Question 1

When the Sun becomes a red giant

Accepted Answer

A)  some life on Earth may still be able to survive on the surface 
B)  life will probably not be able to survive even beneath the surface 
C)  life may still be able to survive in the atmosphere 
D)  the Earth will be destroyed 
A)  some life on Earth may still be able to survive on the surface 
B)  life will probably not be able to survive even beneath the surface 
C)  life may still be able to survive in the atmosphere 
D)  the Earth will be destroyed

Question 2

Apart from its distance from its parent star, what is the next most important factor that determines a planet's habitability?

Accepted Answer

A)  whether it has a large moon 
B)  the size of the planet 
C)  the chemical composition of its atmosphere 
D)  the chemical composition of its surface 
A)  whether it has a large moon 
B)  the size of the planet 
C)  the chemical composition of its atmosphere 
D)  the chemical composition of its surface

Question 3

When the Earth first formed it had large quantities of water vapor in its atmosphere while today the levels of water vapor are much lower. Where did most of the water vapor go?

Accepted Answer

A)  it condensed into the oceans 
B)  it escaped into space 
C)  it froze forming the polar 
D)  became chemically incorporated into rocks in the crust 
A)  it condensed into the oceans 
B)  it escaped into space 
C)  it froze forming the polar 
D)  became chemically incorporated into rocks in the crust

Question 4

Climate models which have been developed over many decades

Accepted Answer

A)  completely fail to match real climate data 
B)  match real climate data quite well 
C)  match real climate data perfectly 
D)  match real climate data, but only poorly 
A)  completely fail to match real climate data 
B)  match real climate data quite well 
C)  match real climate data perfectly 
D)  match real climate data, but only poorly

Question 5

Over time, as they age, the habitable zone of stars like our Sun

Accepted Answer

A)  move inward 
B)  remain the same 
C)  suddenly disappear 
D)  move outward 
A)  move inward 
B)  remain the same 
C)  suddenly disappear 
D)  move outward

Question 6

A habitable zone

Accepted Answer

A)  exists around all stars 
B)  only exists around stars which are identical to the Sun 
C)  only exists around stars which are similar to our Sun 
D)  only exists around one star, the Sun 
A)  exists around all stars 
B)  only exists around stars which are identical to the Sun 
C)  only exists around stars which are similar to our Sun 
D)  only exists around one star, the Sun

Question 7

Stars much less luminous than the Sun have

Accepted Answer

A)  wider habitable zones, increasing the odds of finding habitable planets and much longer lifetimes allowing life to appear and evolve 
B)  wider habitable zones, increasing the odds of finding habitable planets but lifetimes too short for life to appear 
C)  narrower habitable zones, decreasing the odds of finding habitable planets and lifetimes too short for life to appear 
D)  narrower habitable zones, decreasing the odds of finding habitable planets but much longer lifetimes allowing life to appear and evolve 
A)  wider habitable zones, increasing the odds of finding habitable planets and much longer lifetimes allowing life to appear and evolve 
B)  wider habitable zones, increasing the odds of finding habitable planets but lifetimes too short for life to appear 
C)  narrower habitable zones, decreasing the odds of finding habitable planets and lifetimes too short for life to appear 
D)  narrower habitable zones, decreasing the odds of finding habitable planets but much longer lifetimes allowing life to appear and evolve

Question 8

The inner boundary of the Sun's habitable zone currently lies

Accepted Answer

A)  between the orbits of the Earth and Venus 
B)  between the orbits of Venus and Mercury 
C)  exactly at the distance of the Earth's orbit 
D)  exactly at the distance of Venus 
A)  between the orbits of the Earth and Venus 
B)  between the orbits of Venus and Mercury 
C)  exactly at the distance of the Earth's orbit 
D)  exactly at the distance of Venus

Question 9

A star more luminous than our Sun will have a habitable zone that is

Accepted Answer

A)  narrower and farther from the star than the habitable zone of the Sun 
B)  narrower and closer to the star than the habitable zone of the Sun 
C)  wider and farther from the star than the habitable zone of the Sun 
D)  wider and closer to the star than the habitable zone of the Sun 
A)  narrower and farther from the star than the habitable zone of the Sun 
B)  narrower and closer to the star than the habitable zone of the Sun 
C)  wider and farther from the star than the habitable zone of the Sun 
D)  wider and closer to the star than the habitable zone of the Sun

Question 10

What role does an atmosphere play in surface habitability?

