Question 1

What is the Caloris Basin?

Accepted Answer

A)  a lunar mare, on the far side of the Moon 
B)  a volcanic caldera on Mount Maxwell, on Venus 
C)  a large, lowland area on Mars 
D)  a multiringed impact basin on Mercury 
A)  a lunar mare, on the far side of the Moon 
B)  a volcanic caldera on Mount Maxwell, on Venus 
C)  a large, lowland area on Mars 
D)  a multiringed impact basin on Mercury

Question 2

Which mechanism is MOST likely to have taken place while Earth was molten to form the present structure of Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  All materials were thoroughly mixed by convection in the molten state, and Earth remained mixed as it cooled. 
B)  Hydrogen and helium became highly compressed by gravity and sank to the core below a layer of heavier rocky material. 
C)  Lighter elements sank to the center, leaving the heavier material to form the rocky surface as cooling proceeded. 
D)  Heavy elements sank to the center under gravity while lighter materials rose to the surface and solidified into rocks. 
A)  All materials were thoroughly mixed by convection in the molten state, and Earth remained mixed as it cooled. 
B)  Hydrogen and helium became highly compressed by gravity and sank to the core below a layer of heavier rocky material. 
C)  Lighter elements sank to the center, leaving the heavier material to form the rocky surface as cooling proceeded. 
D)  Heavy elements sank to the center under gravity while lighter materials rose to the surface and solidified into rocks.

Question 3

Which is the MOST abundant gas in Earth's atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

A)  oxygen 
B)  nitrogen 
C)  hydrogen 
D)  carbon dioxide 
A)  oxygen 
B)  nitrogen 
C)  hydrogen 
D)  carbon dioxide

Question 4

Venus has:

Accepted Answer

A)  a very powerful magnetic field. 
B)  no magnetic field at all. 
C)  a weak magnetic field, about 1/100 of Earth's field strength. 
D)  a magnetic field about the strength of that of Earth. 
A)  a very powerful magnetic field. 
B)  no magnetic field at all. 
C)  a weak magnetic field, about 1/100 of Earth's field strength. 
D)  a magnetic field about the strength of that of Earth.

Question 5

When the solar wind (mostly protons and electrons,emitted continuously at relatively high speeds by the Sun)approaches Mercury,it:

Accepted Answer

A)  is guided around the planet by the magnetic field. 
B)  is absorbed and stopped by the atmosphere of the planet. 
C)  hits the surface directly, causing heat and a continuous fluorescent glow. 
D)  is repelled by the high electrostatic charge on the planet. 
A)  is guided around the planet by the magnetic field. 
B)  is absorbed and stopped by the atmosphere of the planet. 
C)  hits the surface directly, causing heat and a continuous fluorescent glow. 
D)  is repelled by the high electrostatic charge on the planet.

Question 6

Most of the information we have about Mercury's surface comes from:

Accepted Answer

A)  Earth-based telescopic observations. 
B)  Mariner 10. 
C)  Messenger. 
D)  landings by unmanned spacecraft. 
A)  Earth-based telescopic observations. 
B)  Mariner 10. 
C)  Messenger. 
D)  landings by unmanned spacecraft.

Question 7

The atmosphere that we are now breathing is the _____ atmosphere Earth has had.

Accepted Answer

A)  third 
B)  second 
C)  seventh 
D)  first 
A)  third 
B)  second 
C)  seventh 
D)  first

Question 8

Which condition would NOT be in a weather report from Mars,in view of the present atmospheric conditions on the planet?

Accepted Answer

A)  dry and windy with blowing and drifting dust 
B)  dry-ice snow 
C)  clear and cold 
D)  rain tapering to intermittent showers by noon 
A)  dry and windy with blowing and drifting dust 
B)  dry-ice snow 
C)  clear and cold 
D)  rain tapering to intermittent showers by noon

Question 9

Ozone is a gas consisting of:

Accepted Answer

A)  molecules containing combinations of oxygen and nitrogen atoms and electrons. 
B)  a mixture of several chlorofluorocarbon gases (CFCs). 
C)  molecules containing three oxygen atoms. 
D)  ionized oxygen atoms, positively charged. 
A)  molecules containing combinations of oxygen and nitrogen atoms and electrons. 
B)  a mixture of several chlorofluorocarbon gases (CFCs). 
C)  molecules containing three oxygen atoms. 
D)  ionized oxygen atoms, positively charged.

Question 10

How is water ice able to remain on the surface of Mercury,despite the planet's close proximity to the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A)  The water ice is continuously replenished by condensation of water vapor from volcanoes. 
B)  The water ice is continuously replenished by fresh impacts from comets. 
C)  The water ice exists as permafrost below the thermally insulating surface and is exposed only by occasional impacts. 
D)  The water ice is permanently shielded from the Sun by crater walls at the north and south poles. 
A)  The water ice is continuously replenished by condensation of water vapor from volcanoes. 
B)  The water ice is continuously replenished by fresh impacts from comets. 
C)  The water ice exists as permafrost below the thermally insulating surface and is exposed only by occasional impacts. 
D)  The water ice is permanently shielded from the Sun by crater walls at the north and south poles.

