{{asɛmtiNe Ɔkyerɛwfo}} | Nhomakorabea | Nneɛma a ɛma wotumi yɛ ade

1

Scientists know that the Earth's interior has different layers because...

drilling down to the core on both continents and seafloors have revealed the structure of the Earth's interior.

the density of the Earth is too small to be composed only of crust material.

differentiation and integration are processes that mix the material of Earth's interior into a uniform structure like that in the mantle.

seismic waves measured at different locations allow scientists to probe the Earth's interior.

1

From the center outward, which of the following orders is correct for the structure of Earth, its atmosphere, and surrounding area?

inner core, outer core, mantle, crust, stratosphere, troposphere, magnetosphere, ionosphere

inner core, mantle, outer core, crust, troposphere, ionosphere, stratosphere, magnetosphere

inner core, outer core, mantle, crust, troposphere, stratosphere, ionosphere, magnetosphere

inner core, mantle, outer core, crust, troposphere, stratosphere, magnetosphere, ionosphere

1

The Van Allen Belt...

is a region of high energy ions high above the Earth's atmosphere.

is located in the Earth's magnetosphere.

was discovered using instrumentation build by University of Iowa Professor James Van Allen and carried aboard the Explorer 1 spacecraft.

Every single one of these answers is correct!

was discovered in 1958 and showed that charged particles were trapped in the magnetosphere.

1

The four primary categories of rock are...

igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic, and primitive.

ingenious, sedimentary, metastatic, and primate.

seafloor, continental, primitive, and tectonic.

primitive, volcanic, basalt, and sedimentary.

1

Quartzite is...

a type of rock that has gone through primitive, igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic states.

a primitive rock that no longer exists on Earth.

a metamorphic form of quartz.

a type of rock formed from crushed crystals to put it in a primitive state.

1

The San Andres Fault...

is a tectonic region responsible for seafloor spreading.

is a category of rock formed by cooling from a molten state.

is an example of a region of Earth's surface where two continental plates touch.

is a category of rock formed by intense heat and pressure found near regions of mountain building and volcanoes.

1

In the theory of Plate Tectonics, it takes a great deal of energy to move the plates floating on the Earth's surface. What is the source of this energy?

Slow convection in the mantle allows heated material to rise up from the core, convey across the bottom of the plates moving them along, then slowly sink as cooler material back to the core.

The pressure caused by plates touching each other creates enough energy to metamorphize the plates and move them along.

Rift zone and subduction zones work to make nuclear energy which the plates then use to convey along the Earth's surface.

Once the energy used to form mountains and fault zones is used up, it can be diverted and utilized to produce continental drift.

1

Seafloor spreading like that at the Mid-Atlantic ridge is an example of a(n)...

hot spot.

oceanic trench.

subduction zone.

rift zone.

1

The formation of the Hawaiian volcanic mountain Mauna Kea is the result of ...

tectonic plate theory.

volcanic activity near a subduction zone.

a mantle hot spot.

seafloor spreading like that found near the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.

1

The Earth's atmosphere is composed mostly of ...

1

The ozone layer...

is located in the mesosphere and contains a heavy form of oxygen with thirteen atoms per molecule.

is an ultraviolet-blocking layer located in the stratosphere, but it can be depleted by CFCs.

is an infrared-blocking layer in the ionosphere where a large ozone hole is located due to ozone depletion caused by CFCs.

is the layer of the atmosphere responsible for block every wavelength of electromagnetic radiation except visible and radio waves. It is being depleted by CFCs.

1

Which of the following is NOT one of the three scientific possibilities for the original source of Earth's atmosphere?

It could have been formed when early lifeforms, such as Cthulhu, tried to harness the power of dark magic.

It could have been released from the interior of Earth through volcanic activity subsequent to the formation of the planet.

The atmosphere could have been formed with the rest of Earth as it accumulated from debris left over the formation of the Sun.

Frozen comets or asteroids with water may have transported the water to Earth.

1

The atmosphere of the early Earth...

contained lots of carbon dioxide and methane, but little to no oxygen.

is responsible for the formation of tectonic features.

was locked up on Mars until the Earth cooled.

was heated by convection from the mantle until the crust was formed.

All of these are correct answers.

1

The oxygen in Earth's atmosphere...

All of these are correct answers.

was probably originally produced by blue-green algae.

is a byproduct of plant waste.

first occurred in conjunction with a decrease in the level of CO2.

was probably not present in the early Earth's atmosphere.

1

Without greenhouse gases,....

the Earth's surface temperature would still be hot because of heat escaping the core.

the Earth's surface temperature would be comfortable and climate change would not occur.

the Earth would be like a giant snowball with temperatures well below freezing.

the CO2 from the burning of fossil fuels would create global warming.

1

We see lots of craters on the surfaces of the Moon, Mercury, and Mars. Why do we not see this many craters on Earth's surface?

Earth formed after the period of heavy bombardment leaving very few objects to form craters on Earth.

The Earth's atmosphere protects it from meteorites and asteroids.

The Moon acts as a shield for the Earth. Its gravity attracts the debris that would otherwise form craters on Earth.

Geologic processes, such as plate tectonics and erosion, have erased evidence of the craters.

1

The Tunguska explosion, Meteor Crater, and Chicxulub crater...

are all examples of mass extinction events.

were all caused by impacts of extraterrestrial objects.

are all caused by supervolcanic events.

are the names of the three largest craters on Earth.

1

What circumstances are necessary for differentiation to occur?

The planet must have a molten interior.

The planet must be made of mostly dirt.

The planet must have a thick atmosphere.

The planet must be have a magnetosphere.

