Question 1

The maria on the Moon appear to be:

Accepted Answer

A)  former ocean basins from which the water has escaped. 
B)  lava flows around giant ancient volcanoes. 
C)  craters filled with basalt from within the Moon. 
D)  evenly distributed on the near side and the far side of the Moon. 
A)  former ocean basins from which the water has escaped. 
B)  lava flows around giant ancient volcanoes. 
C)  craters filled with basalt from within the Moon. 
D)  evenly distributed on the near side and the far side of the Moon.

Question 2

Suppose that on a certain day Mercury and Venus are both at greatest elongation in the western sky at sunset.After 584 days have elapsed,Venus again is at greatest elongation in the western sky at sunset.During this period,how many times has Mercury appeared at greatest elongation in the western sky at sunset? (Review synodic period in Section 2-3 and Table 2-1,Comins,Discovering the Essential Universe,6th ed.)

Accepted Answer

A)  once 
B)  twice 
C)  3 times 
D)  5 times 
A)  once 
B)  twice 
C)  3 times 
D)  5 times

Question 3

Clouds extend above the surface of Venus to a maximum altitude of:

Accepted Answer

A)  thousands of kilometers. 
B)  almost 70 km. 
C)  zero because there are no clouds on Venus. 
D)  just over 20 km. 
A)  thousands of kilometers. 
B)  almost 70 km. 
C)  zero because there are no clouds on Venus. 
D)  just over 20 km.

Question 4

The highest tides on Earth's oceans occur at:

Accepted Answer

A)  full or new Moon. 
B)  any time because they are driven by the action of winds in Earth's atmosphere. 
C)  full Moon but not at new Moon. 
D)  quarter Moon. 
A)  full or new Moon. 
B)  any time because they are driven by the action of winds in Earth's atmosphere. 
C)  full Moon but not at new Moon. 
D)  quarter Moon.

Question 5

The creation of the magnetic field of Earth is thought to be influenced by:

Accepted Answer

A)  a magnetized solid iron core in Earth's interior. 
B)  the flow of solar wind particles around and within Earth's outer atmospheric region, the magnetosphere, which produces an equivalent electric current. 
C)  electric currents flowing in the electricity-conducting liquid core of Earth. 
D)  localized magnetic anomalies, frozen into place in the crust near Earth's surface. 
A)  a magnetized solid iron core in Earth's interior. 
B)  the flow of solar wind particles around and within Earth's outer atmospheric region, the magnetosphere, which produces an equivalent electric current. 
C)  electric currents flowing in the electricity-conducting liquid core of Earth. 
D)  localized magnetic anomalies, frozen into place in the crust near Earth's surface.

Question 6

Approximately how many major tectonic plates make up Earth's surface?

Accepted Answer

A)  about a dozen 
B)  two (the eastern and western hemispheres) 
C)  seven (one under each continent) 
D)  hundreds 
A)  about a dozen 
B)  two (the eastern and western hemispheres) 
C)  seven (one under each continent) 
D)  hundreds

Question 7

The MOST heavily cratered planet in the solar system is:

Accepted Answer

A)  Mercury. 
B)  Venus. 
C)  Earth. 
D)  Mars. 
A)  Mercury. 
B)  Venus. 
C)  Earth. 
D)  Mars.

Question 8

The smallest of the planets is:

Accepted Answer

A)  Venus. 
B)  Neptune. 
C)  Mercury. 
D)  Mars. 
A)  Venus. 
B)  Neptune. 
C)  Mercury. 
D)  Mars.

Question 9

What effect,if any,does the pressure to which a material is subjected have on the melting temperature of the material?

Accepted Answer

A)  There is no effect of pressure on melting temperature. 
B)  Within Earth's interior, the pressure is decreased (compared to the surface), causing the melting temperature to increase (compared to the surface). 
C)  Within Earth's interior, the pressure is increased (compared to the surface), causing the melting temperature to decrease (compared to the surface). 
D)  Within Earth's interior, the pressure is increased (compared to the surface), causing the melting temperature to increase (compared to the surface). 
A)  There is no effect of pressure on melting temperature. 
B)  Within Earth's interior, the pressure is decreased (compared to the surface), causing the melting temperature to increase (compared to the surface). 
C)  Within Earth's interior, the pressure is increased (compared to the surface), causing the melting temperature to decrease (compared to the surface). 
D)  Within Earth's interior, the pressure is increased (compared to the surface), causing the melting temperature to increase (compared to the surface).

