controversial?

Gale Crater is the site of exploration for which Mars rover?

Which of the following is not a Mars rover?

What is the most significant drawback of possibly sending humans to Mars?

Liquid water cannot exist for very long on the surface of Mars today because

A Universe of Life

The Science of Life in the Universe

The Universal Context of Life

The Habitability of Earth

The Nature of Life on Earth

The Origin and Evolution of Life on Earth

Searching for Life in Our Solar System

Life on Jovian Moons

The Nature and Evolution of Habitability

Extrasolar Planets: Their Nature and Potential Habitability

The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

Interstellar Travel and the Fermi Paradox

Filters

Exam 8: Mars

What is the most intriguing piece of evidence that suggests that the Martian meteorite ALH84001 may have once contained life?

If the Earth has a radius of 6378 km and the dwarf planet Pluto a radius of 1187 km, what is the approximate Pluto to Earth surface area-to-volume ratio?

Which of the following statements is an overall summary of the findings from the Viking biology experiments?

During winter at a particular pole on Mars, some of the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

For water to have been stable on Mars in the past,

Why was the Martian meteorite ALH84001 singled out for intense study?

Why is the possible contamination of the Earth by Martian microbes in a future sample return mission not considered to be a significant problem?

Where is probably the best place to find life on Mars today?

Compared to the summer, the atmospheric pressure above a Martian polar cap in winter is

The geological history of Mars is divided into different

Due to its elliptical orbit, Mars is closer to the Sun on average during summer in the Southern Hemisphere. This means Southern Summer on Mars will be

What did the Martian surface look like from the Viking lander sites?

A future astronaut exploring Mars would

Results from the Phoenix lander and Curiosity rover suggest that the positive result from the Viking Labeled Release experiment was probably due to

Seasonal variations on Mars are due

Why is the claim of fossilized life in the Martian meteorite ALH84001 controversial?

Gale Crater is the site of exploration for which Mars rover?

Which of the following is not a Mars rover?

What is the most significant drawback of possibly sending humans to Mars?

Liquid water cannot exist for very long on the surface of Mars today because

A Universe of Life

The Science of Life in the Universe

The Universal Context of Life

The Habitability of Earth

The Nature of Life on Earth

The Origin and Evolution of Life on Earth

Searching for Life in Our Solar System

Life on Jovian Moons

The Nature and Evolution of Habitability

Extrasolar Planets: Their Nature and Potential Habitability

The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

Interstellar Travel and the Fermi Paradox

Filters