Accepted Answer

A)  it exerts a pressure which allows liquid water to be stable 
B)  it protects the surface against harmful solar radiation 
C)  it helps generate a protective magnetic field 
D)  Both A and B 
A)  it exerts a pressure which allows liquid water to be stable 
B)  it protects the surface against harmful solar radiation 
C)  it helps generate a protective magnetic field 
D)  Both A and B

Question 11

Climate models predict that due to the melting of the polar ice caps, sea levels by the end of this century

Accepted Answer

A)  will remain stable due to increased evaporation into the Earth's atmosphere 
B)  may rise by several tens of meters 
C)  will actually fall by several inches due to increased evaporation into the Earth's atmosphere 
D)  may rise by several meters 
A)  will remain stable due to increased evaporation into the Earth's atmosphere 
B)  may rise by several tens of meters 
C)  will actually fall by several inches due to increased evaporation into the Earth's atmosphere 
D)  may rise by several meters

Question 12

Most of the carbon dioxide on the Earth

Accepted Answer

A)  is locked up in carbonate rocks in its crust or is dissolved in the oceans 
B)  is trapped beneath the surface of the planet in gaseous form 
C)  has escaped into space 
D)  is located in its atmosphere 
A)  is locked up in carbonate rocks in its crust or is dissolved in the oceans 
B)  is trapped beneath the surface of the planet in gaseous form 
C)  has escaped into space 
D)  is located in its atmosphere

Question 13

If we allow for a simple runaway greenhouse effect, the inner boundary of the Sun's habitable zone would be

Accepted Answer

A)  roughly halfway between the orbits of Venus and Mercury 
B)  just outside the orbit of the planet Mercury 
C)  roughly half way between the orbits of the Earth and Venus 
D)  just inside the orbit of the Earth 
A)  roughly halfway between the orbits of Venus and Mercury 
B)  just outside the orbit of the planet Mercury 
C)  roughly half way between the orbits of the Earth and Venus 
D)  just inside the orbit of the Earth

Question 14

If we allow for moisture loss due to a moist greenhouse effect, the inner boundary of the Sun's habitable zone would be

Accepted Answer

A)  just inside the orbit of the Earth 
B)  roughly halfway between the orbits of Venus and Mercury 
C)  roughly halfway between the orbits of the Earth and Venus 
D)  just outside the orbit of the planet Mercury 
A)  just inside the orbit of the Earth 
B)  roughly halfway between the orbits of Venus and Mercury 
C)  roughly halfway between the orbits of the Earth and Venus 
D)  just outside the orbit of the planet Mercury

Question 15

According to conservative estimates, the end of habitability of Earth will come about

Accepted Answer

A)  3 to 4 billion years from now 
B)  a few hundred thousand years from now 
C)  100 million years from now 
D)  a billion years from now 
A)  3 to 4 billion years from now 
B)  a few hundred thousand years from now 
C)  100 million years from now 
D)  a billion years from now

Question 16

When the Sun ejects its outer layer into space to become a planetary nebula, most likely the

Accepted Answer

A)  Earth will be ejected from the solar system 
B)  Earth will be destroyed 
C)  Earth's oceans will freeze solid 
D)  Earth will experience a runaway greenhouse effect followed by the total loss of its atmosphere 
A)  Earth will be ejected from the solar system 
B)  Earth will be destroyed 
C)  Earth's oceans will freeze solid 
D)  Earth will experience a runaway greenhouse effect followed by the total loss of its atmosphere

Question 17

Which of the following statements regarding the determination of surface habitability and subsurface habitability of a planet is correct?

Accepted Answer

A)  both surface and subsurface habitability can be determined only from robotic space probes 
B)  surface habitability can be determined remotely by studying reflected starlight from a planet, while determining subsurface habitability would require a robotic space probe 
C)  both surface and subsurface habitability can be determined by analyzing reflected starlight 
D)  subsurface habitability can be determined remotely by studying reflected starlight from a planet, while determining surface habitability would require a robotic space probe 
A)  both surface and subsurface habitability can be determined only from robotic space probes 
B)  surface habitability can be determined remotely by studying reflected starlight from a planet, while determining subsurface habitability would require a robotic space probe 
C)  both surface and subsurface habitability can be determined by analyzing reflected starlight 
D)  subsurface habitability can be determined remotely by studying reflected starlight from a planet, while determining surface habitability would require a robotic space probe

Question 18

As global warming progresses, the

Accepted Answer

A)  landmasses will warm the most 
B)  equatorial regions will warm the most 
C)  polar regions will warm the most 
D)  oceans will warm the most 
A)  landmasses will warm the most 
B)  equatorial regions will warm the most 
C)  polar regions will warm the most 
D)  oceans will warm the most

Question 19

Why does the Sun brighten with time?