Question 10

What is a Martian dust devil?

Accepted Answer

A)  a line of sand dunes marking the edge of an ancient tectonic plate 
B)  the name given to one of the humanlike forms imaged on Mars in the 1970s 
C)  a natural whirlwind on the planet's surface 
D)  the name given to a possible fossil found in a dust-filed meteorite from Mars 
A)  a line of sand dunes marking the edge of an ancient tectonic plate 
B)  the name given to one of the humanlike forms imaged on Mars in the 1970s 
C)  a natural whirlwind on the planet's surface 
D)  the name given to a possible fossil found in a dust-filed meteorite from Mars

Question 11

Suppose Mercury had 5-to-3 spin-orbit coupling and that its sidereal period remained 88 days,as now.What would be the time from noon to noon on Mercury,in days?

Accepted Answer

A)  88 
B)  147 
C)  264 
D)  440 
A)  88 
B)  147 
C)  264 
D)  440

Question 12

Compared with the Earth-facing side,the side of the Moon that faces away from Earth has:

Accepted Answer

A)  fewer craters. 
B)  larger maria. 
C)  a higher average elevation. 
D)  a thinner crust. 
A)  fewer craters. 
B)  larger maria. 
C)  a higher average elevation. 
D)  a thinner crust.

Question 13

The process by which heavier materials sank into the centers of terrestrial planets while lighter material rose to the surfaces early in the history of these planets is known as:

Accepted Answer

A)  hot-spot volcanism. 
B)  planetary differentiation. 
C)  seafloor spreading. 
D)  subduction. 
A)  hot-spot volcanism. 
B)  planetary differentiation. 
C)  seafloor spreading. 
D)  subduction.

Question 14

Mariner 10 failed to detect lightning in the atmosphere of Venus.At that time,what did scientists believe this observation suggested?

Accepted Answer

A)  There may be no active volcanoes on Venus. 
B)  Venus' atmosphere is extremely moist and conducts electrical charges away before lightning can occur. 
C)  There may be no strong winds on Venus. 
D)  Venus may lack an atmosphere in which lightning can occur. 
A)  There may be no active volcanoes on Venus. 
B)  Venus' atmosphere is extremely moist and conducts electrical charges away before lightning can occur. 
C)  There may be no strong winds on Venus. 
D)  Venus may lack an atmosphere in which lightning can occur.

Question 15

What are spring tides?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 16

Deep oceanic trenches on Earth are locations at which:

Accepted Answer

A)  cool surface material on Earth sinks below other material at a tectonic plate boundary. 
B)  volcanic material comes out from the deep interior at volcanic islands such as Hawaii. 
C)  dense material sank while lighter material rose to the surface during the early geological history of Earth and then froze in place. 
D)  molten lava oozes out between two tectonic plates that are slowly spreading apart. 
A)  cool surface material on Earth sinks below other material at a tectonic plate boundary. 
B)  volcanic material comes out from the deep interior at volcanic islands such as Hawaii. 
C)  dense material sank while lighter material rose to the surface during the early geological history of Earth and then froze in place. 
D)  molten lava oozes out between two tectonic plates that are slowly spreading apart.

Question 17

We have many reasons to believe the northern hemisphere of Mars has experienced more geologic activity than the southern hemisphere.Which is NOT one of those reasons?

Accepted Answer

A)  Most of the Martian craters are in the southern hemisphere. 
B)  Most of the Martian volcanoes are in the northern hemisphere. 
C)  The Martian magnetic field is oriented north to south, opposite Earth's magnetic field. 
D)  The southern hemisphere has a higher elevation than the northern hemisphere. 
A)  Most of the Martian craters are in the southern hemisphere. 
B)  Most of the Martian volcanoes are in the northern hemisphere. 
C)  The Martian magnetic field is oriented north to south, opposite Earth's magnetic field. 
D)  The southern hemisphere has a higher elevation than the northern hemisphere.

Question 18

The planetary orbit with the GREATEST inclination to the plane of the ecliptic is the orbit of

Accepted Answer

A)  Earth. 
B)  Mercury. 
C)  Uranus. 
D)  Saturn. 
A)  Earth. 
B)  Mercury. 
C)  Uranus. 
D)  Saturn.

