Question 1

The core of the Moon is

Accepted Answer

A) solid. 
B) liquid. 
C) gaseous. 
D) Not enough information is known for an answer. 
A) solid. 
B) liquid. 
C) gaseous. 
D) Not enough information is known for an answer.

Question 2

Pretend you are on a morning time mission on the surface of Venus. When looking out the spacepod window you are likely to see

Accepted Answer

A) the Sun rising in the West. 
B) the Sun rising in the East. 
C) fierce windstorms everywhere you look. 
D) thick and still smog-like cloud cover. 
A) the Sun rising in the West. 
B) the Sun rising in the East. 
C) fierce windstorms everywhere you look. 
D) thick and still smog-like cloud cover.

Question 3

Like Jupiter and Saturn, Neptune emits about 2.5 times as much heat energy as it receives from the Sun, although calculations show it should have already lost all of its original heat. What is the most likely explanation?

Accepted Answer

A) Unlike Uranus, it is still contracting. 
B) Radioactive decay has kicked into overdrive, with runaway reactions taking place. 
C) The basis for these calculations is currently being questioned by a new generation of scientists. 
D) There are gravitational anomalies taking place, which may hold some clue as to where the heat may be coming from. 
E) Uranus' gravity is creating a 'slingshot' effect, catapulting solar winds into Neptune's atmosphere in the form of as of yet undetected radiation. 
A) Unlike Uranus, it is still contracting. 
B) Radioactive decay has kicked into overdrive, with runaway reactions taking place. 
C) The basis for these calculations is currently being questioned by a new generation of scientists. 
D) There are gravitational anomalies taking place, which may hold some clue as to where the heat may be coming from. 
E) Uranus' gravity is creating a 'slingshot' effect, catapulting solar winds into Neptune's atmosphere in the form of as of yet undetected radiation.

Question 4

About how many tons of meteorites strike the Earth on a daily basis?

Accepted Answer

A) 20 tons 
B) 200 tons 
C) 2,000 tons 
D) 20,000 tons 
A) 20 tons 
B) 200 tons 
C) 2,000 tons 
D) 20,000 tons

Question 5

Why do comet's tails always point away from the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A) Because of solar wind. 
B) Because the inner planets cause the ice and other volatile materials to be pulled towards their orbits. 
C) Because of the comet's interaction with dark matter. 
D) Because when they move away from the Sun they begin to lose inertia. 
A) Because of solar wind. 
B) Because the inner planets cause the ice and other volatile materials to be pulled towards their orbits. 
C) Because of the comet's interaction with dark matter. 
D) Because when they move away from the Sun they begin to lose inertia.

Question 6

The solar wind blows in a direction

Accepted Answer

A) away from the Sun. 
B) toward the Sun. 
C) coplanar to the plane of the solar system 
D) primarily along the Sun's polar axis 
A) away from the Sun. 
B) toward the Sun. 
C) coplanar to the plane of the solar system 
D) primarily along the Sun's polar axis

Question 7

When the alignment of the Sun, the Moon, and Earth produce a solar eclipse, the body between the other two is the

Accepted Answer

A) Sun. 
B) Moon. 
C) Earth. 
A) Sun. 
B) Moon. 
C) Earth.

Question 8

When the alignment of the Sun, the Moon, and Earth produce a lunar eclipse, the body that is in between the other two is the

Accepted Answer

A) Sun. 
B) Moon. 
C) Earth. 
A) Sun. 
B) Moon. 
C) Earth.

Question 9

Neptune was discovered by irregularities in the orbit of

Accepted Answer

A) Jupiter. 
B) Saturn. 
C) Uranus. 
D) Pluto. 
E) Earth. 
A) Jupiter. 
B) Saturn. 
C) Uranus. 
D) Pluto. 
E) Earth.

Question 10

The gravity lock of the Moon to Earth is similar to the action of a

Accepted Answer

A) tidal wave. 
B) giant pendulum. 
C) master key. 
D) magnetic compass. 
E) spinning top. 
A) tidal wave. 
B) giant pendulum. 
C) master key. 
D) magnetic compass. 
E) spinning top.

