Question 1

Mercury and the Moon are probably the least-habitable bodies in the solar system because they

Accepted Answer

A)  are unlikely to have liquids anywhere 
B)  have never had carbon compounds on their surfaces 
C)  do not have atmospheres containing oxygen 
D)  do not receive any sunlight 
A)  are unlikely to have liquids anywhere 
B)  have never had carbon compounds on their surfaces 
C)  do not have atmospheres containing oxygen 
D)  do not receive any sunlight

Question 2

In order for life to survive in the atmospheres of Jupiter and Saturn it would have to

Accepted Answer

A)  be high in the atmosphere where it could collect solar radiation 
B)  be at the center, close to the rocky core where a rocky surface exists 
C)  be large and buoyant, allowing it to maintain a stable altitude in the atmosphere 
D)  float on the surface of the layer of liquid metallic hydrogen 
A)  be high in the atmosphere where it could collect solar radiation 
B)  be at the center, close to the rocky core where a rocky surface exists 
C)  be large and buoyant, allowing it to maintain a stable altitude in the atmosphere 
D)  float on the surface of the layer of liquid metallic hydrogen

Question 3

Although extremely unlikely, if life exists on Venus today, it will most likely be found

Accepted Answer

A)  at the center of the planet where liquid iron exists 
B)  just beneath the surface, where it would be cooler 
C)  on the surface where plenty of heat is present to drive metabolism 
D)  floating high in the atmosphere where droplets of liquid water exist 
A)  at the center of the planet where liquid iron exists 
B)  just beneath the surface, where it would be cooler 
C)  on the surface where plenty of heat is present to drive metabolism 
D)  floating high in the atmosphere where droplets of liquid water exist

Question 4

The surface of Venus is much hotter than the Earth because it

Accepted Answer

A)  has no magnetic field 
B)  has a very thick atmosphere of carbon dioxide 
C)  has a much higher rate of volcanic activity 
D)  is closer to the Sun 
A)  has no magnetic field 
B)  has a very thick atmosphere of carbon dioxide 
C)  has a much higher rate of volcanic activity 
D)  is closer to the Sun

Question 5

The planet Neptune receives approximately 1/900th the sunlight received by the Earth. Given this, how many times further from the Sun is Neptune compared to the Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  900x 
B)  30x 
C)  300x 
D)  90x 
A)  900x 
B)  30x 
C)  300x 
D)  90x

Question 6

Water is present on the Moon in the form of

Accepted Answer

A)  liquid water present just beneath the surface 
B)  ice in polar craters 
C)  vapor in the atmosphere 
D)  oceans of liquid water on the surface 
A)  liquid water present just beneath the surface 
B)  ice in polar craters 
C)  vapor in the atmosphere 
D)  oceans of liquid water on the surface

Question 7

The Cassini mission is currently in orbit around which planet?

Accepted Answer

A)  Eros 
B)  Jupiter 
C)  Saturn 
D)  Mars 
A)  Eros 
B)  Jupiter 
C)  Saturn 
D)  Mars

Question 8

Most of the carbon dioxide on Venus

Accepted Answer

A)  has frozen out in the polar regions 
B)  is dissolved in oceans of liquid water, forming carbonate rocks 
C)  is still present in the atmosphere 
D)  has escaped into space 
A)  has frozen out in the polar regions 
B)  is dissolved in oceans of liquid water, forming carbonate rocks 
C)  is still present in the atmosphere 
D)  has escaped into space

Question 9

Which of the following is NOT a basic requirement for chemically based life?

Accepted Answer

A)  a liquid medium to transport biological molecules 
B)  a source of molecules from which to build living cells 
C)  oxygen from photosynthesis 
D)  a source of energy to fuel metabolism 
A)  a liquid medium to transport biological molecules 
B)  a source of molecules from which to build living cells 
C)  oxygen from photosynthesis 
D)  a source of energy to fuel metabolism

Question 10

Even though ethane (C2H6) has a liquid temperature range almost as wide as water, it is not as good a biological solvent as water because it is a liquid at

Accepted Answer

A)  much higher temperatures which would result in the breakdown of fragile biological molecules 
B)  very high pressures that are unlikely to be found elsewhere 
C)  very low pressures that are unlikely to be found elsewhere 
D)  much lower temperatures which would result in extremely slow metabolic reactions 
A)  much higher temperatures which would result in the breakdown of fragile biological molecules 
B)  very high pressures that are unlikely to be found elsewhere 
C)  very low pressures that are unlikely to be found elsewhere 
D)  much lower temperatures which would result in extremely slow metabolic reactions

Question 11

Which of the following makes water an ideal solvent for life?

