Question 1

The presence of oxygen and ozone in Earth's atmosphere can be explained only through biology.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

Which of the following best explain what we think happened to outgassed water vapor on Venus?

Accepted Answer

A)  Ultraviolet light split the water molecules, and the hydrogen then escaped to space. 
B)  Water was removed from the atmosphere by chemical reactions with surface rock. 
C)  It is frozen as water ice in craters near the poles. 
D)  It turned into carbon dioxide by reacting with nitrogen in Venus's atmosphere. 
A)  Ultraviolet light split the water molecules, and the hydrogen then escaped to space. 
B)  Water was removed from the atmosphere by chemical reactions with surface rock. 
C)  It is frozen as water ice in craters near the poles. 
D)  It turned into carbon dioxide by reacting with nitrogen in Venus's atmosphere.

Question 3

What is the "runaway greenhouse effect"?

Accepted Answer

The runaway greenhouse effect is an unst

Question 4

Which of the following general statements about Earth's atmosphere is not true?

Accepted Answer

A)  The nitrogen and oxygen in Earth's atmosphere keep the surface pleasantly warm. 
B)  Gas high in the atmosphere absorbs dangerous X-rays from the Sun. 
C)  Without the relatively rare gas called ozone, Earth's surface would be bathed in dangerous ultraviolet light from the Sun. 
D)  The oxygen in our atmosphere was released by living organisms. 
A)  The nitrogen and oxygen in Earth's atmosphere keep the surface pleasantly warm. 
B)  Gas high in the atmosphere absorbs dangerous X-rays from the Sun. 
C)  Without the relatively rare gas called ozone, Earth's surface would be bathed in dangerous ultraviolet light from the Sun. 
D)  The oxygen in our atmosphere was released by living organisms.

Question 5

The process in which one plate slides under another is called subduction and occurs where seafloor crust descends into the mantle below continental crust.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Which of the following is the most basic definition of a greenhouse gas?

Accepted Answer

A)  A gas that absorbs infrared light 
B)  A gas that makes a planet much hotter than it would be otherwise, even in small amounts 
C)  A gas that keeps warms air from rising, and therefore warms the surface 
D)  A gas that reflects a lot of sunlight 
A)  A gas that absorbs infrared light 
B)  A gas that makes a planet much hotter than it would be otherwise, even in small amounts 
C)  A gas that keeps warms air from rising, and therefore warms the surface 
D)  A gas that reflects a lot of sunlight

Question 7

In the context of plate tectonics, what is a subduction zone?

Accepted Answer

A)  A place where a seafloor plate is sliding under a continental plate 
B)  A place where two plates are slipping sideways against one another 
C)  A place where two plates are pulling apart 
D)  A place where two continental plates are colliding 
A)  A place where a seafloor plate is sliding under a continental plate 
B)  A place where two plates are slipping sideways against one another 
C)  A place where two plates are pulling apart 
D)  A place where two continental plates are colliding

Question 8

All the following statements about Venus are true. Which one offers evidence of a global repaving about a billion years ago?

Accepted Answer

A)  Venus has relatively few impact craters and these craters are distributed fairly evenly over the entire planet. 
B)  Venus has many circular features, called coronae, which appear to be tectonic in origin. 
C)  Venus's largest features are three elevated regions that look somewhat like continents. 
D)  Venus appears to lack any water that could lubricate the flow of rock in its crust and mantle. 
A)  Venus has relatively few impact craters and these craters are distributed fairly evenly over the entire planet. 
B)  Venus has many circular features, called coronae, which appear to be tectonic in origin. 
C)  Venus's largest features are three elevated regions that look somewhat like continents. 
D)  Venus appears to lack any water that could lubricate the flow of rock in its crust and mantle.

Question 9

Earth's atmosphere contains only small amounts of carbon dioxide because

Accepted Answer

A)  the earth's volcanoes did not outgas as much carbon dioxide as those on Venus and Mars. 
B)  most of the carbon dioxide was lost during the age of bombardment. 
C)  chemical reactions with other gases destroyed the carbon dioxide and replaced it with the nitrogen that is in the atmosphere now. 
D)  carbon dioxide dissolves in water, and most of it is now contained in the oceans and carbonate rocks. 
E)  Earth doesn't have as strong a greenhouse effect as is present on Venus. 
A)  the earth's volcanoes did not outgas as much carbon dioxide as those on Venus and Mars. 
B)  most of the carbon dioxide was lost during the age of bombardment. 
C)  chemical reactions with other gases destroyed the carbon dioxide and replaced it with the nitrogen that is in the atmosphere now. 
D)  carbon dioxide dissolves in water, and most of it is now contained in the oceans and carbonate rocks. 
E)  Earth doesn't have as strong a greenhouse effect as is present on Venus.

