Question 1

The average speed of motion of the plates on Earth's surface is:

Accepted Answer

A)  very small, less than a millimeter per century. 
B)  about 10 meters per year. 
C)  a few centimeters per year. 
D)  a few centimeters per century. 
A)  very small, less than a millimeter per century. 
B)  about 10 meters per year. 
C)  a few centimeters per year. 
D)  a few centimeters per century.

Question 2

What is the significance of the natural bridge that superficially appears to connect two small adjacent craters on the Moon?

Accepted Answer

A)  It supports the identification of rilles with collapsed lava tubes. 
B)  It supports the idea that water once flowed on the Moon's surface. 
C)  It shows that some lunar craters are of volcanic origin. 
D)  It appears to be the result of tectonic plate action. 
A)  It supports the identification of rilles with collapsed lava tubes. 
B)  It supports the idea that water once flowed on the Moon's surface. 
C)  It shows that some lunar craters are of volcanic origin. 
D)  It appears to be the result of tectonic plate action.

Question 3

In which way are Venus and Mars alike and yet both markedly different from Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  Venus and Mars are both perpetually shrouded in clouds. 
B)  Venus and Mars both have either active or extinct volcanoes on their surface. 
C)  The atmospheres of Venus and Mars are both made up primarily of carbon dioxide. 
D)  The surface temperatures of Venus and Mars are both much higher than that of Earth. 
A)  Venus and Mars are both perpetually shrouded in clouds. 
B)  Venus and Mars both have either active or extinct volcanoes on their surface. 
C)  The atmospheres of Venus and Mars are both made up primarily of carbon dioxide. 
D)  The surface temperatures of Venus and Mars are both much higher than that of Earth.

Question 4

What is the material that produces the distinct red color of Mars?

Accepted Answer

A)  scattered sunlight from very fine dust, similar to sunset effects on Earth 
B)  rust, or iron oxides 
C)  carbon dioxide because it absorbs blue and green light preferentially 
D)  red-colored vegetation that seems to fluctuate seasonally, particularly near the equator 
A)  scattered sunlight from very fine dust, similar to sunset effects on Earth 
B)  rust, or iron oxides 
C)  carbon dioxide because it absorbs blue and green light preferentially 
D)  red-colored vegetation that seems to fluctuate seasonally, particularly near the equator

Question 5

On which planet can we see prominent but variable ice caps?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 6

There is no evidence of plate tectonics on Mercury.The MOST likely explanation is that:

Accepted Answer

A)  the planet cooled too slowly and the mantle remained too soft. 
B)  the planet cooled too rapidly and the mantle became too rigid. 
C)  Mercury has no iron core like Earth's. 
D)  plate tectonics can only occur on a body with continents separated by oceans. 
A)  the planet cooled too slowly and the mantle remained too soft. 
B)  the planet cooled too rapidly and the mantle became too rigid. 
C)  Mercury has no iron core like Earth's. 
D)  plate tectonics can only occur on a body with continents separated by oceans.

Question 7

During what part of the Moon's life were MOST of the craters formed?

Accepted Answer

A)  between about 500 million and 1.5 billion years after the Moon formed 
B)  during the first 800 million years 
C)  approximately evenly from when the Moon first formed until the present day 
D)  during the first 200 million years 
A)  between about 500 million and 1.5 billion years after the Moon formed 
B)  during the first 800 million years 
C)  approximately evenly from when the Moon first formed until the present day 
D)  during the first 200 million years

Question 8

The main gases contributing to the greenhouse effect are:

Accepted Answer

A)  CO₂ and H₂O. 
B)  O₂ and N₂ 
C)  N₂ and CO₂. 
D)  O₂ and CO₂. 
A)  CO₂ and H₂O. 
B)  O₂ and N₂ 
C)  N₂ and CO₂. 
D)  O₂ and CO₂.

Question 9

The vast majority of lunar craters were caused by:

Accepted Answer

A)  lunar quakes, under gravitational tidal disturbance from Earth. 
B)  bombardment by objects of various sizes from space. 
C)  the explosion of rocks under the thermal shock from alternating intense sunlight in daytime to the cold of space at night. 
D)  volcanic eruptions from the Moon's interior. 
A)  lunar quakes, under gravitational tidal disturbance from Earth. 
B)  bombardment by objects of various sizes from space. 
C)  the explosion of rocks under the thermal shock from alternating intense sunlight in daytime to the cold of space at night. 
D)  volcanic eruptions from the Moon's interior.

Question 10

A distinct area of unusually jumbled,hilly terrain has been found on Mercury.How is this terrain believed to have been formed?

