Question 1

Why did the Soviet spacecraft survive for only a few minutes on the Venusian surface?

Accepted Answer

A)  They landed in very rugged terrain and were not able to land upright, and they became damaged when they toppled over. 
B)  They landed very fast because there was insufficient atmosphere to slow down their descent. 
C)  They were attacked and destroyed by native inhabitants, but the space agency is not telling the world. 
D)  The conditions of extreme pressure, corrosive atmosphere, and high temperatures severely damaged it. 
A)  They landed in very rugged terrain and were not able to land upright, and they became damaged when they toppled over. 
B)  They landed very fast because there was insufficient atmosphere to slow down their descent. 
C)  They were attacked and destroyed by native inhabitants, but the space agency is not telling the world. 
D)  The conditions of extreme pressure, corrosive atmosphere, and high temperatures severely damaged it.

Question 2

Earth has an average density of 5500 kg/m³,although the density of rock on its surface is about 3000 kg/m³.What conclusion can be reached about Earth's core from this observation?

Accepted Answer

A)  Earth's core consists of lower-density material than surface rock. 
B)  Earth's core must be composed of material with density several times that of the surface material. 
C)  Earth's core must be very hot. 
D)  Earth's core is made of material far denser than surface rock. 
A)  Earth's core consists of lower-density material than surface rock. 
B)  Earth's core must be composed of material with density several times that of the surface material. 
C)  Earth's core must be very hot. 
D)  Earth's core is made of material far denser than surface rock.

Question 3

What significant evidence is there for the idea that large quantities of water once flowed on the planet Mars?

Accepted Answer

A)  a network of relatively straight canals linking polar and equatorial regions 
B)  clouds and frost that formed above and around the Viking spacecraft 
C)  frozen, dust-covered lakes inside ancient craters 
D)  deep, winding canyons and flood plains 
A)  a network of relatively straight canals linking polar and equatorial regions 
B)  clouds and frost that formed above and around the Viking spacecraft 
C)  frozen, dust-covered lakes inside ancient craters 
D)  deep, winding canyons and flood plains

Question 4

The gravitational force at the surface of Mars is not sufficient to retain what gas in its atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

A)  carbon dioxide 
B)  nitrogen 
C)  oxygen 
D)  water vapor 
A)  carbon dioxide 
B)  nitrogen 
C)  oxygen 
D)  water vapor

Question 5

How did the maria form?

Accepted Answer

A)  Large impacts formed craters, which were immediately filled with lava from the Moon's molten core. 
B)  Large impacts formed craters. The impacts themselves melted the surface rock, and this eventually solidified to form the maria. 
C)  Large impacts formed craters. Later, radioactive decay melted portions of the Moon's upper interior, and this moved upward to fill the craters. 
D)  The Moon's surface was molten and unstable after its formation. Parts of the surface collapsed to form the maria. 
A)  Large impacts formed craters, which were immediately filled with lava from the Moon's molten core. 
B)  Large impacts formed craters. The impacts themselves melted the surface rock, and this eventually solidified to form the maria. 
C)  Large impacts formed craters. Later, radioactive decay melted portions of the Moon's upper interior, and this moved upward to fill the craters. 
D)  The Moon's surface was molten and unstable after its formation. Parts of the surface collapsed to form the maria.

Question 6

Mercury can be characterized as having:

Accepted Answer

A)  a Moonlike surface and an Earthlike interior. 
B)  both a surface and an interior like that of our Moon. 
C)  an Earthlike surface and a Moonlike interior. 
D)  a surface and an interior significantly different from either the Moon or Earth. 
A)  a Moonlike surface and an Earthlike interior. 
B)  both a surface and an interior like that of our Moon. 
C)  an Earthlike surface and a Moonlike interior. 
D)  a surface and an interior significantly different from either the Moon or Earth.

Question 7

The MOST common surface features on Venus are:

Accepted Answer

A)  impact craters. 
B)  ancient river valleys and huge flood plains. 
C)  evidence of plate tectonic motion, including long mountain ranges and subduction troughs. 
D)  volcanoes and lava flows. 
A)  impact craters. 
B)  ancient river valleys and huge flood plains. 
C)  evidence of plate tectonic motion, including long mountain ranges and subduction troughs. 
D)  volcanoes and lava flows.

Question 8

In 1976,the Viking 1 orbiter imaged what appeared to be a humanlike face on Mars.Mars Global Surveyor did not image the same features in 1998.Which do we believe did NOT contributed to this difference?

