Question 1

What will most likely be the fate of the footprints that the astronauts left on the Moon?

Accepted Answer

A) They will remain unchanged forever. 
B) They will be obliterated by micrometeorite impacts. 
C) They will be obliterated by the impacts of heavy particles. 
D) They will be enfolded in a scarp. 
A) They will remain unchanged forever. 
B) They will be obliterated by micrometeorite impacts. 
C) They will be obliterated by the impacts of heavy particles. 
D) They will be enfolded in a scarp.

Question 2

In what year did humans first land on the Moon?

Accepted Answer

A) 1959 
B) 1966 
C) 1969 
D) 1972 
A) 1959 
B) 1966 
C) 1969 
D) 1972

Question 3

The net tidal force on the Moon is the differential force on the tidal bulges raised by Earth's gravity on the Moon's surface; it varies inversely like Earth-Moon distance to the sixth power. What is the ratio of the net tidal force on the Moon at perigee to the net tidal force at apogee?

Accepted Answer

A) just slightly over 1 
B) almost 2 
C) about 10 
D) almost 40 
A) just slightly over 1 
B) almost 2 
C) about 10 
D) almost 40

Question 4

More detail is seen on the Moon at quarter phases than at full phases because:

Accepted Answer

A) surface mists that are prominent at full phase have cleared at quarter phases. 
B) parts of the Moon that are visible at these phases show more craters in general. 
C) features on the Moon cast distinct shadows to produce high contrast at these phases. 
D) the Moon is closer to Earth at these phases. 
A) surface mists that are prominent at full phase have cleared at quarter phases. 
B) parts of the Moon that are visible at these phases show more craters in general. 
C) features on the Moon cast distinct shadows to produce high contrast at these phases. 
D) the Moon is closer to Earth at these phases.

Question 5

Which robotic spacecraft successfully returned samples of lunar rocks back to Earth?

Accepted Answer

A) Ranger 
B) Surveyor 
C) Luna 
D) Pathfinder 
A) Ranger 
B) Surveyor 
C) Luna 
D) Pathfinder

Question 6

It was originally thought questionable whether a crewed lunar landing could take place because:

Accepted Answer

A) of the extreme temperatures on the lunar surface. 
B) the lunar surface might be too soft to land upon. 
C) of extreme levels of radiation from the decay of radioactive elements and the lack of a shielding atmosphere. 
D) the low atmospheric pressure would adversely affect human beings. 
A) of the extreme temperatures on the lunar surface. 
B) the lunar surface might be too soft to land upon. 
C) of extreme levels of radiation from the decay of radioactive elements and the lack of a shielding atmosphere. 
D) the low atmospheric pressure would adversely affect human beings.

Question 7

The Moon's South Pole-Aitken Basin is the largest known impact crater in the solar system. Yet it was never mentioned by the seventeenth-century astronomers who named most of the Moon's prominent features. What do we believe is the reason for this?

Accepted Answer

A) Seventeenth-century telescopes were not adequate to resolve the Basin. 
B) The Basin is of very recent origin, after the seventeenth century. 
C) Dust storms on the Moon have only recently uncovered the Basin. 
D) The Basin is on the far side of the Moon. 
A) Seventeenth-century telescopes were not adequate to resolve the Basin. 
B) The Basin is of very recent origin, after the seventeenth century. 
C) Dust storms on the Moon have only recently uncovered the Basin. 
D) The Basin is on the far side of the Moon.

Question 8

Before the Mars-sized impactor struck Earth to cause ejecta that formed the Moon, Earth probably had a:

Accepted Answer

A) smaller density and slower rotation rate than it does now. 
B) smaller density and faster rotation rate than it does now. 
C) greater density and slower rotation rate than it does now. 
D) greater density and faster rotation rate than it does now. 
A) smaller density and slower rotation rate than it does now. 
B) smaller density and faster rotation rate than it does now. 
C) greater density and slower rotation rate than it does now. 
D) greater density and faster rotation rate than it does now.

Question 9

We believe the Moon's core is made of iron-rich materials and is partially liquid. We have formed this opinion based on each of the following activities except one. Which is the exception?

