Question 1

What is a mascon?

Accepted Answer

A)  each of several places under the Moon's surface where there is an unusual concentration of mass 
B)  the core of the Moon where most of its mass is concentrated 
C)  a dense object placed in orbit about the Moon (or another body) to measure its gravitational field 
D)  a dense object used to impact the Moon (or another body) and create seismic waves 
A)  each of several places under the Moon's surface where there is an unusual concentration of mass 
B)  the core of the Moon where most of its mass is concentrated 
C)  a dense object placed in orbit about the Moon (or another body) to measure its gravitational field 
D)  a dense object used to impact the Moon (or another body) and create seismic waves

Question 2

Compared with that of Earth,Mercury's magnetic field is:

Accepted Answer

A)  weak but clearly present. 
B)  below the limit of detection and therefore still needs confirmation. 
C)  similar in strength. 
D)  much more powerful. 
A)  weak but clearly present. 
B)  below the limit of detection and therefore still needs confirmation. 
C)  similar in strength. 
D)  much more powerful.

Question 3

The major constituents of Earth's atmosphere are:

Accepted Answer

A)  95% carbon dioxide and some water vapor. 
B)  about equal amounts of methane, ammonia, water vapor, and carbon dioxide. 
C)  77% oxygen and 21% nitrogen. 
D)  77% nitrogen and 21% oxygen. 
A)  95% carbon dioxide and some water vapor. 
B)  about equal amounts of methane, ammonia, water vapor, and carbon dioxide. 
C)  77% oxygen and 21% nitrogen. 
D)  77% nitrogen and 21% oxygen.

Question 4

Mars' atmosphere contains no water vapor.Why is this?

Accepted Answer

A)  Mars' gravity is too weak to retain water vapor on the planet. 
B)  The temperature of Mars is too high for water vapor to be retained on the planet. 
C)  There has never been any liquid water on the surface of Mars. 
D)  Mars was formed outside the region of the solar nebula where water vapor was stable. 
A)  Mars' gravity is too weak to retain water vapor on the planet. 
B)  The temperature of Mars is too high for water vapor to be retained on the planet. 
C)  There has never been any liquid water on the surface of Mars. 
D)  Mars was formed outside the region of the solar nebula where water vapor was stable.

Question 5

Why is it that terrestrial planets are thought to have dense iron cores?

Accepted Answer

A)  Thermonuclear reactions produced iron as a fusion product in the earlier phases of planetary evolution (thermonuclear accretion). 
B)  During the formation of the planets, heavy elements accumulated first, followed by the accretion of lighter elements onto them (bimodal accretion). 
C)  The planets were molten early in their life, and the heavy elements sank and lighter materials floated to the surface (planetary differentiation). 
D)  Magnetism in the iron was sufficiently powerful to pull iron atoms to the center as the planet formed (magnetic sorting). 
A)  Thermonuclear reactions produced iron as a fusion product in the earlier phases of planetary evolution (thermonuclear accretion). 
B)  During the formation of the planets, heavy elements accumulated first, followed by the accretion of lighter elements onto them (bimodal accretion). 
C)  The planets were molten early in their life, and the heavy elements sank and lighter materials floated to the surface (planetary differentiation). 
D)  Magnetism in the iron was sufficiently powerful to pull iron atoms to the center as the planet formed (magnetic sorting).

What is a mascon?

Compared with that of Earth,Mercury's magnetic field is:

The major constituents of Earth's atmosphere are:

Mars' atmosphere contains no water vapor.Why is this?

Why is it that terrestrial planets are thought to have dense iron cores?

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 a mascon?

Compared with that of Earth,Mercury's magnetic field is:

The major constituents of Earth's atmosphere are:

Mars' atmosphere contains no water vapor.Why is this?

Why is it that terrestrial planets are thought to have dense iron cores?

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