Question 1

Transfer of heat in the Earth's mantle is dominated by

Accepted Answer

A)  radiation 
B)  seismic waves 
C)  convection 
D)  conduction 
A)  radiation 
B)  seismic waves 
C)  convection 
D)  conduction

Question 2

In alpha decay,

Accepted Answer

A)  a proton turns into a neutron 
B)  a neutron turns into a proton 
C)  a proton turns into an electron 
D)  a helium nucleus is ejected 
A)  a proton turns into a neutron 
B)  a neutron turns into a proton 
C)  a proton turns into an electron 
D)  a helium nucleus is ejected

Question 3

Mineralogical analysis of a rock can tell us

Accepted Answer

A)  the detailed geological history of the rock 
B)  what the rock is made of 
C)  when the rock formed 
D)  the temperature and pressure conditions under which it formed 
A)  the detailed geological history of the rock 
B)  what the rock is made of 
C)  when the rock formed 
D)  the temperature and pressure conditions under which it formed

Question 4

Geological processes on the Earth's surface are directly related to

Accepted Answer

A)  the reflectivity of its surface 
B)  the composition of its atmosphere 
C)  the rate of impacts 
D)  internal heat 
A)  the reflectivity of its surface 
B)  the composition of its atmosphere 
C)  the rate of impacts 
D)  internal heat

Question 5

The currently accepted theory for the formation of the Moon is the

Accepted Answer

A)  co-formation model in which the Moon formed from a rotating disk of gas and dust around the Earth 
B)  fission model in which the Moon was spun out from a rapidly rotating Earth 
C)  giant impact model in which material was blasted from the Earth after an impact with a body the size of the planet Mars 
D)  capture model in which the Moon formed elsewhere and was later captured into orbit by the Earth's gravity 
A)  co-formation model in which the Moon formed from a rotating disk of gas and dust around the Earth 
B)  fission model in which the Moon was spun out from a rapidly rotating Earth 
C)  giant impact model in which material was blasted from the Earth after an impact with a body the size of the planet Mars 
D)  capture model in which the Moon formed elsewhere and was later captured into orbit by the Earth's gravity

Question 6

Given the Earth's larger size and strong gravity, the Earth's surface should have more impact craters than the Moon. However, it has very few. Why is this?

Accepted Answer

A)  the Moon acted like a shield, protecting the Earth from most impacts 
B)  the Earth's surface was almost completely molten during the Hadean Eon so no impact craters were formed 
C)  almost all impacts occurred in the oceans so no impact craters were formed 
D)  geological processes like plate tectonics, volcanism, and weathering have erased them 
A)  the Moon acted like a shield, protecting the Earth from most impacts 
B)  the Earth's surface was almost completely molten during the Hadean Eon so no impact craters were formed 
C)  almost all impacts occurred in the oceans so no impact craters were formed 
D)  geological processes like plate tectonics, volcanism, and weathering have erased them

Question 7

The Earth's magnetosphere is a

Accepted Answer

A)  sphere of magnetism found just outside the molten outer core of the Earth 
B)  spherical magnetic field generated by magnetic rocks on the Earth's surface 
C)  volume of space carved out in the solar wind by the Earth's magnetic field 
D)  sphere of magnetism caused by the motion of charged particles in the Earth's outer atmosphere 
A)  sphere of magnetism found just outside the molten outer core of the Earth 
B)  spherical magnetic field generated by magnetic rocks on the Earth's surface 
C)  volume of space carved out in the solar wind by the Earth's magnetic field 
D)  sphere of magnetism caused by the motion of charged particles in the Earth's outer atmosphere

Question 8

Most of the Earth's carbon dioxide

Accepted Answer

A)  has dissolved in the oceans and is locked up in sedimentary carbonate rocks like limestone 
B)  is present in the atmosphere 
C)  has escaped into space 
D)  has been destroyed in the atmosphere by solar radiation 
A)  has dissolved in the oceans and is locked up in sedimentary carbonate rocks like limestone 
B)  is present in the atmosphere 
C)  has escaped into space 
D)  has been destroyed in the atmosphere by solar radiation

Question 9

When an igneous rock is melted and then re-solidifies it turns into

Accepted Answer

A)  a meteorite 
B)  a sedimentary rock 
C)  another igneous rock 
D)  a metamorphic rock 
A)  a meteorite 
B)  a sedimentary rock 
C)  another igneous rock 
D)  a metamorphic rock

Question 10

Which component of Earth's geology is believed to have been largely responsible for the long-term climate stability that has allowed life to evolve?

Accepted Answer

A)  global magnetism 
B)  seismic activity 
C)  plate tectonics 
D)  erosion and weathering 
A)  global magnetism 
B)  seismic activity 
C)  plate tectonics 
D)  erosion and weathering

Question 11

Rocks are found on the surface of another planet which appear to have been formed at the bottom of an ancient ocean. Given this, they are most likely to be classified as

Accepted Answer

A)  Metamorphic 
B)  Igneous 
C)  Meteoritic 
D)  Sedimentary 
A)  Metamorphic 
B)  Igneous 
C)  Meteoritic 
D)  Sedimentary

Question 12

Isotopic analysis of meteorites suggests the Earth and the rest of the solar system formed

Accepted Answer

A)  3.85 billion years ago 
B)  4.57 billion years ago 
C)  4.4 billion years ago 
D)  4.0 billion years ago 
A)  3.85 billion years ago 
B)  4.57 billion years ago 
C)  4.4 billion years ago 
D)  4.0 billion years ago