1

Ridges in the middle of the ocean, like the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, are places where...

hot mantle material rises upward, punches through a plate, and creates volcanic islands.

plates push together, creating ocean mountain chains.

hot mantle material rises upward and spreads the plates, pushing them apart and forming a ridge.

one plate slides under another, returning older crust to the mantle.

1

In which domain of living things do you find humankind?

Entamoebae

Bacteria

Archaea

Eukarya

1

Although he did not propose a mechanism, what are three main reasons for accepting Wegener's idea of continental drift?

congruence in the shapes of the continents

earth's molten interior was rejected by the established scientific community

resemblances among living animals on different continents

Pangaea was discovered well before Wegener's time

no mechanism was proposed by Wegener for continental conveyance

resemblances among fossil plants and animals on different continents

1

What are four ways in which human life has changed the Earth, its atmosphere, environment, and climate?

Human consumption of water has reduced precipitation levels, especially during hurricanes and typhoons.

Early human hunters killed many large mammals and marsupials, driving them toward extinction.

NASA Spaceguard has prevented the Earth from being destroyed by asteroids on at least 10 different occasions.

Farmers have cut down many of the forests to make room for crops.

The mass burning of fossil fuels, which releases 100 times more carbon dioxide per year on average than volcanoes, is changing the climate.

Human expansion across the globe has brought in many invasive species that have doomed many native species of plants and animals.

1

For Earth, which layer is thicker?

core

stratosphere

mantle

crust

1

Which has greater diameter: the Moon or Mercury?

The same for both

We don't know. Mercury's diameter hasn't been determined.

Mercury

Moon

1

Which country reached the Moon first?

USA

UN

International Cooperative of Nations

USSR

1

Which country first sent humans to the Moon?

UN

USSR

International Cooperative of Nations

USA

1

Which of the following are not part of the three objectives of major importance for lunar science accomplished by the Apollo program? Maybe more than one answer.

Provide a sense of national pride in the USA for such a fantastic accomplishment with the hope of ending the Cold War.

Bring samples from Earth to the Moon to see how they react to lunar conditions.

Photography and analysis of the lunar surface using instruments aboard the command module.

Collection of lunar samples for return and analysis on Earth.

Deployment of the Apollo Lunar Surface Experiment Package (ALSEP) for continued operation and monitoring from Earth.

1

Which of the following are true about the Moon? Maybe more than one.

Deep lunar oceans of liquid water contain a rich bile solution many times saltier than Earth's oceans.

Compared to Earth, the Moon is depleted in iron and other metals.

The Moon is made almost entirely of silicate rock.

The Moon does not have a large metal core.

Compared to Earth, the Moon is lacking water and other volatiles as part of the lunar crust.

Water has been detected in permanently shadowed craters near the lunar poles.

1

Match the following to its definition.

Draggable item		Corresponding Item
Highlands		Huge depressions that were filled with dark-colored basalt from volcanic eruptions.
Impact Basins		Dark "seas" on the lunar surface.
Crater Rays		Mostly dust on the lunar surface produced by impacts over billions of years.
Maria		Streams of ejecta hundreds to thousands of miles long that form bright prominent features on the lunar surface.
Lunar Soil		Eroded but heavily cratered regions of low-density silicate rock.

1

Order the following according to our understanding of the history of the Moon, where 1=occurred first (oldest event); 6=occurred most recently (youngest event).

Beginning of cratering of highlands
Beginning of heavy bombardment.
Formation of maria
Imbrium and Orientale impacts
Giant Impact
Tycho and Copernicus impacts

1

The Giant Impact hypothesis of lunar formation explains which of the following? More than one.

The Moon's lack of a large metal core.

The surface temperature of the Moon.

The lack of volatiles on the Moon.

Identical abundances of various oxygen isotopes.

The absence of metals on the Moon.

1

Which of the following is an odd feature of Mercury?

It has a diameter less than half that of Earth.

It is covered by craters in all hemispheres.

It is close to the Sun.

It has a metal core about the size of our Moon.

1

Which of the following is a possible explanation for the scarps present on Mercury?

Mercury's nearness to the Sun heats the surface and wrinkles it.

Uplift from volcanic activity formed large depressions that stretched many miles.

At some point in its past after the period of heavy bombardment, Mercury shrunk, wrinkling its crust.

The period of heavy bombardment caused large tectonic features like plates of continental drift to form mountain chains.

1

A giant impact early in Mercury's formation would explain ____.

the color of its surface today due to the different colors a giant impactor would have due to its different chemical makeup.

why it is so close to the Sun.

its large metallic core, because the crust and mantle may have been torn away leaving a body dominated by an iron core.

why the density of Mercury is so small.

1

Why is it that neither the Moon nor Mercury have atmospheres?

The gases that formed Earth's atmosphere were not present at the time of the formation of the Moon or Mercury.

Theirs masses, and therefore their gravitational force, is not large enough to retain gases and volatile compounds.

Unlike the Earth, their atmospheres are exposed to the Sun, therefore the solar wind blows their atmospheres away after a while.

Geologists and atmospheric scientists have been unable to explain this difference.

1

Astronomers think that Mercury should have formed with roughly the same ratio of metal to silicate as that found on Earth and Venus, however, this is not the case. The difference can be explained by....

Mercury's orbit near the Sun

the addition of Earth's atmosphere to the equation.

giant impacts

continental drift

1

The Moon, Mercury, and the Earth were formed about ______ .

13.7 billion years ago.

3.14 billion years ago.

65 million years ago.

4.5 billion years ago.

1

One of the first scientists to propose that the craters visible on the Moon were from impacts was _______.

John Muir

Neil Armstrong

Grove K. Gilbert

Tycho Brahe

1

Mercury's orbit is odd in the solar system because....

it doesn't match the Moon's orbit.

it is almost perfectly circular.

it is highly elliptical.

it is close to the Sun and therefore hotter than the other orbits.

