Question 1

The generation of Earth's magnetic field,while not completely understood,is most probably influenced by:

Accepted Answer

A)  the flow of electrons and ions constituting an electric current in Earth's magnetosphere. 
B)  electric currents in Earth's electricity-conducting molten core. 
C)  permanent magnetism in Earth's crustal rocks and the iron core. 
D)  electric currents in Earth's semisolid mantle induced by the motion of the solar wind flowing around Earth. 
A)  the flow of electrons and ions constituting an electric current in Earth's magnetosphere. 
B)  electric currents in Earth's electricity-conducting molten core. 
C)  permanent magnetism in Earth's crustal rocks and the iron core. 
D)  electric currents in Earth's semisolid mantle induced by the motion of the solar wind flowing around Earth.

Question 2

Two conditions that appear to be necessary for the generation of a powerful magnetic field in planets that are NOT present simultaneously on Mercury are:

Accepted Answer

A)  rapid rotation and a molten iron core. 
B)  a molten core and a significant atmosphere. 
C)  rapid rotation and a conducting atmosphere. 
D)  a solid surface and a significant iron content. 
A)  rapid rotation and a molten iron core. 
B)  a molten core and a significant atmosphere. 
C)  rapid rotation and a conducting atmosphere. 
D)  a solid surface and a significant iron content.

Question 3

Each of the following has been proposed as a mechanism for resurfacing Venus (and periodically eradication of the craters)EXCEPT ONE.Which is the exception?

Accepted Answer

A)  continual tectonic plate activity much like Earth 
B)  volcanism caused by mantle convection heated by radioactive decay 
C)  episodic tectonic activity following the cracking of the surface 
D)  crustal melting 
A)  continual tectonic plate activity much like Earth 
B)  volcanism caused by mantle convection heated by radioactive decay 
C)  episodic tectonic activity following the cracking of the surface 
D)  crustal melting

Question 4

What are the two very similar properties Earth and Mars possess?

Accepted Answer

A)  length of solar day and inclination of equator to the ecliptic 
B)  length of solar day and diameter 
C)  planet diameter and inclination of equator to the ecliptic plane 
D)  orbital period and length of solar day 
A)  length of solar day and inclination of equator to the ecliptic 
B)  length of solar day and diameter 
C)  planet diameter and inclination of equator to the ecliptic plane 
D)  orbital period and length of solar day

Question 5

The average density of a planet is:

Accepted Answer

A)  its total mass divided by its total volume. 
B)  the amount of mass in unit volume of the material on its surface. 
C)  another way of describing its total mass. 
D)  the mass of a unit volume (1 cubic meter) of the material at its core. 
A)  its total mass divided by its total volume. 
B)  the amount of mass in unit volume of the material on its surface. 
C)  another way of describing its total mass. 
D)  the mass of a unit volume (1 cubic meter) of the material at its core.

Question 6

Mercury often appears as a bright object in the sky because:

Accepted Answer

A)  of its nearness to Earth. 
B)  of its large albedo. 
C)  of its nearness to the Sun. 
D)  it is still contracting gravitationally and gives out more radiation than it receives. 
A)  of its nearness to Earth. 
B)  of its large albedo. 
C)  of its nearness to the Sun. 
D)  it is still contracting gravitationally and gives out more radiation than it receives.

Question 7

Continental drift on Earth is a result of:

Accepted Answer

A)  water percolating down through geological fault zones, acting both as a lubricant and as a hydraulic pump. 
B)  the momentum of impacts from large meteorites hitting the early Earth. 
C)  large-scale circulation of partly molten or plastic rock in Earth's interior. 
D)  flexing of Earth's surface by lunar and solar tides. 
A)  water percolating down through geological fault zones, acting both as a lubricant and as a hydraulic pump. 
B)  the momentum of impacts from large meteorites hitting the early Earth. 
C)  large-scale circulation of partly molten or plastic rock in Earth's interior. 
D)  flexing of Earth's surface by lunar and solar tides.

Question 8

Which term does NOT label a region of Earth's atmosphere or near-Earth environment?

