Question 1

Ridges in the middle of the ocean are places where

Accepted Answer

A)  one plate slides under another, returning older crust to the mantle. 
B)  hot mantle material rises upward, creating volcanic islands. 
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)  hot mantle material rises upward, creating volcanic islands. 
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 2

Why is Venus so much hotter than Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  Venus rotates more slowly. 
B)  Venus has significant amounts of carbon dioxide in its atmosphere. 
C)  Venus is closer to the Sun. 
D)  Venus was formed before the Earth was. 
E)  Venus is more massive. 
A)  Venus rotates more slowly. 
B)  Venus has significant amounts of carbon dioxide in its atmosphere. 
C)  Venus is closer to the Sun. 
D)  Venus was formed before the Earth was. 
E)  Venus is more massive.

Question 3

Which of the terrestrial worlds has the strongest magnetic field?

Accepted Answer

A)  Mars 
B)  Earth 
C)  the Moon 
D)  Venus 
E)  Mercury 
A)  Mars 
B)  Earth 
C)  the Moon 
D)  Venus 
E)  Mercury

Question 4

A planet is most likely to have tectonic activity if it has

Accepted Answer

A)  low surface gravity. 
B)  high surface gravity. 
C)  low internal temperature. 
D)  high internal temperature. 
E)  a dense atmosphere. 
A)  low surface gravity. 
B)  high surface gravity. 
C)  low internal temperature. 
D)  high internal temperature. 
E)  a dense atmosphere.

Question 5

The current atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide on Earth is at its highest in over a million years.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

How is the atmosphere of a planet affected by the rotation rate?

Accepted Answer

A)  The rotation rate determines how much atmosphere a planet has. 
B)  The rotation rate determines how long the planet is able to retain its atmosphere. 
C)  Faster rotation rates raise surface temperatures and thus determine how much material is gaseous versus icy or liquid. 
D)  Faster rotation rates raise the atmospheric temperature. 
E)  Faster rotation rates produce stronger winds. 
A)  The rotation rate determines how much atmosphere a planet has. 
B)  The rotation rate determines how long the planet is able to retain its atmosphere. 
C)  Faster rotation rates raise surface temperatures and thus determine how much material is gaseous versus icy or liquid. 
D)  Faster rotation rates raise the atmospheric temperature. 
E)  Faster rotation rates produce stronger winds.

Question 7

The core, mantle, and crust of a planet are defined by differences in their

Accepted Answer

A)  geological activity. 
B)  temperature. 
C)  strength. 
D)  density. 
A)  geological activity. 
B)  temperature. 
C)  strength. 
D)  density.

Question 8

Suppose we had a device that allowed us to see Earth's interior. If we looked at a typical region of the mantle, what would we see happening?

Accepted Answer

A)  Not much-on human time scales, the mantle looks like solid rock 
B)  Hot molten rock rising upward throughout the mantle and cool, solid rock falling downward 
C)  A rapid, up and down churning of the material in the mantle 
D)  Dense metals falling downward while low-density rock rises upward 
A)  Not much-on human time scales, the mantle looks like solid rock 
B)  Hot molten rock rising upward throughout the mantle and cool, solid rock falling downward 
C)  A rapid, up and down churning of the material in the mantle 
D)  Dense metals falling downward while low-density rock rises upward

Question 9

Why does increasing the amount a greenhouse gas increase the temperature of a planet?

Accepted Answer

A)  Greenhouse gases absorb visible light. 
B)  Greenhouse gases emit infrared light. 
C)  Greenhouse gases absorb infrared light. 
D)  Greenhouse gases emit visible light. 
A)  Greenhouse gases absorb visible light. 
B)  Greenhouse gases emit infrared light. 
C)  Greenhouse gases absorb infrared light. 
D)  Greenhouse gases emit visible light.

Question 10

What kind of surface features may result from tectonics?