Accepted Answer

A)  by an intense shower of meteoroids near the end of the heavy bombardment era 
B)  by upwelling of magma while Mercury was still hot enough for its mantle to be tectonically active 
C)  by the impact of a large comet 
D)  by seismic waves generated by the Caloris impact 
A)  by an intense shower of meteoroids near the end of the heavy bombardment era 
B)  by upwelling of magma while Mercury was still hot enough for its mantle to be tectonically active 
C)  by the impact of a large comet 
D)  by seismic waves generated by the Caloris impact

Question 11

Mercury's iron core takes up approximately what fraction of the volume of the planet?

Accepted Answer

A)  about 17%, very similar to that of Earth 
B)  greater than 95% 
C)  about 65-70% 
D)  about 40% 
A)  about 17%, very similar to that of Earth 
B)  greater than 95% 
C)  about 65-70% 
D)  about 40%

Question 12

Where has water been detected on Mars?

Accepted Answer

A)  as a liquid flowing along the numerous flood valleys and meandering stream beds 
B)  only as atmospheric water vapor, never condensing out as clouds, liquid water, or solid ice 
C)  in permafrost and polar icecaps and as water vapor in the atmosphere 
D)  as a liquid in under-surface lakes and rivers 
A)  as a liquid flowing along the numerous flood valleys and meandering stream beds 
B)  only as atmospheric water vapor, never condensing out as clouds, liquid water, or solid ice 
C)  in permafrost and polar icecaps and as water vapor in the atmosphere 
D)  as a liquid in under-surface lakes and rivers

Question 13

The surface features and overall topology of Venus have been determined primarily by:

Accepted Answer

A)  balloon-borne spacecraft, launched into the Venusian atmosphere by spacecraft. 
B)  surface lander vehicles that have explored the surface thoroughly. 
C)  visible and UV photography from the Space Shuttle. 
D)  radar methods from Venus-orbiting spacecraft, measuring radio echoes from the surface. 
A)  balloon-borne spacecraft, launched into the Venusian atmosphere by spacecraft. 
B)  surface lander vehicles that have explored the surface thoroughly. 
C)  visible and UV photography from the Space Shuttle. 
D)  radar methods from Venus-orbiting spacecraft, measuring radio echoes from the surface.

Question 14

Why is the core of Earth made up predominantly of the heavy element iron?

Accepted Answer

A)  Chemical processes refined iron from iron oxides and other compounds in primordial rocks at the high temperatures of Earth's core, similar to present-day iron ore processing. 
B)  Nuclear reactions in the very hot early core of Earth produced iron from lighter elements by nuclear fusion. 
C)  The heavy elements sank slowly to the center during early molten phases in Earth's geological history. 
D)  The heavy elements came together first out of the primordial dust and gas to form the initial Earth because of their greater density and gravitational attraction, and this core then attracted lighter rocks to its surface. 
A)  Chemical processes refined iron from iron oxides and other compounds in primordial rocks at the high temperatures of Earth's core, similar to present-day iron ore processing. 
B)  Nuclear reactions in the very hot early core of Earth produced iron from lighter elements by nuclear fusion. 
C)  The heavy elements sank slowly to the center during early molten phases in Earth's geological history. 
D)  The heavy elements came together first out of the primordial dust and gas to form the initial Earth because of their greater density and gravitational attraction, and this core then attracted lighter rocks to its surface.

Question 15

To observers on Earth,the Moon shows:

Accepted Answer

A)  only the sunlit side at all times. 
B)  the same side at all times. 
C)  its whole surface once per year as Earth moves around the Sun. 
D)  its whole surface once per month as it rotates once per orbit around Earth. 
A)  only the sunlit side at all times. 
B)  the same side at all times. 
C)  its whole surface once per year as Earth moves around the Sun. 
D)  its whole surface once per month as it rotates once per orbit around Earth.

Question 16

Dried remains of underground water channels have been discovered on Mars.They appear to have been islands shaped by flowing water.Their depth suggests that they were formed about how many years ago?

Accepted Answer

A)  50,000 
B)  50 million 
C)  500 million 
D)  four billion 
A)  50,000 
B)  50 million 
C)  500 million 
D)  four billion

Question 17

What is the ratio of nitrogen to oxygen in Earth's atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

A)  1 part nitrogen to 2 parts oxygen 
B)  4 parts nitrogen to 1 part oxygen 
C)  1 part nitrogen to 4 parts oxygen 
D)  equal parts nitrogen and oxygen 
A)  1 part nitrogen to 2 parts oxygen 
B)  4 parts nitrogen to 1 part oxygen 
C)  1 part nitrogen to 4 parts oxygen 
D)  equal parts nitrogen and oxygen

Question 18

How have we obtained samples of Martian rocks?

Accepted Answer

A)  Astronauts have collected rocks and returned them to Earth. 
B)  We have not yet been able to obtain any Martian rocks. 
C)  Rocks were blasted off Mars by impacts and landed on Earth as meteorites. 
D)  A robotic rover collected rocks for return by its lander. 
A)  Astronauts have collected rocks and returned them to Earth. 
B)  We have not yet been able to obtain any Martian rocks. 
C)  Rocks were blasted off Mars by impacts and landed on Earth as meteorites. 
D)  A robotic rover collected rocks for return by its lander.