Accepted Answer

A)  magnetosphere 
B)  troposphere 
C)  stratosphere 
D)  chromosphere 
A)  magnetosphere 
B)  troposphere 
C)  stratosphere 
D)  chromosphere

Question 9

The appearance of the entire surface of the Moon could be described as:

Accepted Answer

A)  uniform distribution of surface features, including maria and craters. 
B)  maria only on the near side and no major maria on the far side. 
C)  dry, waterless terrain on the near side and ice sheets on the dark side. 
D)  mostly craters on the near side and extensive maria and few craters on the far side. 
A)  uniform distribution of surface features, including maria and craters. 
B)  maria only on the near side and no major maria on the far side. 
C)  dry, waterless terrain on the near side and ice sheets on the dark side. 
D)  mostly craters on the near side and extensive maria and few craters on the far side.

Question 10

In order of increasing density,the Jovian planets are:

Accepted Answer

A)  Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. 
B)  Saturn, Uranus, Jupiter, and Neptune. 
C)  Neptune, Saturn, Uranus, and Jupiter. 
D)  Neptune, Uranus, Saturn, and Jupiter. 
A)  Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. 
B)  Saturn, Uranus, Jupiter, and Neptune. 
C)  Neptune, Saturn, Uranus, and Jupiter. 
D)  Neptune, Uranus, Saturn, and Jupiter.

Question 11

The mass of Mars is given as 11% of Earth's mass,while its radius is half of Earth's radius.What do these figures suggest for the density of Mars?

Accepted Answer

A)  The density of Mars is less than the density of Earth. 
B)  The density of Mars is the same as the density of Earth. 
C)  The density of Mars is greater than the density of Earth. 
D)  Not enough information is given to compare the densities of Mars and Earth. 
A)  The density of Mars is less than the density of Earth. 
B)  The density of Mars is the same as the density of Earth. 
C)  The density of Mars is greater than the density of Earth. 
D)  Not enough information is given to compare the densities of Mars and Earth.

Question 12

What is a mare on the Moon?

Accepted Answer

A)  a smooth floor of an ancient asteroid impact basin, never subjected to inundation by lava or other volcanic activity 
B)  a large area smoothed by deformation and tectonic activity 
C)  a large area of heavily cratered highland terrain 
D)  a very large, ancient lava flow 
A)  a smooth floor of an ancient asteroid impact basin, never subjected to inundation by lava or other volcanic activity 
B)  a large area smoothed by deformation and tectonic activity 
C)  a large area of heavily cratered highland terrain 
D)  a very large, ancient lava flow

Question 13

The albedo,or fraction of light reflected from the surface,of Mercury is:

Accepted Answer

A)  fairly high, about the same as that of Earth. 
B)  very low because of its dark rocky surface and absence of an atmosphere. 
C)  variable and relatively high because of variable cloud cover. 
D)  very high because of the light color of its surface. 
A)  fairly high, about the same as that of Earth. 
B)  very low because of its dark rocky surface and absence of an atmosphere. 
C)  variable and relatively high because of variable cloud cover. 
D)  very high because of the light color of its surface.

Question 14

A rille is a:

Accepted Answer

A)  pattern seen in the tail of a comet. 
B)  type of geological fault on Venus. 
C)  low hill system on Mars. 
D)  shallow winding valley on the Moon. 
A)  pattern seen in the tail of a comet. 
B)  type of geological fault on Venus. 
C)  low hill system on Mars. 
D)  shallow winding valley on the Moon.

Question 15

What is the name given to the two doughnut-shaped regions where high-energy charged particles are trapped by Earth's magnetic field in Earth's magnetosphere?

Accepted Answer

A)  the Van Allen belts 
B)  auroral ovals 
C)  ionospheric E and F layers 
D)  ozone layers 
A)  the Van Allen belts 
B)  auroral ovals 
C)  ionospheric E and F layers 
D)  ozone layers

Question 16

What were the results of the life-sciences experiments aboard the Viking landers?

Accepted Answer

A)  strong reactions releasing oxygen from apparent biological causes (e.g., bacteria) 
B)  none at all since the Martian soil is completely chemically inert and biologically sterile 
C)  strong reactions releasing oxygen but from nonbiological causes 
D)  slight fizzing due to released carbon dioxide but very little else 
A)  strong reactions releasing oxygen from apparent biological causes (e.g., bacteria) 
B)  none at all since the Martian soil is completely chemically inert and biologically sterile 
C)  strong reactions releasing oxygen but from nonbiological causes 
D)  slight fizzing due to released carbon dioxide but very little else

Question 17

The troposphere of Earth is the:

Accepted Answer

A)  atmospheric layer closest to the ground. 
B)  atmospheric layer above the mesosphere. 
C)  uppermost layer of solid rock below the planet's crust. 
D)  atmospheric layer that contains the highest concentration of ozone. 
A)  atmospheric layer closest to the ground. 
B)  atmospheric layer above the mesosphere. 
C)  uppermost layer of solid rock below the planet's crust. 
D)  atmospheric layer that contains the highest concentration of ozone.