Accepted Answer

A)  mountains 
B)  valleys 
C)  volcanos 
D)  cliffs 
E)  all of the above 
A)  mountains 
B)  valleys 
C)  volcanos 
D)  cliffs 
E)  all of the above

Question 11

Why does Earth have so much more oxygen (O₂) than Venus or Mars?

Accepted Answer

The answer to this question is simply th

Question 12

How have we been able to construct detailed maps of surface features on Venus?

Accepted Answer

A)  by studying Venus from Earth with powerful telescopes 
B)  by studying Venus with powerful telescopes on spacecraft that were sent to orbit Venus 
C)  By making computer models of geological processes on Venus 
D)  by using radar from spacecraft that were sent to orbit Venus 
E)  by landing spacecraft on the surface for close-up study 
A)  by studying Venus from Earth with powerful telescopes 
B)  by studying Venus with powerful telescopes on spacecraft that were sent to orbit Venus 
C)  By making computer models of geological processes on Venus 
D)  by using radar from spacecraft that were sent to orbit Venus 
E)  by landing spacecraft on the surface for close-up study

Question 13

On average, how fast do the plates move on the Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  A few centimeters per year 
B)  A few millimeters per century 
C)  About 1 mile per hour 
D)  A few kilometers per year 
A)  A few centimeters per year 
B)  A few millimeters per century 
C)  About 1 mile per hour 
D)  A few kilometers per year

Question 14

Sim-Planet: Make the difference between the night and day temperatures larger.

Accepted Answer

A)  Move the planet closer to the Sun. 
B)  Increase the greenhouse gas content of the planet's atmosphere. 
C)  Make the planet rotate more slowly. 
D)  Increase the tilt of the planet's rotation axis. 
A)  Move the planet closer to the Sun. 
B)  Increase the greenhouse gas content of the planet's atmosphere. 
C)  Make the planet rotate more slowly. 
D)  Increase the tilt of the planet's rotation axis.

Question 15

Which internal heat source still generates heat within the terrestrial worlds today?

Accepted Answer

A)  Heat from radioactive decay 
B)  Heat of accretion. 
C)  Heat from differentiation 
D)  Heat from convection 
A)  Heat from radioactive decay 
B)  Heat of accretion. 
C)  Heat from differentiation 
D)  Heat from convection

Question 16

Earth is the only terrestrial planet to have experienced tectonic stresses and volcanic activity.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

Suppose Earth were to cool down a little. How would the carbon dioxide cycle tend to restore temperatures to normal?

Accepted Answer

A)  Cooler temperatures lead to slower formation of carbonate minerals in the ocean, so carbon dioxide released by volcanism builds up in the atmosphere and strengthens the greenhouse effect. 
B)  Cooler temperatures cause volcanoes to become more active, so they release more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than they do when temperatures are warmer. 
C)  Cooler temperatures allow carbon dioxide to form rain and rain out of the atmosphere. 
D)  Cooler temperatures mean more ice and more erosion, which somehow makes the planet warm up. 
A)  Cooler temperatures lead to slower formation of carbonate minerals in the ocean, so carbon dioxide released by volcanism builds up in the atmosphere and strengthens the greenhouse effect. 
B)  Cooler temperatures cause volcanoes to become more active, so they release more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than they do when temperatures are warmer. 
C)  Cooler temperatures allow carbon dioxide to form rain and rain out of the atmosphere. 
D)  Cooler temperatures mean more ice and more erosion, which somehow makes the planet warm up.

