Question 1

The pink color of the chromosphere arises from the emission of light from

Accepted Answer

A) hydrogen atoms. 
B) helium atoms. 
C) carbon atoms. 
D) beryllium atoms. 
A) hydrogen atoms. 
B) helium atoms. 
C) carbon atoms. 
D) beryllium atoms.

Question 2

The reason we don't have solar and lunar eclipses monthly is because of the

Accepted Answer

A) relatively close distance of the Moon and Earth. 
B) relatively long distance to the Sun. 
C) tapering of the Sun's rays. 
D) different orbital planes for Earth and the Moon. 
E) 23° tilt of the Earth's axis. 
A) relatively close distance of the Moon and Earth. 
B) relatively long distance to the Sun. 
C) tapering of the Sun's rays. 
D) different orbital planes for Earth and the Moon. 
E) 23° tilt of the Earth's axis.

Question 3

The general direction of a comet's tail is

Accepted Answer

A) toward the Sun. 
B) away from the Sun. 
C) behind the comet's direction of motion. 
A) toward the Sun. 
B) away from the Sun. 
C) behind the comet's direction of motion.

Question 4

What is the likely cause of the 98° tilt of Uranus's axis?

Accepted Answer

A) a collision with a large body early in the solar system's evolution 
B) distorted magnetic poles due to its large molten iron core 
C) fluid wave dynamics due to its large molten core 
D) Neptune's effect on Uranus' gravitational field 
A) a collision with a large body early in the solar system's evolution 
B) distorted magnetic poles due to its large molten iron core 
C) fluid wave dynamics due to its large molten core 
D) Neptune's effect on Uranus' gravitational field

Question 5

Saturn's rings are composed of?

Accepted Answer

A) chunks of ice and rock 
B) methane gas 
C) hydrogen 
D) old satellites and other space junk lost from Earth's orbit and other space missions 
A) chunks of ice and rock 
B) methane gas 
C) hydrogen 
D) old satellites and other space junk lost from Earth's orbit and other space missions

Question 6

Is the rate of Earth's rotation increasing or decreasing?

Accepted Answer

A) It is increasing. 
B) It is decreasing. 
C) It is remaining relatively steady. 
D) It is increasing and decreasing in cyclic fashion. 
A) It is increasing. 
B) It is decreasing. 
C) It is remaining relatively steady. 
D) It is increasing and decreasing in cyclic fashion.

Question 7

Dark nebula appear dark because they

Accepted Answer

A) reflect light. 
B) emit light. 
C) are opaque. 
D) are transparent. 
A) reflect light. 
B) emit light. 
C) are opaque. 
D) are transparent.

Question 8

The Dawn spacecraft entered into orbit around Ceres in

Accepted Answer

A) 2008. 
B) 2012. 
C) 2015. 
D) 2016. 
A) 2008. 
B) 2012. 
C) 2015. 
D) 2016.

Question 9

When the Moon assumes its characteristic thin crescent shape,the position of the Sun is

Accepted Answer

A) almost directly behind the Earth,so Earth is between the Sun and the Moon. 
B) almost directly in back of the Moon. 
C) at right angles to the line between the Moon and Earth. 
A) almost directly behind the Earth,so Earth is between the Sun and the Moon. 
B) almost directly in back of the Moon. 
C) at right angles to the line between the Moon and Earth.

Question 10

Consider a huge rotating cloud of particles in space that gravitate together to form an increasingly dense ball.As the cloud shrinks in size,it

Accepted Answer

A) rotates slower. 
B) rotates faster. 
C) rotates at the same rate. 
A) rotates slower. 
B) rotates faster. 
C) rotates at the same rate.

Question 11

Temperature differences between nighttime and daytime on Earth are relatively small due to

Accepted Answer

A) polar regions absorbing most solar energy. 
B) Earth being 70% water. 
C) Earth's relatively high daily spin rate and shortness of nighttime. 
D) seasonal fluctuations and Earths magnetic field. 
A) polar regions absorbing most solar energy. 
B) Earth being 70% water. 
C) Earth's relatively high daily spin rate and shortness of nighttime. 
D) seasonal fluctuations and Earths magnetic field.

Question 12

If one had the opportunity to walk on Triton,Neptune's largest moon,what would you observe the geysers to be spewing?

Accepted Answer

A) liquid nitrogen 
B) liquid hydrogen 
C) liquid oxygen 
D) liquid water 
A) liquid nitrogen 
B) liquid hydrogen 
C) liquid oxygen 
D) liquid water

Question 13

Most meteors seen as shooting stars are about the size of

Accepted Answer

A) grains of sand. 
B) baseballs. 
C) small buildings. 
D) very large buildings. 
E) small continents. 
A) grains of sand. 
B) baseballs. 
C) small buildings. 
D) very large buildings. 
E) small continents.

Question 14

Why is the Moon still visible during a full lunar eclipse?