Accepted Answer

A)  a different camera angle 
B)  the washing away of some of the original feature by running water 
C)  the eroding away of some of the original feature by winds 
D)  improved camera technology 
A)  a different camera angle 
B)  the washing away of some of the original feature by running water 
C)  the eroding away of some of the original feature by winds 
D)  improved camera technology

Question 9

One chemical element that plays a major role in the coloring and chemistry of the Venusian atmosphere and clouds,and is suspected of coming from volcanic eruptions,is:

Accepted Answer

A)  nitrogen (as gas), nitric oxide, and nitric acid droplets. 
B)  chlorine (as gas), hydrogen chloride, and hydrochloric acid droplets. 
C)  iron (as red dust), iron oxides, and iron sulfides. 
D)  sulfur (as dust), sulfur dioxide, and sulfuric acid droplets. 
A)  nitrogen (as gas), nitric oxide, and nitric acid droplets. 
B)  chlorine (as gas), hydrogen chloride, and hydrochloric acid droplets. 
C)  iron (as red dust), iron oxides, and iron sulfides. 
D)  sulfur (as dust), sulfur dioxide, and sulfuric acid droplets.

Question 10

Which major constituent of the atmospheres of Venus and Mars is present in only very small amounts in Earth's atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

A)  methane, CH₄ 
B)  carbon dioxide, CO₂ 
C)  nitrogen, N₂ 
D)  oxygen, O₂ 
A)  methane, CH₄ 
B)  carbon dioxide, CO₂ 
C)  nitrogen, N₂ 
D)  oxygen, O₂

Question 11

Earth's solid inner core results from the fact that the:

Accepted Answer

A)  outer core is heated and melted by friction between the core and the mantle, and this heating does not extend to the inner core. 
B)  melting temperature of an iron-nickel mixture increases with increasing pressure and rises above the actual temperature in the inner core. 
C)  inner core has a different composition than the outer core, with a higher melting temperature. 
D)  temperature of the inner core is lower than the temperature of the outer core, producing a temperature inversion. 
A)  outer core is heated and melted by friction between the core and the mantle, and this heating does not extend to the inner core. 
B)  melting temperature of an iron-nickel mixture increases with increasing pressure and rises above the actual temperature in the inner core. 
C)  inner core has a different composition than the outer core, with a higher melting temperature. 
D)  temperature of the inner core is lower than the temperature of the outer core, producing a temperature inversion.

Question 12

If we characterize the age of a planetary surface by the age of the oldest feature that has been dated there,then the ages of the surfaces,from youngest to oldest,are:

Accepted Answer

A)  Venus, Earth, and the Moon. 
B)  Earth, Venus, and the Moon. 
C)  Earth, the Moon, and Venus. 
D)  Venus, the Moon, and Earth. 
A)  Venus, Earth, and the Moon. 
B)  Earth, Venus, and the Moon. 
C)  Earth, the Moon, and Venus. 
D)  Venus, the Moon, and Earth.

Question 13

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 sidereal month 
C)  essentially forever 
D)  about 1 day 
A)  about 1 synodic month 
B)  about 1 sidereal month 
C)  essentially forever 
D)  about 1 day

Question 14

The smooth,dark maria take up what fraction of the entire surface of the Moon?

Accepted Answer

A)  between 1/3 and 1/2 
B)  more than 4/5 
C)  less than 1/5 
D)  between 1/2 and 3/4 
A)  between 1/3 and 1/2 
B)  more than 4/5 
C)  less than 1/5 
D)  between 1/2 and 3/4

Question 15

What is the PRINCIPAL reason we have no volcanoes on Earth anywhere near the size of Olympus Mons?

Accepted Answer

A)  Mars' smaller gravity allows the formation of taller structures without crumbling. 
B)  Because Mars is smaller than Earth, it retained its interior heat longer and allowed volcanic activity for a longer time. 
C)  Because of tectonic activity on Earth, a volcano does not sit over the same spot for long periods, therefore allowing it to continue to grow. 
D)  Because of colder temperatures on Mars, lava solidified more quickly before it had time to move far from the volcanic cone. 
A)  Mars' smaller gravity allows the formation of taller structures without crumbling. 
B)  Because Mars is smaller than Earth, it retained its interior heat longer and allowed volcanic activity for a longer time. 
C)  Because of tectonic activity on Earth, a volcano does not sit over the same spot for long periods, therefore allowing it to continue to grow. 
D)  Because of colder temperatures on Mars, lava solidified more quickly before it had time to move far from the volcanic cone.

Question 16

How large were the impactors that created the craters that in turn became the large maria?

Accepted Answer

A)  100 meters or more 
B)  10 kilometers or more 
C)  100 kilometers or more 
D)  1000 kilometers or more 
A)  100 meters or more 
B)  10 kilometers or more 
C)  100 kilometers or more 
D)  1000 kilometers or more

Question 17

The lowest temperature in Earth's atmosphere occurs at an altitude of about:

Accepted Answer

A)  80 km. 
B)  50 km. 
C)  10 km. 
D)  0 km (the surface of Earth). 
A)  80 km. 
B)  50 km. 
C)  10 km. 
D)  0 km (the surface of Earth).

