Question 1

The asthenosphere is:

Accepted Answer

A) the layer of Earth's atmosphere that lies above the stratosphere. 
B) a layer below Earth's crust. 
C) a layer in the atmosphere of Venus containing the densest clouds. 
D) one of the colored layers in the atmosphere of Jupiter. 
A) the layer of Earth's atmosphere that lies above the stratosphere. 
B) a layer below Earth's crust. 
C) a layer in the atmosphere of Venus containing the densest clouds. 
D) one of the colored layers in the atmosphere of Jupiter.

Question 2

Earth's interior received its heat energy from the impacts of planetesimals and from radioactivity. This heat energy is gradually radiating into space. As Earth's interior continues to cool, we can expect that, in the distant future, the:

Accepted Answer

A) inner core will become molten like the outer core. 
B) outer core will become solid like the inner core. 
C) mantle will become molten while the core will become solid. 
D) entire interior will become one homogeneous solid. 
A) inner core will become molten like the outer core. 
B) outer core will become solid like the inner core. 
C) mantle will become molten while the core will become solid. 
D) entire interior will become one homogeneous solid.

Question 3

In most cases the greatest force that moves seafloor plates is:

Accepted Answer

A) slab pull. (High-density seafloor slab is pulled by gravity into the lower-density mantle.) 
B) ridge push. (Molten rock emerging from an oceanic rift is pulled down the slope by gravity.) 
C) convection in lower layers dragging the plates along. 
D) the force exerted as the plate tries to drag the lower layers along. 
A) slab pull. (High-density seafloor slab is pulled by gravity into the lower-density mantle.) 
B) ridge push. (Molten rock emerging from an oceanic rift is pulled down the slope by gravity.) 
C) convection in lower layers dragging the plates along. 
D) the force exerted as the plate tries to drag the lower layers along.

Question 4

Earth has a temperature and thus emits radiation somewhat like a blackbody. What is the source of the energy for this radiation?

Accepted Answer

A) incoming radiation received from the Sun 
B) heat retained by Earth's interior since it was created by the collisions of planetesimals 
C) heat from radioactive decay deep within Earth 
D) tidal friction 
A) incoming radiation received from the Sun 
B) heat retained by Earth's interior since it was created by the collisions of planetesimals 
C) heat from radioactive decay deep within Earth 
D) tidal friction

Question 5

Sedimentary rocks are found:

Accepted Answer

A) only on the present-day ocean floor. 
B) only on the floors of ancient oceans. 
C) only in the volcanic regions. 
D) just about everywhere on Earth's surface. 
A) only on the present-day ocean floor. 
B) only on the floors of ancient oceans. 
C) only in the volcanic regions. 
D) just about everywhere on Earth's surface.

Question 6

Within Earth the temperature:

Accepted Answer

A) at every location is less than the condensation temperature of the materials at that location. 
B) at every location is greater than the condensation temperature of the materials at that location. 
C) at some locations is greater than the condensation temperature of the materials at that location and at other locations it is less. 
D) increases constantly from surface to center, but the condensation temperature of the rocks in the interior is constant. 
A) at every location is less than the condensation temperature of the materials at that location. 
B) at every location is greater than the condensation temperature of the materials at that location. 
C) at some locations is greater than the condensation temperature of the materials at that location and at other locations it is less. 
D) increases constantly from surface to center, but the condensation temperature of the rocks in the interior is constant.

Question 7

Geologists land on a new planet and begin a series of seismic measurements. A quake occurs, and they detect both S and P waves on the opposite side of the planet from the quake. What does this say about the planet's geology?

Accepted Answer

A) There must be large liquid oceans beneath the crust. 
B) The structure is much like Earth, with a solid inner core surrounded by a liquid outer core. 
C) The entire core must be liquid. 
D) The entire core must be solid. 
A) There must be large liquid oceans beneath the crust. 
B) The structure is much like Earth, with a solid inner core surrounded by a liquid outer core. 
C) The entire core must be liquid. 
D) The entire core must be solid.

Question 8

Which two tectonic plates are slowly separating from each other along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge in the south Atlantic? (See Figure 9-15 of Universe, 11th ed.)
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  ​

Accepted Answer

A) Nazca and Pacific plates 
B) African and Eurasian plates 
C) Pacific and Australia-India plates 
D) South American and African plates 
A) Nazca and Pacific plates 
B) African and Eurasian plates 
C) Pacific and Australia-India plates 
D) South American and African plates

Question 9

The Australia-India tectonic plate (See Figure 9-15 of Universe, 11th ed.) is pushing against which plate to form the Himalayan Mountains?
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  ​

Accepted Answer

A) Antarctic plate 
B) Eurasian plate 
C) African plate 
D) North American plate 
A) Antarctic plate 
B) Eurasian plate 
C) African plate 
D) North American plate

Question 10

The Van Allen belts are:

Accepted Answer

A) zones on Earth where seismic waves from an earthquake are not felt. 
B) faint halos of interplanetary dust between Moon and Earth. 
C) layers of Earth's atmosphere between troposphere and stratosphere. 
D) regions of high-energy charged particles trapped within Earth's magnetosphere. 
A) zones on Earth where seismic waves from an earthquake are not felt. 
B) faint halos of interplanetary dust between Moon and Earth. 
C) layers of Earth's atmosphere between troposphere and stratosphere. 
D) regions of high-energy charged particles trapped within Earth's magnetosphere.