Question 19

Major maria on the Moon exist:

Accepted Answer

A)  uniformly over the surface. 
B)  only on the Earth-facing side. 
C)  only in a band close to the equator. 
D)  only in the northern hemisphere. 
A)  uniformly over the surface. 
B)  only on the Earth-facing side. 
C)  only in a band close to the equator. 
D)  only in the northern hemisphere.

Question 20

The Martian valley Valles Marineris is shown in Figure 6-58 of Comins,Discovering the Essential Universe,6th ed.How long is this valley in terms of Earth distances?

Accepted Answer

A)  half the length of Earth's equator, about 20,000 km 
B)  about 50 km, a significant distance on this small planet 
C)  a few hundred kilometers-New York to Washington, D.C. 
D)  the full width of the North American continent at mid-latitudes-a few thousand kilometers 
A)  half the length of Earth's equator, about 20,000 km 
B)  about 50 km, a significant distance on this small planet 
C)  a few hundred kilometers-New York to Washington, D.C. 
D)  the full width of the North American continent at mid-latitudes-a few thousand kilometers

The average speed of motion of the plates on Earth's surface is:

What is the significance of the natural bridge that superficially appears to connect two small adjacent craters on the Moon?

In which way are Venus and Mars alike and yet both markedly different from Earth?

What is the material that produces the distinct red color of Mars?

On which planet can we see prominent but variable ice caps?

There is no evidence of plate tectonics on Mercury.The MOST likely explanation is that:

During what part of the Moon's life were MOST of the craters formed?

The main gases contributing to the greenhouse effect are:

The vast majority of lunar craters were caused by:

A distinct area of unusually jumbled,hilly terrain has been found on Mercury.How is this terrain believed to have been formed?

Mercury's iron core takes up approximately what fraction of the volume of the planet?

Where has water been detected on Mars?

The surface features and overall topology of Venus have been determined primarily by:

Why is the core of Earth made up predominantly of the heavy element iron?

To observers on Earth,the Moon shows:

Dried remains of underground water channels have been discovered on Mars.They appear to have been islands shaped by flowing water.Their depth suggests that they were formed about how many years ago?

What is the ratio of nitrogen to oxygen in Earth's atmosphere?

How have we obtained samples of Martian rocks?

Major maria on the Moon exist:

The Martian valley Valles Marineris is shown in Figure 6-58 of Comins,Discovering the Essential Universe,6th ed.How long is this valley in terms of Earth distances?

Discovering the Night Sky

Gravitation and the Waltz of the Planets

Light and Telescopes

Formation of the Solar System and Other Planetary Systems

Exoplanets

The Outer Planets and Their Moons

Vagabonds of the Solar System

The Sun: Our Extraordinary Ordinary Star

Characterizing Stars

The Lives of the Stars From Birth Through Middle Age

The Deaths and Remnants of Stars

The Galaxies

Cosmology

Astrobiology

Filters

Exam 6: The Terrestrial Planets and Their Moons

The average speed of motion of the plates on Earth's surface is:

What is the significance of the natural bridge that superficially appears to connect two small adjacent craters on the Moon?

In which way are Venus and Mars alike and yet both markedly different from Earth?

What is the material that produces the distinct red color of Mars?

On which planet can we see prominent but variable ice caps?

There is no evidence of plate tectonics on Mercury.The MOST likely explanation is that:

During what part of the Moon's life were MOST of the craters formed?

The main gases contributing to the greenhouse effect are:

The vast majority of lunar craters were caused by:

A distinct area of unusually jumbled,hilly terrain has been found on Mercury.How is this terrain believed to have been formed?

Mercury's iron core takes up approximately what fraction of the volume of the planet?

Where has water been detected on Mars?

The surface features and overall topology of Venus have been determined primarily by:

Why is the core of Earth made up predominantly of the heavy element iron?

To observers on Earth,the Moon shows:

Dried remains of underground water channels have been discovered on Mars.They appear to have been islands shaped by flowing water.Their depth suggests that they were formed about how many years ago?

What is the ratio of nitrogen to oxygen in Earth's atmosphere?

How have we obtained samples of Martian rocks?

Major maria on the Moon exist:

The Martian valley Valles Marineris is shown in Figure 6-58 of Comins,Discovering the Essential Universe,6th ed.How long is this valley in terms of Earth distances?

Discovering the Night Sky

Gravitation and the Waltz of the Planets

Light and Telescopes

Formation of the Solar System and Other Planetary Systems

Exoplanets

The Outer Planets and Their Moons

Vagabonds of the Solar System

The Sun: Our Extraordinary Ordinary Star

Characterizing Stars

The Lives of the Stars From Birth Through Middle Age

The Deaths and Remnants of Stars

The Galaxies

Cosmology

Astrobiology

Filters