Question 18

What is the observed feature that suggests that Mercury's iron core is molten?

Accepted Answer

A)  presence of a global magnetic field 
B)  background sloshing sound in radio transmissions sent back by the Mariner 10 spacecraft 
C)  irregularities in Mercury's rotation rate 
D)  extensive lava flows near the regions of greatest tidal stress, such as the Caloris Basin 
A)  presence of a global magnetic field 
B)  background sloshing sound in radio transmissions sent back by the Mariner 10 spacecraft 
C)  irregularities in Mercury's rotation rate 
D)  extensive lava flows near the regions of greatest tidal stress, such as the Caloris Basin

Question 19

Where are Earth's Van Allen radiation belts located?

Accepted Answer

A)  in the magnetosphere 
B)  in the stratosphere 
C)  in the molten iron core 
D)  in the atmosphere above the auroral regions, centered over the north and south magnetic poles 
A)  in the magnetosphere 
B)  in the stratosphere 
C)  in the molten iron core 
D)  in the atmosphere above the auroral regions, centered over the north and south magnetic poles

Question 20

At greatest elongation,the Earth-Venus line makes an angle with the Sun-Venus line that is:

Accepted Answer

A)  nearly 180°. 
B)  90°. 
C)  0°. 
D)  an acute angle, less than 90°. 
A)  nearly 180°. 
B)  90°. 
C)  0°. 
D)  an acute angle, less than 90°.

Why did the Soviet spacecraft survive for only a few minutes on the Venusian surface?

Earth has an average density of 5500 kg/m³,although the density of rock on its surface is about 3000 kg/m³.What conclusion can be reached about Earth's core from this observation?

What significant evidence is there for the idea that large quantities of water once flowed on the planet Mars?

The gravitational force at the surface of Mars is not sufficient to retain what gas in its atmosphere?

How did the maria form?

Mercury can be characterized as having:

The MOST common surface features on Venus are:

In 1976,the Viking 1 orbiter imaged what appeared to be a humanlike face on Mars.Mars Global Surveyor did not image the same features in 1998.Which do we believe did NOT contributed to this difference?

One chemical element that plays a major role in the coloring and chemistry of the Venusian atmosphere and clouds,and is suspected of coming from volcanic eruptions,is:

Which major constituent of the atmospheres of Venus and Mars is present in only very small amounts in Earth's atmosphere?

Earth's solid inner core results from the fact that the:

If we characterize the age of a planetary surface by the age of the oldest feature that has been dated there,then the ages of the surfaces,from youngest to oldest,are:

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

The smooth,dark maria take up what fraction of the entire surface of the Moon?

What is the PRINCIPAL reason we have no volcanoes on Earth anywhere near the size of Olympus Mons?

How large were the impactors that created the craters that in turn became the large maria?

The lowest temperature in Earth's atmosphere occurs at an altitude of about:

What is the observed feature that suggests that Mercury's iron core is molten?

Where are Earth's Van Allen radiation belts located?

At greatest elongation,the Earth-Venus line makes an angle with the Sun-Venus line that is:

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

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Exam 6: The Terrestrial Planets and Their Moons

Why did the Soviet spacecraft survive for only a few minutes on the Venusian surface?

Earth has an average density of 5500 kg/m³,although the density of rock on its surface is about 3000 kg/m³.What conclusion can be reached about Earth's core from this observation?

What significant evidence is there for the idea that large quantities of water once flowed on the planet Mars?

The gravitational force at the surface of Mars is not sufficient to retain what gas in its atmosphere?

How did the maria form?

Mercury can be characterized as having:

The MOST common surface features on Venus are:

In 1976,the Viking 1 orbiter imaged what appeared to be a humanlike face on Mars.Mars Global Surveyor did not image the same features in 1998.Which do we believe did NOT contributed to this difference?

One chemical element that plays a major role in the coloring and chemistry of the Venusian atmosphere and clouds,and is suspected of coming from volcanic eruptions,is:

Which major constituent of the atmospheres of Venus and Mars is present in only very small amounts in Earth's atmosphere?

Earth's solid inner core results from the fact that the:

If we characterize the age of a planetary surface by the age of the oldest feature that has been dated there,then the ages of the surfaces,from youngest to oldest,are:

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

The smooth,dark maria take up what fraction of the entire surface of the Moon?

What is the PRINCIPAL reason we have no volcanoes on Earth anywhere near the size of Olympus Mons?

How large were the impactors that created the craters that in turn became the large maria?

The lowest temperature in Earth's atmosphere occurs at an altitude of about:

What is the observed feature that suggests that Mercury's iron core is molten?

Where are Earth's Van Allen radiation belts located?

At greatest elongation,the Earth-Venus line makes an angle with the Sun-Venus line that is:

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