Accepted Answer

A) Earth's atmosphere acts as a lens that refracts light into the shadowed region. 
B) There is a minor component of phosphorescent minerals distributed fairly evenly on the lunar surface. 
C) The Moon's thin atmosphere acts as a mirror,reflecting light being cast from neighboring stars. 
D) Background microwave radiation becomes excited during the lunar eclipse,and shifts towards visual light,which then slightly illuminates the eclipsed moon. 
A) Earth's atmosphere acts as a lens that refracts light into the shadowed region. 
B) There is a minor component of phosphorescent minerals distributed fairly evenly on the lunar surface. 
C) The Moon's thin atmosphere acts as a mirror,reflecting light being cast from neighboring stars. 
D) Background microwave radiation becomes excited during the lunar eclipse,and shifts towards visual light,which then slightly illuminates the eclipsed moon.

Question 15

Compared to your weight on Earth,your weight on Jupiter would be about

Accepted Answer

A) 2 times. 
B) 3 times. 
C) 100 times. 
D) 300 times. 
E) 3000 times. 
A) 2 times. 
B) 3 times. 
C) 100 times. 
D) 300 times. 
E) 3000 times.

Question 16

Between which planets is the asteroid belt found?

Accepted Answer

A) between Mars and Jupiter 
B) between Earth and Mars 
C) between Earth and Venus 
D) between Jupiter and Neptune 
A) between Mars and Jupiter 
B) between Earth and Mars 
C) between Earth and Venus 
D) between Jupiter and Neptune

Question 17

When a contracting hot ball of stellar gas spins into a disk shape,it cools faster due to

Accepted Answer

A) increased convection currents. 
B) increased radiation transfer. 
C) decreased insulation. 
D) increased surface area to volume. 
E) eddy currents. 
A) increased convection currents. 
B) increased radiation transfer. 
C) decreased insulation. 
D) increased surface area to volume. 
E) eddy currents.

Question 18

The best evidence that the Sun is a newcomer in the universe is

Accepted Answer

A) the existence of heavy elements in its composition. 
B) its relatively slow rate of spin. 
C) its high temperature as revealed by its color. 
D) its position in the galaxy. 
E) its very existence in spite of its high burning rate. 
A) the existence of heavy elements in its composition. 
B) its relatively slow rate of spin. 
C) its high temperature as revealed by its color. 
D) its position in the galaxy. 
E) its very existence in spite of its high burning rate.

Question 19

In what region of the Sun are most of X-rays generated?

Accepted Answer

A) the inner core 
B) the photosphere 
C) the chronosphere 
D) the corona 
A) the inner core 
B) the photosphere 
C) the chronosphere 
D) the corona

Question 20

What aspect of the Sun's behavior wraps and distorts the solar magnetic field?

Accepted Answer

A) the differential spin between the equatorial and polar regions 
B) sunspot activity due to differential heat dispersion 
C) plasma fluxes within the core 
D) the cycle of the reversal of the magnetic poles 
A) the differential spin between the equatorial and polar regions 
B) sunspot activity due to differential heat dispersion 
C) plasma fluxes within the core 
D) the cycle of the reversal of the magnetic poles

Exam 26: The Solar System

The pink color of the chromosphere arises from the emission of light from

The reason we don't have solar and lunar eclipses monthly is because of the

The general direction of a comet's tail is

What is the likely cause of the 98° tilt of Uranus's axis?

Saturn's rings are composed of?

Is the rate of Earth's rotation increasing or decreasing?

Dark nebula appear dark because they

The Dawn spacecraft entered into orbit around Ceres in

When the Moon assumes its characteristic thin crescent shape,the position of the Sun is

Consider a huge rotating cloud of particles in space that gravitate together to form an increasingly dense ball.As the cloud shrinks in size,it

Temperature differences between nighttime and daytime on Earth are relatively small due to

If one had the opportunity to walk on Triton,Neptune's largest moon,what would you observe the geysers to be spewing?

Most meteors seen as shooting stars are about the size of

Why is the Moon still visible during a full lunar eclipse?

Compared to your weight on Earth,your weight on Jupiter would be about

Between which planets is the asteroid belt found?

When a contracting hot ball of stellar gas spins into a disk shape,it cools faster due to

The best evidence that the Sun is a newcomer in the universe is

In what region of the Sun are most of X-rays generated?

What aspect of the Sun's behavior wraps and distorts the solar magnetic field?

Patterns of Motion and Equilibrium

Newtons Laws of Motion

Momentum and Energy

Gravity, Projectiles, and Satellites

Fluid Mechanics

Thermal Energy and Thermodynamics

Heat Transfer and Change of Phase

Static and Current Electricity

Magnetism and Electromagnetic Induction

Waves and Sound

Light

Atoms and the Periodic Table

The Atomic Nucleus and Radioactivity

Elements of Chemistry

How Atoms Bond and Molecules Attract

Mixtures

How Chemicals React

Two Classes of Chemical Reactions

Organic Compounds

Rocks and Minerals

Plate Tectonics and Earths Interior

Shaping Earths Surface

Geologic Time - Reading the Rock Record

The Oceans, Atmosphere, and Climatic Effects

Driving Forces of Weather

Stars and Galaxies

The Structure of Space and Time

Prologue: The Nature of Science

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