Question 1

Heating from __________ causes the top of the Earth's stratosphere to be warmer than the bottom.

Accepted Answer

A)  higher-energy particles in the solar wind 
B)  convection 
C)  the ozone layer absorbing UV light 
D)  charged particles trapped by magnetic fields 
A)  higher-energy particles in the solar wind 
B)  convection 
C)  the ozone layer absorbing UV light 
D)  charged particles trapped by magnetic fields

Question 2

All the terrestrial planets have atmospheres as dense as or denser than Earth's.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

The presence of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and water vapor in a planet's atmosphere is direct evidence of

Accepted Answer

A)  high surface temperatures as the planet formed. 
B)  volcanic activity. 
C)  cometary impacts. 
D)  the presence of liquid water early in the planet's history. 
A)  high surface temperatures as the planet formed. 
B)  volcanic activity. 
C)  cometary impacts. 
D)  the presence of liquid water early in the planet's history.

Question 4

Runaway convection in the Earth's atmosphere can lead to

Accepted Answer

A)  storms. 
B)  lightening. 
C)  aurorae. 
D)  acid rain. 
A)  storms. 
B)  lightening. 
C)  aurorae. 
D)  acid rain.

Question 5

The two layers of Earth's atmosphere that have temperature gradients that allow convection to occur are

Accepted Answer

A)  the troposphere and the thermosphere. 
B)  the mesosphere and the stratosphere. 
C)  the thermosphere and the stratosphere. 
D)  the troposphere and the mesosphere. 
A)  the troposphere and the thermosphere. 
B)  the mesosphere and the stratosphere. 
C)  the thermosphere and the stratosphere. 
D)  the troposphere and the mesosphere.

Question 6

The nitrogen in the Earth's atmosphere came from

Accepted Answer

A)  ammonia delivered by comet impacts. 
B)  photosynthesis in algae and plants. 
C)  oxidation. 
D)  impacts. 
A)  ammonia delivered by comet impacts. 
B)  photosynthesis in algae and plants. 
C)  oxidation. 
D)  impacts.

Question 7

If the average   molecule in Venus' atmosphere has a velocity of 0.6 km/s,what would the velocity be for a hydrogen atom in Venus' atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

Because of

Question 8

Earth has roughly __________ times more atmospheric pressure than Mars and __________ times less than Venus.

Accepted Answer

A)  10;100 
B)  100;100 
C)  10;10 
D)  100;10 
A)  10;100 
B)  100;100 
C)  10;10 
D)  100;10

Question 9

Which of the following contributes most to the large difference in the average daytime and nighttime temperatures on the Moon?

Accepted Answer

A)  The lack of a hydrosphere 
B)  The lack of a magnetosphere 
C)  The lack of an atmosphere 
D)  The lack of geologic activity 
A)  The lack of a hydrosphere 
B)  The lack of a magnetosphere 
C)  The lack of an atmosphere 
D)  The lack of geologic activity

Question 10

What is unique about Venus' rotation?

Accepted Answer

A)  Venus rotates very rapidly,once every nine hours. 
B)  Venus rotates in the opposite direction compared to the direction it orbits the Sun. 
C)  Venus' rotational axis is tipped by 90 degrees relative to its orbital axis. 
D)  All of the above are unique characteristics of Venus' rotation. 
A)  Venus rotates very rapidly,once every nine hours. 
B)  Venus rotates in the opposite direction compared to the direction it orbits the Sun. 
C)  Venus' rotational axis is tipped by 90 degrees relative to its orbital axis. 
D)  All of the above are unique characteristics of Venus' rotation.

Question 11

Charged particles can easily move across magnetic field lines,but not along them.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Each halogen atom,such as chlorine,florine,and bromine,in the Earth's atmosphere catalyzes the destruction of ozone for a long time ranging from decades to centuries.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

Over the past 50 years,the average temperature of the Earth has risen by approximately 1°C.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

Over the last century,why has the ozone hole over the Earth grown larger? How long might it take to revert to its former state?

Accepted Answer

Because chemicals released into the atmo

Question 15

If sunlight cannot penetrate Venus' cloud layer efficiently,why does the temperature remain so high?

Accepted Answer

Venus cannot cool because of t

Question 16

What is the main driver that causes Hadley circulation in a planet's atmosphere to break up into zonal winds?