Question 10

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 11

When we see a region of a planet that is not as heavily cratered as other regions, we conclude that

Accepted Answer

A)  there is little volcanic activity to create craters. 
B)  the planet is rotating very slowly and only one side was hit by impactors. 
C)  the planet formed after the age of bombardment and missed out on getting hit by leftover planetesimals. 
D)  the surface in the region is older than the surface in more heavily cratered regions. 
E)  the surface in the region is younger than the surface in more heavily cratered regions. 
A)  there is little volcanic activity to create craters. 
B)  the planet is rotating very slowly and only one side was hit by impactors. 
C)  the planet formed after the age of bombardment and missed out on getting hit by leftover planetesimals. 
D)  the surface in the region is older than the surface in more heavily cratered regions. 
E)  the surface in the region is younger than the surface in more heavily cratered regions.

Question 12

Which of the following statements do NOT lend support to the idea that carbon dioxide is a cause of global warming?

Accepted Answer

A)  Models of the greenhouse effect successfully predict the actual temperatures of Mars and Venus from their atmospheric carbon dioxide amounts. 
B)  Models of Earth's climate that include recent increases in carbon dioxide concentration match the observed temperature increases better than those that do not include it. 
C)  Isotope ratios in atmospheric carbon dioxide show that much of the carbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphere today comes from the burning of fossil fuels. 
D)  We understand the physical mechanism of the greenhouse effect, by which carbon dioxide increases cause an increase in the planet's temperature. 
A)  Models of the greenhouse effect successfully predict the actual temperatures of Mars and Venus from their atmospheric carbon dioxide amounts. 
B)  Models of Earth's climate that include recent increases in carbon dioxide concentration match the observed temperature increases better than those that do not include it. 
C)  Isotope ratios in atmospheric carbon dioxide show that much of the carbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphere today comes from the burning of fossil fuels. 
D)  We understand the physical mechanism of the greenhouse effect, by which carbon dioxide increases cause an increase in the planet's temperature.

Question 13

Without greenhouse gases, Earth's surface would be frozen over.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

Deep trenches in the ocean mark places where

Accepted Answer

A)  one plate slides under another, returning older crust to the mantle. 
B)  plates pull apart, leaving great rifts in the crust. 
C)  hot mantle material rises upward and spreads sideways, pushing the plates apart. 
D)  plates push together, creating ocean mountain chains. 
E)  plates slip sideways relative to one another. 
A)  one plate slides under another, returning older crust to the mantle. 
B)  plates pull apart, leaving great rifts in the crust. 
C)  hot mantle material rises upward and spreads sideways, pushing the plates apart. 
D)  plates push together, creating ocean mountain chains. 
E)  plates slip sideways relative to one another.

Question 15

Venus has a thicker atmosphere than Earth.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

Why do we think Mercury has so many tremendous cliffs?

Accepted Answer

A)  They were probably carved in Mercury's early history by running water. 
B)  They were probably formed by tectonic stresses when the entire planet shrank as its core cooled. 
C)  They probably formed when a series of large impacts hit Mercury one after the other. 
D)  They are almost certainly volcanic in origin, carved by flowing lava. 
E)  They represent one of the greatest mysteries in the solar system, as no one has suggested a reasonable hypothesis for their formation. 
A)  They were probably carved in Mercury's early history by running water. 
B)  They were probably formed by tectonic stresses when the entire planet shrank as its core cooled. 
C)  They probably formed when a series of large impacts hit Mercury one after the other. 
D)  They are almost certainly volcanic in origin, carved by flowing lava. 
E)  They represent one of the greatest mysteries in the solar system, as no one has suggested a reasonable hypothesis for their formation.

Question 17

How does the size of a planet determine its internal temperature?

Accepted Answer

Size is the most important fac

Question 18

In the context of planetary geology, what do we mean by outgassing?

Accepted Answer

A)  The release by volcanism of gases that had been trapped in a planetary interior 
B)  The loss of atmospheric gas to outer space 
C)  Another name for a volcanic eruption 
D)  The evaporation of water that adds water vapor (a gas) to an atmosphere 
A)  The release by volcanism of gases that had been trapped in a planetary interior 
B)  The loss of atmospheric gas to outer space 
C)  Another name for a volcanic eruption 
D)  The evaporation of water that adds water vapor (a gas) to an atmosphere

Question 19

Summarize some of the evidence suggesting that Mars once had flowing water.