Question 11

Viewed from a position above the north pole of the Sun,the direction of the motion of the planets in their orbits is:

Accepted Answer

A)  clockwise. 
B)  counterclockwise. 
C)  clockwise, except that of Venus. 
D)  counterclockwise, except that of Mercury. 
A)  clockwise. 
B)  counterclockwise. 
C)  clockwise, except that of Venus. 
D)  counterclockwise, except that of Mercury.

Question 12

What fraction of the total mass of Earth's atmosphere is contained in the troposphere,the lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

A)  50% 
B)  25% 
C)  10% 
D)  75% 
A)  50% 
B)  25% 
C)  10% 
D)  75%

Question 13

Why does the ejecta blanket around some lunar craters appear light-colored?

Accepted Answer

A)  These craters are relatively young and have not yet been contaminated and made darker by incoming material. 
B)  The impact punched through the lunar crust and released lighter magma from the Moon's molten mantle. 
C)  The craters are relatively old. 
D)  The incoming projectile was composed of lighter material and colored the Moon's surface. 
A)  These craters are relatively young and have not yet been contaminated and made darker by incoming material. 
B)  The impact punched through the lunar crust and released lighter magma from the Moon's molten mantle. 
C)  The craters are relatively old. 
D)  The incoming projectile was composed of lighter material and colored the Moon's surface.

Question 14

What is the MOST likely cause of the smooth and relatively crater-free surfaces of lunar maria?

Accepted Answer

A)  Volcanic ash rained on the surfaces of the basins in recent geological times, covering previous craters. 
B)  The lava in these basins flowed in the relatively late geological history of the Moon, after the period of major bombardment. 
C)  Dust storms had eroded and smoothed the surface earlier in the Moon's history. 
D)  Smoother sediments were left behind after water had flowed into the basins and evaporated away. 
A)  Volcanic ash rained on the surfaces of the basins in recent geological times, covering previous craters. 
B)  The lava in these basins flowed in the relatively late geological history of the Moon, after the period of major bombardment. 
C)  Dust storms had eroded and smoothed the surface earlier in the Moon's history. 
D)  Smoother sediments were left behind after water had flowed into the basins and evaporated away.

Question 15

Scientists have now examined rocks that came from Mars in their laboratories on Earth because:

Accepted Answer

A)  an orbiting spacecraft scooped up Martian dust during its passage by Mars and then returned to Earth. 
B)  several meteorites found in Antarctica are now thought to have been knocked off Mars and fallen to Earth. 
C)  spacecraft have been to the surface of Mars and have returned with samples of Martian rocks and soil. 
D)  a large impact that occurred on the Martian surface early in its history created a vast dust cloud through which Earth passes once per year, and samples of this dust have now been collected by the Space Shuttle. 
A)  an orbiting spacecraft scooped up Martian dust during its passage by Mars and then returned to Earth. 
B)  several meteorites found in Antarctica are now thought to have been knocked off Mars and fallen to Earth. 
C)  spacecraft have been to the surface of Mars and have returned with samples of Martian rocks and soil. 
D)  a large impact that occurred on the Martian surface early in its history created a vast dust cloud through which Earth passes once per year, and samples of this dust have now been collected by the Space Shuttle.

Question 16

The density of Mercury is about the same as that of Earth,but Mercury contains a larger proportion of iron.How is this possible?

Accepted Answer

A)  The iron in Mercury's core is accompanied by a very low-density crust. The average density is thus comparable to the density of Earth. 
B)  The inner core of Mercury is hollow, thus reducing the overall density much below that of iron. 
C)  Mercury has only 1/18 Earth's mass. Thus, it must be composed of heavier materials (like iron) in order to match Earth's density. 
D)  The Earth contains, proportionally, a smaller volume of iron, but because of Earth's greater mass, Earth's iron has been compressed to a higher density than the iron on Mercury. 
A)  The iron in Mercury's core is accompanied by a very low-density crust. The average density is thus comparable to the density of Earth. 
B)  The inner core of Mercury is hollow, thus reducing the overall density much below that of iron. 
C)  Mercury has only 1/18 Earth's mass. Thus, it must be composed of heavier materials (like iron) in order to match Earth's density. 
D)  The Earth contains, proportionally, a smaller volume of iron, but because of Earth's greater mass, Earth's iron has been compressed to a higher density than the iron on Mercury.

Question 17

Which statement about the similarities of Mercury and our Moon is NOT true?