Accepted Answer

A)  The planet's rapid rotation 
B)  Heating from the solar wind 
C)  Hurricanes developing along the planet's equator 
D)  Convection driven by solar heating 
A)  The planet's rapid rotation 
B)  Heating from the solar wind 
C)  Hurricanes developing along the planet's equator 
D)  Convection driven by solar heating

Question 17

The Earth releases the energy it receives from the Sun by emitting __________ radiation.

Accepted Answer

A)  infrared 
B)  visible 
C)  ultraviolet 
D)  radio 
A)  infrared 
B)  visible 
C)  ultraviolet 
D)  radio

Question 18

A gas eventually will escape from a planet's atmosphere if the average velocity of the gas' atoms exceeds 1/6 times the escape velocity of the planet.If the average velocity of water vapor in Venus' atmosphere is 0.5 km/s,what would be the average velocity of a single hydrogen atom? If Venus' escape velocity is 11 km/s,will hydrogen atoms eventually escape?

Accepted Answer

Because of equipartition of en

Question 19

In the absence of a greenhouse effect,water would still be liquid on the surface of Earth.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

Humans cannot survive on the surface of Mars for long periods of time because

Accepted Answer

A)  there is not enough oxygen in the atmosphere. 
B)  the range in temperature between day and night is too large. 
C)  the flux of ultraviolet radiation reaching the surface is too high. 
D)  All of the above are valid reasons. 
A)  there is not enough oxygen in the atmosphere. 
B)  the range in temperature between day and night is too large. 
C)  the flux of ultraviolet radiation reaching the surface is too high. 
D)  All of the above are valid reasons.

Exam 8: Atmospheres of the Terrestrial Planets

Heating from __________ causes the top of the Earth's stratosphere to be warmer than the bottom.

All the terrestrial planets have atmospheres as dense as or denser than Earth's.

The presence of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and water vapor in a planet's atmosphere is direct evidence of

Runaway convection in the Earth's atmosphere can lead to

The two layers of Earth's atmosphere that have temperature gradients that allow convection to occur are

The nitrogen in the Earth's atmosphere came from

If the average molecule in Venus' atmosphere has a velocity of 0.6 km/s,what would the velocity be for a hydrogen atom in Venus' atmosphere?

Earth has roughly __________ times more atmospheric pressure than Mars and __________ times less than Venus.

Which of the following contributes most to the large difference in the average daytime and nighttime temperatures on the Moon?

What is unique about Venus' rotation?

Charged particles can easily move across magnetic field lines,but not along them.

Each halogen atom,such as chlorine,florine,and bromine,in the Earth's atmosphere catalyzes the destruction of ozone for a long time ranging from decades to centuries.

Over the past 50 years,the average temperature of the Earth has risen by approximately 1°C.

Over the last century,why has the ozone hole over the Earth grown larger? How long might it take to revert to its former state?

If sunlight cannot penetrate Venus' cloud layer efficiently,why does the temperature remain so high?

What is the main driver that causes Hadley circulation in a planet's atmosphere to break up into zonal winds?

The Earth releases the energy it receives from the Sun by emitting __________ radiation.

In the absence of a greenhouse effect,water would still be liquid on the surface of Earth.

Humans cannot survive on the surface of Mars for long periods of time because

Why Learn Astronomy

Patterns in the Skymotions of Earth

Gravity and Orbitsa Celestial Ballet

Light

The Tools of the Astronomer

The Birth and Evolution of Planetary Systems

The Terrestrial Planets and Earths Moon

Worlds of Gas and Liquidthe Giant Planets

Gravity Is More Than Keplers Laws

Planetary Adornmentsmoons and Rings

Dwarf Planets and Small Solar System Bodies

Taking the Measure of Stars

A Run-Of-The-Mill G-Type Starour Sun

Star Formation and the Interstellar Medium

Stars in the Slow Lanelow-Mass Stellar Evolution

Live Fast,die Younghigh-Mass Stellar Evolution

Our Expanding Universe

Galaxies

The Milky Waya Normal Spiral Galaxy

Modern Cosmology

The Origin of Structure

Life

Filters

Earth has roughly times more atmospheric pressure than Mars and times less than Venus.