Question 18

Suppose we use a baseball to represent Earth. On this scale, the other terrestrial worlds (Mercury, Venus, the Moon, and Mars) would range in size approximately from that of ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  a golf ball to a baseball 
B)  a dust speck to a golf ball 
C)  a dust speck to a basketball 
D)  a golf ball to a beach ball 
A)  a golf ball to a baseball 
B)  a dust speck to a golf ball 
C)  a dust speck to a basketball 
D)  a golf ball to a beach ball

Question 19

If Earth had no atmosphere, its temperature would be

Accepted Answer

A)  somewhat warmer than the freezing temperature of water. 
B)  about the same temperature it is now. 
C)  well below freezing, about -50 degrees Celsius. 
D)  somewhat below the freezing temperature of water. 
E)  extremely hot, about 50 degrees Celsius. 
A)  somewhat warmer than the freezing temperature of water. 
B)  about the same temperature it is now. 
C)  well below freezing, about -50 degrees Celsius. 
D)  somewhat below the freezing temperature of water. 
E)  extremely hot, about 50 degrees Celsius.

Question 20

How does seafloor crust differ from continental crust?

Accepted Answer

A)  Seafloor crust is thinner, younger, and higher in density. 
B)  Seafloor crust is thicker, older, and higher in density. 
C)  Seafloor crust is thicker, younger, and lower in density. 
D)  Seafloor crust is thinner, older, and lower in density. 
A)  Seafloor crust is thinner, younger, and higher in density. 
B)  Seafloor crust is thicker, older, and higher in density. 
C)  Seafloor crust is thicker, younger, and lower in density. 
D)  Seafloor crust is thinner, older, and lower in density.

Ridges in the middle of the ocean are places where

Why is Venus so much hotter than Earth?

Which of the terrestrial worlds has the strongest magnetic field?

A planet is most likely to have tectonic activity if it has

The current atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide on Earth is at its highest in over a million years.

How is the atmosphere of a planet affected by the rotation rate?

The core, mantle, and crust of a planet are defined by differences in their

Suppose we had a device that allowed us to see Earth's interior. If we looked at a typical region of the mantle, what would we see happening?

Why does increasing the amount a greenhouse gas increase the temperature of a planet?

What kind of surface features may result from tectonics?

Why does Earth have so much more oxygen (O₂) than Venus or Mars?

How have we been able to construct detailed maps of surface features on Venus?

On average, how fast do the plates move on the Earth?

Sim-Planet: Make the difference between the night and day temperatures larger.

Which internal heat source still generates heat within the terrestrial worlds today?

Earth is the only terrestrial planet to have experienced tectonic stresses and volcanic activity.

Suppose Earth were to cool down a little. How would the carbon dioxide cycle tend to restore temperatures to normal?

Suppose we use a baseball to represent Earth. On this scale, the other terrestrial worlds (Mercury, Venus, the Moon, and Mars) would range in size approximately from that of ________.

If Earth had no atmosphere, its temperature would be

How does seafloor crust differ from continental crust?

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

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Exam 7: Earth and the Terrestrial Worlds

Ridges in the middle of the ocean are places where

Why is Venus so much hotter than Earth?

Which of the terrestrial worlds has the strongest magnetic field?

A planet is most likely to have tectonic activity if it has

The current atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide on Earth is at its highest in over a million years.

How is the atmosphere of a planet affected by the rotation rate?

The core, mantle, and crust of a planet are defined by differences in their

Suppose we had a device that allowed us to see Earth's interior. If we looked at a typical region of the mantle, what would we see happening?

Why does increasing the amount a greenhouse gas increase the temperature of a planet?

What kind of surface features may result from tectonics?

Why does Earth have so much more oxygen (O₂) than Venus or Mars?

How have we been able to construct detailed maps of surface features on Venus?

On average, how fast do the plates move on the Earth?

Sim-Planet: Make the difference between the night and day temperatures larger.

Which internal heat source still generates heat within the terrestrial worlds today?

Earth is the only terrestrial planet to have experienced tectonic stresses and volcanic activity.

Suppose Earth were to cool down a little. How would the carbon dioxide cycle tend to restore temperatures to normal?

Suppose we use a baseball to represent Earth. On this scale, the other terrestrial worlds (Mercury, Venus, the Moon, and Mars) would range in size approximately from that of ________.

If Earth had no atmosphere, its temperature would be

How does seafloor crust differ from continental crust?

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