Question 18

What are neap tides?

Accepted Answer

A)  high tides that are significantly higher than the average high tide 
B)  high tides that are significantly lower than the average high tide 
C)  any low tides 
D)  any high tides 
A)  high tides that are significantly higher than the average high tide 
B)  high tides that are significantly lower than the average high tide 
C)  any low tides 
D)  any high tides

Question 19

The highest daytime temperature reached on the surface of Mercury is:

Accepted Answer

A)  961°C, high enough to melt silver. 
B)  430°C, high enough to melt lead and tin. 
C)  0°C, high enough to melt water ice. 
D)  100°C, high enough to boil water. 
A)  961°C, high enough to melt silver. 
B)  430°C, high enough to melt lead and tin. 
C)  0°C, high enough to melt water ice. 
D)  100°C, high enough to boil water.

Question 20

The dominant component of the soil on Mars is probably:

Accepted Answer

A)  sedimentary rocks laid down by massive floods early in Mars's history. 
B)  volcanic ash from eruptions in recent geological times. 
C)  basaltic lava pulverized by meteoritic bombardment. 
D)  iron oxides. 
A)  sedimentary rocks laid down by massive floods early in Mars's history. 
B)  volcanic ash from eruptions in recent geological times. 
C)  basaltic lava pulverized by meteoritic bombardment. 
D)  iron oxides.

The generation of Earth's magnetic field,while not completely understood,is most probably influenced by:

Two conditions that appear to be necessary for the generation of a powerful magnetic field in planets that are NOT present simultaneously on Mercury are:

Each of the following has been proposed as a mechanism for resurfacing Venus (and periodically eradication of the craters)EXCEPT ONE.Which is the exception?

What are the two very similar properties Earth and Mars possess?

The average density of a planet is:

Mercury often appears as a bright object in the sky because:

Continental drift on Earth is a result of:

Which term does NOT label a region of Earth's atmosphere or near-Earth environment?

The appearance of the entire surface of the Moon could be described as:

In order of increasing density,the Jovian planets are:

The mass of Mars is given as 11% of Earth's mass,while its radius is half of Earth's radius.What do these figures suggest for the density of Mars?

What is a mare on the Moon?

The albedo,or fraction of light reflected from the surface,of Mercury is:

A rille is a:

What is the name given to the two doughnut-shaped regions where high-energy charged particles are trapped by Earth's magnetic field in Earth's magnetosphere?

What were the results of the life-sciences experiments aboard the Viking landers?

The troposphere of Earth is the:

What are neap tides?

The highest daytime temperature reached on the surface of Mercury is:

The dominant component of the soil on Mars is probably:

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 generation of Earth's magnetic field,while not completely understood,is most probably influenced by:

Two conditions that appear to be necessary for the generation of a powerful magnetic field in planets that are NOT present simultaneously on Mercury are:

Each of the following has been proposed as a mechanism for resurfacing Venus (and periodically eradication of the craters)EXCEPT ONE.Which is the exception?

What are the two very similar properties Earth and Mars possess?

The average density of a planet is:

Mercury often appears as a bright object in the sky because:

Continental drift on Earth is a result of:

Which term does NOT label a region of Earth's atmosphere or near-Earth environment?

The appearance of the entire surface of the Moon could be described as:

In order of increasing density,the Jovian planets are:

The mass of Mars is given as 11% of Earth's mass,while its radius is half of Earth's radius.What do these figures suggest for the density of Mars?

What is a mare on the Moon?

The albedo,or fraction of light reflected from the surface,of Mercury is:

A rille is a:

What is the name given to the two doughnut-shaped regions where high-energy charged particles are trapped by Earth's magnetic field in Earth's magnetosphere?

What were the results of the life-sciences experiments aboard the Viking landers?

The troposphere of Earth is the:

What are neap tides?

The highest daytime temperature reached on the surface of Mercury is:

The dominant component of the soil on Mars is probably:

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