1

Which of the terrestrial worlds has the strongest magnetic field?

1

The polar caps on Mars are composed of...

pure water ice.

a mix of carbon dioxide ice and water ice

pure carbon dioxide ice.

meringue.

1

Valles Marineris is a...

large canyon on Venus.

large canyon on Mars.

vast rolling plain on the equator of Mars.

large valley on the dark side of Venus.

1

Which two properties are most important in determining the surface temperature of a planet?

internal temperature and atmosphere

distance from the Sun and atmosphere

size and atmosphere

size and distance from the Sun

1

How does the greenhouse effect work?

Greenhouse gases transmit visible light, allowing it to heat the surface, but then absorb infrared light from the planet surface, trapping the heat near the surface.

Ozone transmits visible light, allowing it to heat the surface, but then absorbs most of the infrared heat, trapping the heat near the surface.

Greenhouse gases absorb X rays and ultraviolet light from the Sun, which then heat the atmosphere and the surface.

Greenhouse gases absorb infrared light from the Sun, which then heats the atmosphere and the surface.

1

Why doesn't Venus have seasons like Mars and Earth do?

It is too close to the Sun

It does not rotate fast enough

It does not have an ozone layer.

Its rotation axis is not tilted.

1

How might Venus’ atmosphere have evolved to its present state through a runaway greenhouse effect?

The atmospheres of Venus and Earth were probably similar early in solar system history. However heat from the Sun would have evaporated any water from the surface of Venus. This would release any carbon dioxide absorbed by the bodies of water. Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere acted as a greenhouse gas, preventing infrared radiation from escaping the planet. This would cause a rise in temperature, even more evaporation, and further release of carbon dioxide. Then with water vapor in the atmosphere, ultraviolet sunlight would break up the water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen would escape the planet because the gravity of Venus was insufficient to hold onto it. The oxygen would combine with carbon and eventually become locked up in the rocks. With no large bodies of water, carbon dioxide is not absorbed, making it the major component of the atmosphere of Venus.

Large bodies of water on Venus did not capture the carbon dioxide like on Earth. Since the planet Venus formed without water on its surface, then there was no place for the carbon dioxide to go except into the atmosphere. Since the atmosphere is so rich with carbon dioxide then there is a runaway greenhouse effect. If water exits underground on Venus then releasing the water will make the surface wet.

There is a carbon cycle on Venus. The carbon emitted by volcanoes is first in the atmosphere, but it quickly becomes locked up in rock. These rocks are melted by the mantle of Venus and are ultimately converted back into volcanic emissions. This repeating pattern is what makes up the carbon cycle of Venus. The runaway greenhouse effect occurs because of the current amount of volcanic carbon present in the atmosphere of Venus.

The carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of Venus is what causes the runaway greenhouse effect in the planet's atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is made of one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms. In order to get carbon dioxide you need carbon and oxygen. If the atmospheres of Earth and Venus were similar early in the history of the solar system, then the carbon and oxygen on Venus combined to make carbon dioxide, but that was not the case on Earth. The carbon dioxide on Venus was sufficient to cause the runaway greenhouse effect.

1

Why use radar instead of visible light instruments to study the surface of Venus?

The fact that Venus is so close to the Sun means that the visible light is washed out by the brightness of the Sun.

Visible light doesn't work on the surface of Venus because carbon dioxide blocks visible light.

Radar can penetrate the thick atmosphere of Venus whereas visible light is blocked.

Venus is too hot for visible light to be emitted.

1

Which has smallest diameter?

1

Which is closest to the Sun? And which has the greater surface temperature?

1

Which of the following are properties of Mars? More than one.

1

Which of the following are properties of Venus? More than one

1

Which of the following are considered evidence of the past presence of water on Mars? More than one.

rocks in craters showing evidence of evaporation

fossilized indentations in sedimentary rock showing evidence of ancient rain

Valles Marineris carved by possible water features

runoff channels tens of meters wide carved by surface rain

seasonal gullies, also called recurring slope lineae

outflow channels kilometers wide carved by floods

1

Both Mars and Earth probably had similar atmospheres early in the history of the solar system. Which of the following correctly explains the runaway refrigerator effect and its role in the evolution of Mars' atmosphere?

Mars is much smaller than Earth, so its gravity was not sufficient to hold a gaseous atmosphere over a long period of time. Mars' atmosphere would have gotten thinner as gases escaped to space. This would lead to lower surface temperatures, and some gases would have frozen and fallen out of the atmosphere, lowering temperatures still further. The thinner atmosphere and colder temperatures would lead to the loss of most water from the planet, except for water in the form of ice, which may still exist in permafrost ground deposits near the poles or buried deeply under the surface, or possibly underground saltwater in liquid form.

Because Mars is much smaller than Earth, the atmosphere would not have been as thick as Earth's. This means that it would have been composed mostly of carbon dioxide from the beginning. Since carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas, the heat of Mars would have escaped to space after a few million years. This would have left very little surface heat which is called the refrigerator effect.

Most refrigerators today run off of electricity. In most cases the motor that drives the refrigerator is the device that utilized the electricity. As a result, the motor will usually experience a slight vibration with a frequency around 60 Hertz. This vibration creates a low but distinct audible hum that we are able to hear when listening carefully. The low-level hum is an indication that the refrigerator is running. This effect is the runaway refrigerator effect. When applied to Mars, the low-level hum caused the atmosphere of Mars to become much thinner and ultimately to be composed mostly of carbon dioxide. This made the surface temperature of Mars much lower than that of Earth.

Soon after the Earth formed a giant impactor struck the Earth and ultimately formed the Earth-Moon system. This impact would have effected the Earth's atmosphere much more differently than Mars, which did not suffer such an impact. The fact that Mars is much colder is due to the runaway refrigerator effect. If Earth had not suffered a giant impact, then its surface temperature would have been much colder like that of Mars.

