Question 1

Most of the Moon's surface is densely covered with craters, but we find relatively few craters within the lunar maria. What can we conclude?

Accepted Answer

A)  The maria formed after the heavy bombardment ended. 
B)  The maria formed within the past 1 billion years. 
C)  The regions of the maria were hit by fewer impacts than the densely cratered regions. 
D)  Erosion affects the maria more than it affects other regions of the Moon. 
A)  The maria formed after the heavy bombardment ended. 
B)  The maria formed within the past 1 billion years. 
C)  The regions of the maria were hit by fewer impacts than the densely cratered regions. 
D)  Erosion affects the maria more than it affects other regions of the Moon.

Question 2

Why is Earth's continental crust lower in density than seafloor crust?

Accepted Answer

A)  Continental crust is made as the lowest-density seafloor crust melts and erupts to the surface near subduction zones. 
B)  Continental crust is made from a low-density volcanic rock called basalt. 
C)  Continental crust comes from volcanoes while seafloor crust comes from geysers. 
D)  Continental crust comes from Earth's inner core while seafloor crust comes from the outer core. 
A)  Continental crust is made as the lowest-density seafloor crust melts and erupts to the surface near subduction zones. 
B)  Continental crust is made from a low-density volcanic rock called basalt. 
C)  Continental crust comes from volcanoes while seafloor crust comes from geysers. 
D)  Continental crust comes from Earth's inner core while seafloor crust comes from the outer core.

Question 3

Spacecraft have landed on all the terrestrial worlds except:

Accepted Answer

A)  Mercury. 
B)  Venus. 
C)  Moon. 
D)  Mars. 
A)  Mercury. 
B)  Venus. 
C)  Moon. 
D)  Mars.

Question 4

Which of the following is not an expected consequence of global warming?

Accepted Answer

A)  The entire Earth will warm up by the same amount. 
B)  An increase in the severity of winter blizzards 
C)  An increase in the number and intensity of hurricanes 
D)  Melting of polar ice and glaciers 
A)  The entire Earth will warm up by the same amount. 
B)  An increase in the severity of winter blizzards 
C)  An increase in the number and intensity of hurricanes 
D)  Melting of polar ice and glaciers

Question 5

Why would the weather become more severe as the greenhouse effect increased?

Accepted Answer

A)  Warming would increase the evaporation of the oceans, leading to more water in the atmosphere and more frequent and severe storms. 
B)  Warming of the planet would lead to terrible droughts and reduce the amount of water on the Earth. 
C)  Warming would dry out the atmosphere and the crust, leading to devastation of the Earth through more meteor bombardment and volcanism. 
D)  The depleted ozone layer would let in more particles from the solar wind. 
E)  all of the above 
A)  Warming would increase the evaporation of the oceans, leading to more water in the atmosphere and more frequent and severe storms. 
B)  Warming of the planet would lead to terrible droughts and reduce the amount of water on the Earth. 
C)  Warming would dry out the atmosphere and the crust, leading to devastation of the Earth through more meteor bombardment and volcanism. 
D)  The depleted ozone layer would let in more particles from the solar wind. 
E)  all of the above

Question 6

Earth has been gradually warming over the past few decades. Based on a great deal of evidence, scientists believe that this warming is caused by ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  human activities that are increasing the concentration of greenhouse gases in Earth's atmosphere 
B)  the increase in forest fires during recent years 
C)  the human release of chemicals called CFCs into the stratosphere 
D)  the fact that our politicians spout a lot of hot air 
A)  human activities that are increasing the concentration of greenhouse gases in Earth's atmosphere 
B)  the increase in forest fires during recent years 
C)  the human release of chemicals called CFCs into the stratosphere 
D)  the fact that our politicians spout a lot of hot air

Question 7

Which of the following is an example of convection?

Accepted Answer

A)  Warm air expanding and rising while cooler air contracts and fall 
B)  Different kinds of material separating by density, like oil and water 
C)  Rocks sinking in water 
D)  Gas bubbling upward through a liquid 
A)  Warm air expanding and rising while cooler air contracts and fall 
B)  Different kinds of material separating by density, like oil and water 
C)  Rocks sinking in water 
D)  Gas bubbling upward through a liquid

Question 8

Why does Earth have the strongest magnetic field among the terrestrial worlds?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is the only one that has a metallic core. 
B)  It rotates much faster than any other terrestrial world. 
C)  It is the only one that has both a partially molten metallic core and reasonably rapid rotation. 
D)  It is by far the largest terrestrial world. 
E)  It is the most volcanically active world. 
A)  It is the only one that has a metallic core. 
B)  It rotates much faster than any other terrestrial world. 
C)  It is the only one that has both a partially molten metallic core and reasonably rapid rotation. 
D)  It is by far the largest terrestrial world. 
E)  It is the most volcanically active world.