Question 13

During the Hadean Eon, life may

Accepted Answer

A)  have existed but could not have survived for long periods due to frequent sterilizing impacts 
B)  have existed and survived living underground and in some deep ocean environments 
C)  have existed and survived in all environments 
D)  could not have existed at all 
A)  have existed but could not have survived for long periods due to frequent sterilizing impacts 
B)  have existed and survived living underground and in some deep ocean environments 
C)  have existed and survived in all environments 
D)  could not have existed at all

Question 14

A sterilizing impact is one during which

Accepted Answer

A)  all life on a planet is destroyed 
B)  all life on the surface of a planet is destroyed but life in the oceans or beneath the surface survives 
C)  a planet is fragmented into pieces 
D)  life on a planet is rendered incapable of reproduction 
A)  all life on a planet is destroyed 
B)  all life on the surface of a planet is destroyed but life in the oceans or beneath the surface survives 
C)  a planet is fragmented into pieces 
D)  life on a planet is rendered incapable of reproduction

Question 15

The outer core of the Earth is made of

Accepted Answer

A)  solid iron and nickel 
B)  liquid iron and nickel 
C)  liquid rock 
D)  solid rock 
A)  solid iron and nickel 
B)  liquid iron and nickel 
C)  liquid rock 
D)  solid rock

Question 16

The Andes were formed by

Accepted Answer

A)  two pieces of continental crust separating 
B)  two pieces of continental crust colliding 
C)  two pieces of oceanic crust colliding 
D)  pieces of oceanic and continental crust colliding 
A)  two pieces of continental crust separating 
B)  two pieces of continental crust colliding 
C)  two pieces of oceanic crust colliding 
D)  pieces of oceanic and continental crust colliding

Question 17

The center of the Earth consists of

Accepted Answer

A)  an inner core of rock and nickel and an outer core of molten rock 
B)  an inner core of solid iron and nickel and an outer core of liquid iron and nickel 
C)  a single core of solid iron and nickel 
D)  an inner core of liquid iron and nickel and an outer core of solid iron and nickel 
A)  an inner core of rock and nickel and an outer core of molten rock 
B)  an inner core of solid iron and nickel and an outer core of liquid iron and nickel 
C)  a single core of solid iron and nickel 
D)  an inner core of liquid iron and nickel and an outer core of solid iron and nickel

Question 18

Chemical analysis of a rock can tell us

Accepted Answer

A)  when the rock formed 
B)  the detailed geological history of the rock 
C)  what the rock is made of 
D)  the temperature and pressure conditions under which it formed 
A)  when the rock formed 
B)  the detailed geological history of the rock 
C)  what the rock is made of 
D)  the temperature and pressure conditions under which it formed

Question 19

The global average temperature of the Earth's surface is

Accepted Answer

A)  around the boiling point of water 
B)  around the freezing point of water 
C)  well above the freezing point of water 
D)  well above the boiling point of water 
E)  well below the freezing point of water 
A)  around the boiling point of water 
B)  around the freezing point of water 
C)  well above the freezing point of water 
D)  well above the boiling point of water 
E)  well below the freezing point of water

Question 20

The Earth owes its habitability primarily to

Accepted Answer

A)  the chemical composition of its surface 
B)  a combination of its size and its distance from the Sun 
C)  its size 
D)  its distance from the Sun 
A)  the chemical composition of its surface 
B)  a combination of its size and its distance from the Sun 
C)  its size 
D)  its distance from the Sun

Transfer of heat in the Earth's mantle is dominated by

In alpha decay,

Mineralogical analysis of a rock can tell us

Geological processes on the Earth's surface are directly related to

The currently accepted theory for the formation of the Moon is the

Given the Earth's larger size and strong gravity, the Earth's surface should have more impact craters than the Moon. However, it has very few. Why is this?

The Earth's magnetosphere is a

Most of the Earth's carbon dioxide

When an igneous rock is melted and then re-solidifies it turns into

Which component of Earth's geology is believed to have been largely responsible for the long-term climate stability that has allowed life to evolve?

Rocks are found on the surface of another planet which appear to have been formed at the bottom of an ancient ocean. Given this, they are most likely to be classified as

Isotopic analysis of meteorites suggests the Earth and the rest of the solar system formed

During the Hadean Eon, life may

A sterilizing impact is one during which

The outer core of the Earth is made of

The Andes were formed by

The center of the Earth consists of

Chemical analysis of a rock can tell us

The global average temperature of the Earth's surface is

The Earth owes its habitability primarily to

The Science of Life in the Universe

The Universal Context of Life

The Nature of Life on Earth

The Origin and Evolution of Life on Earth

Searching for Life in Our Solar System

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 4: The Habitability of Earth

Transfer of heat in the Earth's mantle is dominated by

In alpha decay,

Mineralogical analysis of a rock can tell us

Geological processes on the Earth's surface are directly related to

The currently accepted theory for the formation of the Moon is the

Given the Earth's larger size and strong gravity, the Earth's surface should have more impact craters than the Moon. However, it has very few. Why is this?

The Earth's magnetosphere is a

Most of the Earth's carbon dioxide

When an igneous rock is melted and then re-solidifies it turns into

Which component of Earth's geology is believed to have been largely responsible for the long-term climate stability that has allowed life to evolve?

Rocks are found on the surface of another planet which appear to have been formed at the bottom of an ancient ocean. Given this, they are most likely to be classified as

Isotopic analysis of meteorites suggests the Earth and the rest of the solar system formed

During the Hadean Eon, life may

A sterilizing impact is one during which

The outer core of the Earth is made of

The Andes were formed by

The center of the Earth consists of

Chemical analysis of a rock can tell us

The global average temperature of the Earth's surface is

The Earth owes its habitability primarily to

The Science of Life in the Universe

The Universal Context of Life

The Nature of Life on Earth

The Origin and Evolution of Life on Earth

Searching for Life in Our Solar System

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