1

Which of the following has the longest day?

Venus

The Moon

Earth

Mars

1

How is it possible that rocks from Mars are currently on Earth?

Impactors on Mars caused rocks to escape and eventually land on Earth as meteorites.

Volcanoes on Mars blew rocks into space that eventually landed on Earth as meteors

Aliens brought rocks from Mars when they moved to Earth.

Mars rocks were made on Earth by similar processes.

1

Neptune is denser than Saturn. Why might this be?

It has a greater proportion of hydrogen than Saturn.

It has a different composition than Saturn, including a higher proportion of hydrogen compounds and rocks.

Its hydrogen is molecular, whereas Saturn's hydrogen is atomic.

The extra mass of Neptune compresses its interior to a greater extent than that of Saturn making it only appear smaller.

1

Why is Jupiter denser than Saturn?

The extra mass of Jupiter compresses its interior to a greater extent than that of Saturn.

It has a greater proportion of helium to hydrogen compared to Saturn.

Its core is much larger than Saturn's.

It is made of a different composition than Saturn, including a higher proportion of hydrogen compounds and rocks.

1

How do scientists think Jupiter generates its internal heat?

primordial heat left over from the gravitational accretion of matter which converts potential energy into thermal energy

internal friction due to its high rotation rate

heat produced from differentiation converts gravitational potential energy to heat

radioactive decay

1

How do the Jovian planet interiors differ?

All have about the same amount of hydrogen and helium but the proportion of rocks is greater in those planets closer to the Sun.

The core mass decreases with the mass of the planet.

The composition changes from mostly ammonia in Jupiter and Saturn to mostly methane in Uranus and Neptune.

All have rocky cores but differ in the amount of surrounding hydrogen and helium.

1

Why do Uranus and Neptune have blue methane clouds but Jupiter and Saturn do not?

Methane did not exist in the solar nebula at the radii of Jupiter and Saturn when the planets formed.

Methane reacts with the abundant ammonia clouds in Jupiter and Saturn.

The relatively slow rotation of Uranus and Neptune allows methane to migrate to higher levels in the atmosphere and condense into clouds.

Methane does not condense into ice in the warmer atmospheric temperatures of Jupiter and Saturn.

1

What are seasons like on Jupiter?

Jupiter's seasons are the same as Earth's except they last several years due to Jupiter's orbit.

Since Jupiter's orbital period is about 10 years, each season will last about one-fourth of 10 years.

Jupiter doesn't have seasons since its rotational axis is only tilted 3 degrees.

The seasons on Jupiter are short due to the planet's fast rotation rate.

1

What is the internal heat source of Saturn?

radioactive decay heats the core

internal friction due to its high rotation rate

Primordial heat left over from the gravitational accretion of matter.

The mantle of Saturn is still differentiating causing helium to rain out of the atmosphere and release gravitational potential energy as heat.

1

Which planet has the largest magnetosphere?

1

Which planet has the highest winds?

Uranus

Neptune

Jupiter

Saturn

1

How do storms on Jupiter differ from storms on Earth? More than one.

Despite the temperature differences, storms on Jupiter are actually warmer than on Earth.

Jupiter's cyclonic storms rotate counterclockwise, whereas storms, such as hurricanes, on Earth rotate clockwise.

Storms last a few days to weeks on Earth, but can last centuries on Jupiter.

1

Which of the following are considered true based upon what we currently know about the Jovian planets? More than one.

If you include the rings of Saturn, then Jupiter and Saturn have essentially the same mass.

On Uranus and Neptune, the clouds are composed of methane.

The temperatures on Uranus and Neptune are cold enough that methane freezes.

The temperatures of Jupiter and Saturn keep methane in a gaseous state.

1

What is the most abundant element in the outer solar system?

hydrogen

metals

helium

methane

1

Which spacecraft was the first to flyby all of the Jovian planets?

1

Which of the Jovian planets has the largest rocky core?

Uranus

Neptune

Saturn

Jupiter

1

Why does Jupiter's magnetosphere emit large amounts of radio waves?

The radio waves from Jupiter are equivalent to those of the other Jovian planets; however, the radio waves appear more intense because Jupiter is nearer than the other planets.

Jupiter emits large amounts of internal heat which appear as radio waves coming from the magnetosphere.

High speed electrons accelerating in the magnetosphere emit radio waves.

Jupiter's hydrogen and ammonia interact chemically to form molecules that emit large amounts of radio waves.

1

The charged particle zone in the magnetosphere around Jupiter....
(More than one answer possible.)

is part of the primordial material left over from the formation of the outer planets about 4.5 billion years ago.

is similar to the Van Allen Belt around Earth.

is responsible for producing synchrotron radiation.

was initially explored by instruments aboard the Pioneer spacecraft.

1

Which of the following planets have atmospheres that contain hydrogen? (More than one answer possible)

Uranus

Jupiter

Neptune

Saturn

1

Which of the following planets have rocky cores? (More than one answer possible.)

Saturn

Neptune

Jupiter

Uranus

1

Which of the following planets have strong magnetic fields compared to Earth? (More than one answer possible.)

Neptune

Uranus

Saturn

Jupiter

1

Which of the Jovian planets have rings?

1

Which of the following statements about the rings of the four Jovian planets is NOT true?

All have gaps and ringlets, probably due to gap moons, shepherd moons, and orbital resonances.

All probably look much like they did when the solar system first formed.

All the particle orbits are fairly circular, near their planet's equatorial plane.

All are made of individual particles of rock or ice that orbit in accord with Kepler's laws: inner ring particles orbiting faster, and outer ring particles orbiting slower.

1

What is the Cassini Division of Saturn's rings?