Accepted Answer

A)  water remains liquid over a wide and high range of temperatures 
B)  ice is less dense than water so when a body of water is cooled, only the surface freezes 
C)  water is a polar molecule, making it an excellent solvent 
D)  all of the above 
A)  water remains liquid over a wide and high range of temperatures 
B)  ice is less dense than water so when a body of water is cooled, only the surface freezes 
C)  water is a polar molecule, making it an excellent solvent 
D)  all of the above

Question 12

Given that organic molecules need to react in order to produce life, this suggests we should search for worlds in the solar system that have

Accepted Answer

A)  either an atmosphere, or a surface or subsurface liquid medium such as water, or both. 
B)  organic molecules on their surfaces 
C)  an atmosphere 
D)  rocky surfaces 
A)  either an atmosphere, or a surface or subsurface liquid medium such as water, or both. 
B)  organic molecules on their surfaces 
C)  an atmosphere 
D)  rocky surfaces

Question 13

A technique that uses a planetary atmosphere to slow down an orbiting spacecraft and place it in a circular orbit is called

Accepted Answer

A)  a gravitational assist 
B)  aerobraking 
C)  orbital insertion 
D)  hydrodynamic deceleration 
A)  a gravitational assist 
B)  aerobraking 
C)  orbital insertion 
D)  hydrodynamic deceleration

Question 14

Mars may have been more Earth-like in the past because

Accepted Answer

A)  its atmosphere was thicker 
B)  it was rotating more rapidly 
C)  the Sun was dimmer, putting out less solar radiation 
D)  it was not as close to the Sun 
A)  its atmosphere was thicker 
B)  it was rotating more rapidly 
C)  the Sun was dimmer, putting out less solar radiation 
D)  it was not as close to the Sun

Question 15

Stardust was an example of which kind of mission?

Accepted Answer

A)  lander 
B)  flyby 
C)  sample return 
D)  orbiter 
A)  lander 
B)  flyby 
C)  sample return 
D)  orbiter

Question 16

What kind of spacecraft is used in the Messenger mission to Mercury?

Accepted Answer

A)  lander/probe 
B)  flyby 
C)  sample return 
D)  orbiter 
A)  lander/probe 
B)  flyby 
C)  sample return 
D)  orbiter

Mercury and the Moon are probably the least-habitable bodies in the solar system because they

In order for life to survive in the atmospheres of Jupiter and Saturn it would have to

Although extremely unlikely, if life exists on Venus today, it will most likely be found

The surface of Venus is much hotter than the Earth because it

The planet Neptune receives approximately 1/900th the sunlight received by the Earth. Given this, how many times further from the Sun is Neptune compared to the Earth?

Water is present on the Moon in the form of

The Cassini mission is currently in orbit around which planet?

Most of the carbon dioxide on Venus

Which of the following is NOT a basic requirement for chemically based life?

Even though ethane (C₂H₆) has a liquid temperature range almost as wide as water, it is not as good a biological solvent as water because it is a liquid at

Which of the following makes water an ideal solvent for life?

Given that organic molecules need to react in order to produce life, this suggests we should search for worlds in the solar system that have

A technique that uses a planetary atmosphere to slow down an orbiting spacecraft and place it in a circular orbit is called

Mars may have been more Earth-like in the past because

Stardust was an example of which kind of mission?

What kind of spacecraft is used in the Messenger mission to Mercury?

The Science of Life in the Universe

The Universal Context of Life

The Habitability of Earth

The Nature of Life on Earth

The Origin and Evolution of Life on Earth

Mars

Life on Jovian Moons

The Nature and Evolution of Habitability

Habitability Outside the Solar System

The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

Interstellar Travel and the Fermi Paradox

Filters

Exam 7: Searching for Life in Our Solar System

Mercury and the Moon are probably the least-habitable bodies in the solar system because they

In order for life to survive in the atmospheres of Jupiter and Saturn it would have to

Although extremely unlikely, if life exists on Venus today, it will most likely be found

The surface of Venus is much hotter than the Earth because it

The planet Neptune receives approximately 1/900th the sunlight received by the Earth. Given this, how many times further from the Sun is Neptune compared to the Earth?

Water is present on the Moon in the form of

The Cassini mission is currently in orbit around which planet?

Most of the carbon dioxide on Venus

Which of the following is NOT a basic requirement for chemically based life?

Even though ethane (C2H6) has a liquid temperature range almost as wide as water, it is not as good a biological solvent as water because it is a liquid at

Which of the following makes water an ideal solvent for life?

Given that organic molecules need to react in order to produce life, this suggests we should search for worlds in the solar system that have

A technique that uses a planetary atmosphere to slow down an orbiting spacecraft and place it in a circular orbit is called

Mars may have been more Earth-like in the past because

Stardust was an example of which kind of mission?

What kind of spacecraft is used in the Messenger mission to Mercury?

The Science of Life in the Universe

The Universal Context of Life

The Habitability of Earth

The Nature of Life on Earth

The Origin and Evolution of Life on Earth

Mars

Life on Jovian Moons

The Nature and Evolution of Habitability

Habitability Outside the Solar System

The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

Interstellar Travel and the Fermi Paradox

Filters

Even though ethane (C₂H₆) has a liquid temperature range almost as wide as water, it is not as good a biological solvent as water because it is a liquid at