Accepted Answer

It has what looks like dried-up riverbed

Question 20

What's the fundamental reason that Mars, unlike the Earth, has become virtually geologically dead?

Accepted Answer

A)  Its small size compared to Earth 
B)  Its large size compared to the Earth 
C)  Its farther distance than Earth to the Sun 
D)  Its closer distance than Earth to the Sun 
E)  Its rapid rotation compared to the Earth F) Its slow rotation compared to the Earth 
A)  Its small size compared to Earth 
B)  Its large size compared to the Earth 
C)  Its farther distance than Earth to the Sun 
D)  Its closer distance than Earth to the Sun 
E)  Its rapid rotation compared to the Earth F) Its slow rotation compared to the Earth

The presence of oxygen and ozone in Earth's atmosphere can be explained only through biology.

Which of the following best explain what we think happened to outgassed water vapor on Venus?

What is the "runaway greenhouse effect"?

Which of the following general statements about Earth's atmosphere is not true?

The process in which one plate slides under another is called subduction and occurs where seafloor crust descends into the mantle below continental crust.

Which of the following is the most basic definition of a greenhouse gas?

In the context of plate tectonics, what is a subduction zone?

All the following statements about Venus are true. Which one offers evidence of a global repaving about a billion years ago?

Earth's atmosphere contains only small amounts of carbon dioxide because

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

When we see a region of a planet that is not as heavily cratered as other regions, we conclude that

Which of the following statements do NOT lend support to the idea that carbon dioxide is a cause of global warming?

Without greenhouse gases, Earth's surface would be frozen over.

Deep trenches in the ocean mark places where

Venus has a thicker atmosphere than Earth.

Why do we think Mercury has so many tremendous cliffs?

How does the size of a planet determine its internal temperature?

In the context of planetary geology, what do we mean by outgassing?

Summarize some of the evidence suggesting that Mars once had flowing water.

What's the fundamental reason that Mars, unlike the Earth, has become virtually geologically dead?

Our Place in the Universe

Discovering the Universe for Yourself

The Science of Astronomy

Making Sense of the Universe: Understanding Motion, Energy, and Gravity

Light: the Cosmic Messenger

Formation of Planetary Systems: Our Solar System and Beyond

Jovian Planet Systems

Asteroids, Comets, and Dwarf Planets: Their Nature, Orbits, and Impacts

Our Star

Surveying the Stars

Star Stuff

Bizarre Stellar Graveyard

Our Galaxy

Galaxies and the Foundation of Modern Cosmology

Dark Matter, Dark Energy, and the Fate of the Universe

The Beginning of Time

Life in the Universe

Filters

Exam 7: Earth and the Terrestrial Worlds

The presence of oxygen and ozone in Earth's atmosphere can be explained only through biology.

Which of the following best explain what we think happened to outgassed water vapor on Venus?

What is the "runaway greenhouse effect"?

Which of the following general statements about Earth's atmosphere is not true?

The process in which one plate slides under another is called subduction and occurs where seafloor crust descends into the mantle below continental crust.

Which of the following is the most basic definition of a greenhouse gas?

In the context of plate tectonics, what is a subduction zone?

All the following statements about Venus are true. Which one offers evidence of a global repaving about a billion years ago?

Earth's atmosphere contains only small amounts of carbon dioxide because

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

When we see a region of a planet that is not as heavily cratered as other regions, we conclude that

Which of the following statements do NOT lend support to the idea that carbon dioxide is a cause of global warming?

Without greenhouse gases, Earth's surface would be frozen over.

Deep trenches in the ocean mark places where

Venus has a thicker atmosphere than Earth.

Why do we think Mercury has so many tremendous cliffs?

How does the size of a planet determine its internal temperature?

In the context of planetary geology, what do we mean by outgassing?

Summarize some of the evidence suggesting that Mars once had flowing water.

What's the fundamental reason that Mars, unlike the Earth, has become virtually geologically dead?

Our Place in the Universe

Discovering the Universe for Yourself

The Science of Astronomy

Making Sense of the Universe: Understanding Motion, Energy, and Gravity

Light: the Cosmic Messenger

Formation of Planetary Systems: Our Solar System and Beyond

Jovian Planet Systems

Asteroids, Comets, and Dwarf Planets: Their Nature, Orbits, and Impacts

Our Star

Surveying the Stars

Star Stuff

Bizarre Stellar Graveyard

Our Galaxy

Galaxies and the Foundation of Modern Cosmology

Dark Matter, Dark Energy, and the Fate of the Universe

The Beginning of Time

Life in the Universe

Filters