The region where Gian Domenico Cassini noticed a shepherd moon herding ring particles.

The wide band between the A and B rings filled with dark ring material.

The dark inner region of the B ring that appears as a gap in the otherwise smooth rings of Saturn.

A region where resonance with the moon Mimas has depleted ring particles.

1

Why do astronomers believe Triton may have been a dwarf planet that was captured by Neptune?

It is colder than any other moon or planet and yet has cryovolcanoes of nitrogen gas.

It orbits Neptune in the opposite direction of Neptune's rotation and has characteristics of dwarf planets like Pluto.

It undergoes seasonal changes.

It is too large to have been formed in the Jovian nebula that formed Neptune.

1

Which of the following statements about Titan is NOT true?

It has lakes of liquid methane.

Its surface is mostly hidden from view by its thick atmosphere.

Its atmosphere is mostly nitrogen.

It is the coldest moon in the solar system.

Its temperature is too cold for liquid water to exist.

1

Which moon has the most substantial atmosphere?

1

Which of the following is most responsible for generating the internal heat for volcanic activity on Io?

accretion

tidal heating

differentiation

heavy bombardment

1

Why does Io have no impact craters?

The thick atmosphere eroded them all.

They have all been buried in lava flows.

The strong magnetic field of Jupiter stopped objects from impacting Io.

Jupiter's gravity kept Io from being bombarded.

1

Which of the following are considered to be the four Galilean moons of Jupiter?

1

Why did scientists think the icy moons would be more geologically active than a rocky moon of the same size?

Ice contains more radioactive elements than rock.

Ice freezes harder than rock at the temperatures found in the outer solar system.

Ice is denser than rock.

Ice has a lower melting point than rock.

1

Which of the following is not due to tidal forces?

1

How thick are the rings of Saturn?

a few 10's of centimeters

a few 10's of meters

about 140,000 kilometers

a few kilometers

1

The largest moon in the solar system is....

Callisto

Titan

Ganymede

Earth's Moon.

1

Which of the following do scientists think is the most likely place beyond Earth to find life?

Io

Earth's Moon

Eurpoa

Callisto

1

Which of the following is evidence for a liquid water ocean on Europa? More than one.

Reflections of water from deep within crevices indicate the existence of a liquid interior beneath the ice surface.

A weak magnetic field implies the presence of a liquid layer below the surface.

Jagged blocks of ice that seem to have rotated and collided with one another on the surface.

Long, straight cracks in the crust are likely to happen over a liquid subsurface layer.

Massive lakes of water on the surface are frozen now but were liquid at one time.

1

The volcanic plumes of Triton .....

are caused by tidal heating from Jupiter.

are similar in composition and character to the volcanoes of Io but are much smaller.

were shown by Voyager 2 to not be associated with the moon's polar cap but to be caused by tiger stripes.

are fountains of nitrogen gas that carry dust 10 km into the moon's thin atmosphere.

1

Which of the following discovered Pluto?

Percival Lowell

Clyde Tombaugh

Ancient Greeks

New Horizons Spacecraft

1

How were the rings of Uranus discovered?

By an airborne infrared telescope during an occultation in 1977.

By Clyde Tombaugh using a telescope.

By the Voyager 2 spacecraft when it flew by the planet in 1986.

By Percival Lowell at Lowell Observatory

1

Which of the following is true for the Pluto-Charon system?

Lakes of liquid nitrogen were not expected but were found by the New Horizons spacecraft.

Pluto and Charon are so close and similar in size that the atmosphere is shared between the two bodies.

Both bodies are too small to have ever been geologically active.

Ices sublimate when Pluto is close to the Sun giving Pluto an atmosphere.

1

The E ring of Saturn exists because....

an ancient moon broke up due to tidal forces.

the gravity of Saturn is causing the moon Titan to lose its atmosphere and feed the ring.

the cryovolcanoes of Enceladus replenish the ring particles.

two large shepherd moons keep the ice particles in line.

1

Pandora and Prometheus....

are the names of the two outermost moons of Jupiter.

are the twin spacecraft sent to explore the twin planets of Pluto and Charon.

are examples of shepherd moons keeping Saturn's F ring in line.

are the moons of Pluto whose gravitational resonance forms the seasonal atmosphere of the planet.

1

Match the following to its planet or moon.

Draggable item		Corresponding Item
Rings definitively discovered by Voyager 2		Enceladus
Has lakes of liquid methane		Neptune
Probably has a subsurface ocean		Saturn
Has "Tiger Stripes" visible on its surface		Europa
Feeds the rings of Jupiter		Titan
Most massive planet		Io
Most massive ring system		Jupiter

1

When studying our solar system history, why would comets and asteroids be important?

An asteroid would be important due to how many valence electrons are in orbit, but comets would not be important because they have no nucleus.

Both comets and asteroids have advanced far beyond the evolution of the planets and represent the future of our solar system.

Because they have a composition much like our mountains, which contain vast minerals.

These objects (comets and asteroids) provide evidence for the conditions that existed in the solar nebula and early solar system.

1

In what region of space is the asteroid belt located?

Between Jupiter and Saturn

Between the orbits of Neptune and Uranus

Between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter

Beyond the dwarf planet Pluto

1

True or False: Comets and asteroids evolve quickly and do not retain the structure and composition they acquired upon formation.

Nokorɛ

Ɛnyɛ ampa

1

If you were examining material of an asteroid and it had some reflective qualities, silicate signatures, and few carbon compounds, how would you classify this asteroid?

As a S-type asteroid

As an asteroid that was previously a comet.

As a C-type asteroid

As an M-type asteroid

1

What makes Vesta so unusual?

Vesta’s surface is partially covered in basalt, which indicates volcanic activity, thus making it a differentiated world.