Question 11

Compared to the density of water, the density of Saturn is

Accepted Answer

A) less. 
B) more. 
C) about the same. 
A) less. 
B) more. 
C) about the same.

Question 12

Nebular theory pertains to the formation of

Accepted Answer

A) the solar system. 
B) a galaxy. 
C) the asteroid belt. 
D) the Earth. 
A) the solar system. 
B) a galaxy. 
C) the asteroid belt. 
D) the Earth.

Question 13

Each second, the burning Sun's mass

Accepted Answer

A) decreases. 
B) increases. 
C) remains unchanged. 
A) decreases. 
B) increases. 
C) remains unchanged.

Question 14

The percentage of the Earth's surface covered by ocean is about

Accepted Answer

A) 50%. 
B) 60%. 
C) 70%. 
D) 80%. 
E) 85%. 
A) 50%. 
B) 60%. 
C) 70%. 
D) 80%. 
E) 85%.

Question 15

The Sun tends to bloat outward by nuclear fusion, and contract due to

Accepted Answer

A) gravitation. 
B) nuclear fission. 
C) mass decrease. 
D) its relatively slow spin. 
E) reduced gaseous pressures. 
A) gravitation. 
B) nuclear fission. 
C) mass decrease. 
D) its relatively slow spin. 
E) reduced gaseous pressures.

Question 16

The age of the Sun is about

Accepted Answer

A) 7000 years. 
B) 5.5 million years. 
C) 5.5 billion years. 
D) 5.5 trillion years. 
E) more than 5.5 trillion years 
A) 7000 years. 
B) 5.5 million years. 
C) 5.5 billion years. 
D) 5.5 trillion years. 
E) more than 5.5 trillion years

Question 17

The Earth rotates about its axis once per 24 hours, while the Moon rotates about its axis once per

Accepted Answer

A) 24 hours also. 
B) half month. 
C) month. 
D) year. 
E) none of these 
A) 24 hours also. 
B) half month. 
C) month. 
D) year. 
E) none of these

Question 18

A spinning cloud of interstellar gas tends to

Accepted Answer

A) disperse. 
B) flatten. 
C) turn into a sphere. 
D) condense. 
A) disperse. 
B) flatten. 
C) turn into a sphere. 
D) condense.

Question 19

How do the wind speeds of the Martian atmosphere compare with those of Earth?

Accepted Answer

A) About the same as Earth's 
B) About one tenth of Earth's 
C) About 50% of Earth's 
D) About ten times more than Earth's 
A) About the same as Earth's 
B) About one tenth of Earth's 
C) About 50% of Earth's 
D) About ten times more than Earth's

Question 20

When the Sun passes between the Moon and the Earth, we have

Accepted Answer

A) a solar eclipse. 
B) a lunar eclipse. 
C) met our end. 
A) a solar eclipse. 
B) a lunar eclipse. 
C) met our end.

Exam 26: The Solar System

The core of the Moon is

Pretend you are on a morning time mission on the surface of Venus. When looking out the spacepod window you are likely to see

Like Jupiter and Saturn, Neptune emits about 2.5 times as much heat energy as it receives from the Sun, although calculations show it should have already lost all of its original heat. What is the most likely explanation?

About how many tons of meteorites strike the Earth on a daily basis?

Why do comet's tails always point away from the Sun?

The solar wind blows in a direction

When the alignment of the Sun, the Moon, and Earth produce a solar eclipse, the body between the other two is the

When the alignment of the Sun, the Moon, and Earth produce a lunar eclipse, the body that is in between the other two is the

Neptune was discovered by irregularities in the orbit of

The gravity lock of the Moon to Earth is similar to the action of a

Compared to the density of water, the density of Saturn is

Nebular theory pertains to the formation of

Each second, the burning Sun's mass

The percentage of the Earth's surface covered by ocean is about

The Sun tends to bloat outward by nuclear fusion, and contract due to

The age of the Sun is about

The Earth rotates about its axis once per 24 hours, while the Moon rotates about its axis once per

A spinning cloud of interstellar gas tends to

How do the wind speeds of the Martian atmosphere compare with those of Earth?

When the Sun passes between the Moon and the Earth, we have

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 Timereading 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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