Question 11

On Venus, large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) have come from the planet's interior to form a thick CO2 atmosphere. What is the carbon dioxide situation on Earth?

Accepted Answer

A) Earth, too, has an atmosphere that is mostly CO2. 
B) Earth's interior is entirely different from that of Venus, so that it never produced much carbon dioxide. 
C) Earth's carbon dioxide is mostly dissolved in the oceans and locked up in carbonate rocks. 
D) Earth's carbon dioxide has mostly escaped because Earth's gravity is so much weaker than that of Venus. 
A) Earth, too, has an atmosphere that is mostly CO2. 
B) Earth's interior is entirely different from that of Venus, so that it never produced much carbon dioxide. 
C) Earth's carbon dioxide is mostly dissolved in the oceans and locked up in carbonate rocks. 
D) Earth's carbon dioxide has mostly escaped because Earth's gravity is so much weaker than that of Venus.

Question 12

Earth is the only planet whose atmosphere contains a significant amount of:

Accepted Answer

A) hydrogen. 
B) oxygen. 
C) carbon dioxide. 
D) water vapor. 
A) hydrogen. 
B) oxygen. 
C) carbon dioxide. 
D) water vapor.

Question 13

Long-period variations in surface temperature on Earth are caused by a variety of factors. Which one of the following is not one of these factors?

Accepted Answer

A) variation in the brightness of the Sun 
B) changes to the eccentricity of Earth's orbit 
C) changes to the angle and orientation of Earth's rotation axis 
D) variability of radioactive decay of elements within Earth 
A) variation in the brightness of the Sun 
B) changes to the eccentricity of Earth's orbit 
C) changes to the angle and orientation of Earth's rotation axis 
D) variability of radioactive decay of elements within Earth

Question 14

What is the difference between minerals and rocks?

Accepted Answer

A) A mineral is formed of a single element or compound; rocks can be composed of more than one mineral. 
B) A rock is formed of a single element or compound; minerals can be composed of more than one rock. 
C) Minerals exist only deep in Earth's core; rocks exist in the mantle and crust. 
D) Minerals occur only in lava flows; rocks are formed only in nonvolcanic regions. 
A) A mineral is formed of a single element or compound; rocks can be composed of more than one mineral. 
B) A rock is formed of a single element or compound; minerals can be composed of more than one rock. 
C) Minerals exist only deep in Earth's core; rocks exist in the mantle and crust. 
D) Minerals occur only in lava flows; rocks are formed only in nonvolcanic regions.

Question 15

You begin at the base of Earth's atmosphere where the temperature is 0°C. From here you send a weather balloon straight up in order to measure temperature. What will you find? (See Figure 9-25 of Universe, 10th ed.)
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  ​

Accepted Answer

A) The temperature will increase steadily as the balloon ascends. 
B) The temperature will decrease steadily as the balloon ascends. 
C) The temperature will increase and then decrease, so that there will be one additional location where the temperature will again be 0°C. 
D) The temperature changes in a complicated way, so that there will be several other locations where the temperature will again be 0°C. 
A) The temperature will increase steadily as the balloon ascends. 
B) The temperature will decrease steadily as the balloon ascends. 
C) The temperature will increase and then decrease, so that there will be one additional location where the temperature will again be 0°C. 
D) The temperature changes in a complicated way, so that there will be several other locations where the temperature will again be 0°C.

Question 16

During the El Niño phenomenon, many animals in the equatorial Pacific die. The ultimate cause of this is the:

Accepted Answer

A) sudden spreading of the "red tide" algae, which devours food required by other species. 
B) upwelling of cold waters from the depths, which chill surface species and cause them to cease reproduction. 
C) warming of surface waters and suppression of nutrient-rich colder waters. 
D) redirection of nutrient-rich surface currents away from the animals that depend on them. 
A) sudden spreading of the "red tide" algae, which devours food required by other species. 
B) upwelling of cold waters from the depths, which chill surface species and cause them to cease reproduction. 
C) warming of surface waters and suppression of nutrient-rich colder waters. 
D) redirection of nutrient-rich surface currents away from the animals that depend on them.

Question 17

Which one of the following techniques can be used to determine the mass of a planet most easily?