Vesta’s surface is partially covered in magnesium and water, which indicates it may have supported life at one time.

Vesta’s surface is partially covered in a metallic material called silica which was rare during its time of formation in the solar system and indicates Vesta had deep oceans at one time.

Vesta’s surface is partially covered with calcium, which indicates a crust with tectonic features similar to Earth.

1

Large Earth-approaching or near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) were initially cataloged by....

NASA’s Association of Air Monitoring.

the UN Technical Committee on Planetary Defense.

NASA’s Spaceguard Survey.

the Federal Aviation Administration.

1

Comets react to solar heating, releasing gases and dust, sometimes forming long tails that point _ Sun.

slowly, toward the

strongly, away from

weakly, away from

weakly, toward the

1

True or False: Asteroid nuclei are quite small and are composed of ices, volatile organic compounds, silicate grains, and dust.

Nokorɛ

Ɛnyɛ ampa

1

Comets typically have both a dust tail and an ion tail. Which tail is composed mostly of charge particles?

Dust Tail

Ion Tail

1

A primordial comet headed toward the inner solar system could suffer multiple fates. Which one of the following is NOT likely for such a comet?

These comets may collide with a planet.

These comets may interact gravitationally with one of the Jovian planets to become a really short-period comet.

These comets may become trapped in the inner solar system and have a lifespan of just a few thousand orbits.

These comets may capture matter, increase in nuclear size, and be pushed outward toward the Kuiper Belt.

1

The source of long period comets _________________.
(Possibly more than one.)

1

If short period comets did not exist, would we still have evidence of the existence of the Kuiper Belt? Why or why not?

No, because it is only from spectroscopy of the ion tail of a comet that we know about the Kuiper Belt.

Yes, but there is no association of comets with the Kuiper Belt.

No, because all comets that pass into the inner solar system originate in the Oort Cloud.

Yes, because we have found other objects orbiting in the Kuiper Belt.

1

Why would studying Earth approaching asteroids be important?

Asteroids contain both basalt and calcium. These compounds are similar to rock samples from Earth and help us to better understand Earth's interior and tectonic activity.

Asteroids contain nitrogen compounds in their nuclei, which can be compared to deep ocean samples to give us a better understanding of ocean currents and future climatological evolution.

Some day we may have to defend against an asteroid impact. Also, the study of asteroids, especially primitive asteroids, allows for a better understanding of Earth's history and the origin of the solar system.

1

True or False: Isotopic analysis of deuterium in the water of Comet 67P shows it is different from the water on Earth. This indicates that Comet 67P did not contribute to the origin of our oceans or water in our bodies.

Nokorɛ

Ɛnyɛ ampa

1

Most objects in the Kuiper Belt are comparatively small and, at Neptune/Pluto distances, reflect relatively little sunlight. What hardware would help us find them?

Extremely sensitive detectors attached to large telescopes

Electron spectroscopes attached to satellites

Extremely sensitive detectors aboard large submarines

Sensitive iPhone cameras

1

What is the definition of a short-period comet?

any comet with a period less than a million years

one with a period of less than 100 years

one with a periodic orbit

one with a period less than 1000 years

1

What classifications are given to objects such as Pluto and Eris, which are large enough to be round, and whose orbits lie beyond that of Neptune?

Minor planets and also TNO’s

TNO’s and NEA’s

Minor planets and also NEO’s

Dwarf planets and also TNO’s

1

Who was the individual responsible for first calculating the orbits of comets as well as the prediction of a comet returning to the vicinity of Earth in 1758?

David Levy

Edmund Halley

Jan Oort

Gerard Kuiper

1

True or False: A typical asteroid has a thick atmosphere composed mostly of nitrogen.

Nokorɛ

Ɛnyɛ ampa

1

Once a comet becomes a short-period comet, its lifetime starts to become measured in ____________ of years.

Thousands

Trillions

Jillions

Billions

1

Which of the following correctly orders asteroids by type according to the number that exist in the solar system? Most numerous type first.

S-type, C-type, M-type

C-type, M-type, S-type

M-type, S-type, C-type

C-type, S-type, M-type

1

Which type of asteroid definitely comes from a differentiated body?

P-type

M-type

C-type

S-type

1

Would meteorites from Vesta’s surface be of the same composition as a meteorite from the surface of the asteroid Psyche? Why or why not?

Yes, because they are both C-type asteroids

Yes, because they are both S-type asteroids

No, Vesta is M-type while Psyche is P-type

No, because Vesta is basaltic and differentiated while Psyche is M-type

1

The first periodic comet discovered was....

Comet Swift-Tuttle

Comet House

Great Comet of 1577

Comet Halley

1

The Kuiper Belt is a _ region of space beyond the orbit of Neptune and is the source of ____ comets.

disk-shaped, newly discovered

spherical, long-period comets

spherical, newly discovered

disk-shaped, short-period

1

The Murchison meteorite is an example of a _____ meteorite.

carbonaceous

metal-rich

Norwegian

M-type

1

How are comets related to meteor showers?

Meteor showers are due to small rocks and dust burning up in the atmosphere. Since most rock and dust comes from asteroids, meteor showers are associated with asteroids and not comets.

Comets leave behind vast amounts of rocks and dust whenever they explode due to collisions. This dust often falls to Earth and creates meteor showers.

Debris left over from a comet that has passed through the inner solar system ends up orbiting along the comet’s path. Meteor showers happen whenever Earth's orbit intersects the path of the comet debris.

Meteor showers are seasonal displays of shooting stars in the nighttime sky. Most meteor showers in the northern hemisphere will occur in summer when comet activity is greatest.

1

Approximately _____ tons of meteoric material falls to Earth every day.

1

The person largely responsible for the acceptance of the scientific idea that rocks fall from the sky was....