Accepted Answer

A) observing the orbits of spacecraft near the Moon 
B) observing the effect of Earth's tidal forces on the Moon 
C) observing the effect of Earth's magnetosphere on the Moon 
D) sending radar waves from Earth into the Moon's interior 
A) observing the orbits of spacecraft near the Moon 
B) observing the effect of Earth's tidal forces on the Moon 
C) observing the effect of Earth's magnetosphere on the Moon 
D) sending radar waves from Earth into the Moon's interior

Question 10

One piece of experimental evidence that supports the idea that the Moon's craters were formed by high-speed impacts is that the craters are round. Another piece of evidence is the:

Accepted Answer

A) lava that fills each crater, even the small ones. 
B) long rays that project from all lunar craters. 
C) central peak in the craters. 
D) steep walls of the craters, undercut on the side away from the direction in which the Moon is rotating. 
A) lava that fills each crater, even the small ones. 
B) long rays that project from all lunar craters. 
C) central peak in the craters. 
D) steep walls of the craters, undercut on the side away from the direction in which the Moon is rotating.

Question 11

The dominant rock type found on the lunar maria:

Accepted Answer

A) solidified quickly on the surface of the Moon, as shown by gas bubbles frozen into the rock. 
B) is metamorphic rock created from igneous rock by the intense heat and pressure of impacts by meteoroids. 
C) is made up of volcanic ash thrown out by lunar eruptions and compressed into rock by later deposits of ash. 
D) solidified slowly in the interior of the Moon, as shown by large crystals in the rock. 
A) solidified quickly on the surface of the Moon, as shown by gas bubbles frozen into the rock. 
B) is metamorphic rock created from igneous rock by the intense heat and pressure of impacts by meteoroids. 
C) is made up of volcanic ash thrown out by lunar eruptions and compressed into rock by later deposits of ash. 
D) solidified slowly in the interior of the Moon, as shown by large crystals in the rock.

Question 12

Recent research has suggested that the Moon's surface might be hazardous to astronauts because:

Accepted Answer

A) the crater walls are unstable and liable to collapse if disturbed. 
B) the regolith is much deeper than previously thought, and an astronaut might easily sink into it. 
C) the tiny regolith particles may cause serious lung problems. 
D) moonquakes are more severe than previously suspected. 
A) the crater walls are unstable and liable to collapse if disturbed. 
B) the regolith is much deeper than previously thought, and an astronaut might easily sink into it. 
C) the tiny regolith particles may cause serious lung problems. 
D) moonquakes are more severe than previously suspected.

Question 13

About 100 meteoroids of masses between 100 g and 1000 kg hit the Moon each year. The Moon is spherical with a total surface area given by 4πR2 (where R = radius). If a future lunar settler owns a parcel of land 1 km by 1 km in size, approximately how often, on average, will a meteoroid of this size strike somewhere in the parcel?

Accepted Answer

A) once every 4000 years 
B) once every 40,000,000 years 
C) 4 times per year 
D) once every 400,000 years 
A) once every 4000 years 
B) once every 40,000,000 years 
C) 4 times per year 
D) once every 400,000 years

Question 14

What physical change has the Moon's surface undergone in the past billion years?

Accepted Answer

A) absolutely no change 
B) a small amount of volcanic activity 
C) the formation of scarps and erosion by micrometeorites 
D) significant numbers of major impacts 
A) absolutely no change 
B) a small amount of volcanic activity 
C) the formation of scarps and erosion by micrometeorites 
D) significant numbers of major impacts

Question 15

If you were standing on the Moon with Earth in view, how much time would elapse between two successive "Earthrises"?

Accepted Answer

A) about 1 synodic month 
B) about 1 day 
C) about 1 sidereal month 
D) infinite time, because the same side of the Moon always faces toward Earth 
A) about 1 synodic month 
B) about 1 day 
C) about 1 sidereal month 
D) infinite time, because the same side of the Moon always faces toward Earth

Question 16

The age of Moon rocks has been determined primarily by what method?

Accepted Answer

A) careful chemical analysis of the constituents 
B) measurements of radioactive decay products 
C) careful examination of the site and surroundings, and particularly the measurement of the crater density, from which the rocks were acquired 
D) counting the numbers of micrometeoroid craters on the rock surface 
A) careful chemical analysis of the constituents 
B) measurements of radioactive decay products 
C) careful examination of the site and surroundings, and particularly the measurement of the crater density, from which the rocks were acquired 
D) counting the numbers of micrometeoroid craters on the rock surface

Question 17

Consider a large lunar crater, say 100 km across. What probably caused its formation?

Accepted Answer

A) a projectile 100 km across 
B) a projectile larger than 100 km across (since much of it would vaporize on impact) 
C) the shock wave generated by a projectile considerably less than 100 km across 
D) a lunar volcano 
A) a projectile 100 km across 
B) a projectile larger than 100 km across (since much of it would vaporize on impact) 
C) the shock wave generated by a projectile considerably less than 100 km across 
D) a lunar volcano

Question 18

If you were stationed at a lunar research facility on the near side of the Moon, what view of Earth would you have?