Question 9

Earth outgassed as much carbon dioxide as Venus, but it is locked up in the oceans and rocks.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

Which of the following describes volcanism?

Accepted Answer

A)  the excavation of bowl-shaped depressions by asteroids or comets striking a planet's surface 
B)  the eruption of molten rock from a planet's interior to its surface 
C)  the disruption of a planet's surface by internal stresses 
D)  the wearing down or building up of geological features by wind, water, ice, and other phenomena of planetary weather 
A)  the excavation of bowl-shaped depressions by asteroids or comets striking a planet's surface 
B)  the eruption of molten rock from a planet's interior to its surface 
C)  the disruption of a planet's surface by internal stresses 
D)  the wearing down or building up of geological features by wind, water, ice, and other phenomena of planetary weather

Question 11

What kind of thermal radiation does the Earth emit?

Accepted Answer

A)  Infrared and visible light 
B)  Infrared, visible, and ultraviolet light 
C)  Visible light 
D)  Visible and ultraviolet light 
E)  Infrared light 
A)  Infrared and visible light 
B)  Infrared, visible, and ultraviolet light 
C)  Visible light 
D)  Visible and ultraviolet light 
E)  Infrared light

Question 12

Winter and summer differ in length on Mars because of its elliptical orbit.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

Which of the following is the underlying reason why Venus has so little wind erosion?

Accepted Answer

A)  Its slow rotation 
B)  Its small size 
C)  Its thick atmosphere 
D)  Its relatively close distance to the Sun 
A)  Its slow rotation 
B)  Its small size 
C)  Its thick atmosphere 
D)  Its relatively close distance to the Sun

Question 14

Which of the following most likely explains why Venus does not have a global magnetic field like Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  Its rotation is too slow. 
B)  It does not have a metallic core. 
C)  Unlike Earth, Venus does not have a liquid outer core. 
D)  It has too thick of an atmosphere. 
A)  Its rotation is too slow. 
B)  It does not have a metallic core. 
C)  Unlike Earth, Venus does not have a liquid outer core. 
D)  It has too thick of an atmosphere.

Question 15

Suppose we represent Earth with a basketball. On this scale, most of the air in Earth's atmosphere would fit in a layer that is ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  about the thickness of a sheet of paper 
B)  about an inch thick 
C)  about 6 inches thick 
D)  about a half-inch thick 
A)  about the thickness of a sheet of paper 
B)  about an inch thick 
C)  about 6 inches thick 
D)  about a half-inch thick

Question 16

Sunsets are red because

Accepted Answer

A)  the Sun emits more red light when it's setting. 
B)  sunlight must pass through more atmosphere, and this scatters even more light at bluer wavelengths, transmitting mostly red light. 
C)  sunlight must pass through more atmosphere, and this scatters more light at red wavelengths than bluer wavelengths. 
D)  the cooler atmosphere in the evening absorbs more blue light. 
E)  none of the above 
A)  the Sun emits more red light when it's setting. 
B)  sunlight must pass through more atmosphere, and this scatters even more light at bluer wavelengths, transmitting mostly red light. 
C)  sunlight must pass through more atmosphere, and this scatters more light at red wavelengths than bluer wavelengths. 
D)  the cooler atmosphere in the evening absorbs more blue light. 
E)  none of the above

Question 17

Erosion is the most important geological process on Venus.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

Rank these planets in order of the strength of the greenhouse effect on the planet, from the least to the greatest.

Accepted Answer

A)  Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars 
B)  Mercury, Earth, Mars, Venus 
C)  Mercury, Mars, Earth, Venus 
D)  Mars, Mercury, Earth, Venus 
E)  Mars, Earth, Venus, Mercury 
A)  Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars 
B)  Mercury, Earth, Mars, Venus 
C)  Mercury, Mars, Earth, Venus 
D)  Mars, Mercury, Earth, Venus 
E)  Mars, Earth, Venus, Mercury

Question 19

Which of the following can act like a long-term "thermostat" for the Earth's average temperature?