Accepted Answer

A)  as time progresses, helium starts to fuse in the core, in addition to hydrogen, leading to an increase in brightness 
B)  as hydrogen is converted into helium in the core, the number of hydrogen nuclei decreases, decreasing the fusion rate. To maintain the balance with gravity pressing inward, the core compensates by shrinking and heating up 
C)  as time progresses, more and more heat is trapped inside the core, leading to an increase in brightness 
D)  as hydrogen is converted into helium in the core, the number of hydrogen nuclei decreases, decreasing the fusion rate. To maintain the balance with gravity pressing inward, the core compensates by expanding and cooling 
A)  as time progresses, helium starts to fuse in the core, in addition to hydrogen, leading to an increase in brightness 
B)  as hydrogen is converted into helium in the core, the number of hydrogen nuclei decreases, decreasing the fusion rate. To maintain the balance with gravity pressing inward, the core compensates by shrinking and heating up 
C)  as time progresses, more and more heat is trapped inside the core, leading to an increase in brightness 
D)  as hydrogen is converted into helium in the core, the number of hydrogen nuclei decreases, decreasing the fusion rate. To maintain the balance with gravity pressing inward, the core compensates by expanding and cooling

Question 20

The case of Mars tells us that which of the following is a critical factor in determining surface habitability?

Accepted Answer

A)  planetary size 
B)  levels of geological activity 
C)  distance from the Sun 
D)  the presence of a magnetic field 
A)  planetary size 
B)  levels of geological activity 
C)  distance from the Sun 
D)  the presence of a magnetic field

When the Sun becomes a red giant

Apart from its distance from its parent star, what is the next most important factor that determines a planet's habitability?

When the Earth first formed it had large quantities of water vapor in its atmosphere while today the levels of water vapor are much lower. Where did most of the water vapor go?

Climate models which have been developed over many decades

Over time, as they age, the habitable zone of stars like our Sun

A habitable zone

Stars much less luminous than the Sun have

The inner boundary of the Sun's habitable zone currently lies

A star more luminous than our Sun will have a habitable zone that is

What role does an atmosphere play in surface habitability?

Climate models predict that due to the melting of the polar ice caps, sea levels by the end of this century

Most of the carbon dioxide on the Earth

If we allow for a simple runaway greenhouse effect, the inner boundary of the Sun's habitable zone would be

If we allow for moisture loss due to a moist greenhouse effect, the inner boundary of the Sun's habitable zone would be

According to conservative estimates, the end of habitability of Earth will come about

When the Sun ejects its outer layer into space to become a planetary nebula, most likely the

Which of the following statements regarding the determination of surface habitability and subsurface habitability of a planet is correct?

As global warming progresses, the

Why does the Sun brighten with time?

The case of Mars tells us that which of the following is a critical factor in determining surface habitability?

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

Mars

Life on Jovian Moons

Extrasolar Planets: Their Nature and Potential Habitability

The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

Interstellar Travel and the Fermi Paradox

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Exam 10: The Nature and Evolution of Habitability

When the Sun becomes a red giant

Apart from its distance from its parent star, what is the next most important factor that determines a planet's habitability?

When the Earth first formed it had large quantities of water vapor in its atmosphere while today the levels of water vapor are much lower. Where did most of the water vapor go?

Climate models which have been developed over many decades

Over time, as they age, the habitable zone of stars like our Sun

A habitable zone

Stars much less luminous than the Sun have

The inner boundary of the Sun's habitable zone currently lies

A star more luminous than our Sun will have a habitable zone that is

What role does an atmosphere play in surface habitability?

Climate models predict that due to the melting of the polar ice caps, sea levels by the end of this century

Most of the carbon dioxide on the Earth

If we allow for a simple runaway greenhouse effect, the inner boundary of the Sun's habitable zone would be

If we allow for moisture loss due to a moist greenhouse effect, the inner boundary of the Sun's habitable zone would be

According to conservative estimates, the end of habitability of Earth will come about

When the Sun ejects its outer layer into space to become a planetary nebula, most likely the

Which of the following statements regarding the determination of surface habitability and subsurface habitability of a planet is correct?

As global warming progresses, the

Why does the Sun brighten with time?

The case of Mars tells us that which of the following is a critical factor in determining surface habitability?

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

Mars

Life on Jovian Moons

Extrasolar Planets: Their Nature and Potential Habitability

The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

Interstellar Travel and the Fermi Paradox

Filters