Question 1

Where have some scientists hypothesized that they have found direct evidence for life,either contemporary or ancient,beyond Earth (although the hypothesis has been strongly disputed by many other scientists)?

Accepted Answer

A)  in spectra of the dark deposits along fissures in the ice of Jupiter's satellite Europa 
B)  in "orange soil" found on the Moon 
C)  in the "soil" (regolith) at the Viking 2 landing site on Mars 
D)  in a meteorite composed of ancient Martian rock

Question 2

The equator of Mars is tilted with respect to its orbital plane,so Mars:

Accepted Answer

A)  shows similar seasons to Earth, each lasting about twice the length of those on Earth. 
B)  experiences very long (20-year) seasonal variations. 
C)  occasionally experiences small seasonal variations. 
D)  shows no seasonal variation at all.

Question 3

What is a graben?

Accepted Answer

A)  a mythical Norse sea monster, believed by the ancients to inhabit also the lunar maria 
B)  a field strewn with iron compounds 
C)  a geological formation created when neighboring surface regions separate and the region in between settles 
D)  a type of rock, composed mostly of iron and nickel, found (so far) only on the Moon

Question 4

Where would the Sun appear to rise on Venus if you could see through the clouds?

Accepted Answer

A)  in the north because Venus has its spin axis parallel to the plane of its orbit 
B)  in the west 
C)  in the east 
D)  The Sun would not rise or set because Venus rotates synchronously, always keeping one side toward the Sun.

Question 5

Examination of the whole surface of the Moon shows us that:

Accepted Answer

A)  there are two distinctly different sides, the side seen from Earth and the side hidden from Earth. 
B)  craters exist only on one side of the Moon. 
C)  there are no differences in surface features around the whole Moon. 
D)  the northern hemisphere is distinctly different from the southern hemisphere.

Question 6

Which mechanism forms the magnetospheres around several of the planets?

Accepted Answer

A)  repulsion of the solar wind by the planetary magnetic field 
B)  repulsion of solar electromagnetic radiation by the planetary magnetic field 
C)  very rapid spin of these planets spinning the atmosphere outward 
D)  heating of the upper atmosphere by solar ultraviolet radiation

Question 7

The SNC meteorites are:

Accepted Answer

A)  granitic rocks from Venus formed by solidification of a molten crust. 
B)  rocks from Mars containing water-soaked clay. 
C)  basaltic rocks from the Moon made up of solidified lava. 
D)  carbonaceous chondrites from the asteroid belt containing naturally occurring amino acids.

Question 8

How many times does Mercury rotate with respect to the Sun in one sidereal orbital period? (See Figures 6-34 and 6-44,Comins,Discovering the Essential Universe,6th ed.)

Accepted Answer

A)  many times because Mercury rotates rapidly 
B)  once 
C)  1 times 
D)  twice

Question 9

The older,lighter-colored,and heavily cratered highlands (terrae)take up _____ of the total lunar surface.

Accepted Answer

A)  more than 4/5 
B)  less than 1/5 
C)  between 1/3 and 1/2 
D)  between 1/2 and 3/4

Question 10

The surface of Venus:

Accepted Answer

A)  shows long mountain ranges similar to the Rockies/Andes ranges and the mid-oceanic ridges on Earth. 
B)  is very smooth, with no mountains or mountain ranges. 
C)  has several large individual volcanoes on a smooth plain but no extensive ridged or mountainous regions. 
D)  has two mountainous regions on a smooth plain but no long, connected mountain ranges such as are seen on Earth.

Question 11

The polar caps on Mars are now known to consist of:

Accepted Answer

A)  methane (CH₄), ammonia (NH₃), and water (H₂O) ices, whose relative abundances vary with the seasons. 
B)  carbon dioxide (CO₂) ice, which evaporates easily, overlaying thicker and more long-lived water (H₂O) ice. 
C)  only carbon dioxide (CO₂) ice, which is very volatile and melts easily. 
D)  only water (H₂O) ice, which does not melt easily and survives the summer heat.

Question 12

What do most astronomers believe is the source of the minute amount of oxygen in Mercury's atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

A)  photodissociation of water molecules from ice at the poles 
B)  ions captured from the solar wind 
C)  photodissociation of sulfur dioxide ejected from volcanic eruptions 
D)  bacterial activity in a permafrost layer below the surface

Question 13

In our solar system,which planet is NOT a member of the terrestrial group?

Accepted Answer

A)  Venus 
B)  Jupiter 
C)  Mercury 
D)  Mars

Question 14

Which planets do NOT have any natural satellites?

Accepted Answer

A)  Mars and Venus 
B)  Mercury and Mars 
C)  Mercury, Venus, and Mars 
D)  Mercury and Venus

Question 15

What are the MOST common shapes of lunar craters,and why?

Accepted Answer

A)  all shapes from round to oval, depending on the angle at which the projectile hit the surface 
B)  round because most of the craters formed from volcanic explosions, not meteoric impacts 
C)  random shapes because mantle convection has deformed the surface and distorted the craters 
D)  round because the incoming projectile vaporized and exploded to form the crater

Question 16

The albedo of a piece of black velvet is about:

Accepted Answer

A)  minus one. 
B)  zero. 
C)  one. 
D)  two.

Question 17

How many times have human beings landed on the Moon?

Accepted Answer

A)  four times 
B)  six times 
C)  seven times 
D)  five times

Question 18

On Earth,the majority of earthquakes occur:

Accepted Answer

A)  along regions of greatest thermal stress in arctic and antarctic regions. 
B)  in the centers of tectonic plates (e.g., North American continent). 
C)  along the boundaries of major tectonic plates. 
D)  along the zone of maximum tidal stress around the equator.

Question 19

A regolith is a(n):

Accepted Answer

A)  extremely large, isolated rock on the surface of a planet or other object. 
B)  lithospheric plate, moved slowly by geologic processes. 
C)  heavily cratered region on a planet or other object. 
D)  layer of pulverized rock on the surface of a planet or other object.

Question 20

The distinctive red color of Mars is probably caused by:

Accepted Answer

A)  progressive reddening of sunlight as it traverses the interplanetary dust between the Sun and Mars and then Mars and Earth. 
B)  red dust that is suspended high above the surface by winds and filters the sunlight. 
C)  the scattering of blue sunlight out of the optical beam by dust in the atmosphere, similar to sunsets on Earth. 
D)  iron oxides or rust in the soil.

Exam 6: The Terrestrial Planets and Their Moons

Where have some scientists hypothesized that they have found direct evidence for life,either contemporary or ancient,beyond Earth (although the hypothesis has been strongly disputed by many other scientists) ?