1

The solar nebula model explains the large masses of protoplanets in the outer solar system as being due to....

the low temperature of the outer solar system not allowing metals to condense.

initially large masses of the protoplanetary seeds which grew the Jovian planets.

the abundant availability of raw materials in the form of ices as well as rocks.

nuclear reactions inside the larger planetesimals out of which the large protoplanets formed.

1

When an astronomers says an asteroid is a primitive body, what does that mean?

It means the asteroid is composed of primitive elements like hydrogen and helium formed soon after the big bang.

It means it has undergone very few collisions and has very few impact craters.

It means the shape of the asteroid is not spherical, but is shaped more like a potato.

It is composed of carbonaceous material formed in the early solar system before planets differentiated.

1

Which of the following is true concerning meteor showers?

Most of the meteors will produce small craters when they fall to Earth.

You will see more meteors after midnight because that's when Earth will be facing forward into the meteor stream.

Most shower meteors survive the fall through Earth's atmosphere and can be recovered for laboratory analysis.

The radiant constellations are always the zodiac constellations.

1

Primitive meteorites are scientifically important because....
(More than one answer possible.)

they contain only left-handed proteins like those found in all life on Earth.

they come from M-type asteroids, which are the rarest type to find on Earth.

they are made of the solar system's oldest material and have not been subject to differentiation.

they are composed of carbonaceous materials containing complex organic molecules which are the building blocks of life on Earth.

they are some of the most recently formed objects in the solar system.

1

The solar nebula model explains the observation that Jupiter, Saturn, and the Sun have almost identical compositions....

as due to hydrogen-rich materials collapsing onto the cores of the giant planets.

as due to the fact that all three bodies have differentiated interiors of entirely hydrogen.

due to the fact that the material out of which the outer planets originally formed interacted chemically to create compounds like those observed in the Sun.

by proposing that the giant planets were once stars like the Sun.

1

Planetary differentiation in the solar nebula model refers to....

The process of heavier metals sinking toward the core and lighter silicates rising toward the surface.

The formation of the core, mantle, and crust of a terrestrial planet.

The process of the solar wind blowing away the primordial gas and ending the initial phase of solar system formation.

A type of mathematical operation on a planetary scale involving the anti-integral.

1

Which of the following are stages in the geologic history of the terrestrial planets?
Maybe more than one answer.

mantle solidification, end of tectonic activity

formation of solid crust, heavy cratering

formation of great red spot, formation of atmospheric weather

cool interior, no activity

reduced volcanism, possible plate tectonics

nuclear fusion in the core

widespread mare-like volcanism

accretion, heating, differentiation

1

An extraterrestrial rock that has survived the fall to Earth's surface is called a meteorite. An example of a "meteorwrong" would be...

a metallic asteroid.

a bright streak in the sky.

a rock of terrestrial origin mistaken for a meteorite.

a comet that has right-handed proteins.

1

Which of the following is a good definition of a meteor?

a streak of light in the sky caused by a small object burning up in the atmosphere

a space rock the same as an asteroid but much smaller

a rock that has fallen to Earth

a shooting star

1

What is the difference between a meteorite fall and a meteorite find?

Meteorites found in Antarctica are considered falls, but meteorites found on other continents are considered finds.

Meteorite finds and falls are the same thing, but meteorwrongs are also included in the find category.

A fall is a recovery of a meteorite observed to actually have fallen. A find is the recovery of a meteorite that appears as a rock on the ground and was not observed to have fallen.

A meteorite fall is the opposite of a meteorite spring, while a meteorite find is the opposite of a meteorite lost.

1

If you exclude primitive stones, which is more likely to be a meteorite find?

meteor showers

cometary material

an iron meteorite

a stony meteorite

1

When meteorites fall in groups, they are called a....

shower of meteorites.

meteorite autumn.

meteor storm.

meteor shower.

1

The stony-iron meteorites....

originated through collisions of M-type and S-type asteroids.

are usually found associated with meteor showers.

probably originated in a differentiated asteroid between the metal core and the mantle regions.

are the differentiated remains from the nucleus of a comet that has fallen to Earth.

1

Using radioactive isotopes to date meteorites has shown the solar system to be about _____ years old.

1

Order the following according to distance from the Sun.

Oort Cloud
Mercury
Asteroid Belt
Uranus
Jupiter
Earth
Mars
Neptune
Saturn
Venus
Kuiper Belt

1

According to the solar nebula model, which of the following occurred first?

The formation of planetesimals.

The formation of protoplanets.

The formation of large volcanoes on Mars.

The initial gravitational collapse of the solar nebula.

The initial condensation of metals in the inner solar system.

1

Why do meteors appear to radiate from within a constellation?

Since the asteroid belt is located in a plane along the ecliptic, any collisions that occur between bodies in the asteroid belt will likely cause them to stay in the same plane. From an observer on Earth's surface, this plane appears along the ecliptic where the zodiac constellations reside. Any objects that strike Earth's atmosphere and burn up will appear to come from those constellations.

As the Earth intersects a comet's path, the debris will collide with the Earth's atmosphere and from an observer on Earth's surface the particles will appear to radiate from one area of the sky.

Constellations are patterns formed by stars. Shooting stars from within a certain constellation will appear to radiate from within that specific constellation.

Certain constellations contains more meteor particles than other constellations. Meteors from these constellations appear to have radiants of meteor particles emanating from the constellation itself.

1

What is planetary migration?

The best explanation for how the icy bodies in the outer solar system do not condense and form into planets

Where material from one planet moves through space to become part of another planet

A mechanism that explains how hot Jupiters exist in orbits so near their parent star

The process of converting planetesimals into protoplanets with the release of large amounts of energy

1

Which of the following observations are considered constraints of the solar nebula model and must be explained if the model is to be taken seriously?
More than one.