Accepted Answer

A)  Radioactive elements trapped in the Earth's mantle. 
B)  Heat stored in the Earth's magnetosphere. 
C)  Heat stored in the Earth's liquid core. 
D)  The carbon dioxide cycle. 
E)  The Milankovitch cycles. 
A)  Radioactive elements trapped in the Earth's mantle. 
B)  Heat stored in the Earth's magnetosphere. 
C)  Heat stored in the Earth's liquid core. 
D)  The carbon dioxide cycle. 
E)  The Milankovitch cycles.

Question 20

What is one piece of scientific evidence for human contributions to global climate change?

Accepted Answer

A)  Humans are responsible for every possible change to the planet, since humans are the only intelligent life forms. 
B)  Humans deplete the ozone layer, allowing more ultraviolet radiation to reach the Earth. 
C)  Climate models show that extra carbon dioxide contributed by humans is enough to match the data. 
D)  There is no compelling evidence for human contributions to climate change; the correlations do not show what causes them. 
E)  Humans burn forests, drive cars, and build power plants that directly heat the planet. 
A)  Humans are responsible for every possible change to the planet, since humans are the only intelligent life forms. 
B)  Humans deplete the ozone layer, allowing more ultraviolet radiation to reach the Earth. 
C)  Climate models show that extra carbon dioxide contributed by humans is enough to match the data. 
D)  There is no compelling evidence for human contributions to climate change; the correlations do not show what causes them. 
E)  Humans burn forests, drive cars, and build power plants that directly heat the planet.

Most of the Moon's surface is densely covered with craters, but we find relatively few craters within the lunar maria. What can we conclude?

Why is Earth's continental crust lower in density than seafloor crust?

Spacecraft have landed on all the terrestrial worlds except:

Which of the following is not an expected consequence of global warming?

Why would the weather become more severe as the greenhouse effect increased?

Earth has been gradually warming over the past few decades. Based on a great deal of evidence, scientists believe that this warming is caused by ________.

Which of the following is an example of convection?

Why does Earth have the strongest magnetic field among the terrestrial worlds?

Earth outgassed as much carbon dioxide as Venus, but it is locked up in the oceans and rocks.

Which of the following describes volcanism?

What kind of thermal radiation does the Earth emit?

Winter and summer differ in length on Mars because of its elliptical orbit.

Which of the following is the underlying reason why Venus has so little wind erosion?

Which of the following most likely explains why Venus does not have a global magnetic field like Earth?

Suppose we represent Earth with a basketball. On this scale, most of the air in Earth's atmosphere would fit in a layer that is ________.

Sunsets are red because

Erosion is the most important geological process on Venus.

Rank these planets in order of the strength of the greenhouse effect on the planet, from the least to the greatest.

Which of the following can act like a long-term "thermostat" for the Earth's average temperature?

What is one piece of scientific evidence for human contributions to global climate change?

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

Most of the Moon's surface is densely covered with craters, but we find relatively few craters within the lunar maria. What can we conclude?

Why is Earth's continental crust lower in density than seafloor crust?

Spacecraft have landed on all the terrestrial worlds except:

Which of the following is not an expected consequence of global warming?

Why would the weather become more severe as the greenhouse effect increased?

Earth has been gradually warming over the past few decades. Based on a great deal of evidence, scientists believe that this warming is caused by ________.

Which of the following is an example of convection?

Why does Earth have the strongest magnetic field among the terrestrial worlds?

Earth outgassed as much carbon dioxide as Venus, but it is locked up in the oceans and rocks.

Which of the following describes volcanism?

What kind of thermal radiation does the Earth emit?

Winter and summer differ in length on Mars because of its elliptical orbit.

Which of the following is the underlying reason why Venus has so little wind erosion?

Which of the following most likely explains why Venus does not have a global magnetic field like Earth?

Suppose we represent Earth with a basketball. On this scale, most of the air in Earth's atmosphere would fit in a layer that is ________.

Sunsets are red because

Erosion is the most important geological process on Venus.

Rank these planets in order of the strength of the greenhouse effect on the planet, from the least to the greatest.

Which of the following can act like a long-term "thermostat" for the Earth's average temperature?

What is one piece of scientific evidence for human contributions to global climate change?

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