Accepted Answer

A) Earth would rise in the east and set in the west. 
B) Earth would rise in the west and set in the east. 
C) Earth would always be visible overhead. 
D) Earth would not be visible at all. 
A) Earth would rise in the east and set in the west. 
B) Earth would rise in the west and set in the east. 
C) Earth would always be visible overhead. 
D) Earth would not be visible at all.

Question 19

Moonquakes occur:

Accepted Answer

A) at a rate of about 3000 per year, less than the rate of terrestrial earthquakes. 
B) at a similar rate to quakes on Earth, hundreds of thousands per year. 
C) at a rate of only a few per year. 
D) only very rarely; the Moon is almost seismically quiet because it has no molten core. 
A) at a rate of about 3000 per year, less than the rate of terrestrial earthquakes. 
B) at a similar rate to quakes on Earth, hundreds of thousands per year. 
C) at a rate of only a few per year. 
D) only very rarely; the Moon is almost seismically quiet because it has no molten core.

Question 20

We have gained knowledge about the interior of the Moon from each of the following sources except one. Which is the exception?

Accepted Answer

A) seismic equipment left by the Apollo astronauts to measure moonquakes 
B) drilling significant distances into the Moon's interior 
C) comparing surfaces on the near and far sides of the Moon 
D) comparing the density of the Moon's surface material with its overall density 
A) seismic equipment left by the Apollo astronauts to measure moonquakes 
B) drilling significant distances into the Moon's interior 
C) comparing surfaces on the near and far sides of the Moon 
D) comparing the density of the Moon's surface material with its overall density

Exam 10: Our Barren Moon

What will most likely be the fate of the footprints that the astronauts left on the Moon?

In what year did humans first land on the Moon?

The net tidal force on the Moon is the differential force on the tidal bulges raised by Earth's gravity on the Moon's surface; it varies inversely like Earth-Moon distance to the sixth power. What is the ratio of the net tidal force on the Moon at perigee to the net tidal force at apogee?

More detail is seen on the Moon at quarter phases than at full phases because:

Which robotic spacecraft successfully returned samples of lunar rocks back to Earth?

It was originally thought questionable whether a crewed lunar landing could take place because:

The Moon's South Pole-Aitken Basin is the largest known impact crater in the solar system. Yet it was never mentioned by the seventeenth-century astronomers who named most of the Moon's prominent features. What do we believe is the reason for this?

Before the Mars-sized impactor struck Earth to cause ejecta that formed the Moon, Earth probably had a:

We believe the Moon's core is made of iron-rich materials and is partially liquid. We have formed this opinion based on each of the following activities except one. Which is the exception?

One piece of experimental evidence that supports the idea that the Moon's craters were formed by high-speed impacts is that the craters are round. Another piece of evidence is the:

The dominant rock type found on the lunar maria:

Recent research has suggested that the Moon's surface might be hazardous to astronauts because:

What physical change has the Moon's surface undergone in the past billion years?

If you were standing on the Moon with Earth in view, how much time would elapse between two successive "Earthrises"?

The age of Moon rocks has been determined primarily by what method?

Consider a large lunar crater, say 100 km across. What probably caused its formation?

If you were stationed at a lunar research facility on the near side of the Moon, what view of Earth would you have?

Moonquakes occur:

We have gained knowledge about the interior of the Moon from each of the following sources except one. Which is the exception?

Astronomy and the Universe

Knowing the Heavens

Eclipses and the Motion of the Moon

Gravitation and the Waltz of the Planets

The Nature of Light

Optics and Telescopes

Comparative Planetology I: Our Solar System

Comparative Planetology II: the Origin of Our Solar System

The Living Earth

Mercury, Venus, and Mars: Terrestrial, yet Unique

Jupiter and Saturn: Lords of the Planets

Jupiter and Saturns Satellites of Fire and Ice

Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, and the Kuiper Belt: Remote Worlds

Asteroids, Comets, and Impacts

Our Star, the Sun

The Nature of the Stars

The Birth of Stars

Stellar Evolution: on and After the Main Sequence

Stellar Evolution: The Death of Stars

Stellar Remnants: Neutron Stars and Black Holes

Our Galaxy

Galaxies

Quasars and Active Galaxies

Cosmology: The Origin and Evolution of the Universe

Exploring the Early Universe

The Search for Extraterrestrial Life

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