Accepted Answer

A)  Both Mercury and the Moon have heavily cratered surfaces. 
B)  Both Mercury and the Moon have very dark surfaces, or low reflectivity, or albedos. 
C)  Both Mercury and the Moon have large, circular, and relatively flat basins, or maria, on parts of their surfaces. 
D)  Mercury and the Moon have no atmospheres. 
A)  Both Mercury and the Moon have heavily cratered surfaces. 
B)  Both Mercury and the Moon have very dark surfaces, or low reflectivity, or albedos. 
C)  Both Mercury and the Moon have large, circular, and relatively flat basins, or maria, on parts of their surfaces. 
D)  Mercury and the Moon have no atmospheres.

Question 18

The origin of the Martian magnetic field appears to be:

Accepted Answer

A)  magnetic material deposited by impacts of iron meteorites. 
B)  an electric dynamo still operating in the small Martian core. 
C)  convection of molten, iron-rich lava in the Martian mantle. 
D)  remanent magnetism from an earlier global magnetic field when Mars was young. 
A)  magnetic material deposited by impacts of iron meteorites. 
B)  an electric dynamo still operating in the small Martian core. 
C)  convection of molten, iron-rich lava in the Martian mantle. 
D)  remanent magnetism from an earlier global magnetic field when Mars was young.

Question 19

Venus possesses all of the following EXCEPT ONE.Which is the exception?

Accepted Answer

A)  lightning 
B)  active volcanoes 
C)  perpetual haze and fog at the surface 
D)  perpetual yellowish cloud cover 
A)  lightning 
B)  active volcanoes 
C)  perpetual haze and fog at the surface 
D)  perpetual yellowish cloud cover

Question 20

What caused the long,meandering scarps (cliffs)that can be seen on Mercury?

Accepted Answer

A)  volcanic eruptions along crustal faults over hot spots in the mantle 
B)  crustal movement similar to continental drift on Earth, where plates have pressed against one another 
C)  shrinking and folding of the planet's surface as it cooled 
D)  large impacts near the end of the early period of heavy bombardment; the scarps are eroded crater walls 
A)  volcanic eruptions along crustal faults over hot spots in the mantle 
B)  crustal movement similar to continental drift on Earth, where plates have pressed against one another 
C)  shrinking and folding of the planet's surface as it cooled 
D)  large impacts near the end of the early period of heavy bombardment; the scarps are eroded crater walls

What is the Caloris Basin?

Which mechanism is MOST likely to have taken place while Earth was molten to form the present structure of Earth?

Which is the MOST abundant gas in Earth's atmosphere?

Venus has:

When the solar wind (mostly protons and electrons,emitted continuously at relatively high speeds by the Sun)approaches Mercury,it:

Most of the information we have about Mercury's surface comes from:

The atmosphere that we are now breathing is the _____ atmosphere Earth has had.

Which condition would NOT be in a weather report from Mars,in view of the present atmospheric conditions on the planet?

Ozone is a gas consisting of:

How is water ice able to remain on the surface of Mercury,despite the planet's close proximity to the Sun?

Viewed from a position above the north pole of the Sun,the direction of the motion of the planets in their orbits is:

What fraction of the total mass of Earth's atmosphere is contained in the troposphere,the lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere?

Why does the ejecta blanket around some lunar craters appear light-colored?

What is the MOST likely cause of the smooth and relatively crater-free surfaces of lunar maria?

Scientists have now examined rocks that came from Mars in their laboratories on Earth because:

The density of Mercury is about the same as that of Earth,but Mercury contains a larger proportion of iron.How is this possible?

Which statement about the similarities of Mercury and our Moon is NOT true?

The origin of the Martian magnetic field appears to be:

Venus possesses all of the following EXCEPT ONE.Which is the exception?

What caused the long,meandering scarps (cliffs)that can be seen on Mercury?

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

What is the Caloris Basin?

Which mechanism is MOST likely to have taken place while Earth was molten to form the present structure of Earth?

Which is the MOST abundant gas in Earth's atmosphere?

Venus has:

When the solar wind (mostly protons and electrons,emitted continuously at relatively high speeds by the Sun)approaches Mercury,it:

Most of the information we have about Mercury's surface comes from:

The atmosphere that we are now breathing is the _____ atmosphere Earth has had.

Which condition would NOT be in a weather report from Mars,in view of the present atmospheric conditions on the planet?

Ozone is a gas consisting of:

How is water ice able to remain on the surface of Mercury,despite the planet's close proximity to the Sun?

Viewed from a position above the north pole of the Sun,the direction of the motion of the planets in their orbits is:

What fraction of the total mass of Earth's atmosphere is contained in the troposphere,the lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere?

Why does the ejecta blanket around some lunar craters appear light-colored?

What is the MOST likely cause of the smooth and relatively crater-free surfaces of lunar maria?

Scientists have now examined rocks that came from Mars in their laboratories on Earth because:

The density of Mercury is about the same as that of Earth,but Mercury contains a larger proportion of iron.How is this possible?

Which statement about the similarities of Mercury and our Moon is NOT true?

The origin of the Martian magnetic field appears to be:

Venus possesses all of the following EXCEPT ONE.Which is the exception?

What caused the long,meandering scarps (cliffs)that can be seen on Mercury?

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