Accepted Answer

A) Measure the size by direct observation. 
B) Observe the "wobble" its gravitational pull causes in the motion of the Sun. 
C) Measure the period and size of the orbit of a satellite moving around it. 
D) Observe the spectrum of radiation reflected from its surface. 
A) Measure the size by direct observation. 
B) Observe the "wobble" its gravitational pull causes in the motion of the Sun. 
C) Measure the period and size of the orbit of a satellite moving around it. 
D) Observe the spectrum of radiation reflected from its surface.

Question 18

Earth's atmosphere contains about 20% oxygen. What is believed to be the source of this molecular oxygen?

Accepted Answer

A) It is outgassed from the interior of Earth through volcanoes. 
B) It is part of the original solar nebula from which the solar system condensed. 
C) It is the by-product of radioactive decay. 
D) It is created by green plants. 
A) It is outgassed from the interior of Earth through volcanoes. 
B) It is part of the original solar nebula from which the solar system condensed. 
C) It is the by-product of radioactive decay. 
D) It is created by green plants.

Question 19

Earth's albedo is 0.39. The total amount of radiant energy emitted (rather than reflected) by Earth is thus:

Accepted Answer

A) 39% of the incoming radiation from the Sun. 
B) 61% of the incoming radiation from the Sun. 
C) 100% of the incoming radiation from the Sun. 
D) actually slightly more than 100% of the incoming radiation from the Sun because of the greenhouse effect. 
A) 39% of the incoming radiation from the Sun. 
B) 61% of the incoming radiation from the Sun. 
C) 100% of the incoming radiation from the Sun. 
D) actually slightly more than 100% of the incoming radiation from the Sun because of the greenhouse effect.

Question 20

Earth's biosphere includes:

Accepted Answer

A) the mantle, crust, and atmosphere. 
B) the troposphere, stratosphere, and crust. 
C) the troposphere, stratosphere, and everything down to 1 km beneath the surface of the crust. 
D) only the ground level of Earth plus the oceans. 
A) the mantle, crust, and atmosphere. 
B) the troposphere, stratosphere, and crust. 
C) the troposphere, stratosphere, and everything down to 1 km beneath the surface of the crust. 
D) only the ground level of Earth plus the oceans.

Exam 9: The Living Earth

The asthenosphere is:

Earth's interior received its heat energy from the impacts of planetesimals and from radioactivity. This heat energy is gradually radiating into space. As Earth's interior continues to cool, we can expect that, in the distant future, the:

In most cases the greatest force that moves seafloor plates is:

Earth has a temperature and thus emits radiation somewhat like a blackbody. What is the source of the energy for this radiation?

Sedimentary rocks are found:

Within Earth the temperature:

Geologists land on a new planet and begin a series of seismic measurements. A quake occurs, and they detect both S and P waves on the opposite side of the planet from the quake. What does this say about the planet's geology?

Which two tectonic plates are slowly separating from each other along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge in the south Atlantic? (See Figure 9-15 of Universe, 11th ed.) ​ ​

The Australia-India tectonic plate (See Figure 9-15 of Universe, 11th ed.) is pushing against which plate to form the Himalayan Mountains? ​ ​

The Van Allen belts are:

On Venus, large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) have come from the planet's interior to form a thick CO2 atmosphere. What is the carbon dioxide situation on Earth?

Earth is the only planet whose atmosphere contains a significant amount of:

Long-period variations in surface temperature on Earth are caused by a variety of factors. Which one of the following is not one of these factors?

What is the difference between minerals and rocks?

You begin at the base of Earth's atmosphere where the temperature is 0°C. From here you send a weather balloon straight up in order to measure temperature. What will you find? (See Figure 9-25 of Universe, 10th ed.) ​ ​

During the El Niño phenomenon, many animals in the equatorial Pacific die. The ultimate cause of this is the:

Which one of the following techniques can be used to determine the mass of a planet most easily?

Earth's atmosphere contains about 20% oxygen. What is believed to be the source of this molecular oxygen?

Earth's albedo is 0.39. The total amount of radiant energy emitted (rather than reflected) by Earth is thus:

Earth's biosphere includes:

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

Our Barren Moon

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

Filters

Which two tectonic plates are slowly separating from each other along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge in the south Atlantic? (See Figure 9-15 of Universe, 11th ed.)

The Australia-India tectonic plate (See Figure 9-15 of Universe, 11th ed.) is pushing against which plate to form the Himalayan Mountains?

On Venus, large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO₂₎ have come from the planet's interior to form a thick CO₂ atmosphere. What is the carbon dioxide situation on Earth?

You begin at the base of Earth's atmosphere where the temperature is 0°C. From here you send a weather balloon straight up in order to measure temperature. What will you find? (See Figure 9-25 of Universe, 10th ed.)