The Milky Way Galaxy is spiral shaped and composed of around 200 billion stars.

The planets of the inner solar system are metal-rich, while the outermost objects of the solar system are almost entirely composed of ices.

Jupiter, Saturn, and the Sun have roughly the same composition.

Planetary nebula are often associated with white dwarf stars.

All planets orbit the Sun in the same direction and in roughly the same plane.

PHYS 1404 Final

PHYS 1404 Final

Scientists know that the Earth's interior has different layers because...

From the center outward, which of the following orders is correct for the structure of Earth, its atmosphere, and surrounding area?

The Van Allen Belt...

The four primary categories of rock are...

Quartzite is...

The San Andres Fault...

In the theory of Plate Tectonics, it takes a great deal of energy to move the plates floating on the Earth's surface. What is the source of this energy?

Seafloor spreading like that at the Mid-Atlantic ridge is an example of a(n)...

The formation of the Hawaiian volcanic mountain Mauna Kea is the result of ...

The Earth's atmosphere is composed mostly of ...

The ozone layer...

Which of the following is NOT one of the three scientific possibilities for the original source of Earth's atmosphere?

The atmosphere of the early Earth...

The oxygen in Earth's atmosphere...

Without greenhouse gases,....

We see lots of craters on the surfaces of the Moon, Mercury, and Mars. Why do we not see this many craters on Earth's surface?

The Tunguska explosion, Meteor Crater, and Chicxulub crater...

What circumstances are necessary for differentiation to occur?

Ridges in the middle of the ocean, like the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, are places where...

In which domain of living things do you find humankind?

Although he did not propose a mechanism, what are three main reasons for accepting Wegener's idea of continental drift?

What are four ways in which human life has changed the Earth, its atmosphere, environment, and climate?

For Earth, which layer is thicker?

Which has greater diameter: the Moon or Mercury?

Which country reached the Moon first?

Which country first sent humans to the Moon?

Which of the following are not part of the three objectives of major importance for lunar science accomplished by the Apollo program? Maybe more than one answer.

Which of the following are true about the Moon? Maybe more than one.

Match the following to its definition.

Order the following according to our understanding of the history of the Moon, where 1=occurred first (oldest event); 6=occurred most recently (youngest event).

The Giant Impact hypothesis of lunar formation explains which of the following? More than one.

Which of the following is an odd feature of Mercury?

Which of the following is a possible explanation for the scarps present on Mercury?

A giant impact early in Mercury's formation would explain ____.

Why is it that neither the Moon nor Mercury have atmospheres?

Astronomers think that Mercury should have formed with roughly the same ratio of metal to silicate as that found on Earth and Venus, however, this is not the case. The difference can be explained by....

The Moon, Mercury, and the Earth were formed about ______ .

One of the first scientists to propose that the craters visible on the Moon were from impacts was _______.

Mercury's orbit is odd in the solar system because....

Which of the terrestrial worlds has the strongest magnetic field?

The polar caps on Mars are composed of...

Valles Marineris is a...

Which two properties are most important in determining the surface temperature of a planet?

How does the greenhouse effect work?

Why doesn't Venus have seasons like Mars and Earth do?

How might Venus’ atmosphere have evolved to its present state through a runaway greenhouse effect?

Why use radar instead of visible light instruments to study the surface of Venus?

Which has smallest diameter?

Which of the following are properties of Mars? More than one.

Which of the following are properties of Venus? More than one

Which of the following are considered evidence of the past presence of water on Mars? More than one.

Both Mars and Earth probably had similar atmospheres early in the history of the solar system. Which of the following correctly explains the runaway refrigerator effect and its role in the evolution of Mars' atmosphere?

Which of the following has the longest day?

How is it possible that rocks from Mars are currently on Earth?

Neptune is denser than Saturn. Why might this be?

Why is Jupiter denser than Saturn?

How do scientists think Jupiter generates its internal heat?

How do the Jovian planet interiors differ?

Why do Uranus and Neptune have blue methane clouds but Jupiter and Saturn do not?

What are seasons like on Jupiter?

What is the internal heat source of Saturn?

Which planet has the largest magnetosphere?

Which planet has the highest winds?

How do storms on Jupiter differ from storms on Earth? More than one.

Which of the following are considered true based upon what we currently know about the Jovian planets? More than one.

What is the most abundant element in the outer solar system?

Which spacecraft was the first to flyby all of the Jovian planets?

Which of the Jovian planets has the largest rocky core?

Why does Jupiter's magnetosphere emit large amounts of radio waves?

The charged particle zone in the magnetosphere around Jupiter.... (More than one answer possible.)

Which of the following planets have atmospheres that contain hydrogen? (More than one answer possible)

Which of the following planets have rocky cores? (More than one answer possible.)

Which of the following planets have strong magnetic fields compared to Earth? (More than one answer possible.)

Which of the Jovian planets have rings?

Which of the following statements about the rings of the four Jovian planets is NOT true?

What is the Cassini Division of Saturn's rings?

Why do astronomers believe Triton may have been a dwarf planet that was captured by Neptune?

Which of the following statements about Titan is NOT true?

The charged particle zone in the magnetosphere around Jupiter....
(More than one answer possible.)

Comets react to solar heating, releasing gases and dust, sometimes forming long tails that point _ Sun.

The source of long period comets _________________.
(Possibly more than one.)

The Kuiper Belt is a _ region of space beyond the orbit of Neptune and is the source of ____ comets.

Primitive meteorites are scientifically important because....
(More than one answer possible.)

Which of the following are stages in the geologic history of the terrestrial planets?
Maybe more than one answer.

Which of the following observations are considered constraints of the solar nebula model and must be explained if the model is to be taken seriously?
More than one.