Question 19

Tectonic plate activity is believed to have been present on Mars billions of years ago.Such plate activity would have been consistent with each of the following conditions EXCEPT ONE.Which is the exception?

Accepted Answer

A)  a stronger magnetic field 
B)  a more molten interior 
C)  more giant volcanoes like Olympus Mons 
D)  more long chains of volcanoes 
A)  a stronger magnetic field 
B)  a more molten interior 
C)  more giant volcanoes like Olympus Mons 
D)  more long chains of volcanoes

Question 20

The mountain ranges on the Moon are:

Accepted Answer

A)  the hard rock remnants of geological features severely eroded by wind and weather. 
B)  lines of extinct volcanoes similar to the Hawaiian Islands caused by hot-spot volcanism. 
C)  the walls of craters caused by impacts of large objects early in the geological history of the Moon. 
D)  the upthrust caused by collisions of moving tectonic plates. 
A)  the hard rock remnants of geological features severely eroded by wind and weather. 
B)  lines of extinct volcanoes similar to the Hawaiian Islands caused by hot-spot volcanism. 
C)  the walls of craters caused by impacts of large objects early in the geological history of the Moon. 
D)  the upthrust caused by collisions of moving tectonic plates.

The maria on the Moon appear to be:

Clouds extend above the surface of Venus to a maximum altitude of:

The highest tides on Earth's oceans occur at:

The creation of the magnetic field of Earth is thought to be influenced by:

Approximately how many major tectonic plates make up Earth's surface?

The MOST heavily cratered planet in the solar system is:

The smallest of the planets is:

What effect,if any,does the pressure to which a material is subjected have on the melting temperature of the material?

What is a Martian dust devil?

Suppose Mercury had 5-to-3 spin-orbit coupling and that its sidereal period remained 88 days,as now.What would be the time from noon to noon on Mercury,in days?

Compared with the Earth-facing side,the side of the Moon that faces away from Earth has:

The process by which heavier materials sank into the centers of terrestrial planets while lighter material rose to the surfaces early in the history of these planets is known as:

Mariner 10 failed to detect lightning in the atmosphere of Venus.At that time,what did scientists believe this observation suggested?

What are spring tides?

Deep oceanic trenches on Earth are locations at which:

We have many reasons to believe the northern hemisphere of Mars has experienced more geologic activity than the southern hemisphere.Which is NOT one of those reasons?

The planetary orbit with the GREATEST inclination to the plane of the ecliptic is the orbit of

Tectonic plate activity is believed to have been present on Mars billions of years ago.Such plate activity would have been consistent with each of the following conditions EXCEPT ONE.Which is the exception?

The mountain ranges on the Moon are:

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

The maria on the Moon appear to be:

Clouds extend above the surface of Venus to a maximum altitude of:

The highest tides on Earth's oceans occur at:

The creation of the magnetic field of Earth is thought to be influenced by:

Approximately how many major tectonic plates make up Earth's surface?

The MOST heavily cratered planet in the solar system is:

The smallest of the planets is:

What effect,if any,does the pressure to which a material is subjected have on the melting temperature of the material?

What is a Martian dust devil?

Suppose Mercury had 5-to-3 spin-orbit coupling and that its sidereal period remained 88 days,as now.What would be the time from noon to noon on Mercury,in days?

Compared with the Earth-facing side,the side of the Moon that faces away from Earth has:

The process by which heavier materials sank into the centers of terrestrial planets while lighter material rose to the surfaces early in the history of these planets is known as:

Mariner 10 failed to detect lightning in the atmosphere of Venus.At that time,what did scientists believe this observation suggested?

What are spring tides?

Deep oceanic trenches on Earth are locations at which:

We have many reasons to believe the northern hemisphere of Mars has experienced more geologic activity than the southern hemisphere.Which is NOT one of those reasons?

The planetary orbit with the GREATEST inclination to the plane of the ecliptic is the orbit of

Tectonic plate activity is believed to have been present on Mars billions of years ago.Such plate activity would have been consistent with each of the following conditions EXCEPT ONE.Which is the exception?

The mountain ranges on the Moon are:

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