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492 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Who were the first to make models of nature?Why? |
- Ancient Greeks - To explain patterns in nature without resorting to myth or the supernatural |
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What is the Ecliptic? |
- The "apparent" path of the Sun on the celestial sphere |
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Celestial sphere |
- An imaginary sphere of which the observer is the center and on which all celestial objects are considered to lie - Celestial object is another word for astronomical object |
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Aristotle's Universe |
- Earth at the center of the universe - Objects in the universe moved in perfect circles |
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Retrograde loop |
- Erratic motion - Greeks observed Mars appearing to stop, back up, then go forward. |
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Ptolemaic Model (4 points) |
- Created by Claudius Ptolemy - "Circles around circles" - Planets would rotate around the earth in a circle while they are rotating in a mini circle of their own. - Sufficiently accurate enough for 1,500 years |
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What was the Heliocentric model? Who created it? Was it better than the Ptolemaic model? |
- A Sun-centered model not more accurate than the Ptolemaic model in predicting planetary positions - Created by Nicolaus Copernicus - Used to determine layout of solar system in AU |
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What is AU and its units? |
AU stands for astronomical unit - Unit is in length from the distance of the Earth to the Sun - 1 AU = 150 million kilometers |
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What did Keper do that was so important? |
He took Copernicus's Heliocentric idea - Realized that circles were useless - Discovered that the planetary orbits were elliptical (Specifically observed Mars) |
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Kepler's First Law |
- Law of Orbits - Each planet moves in an elliptical orbit around the Sun, with the sun at one focus of the ellipse |
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Kepler's Second Law |
- Law of Orbits - Each planet moves in an elliptical orbit around the Sun, with the sun at one focus of the ellipse |
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Kepler's Third Law |
- Law of Periods - More distant planets orbit the Sun at slower average speeds or... - Planets close to the Sun have shorter periods than those farther away - P^2 = D^3 - When you plot P x D, you get a linear graph of the distance between each planet |
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What did Galileo discover? |
- Provided first crucial evidence that Copernican solar system was reality - Discovered moons orbiting Jupiter (not all objects orbit Earth), phases of Venus similar to the moon, rings of Saturn, and stars of the Milky Way |
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What did Newton discover? |
- Realized force that holds the moon around earth is the same force causing an apple to fall - Proved Kepler's laws with inverse-square law of gravitation |
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Inverse-square law of gravitation & why it is important |
- Intensity is proportional to 1/distance^2- The gravitational force between two objects is proportional to the product of their mass |
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Orbital velocity |
- Depends on the altitude of the orbit |
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Earth's movement |
- Earth rotates around its axis once every day - Rotation speed at the equator is different from the northern/southern hemisphere (same speeds) - Earth's axis tilted by 23.5 degrees towards polaris |
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How much mass in % do our planets make up |
- Planets make up ~0.15% of the Solar System's mass - Sun makes up ~99.85% of the Solar System's mass |
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Where does a planet's orbit lie? |
- In an orbital plane- Orbital planes of 7 planets lie within 3 degrees of Sun's equator |
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Doppler shift |
- The closer we are to an object, the higher frequency we get. - The further we are from an object, the lower frequency we get. |
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What does a Blue shift tell us? |
- A star is advancing towards us |
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What does a Red shift tell us? |
- A star is moving away from us |
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What did Nicolaus Steno discover? |
- The principles of Superposition, Original Horizontality, and Lateral Continuity of Bedded Rocks - These principles can be applied to planets |
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What did James Hutton do? |
- Developed the theory of Uniformitarianism |
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Theory of Uniformitarianism |
- Changes in the earth's crust during geological history have resulted from the action of continuous and uniform processes. - The earths crust is the result of continuous and uniform processes - Conflicted with Catastrophism - Can be applied to planets! |
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What is the definition of a mineral? |
- Naturally occurring - Inorganic solid - Ordered internal molecular structure (ex. Ice) - Definite chemical composition |
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What is the definition of a rock? |
- A solid aggregate or.. - Mass of minerals |
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What are Igneous rocks? |
- Rocks formed from magma - Magma crystallizes in the interior as intrusions |
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How are rocks classified and distinguished? |
- Classified based on how they were formed - Distinguished by mineralogy and texture |
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Magma facts |
- Magma crystallizes in the interior as intrusions- Most magma does not make it to the surface to erupt at volcanoes- Magma is underground, lava is on the ground |
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Where and how are Sedimentary Rocks formed? |
- Formed at Earth's surface - Formed by compression, dehydration, cementation of sediments |
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What is intrusion? |
- Forcing a body of igneous rock between or through existing formations |
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What are Metamorphic rocks and how are they formed? |
- When a rock transitions to another by temperature, pressure, or chemical conditions unlike those in which it formed - Occurs near surface and at depth |
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What is erosion and how many types of erosion are there? |
- Removal of rocks from the site by water, wind, etc. - Chemical (road salt) and physical erosion (car driving on a road) |
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What is Lithification and describe the process. |
- Process in which sediments combine sedimentary rocks. - Sediments compact under pressure, expel fluids trapped in the pores of sediment, and gradually become solid rock |
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How many types of Metamorphic rocks are there? |
- 2 types, regional and contact - Regional is large scale (think plate tectonics. Ex Plate collision, folding) - Contact is small scale (think magma and obsidian) |
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How are regional metamorphic rocks created? |
- Plate collisions, folding, foliation (split into thin sheets) |
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How does the Rock Cycle work? |
- Igneous Rock -> Sedimentary Rock -> Metamorphic Rock -> Igneous Rock - Eventually a type of rock will become the rest of the others. |
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What is the Hydrologic Cycle? |
- Water cycle... - Continuous cycle where water evaporates, travels into the air and becomes part of a cloud, precipitates, and then evaporates again. |
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What is Relative Dating? |
- The science of determining the relative order of past events (age of an object in comparison to another), without necessarily determining their absolute age. - Estimation dating based on past events |
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What is Radiometric Dating? |
- A technique used to determine the actual number of years that have passed since event occurred - Absolute dating based on radioactive decay |
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What is the order of our solar system? |
Mercury -> Venus -> Earth -> Mars -> Asteroid Belt -> Jupiter -> Saturn -> Neptune (Kuiper Belt starts)-> Uranus -> Pluto (not a planet btw) -> Kuiper Belt -> Oort Cloud |
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What is the Kuiper Belt? |
- A large body of small objects orbiting (short period) the sun in a radial zone -Pluto may be the biggest of the Kuiper Belt object |
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What is the Oort Cloud? |
- Long Period comets (period > 200yrs) that seem to come mostly from a spherical region ~50,000 AU from the Sun - Where comets come from |
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Gravitational Collapse of Planetary Nebula |
- Solar system formed from gravitational collapse of an interstellar cloud or gas - In easier terms, Solar System was formed from nebulous material. - Gaseous clouds slowly rotate, gradually collapse and flatten due to gravity |
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Why is the close encounter hypothesis (for formation of the Solar System) least favored? |
- Doesn't account for the angular momentum distribution in the solar system - The probability for such an encounter is small in our neighborhood |
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Nebula Theory |
- Also called Protoplanet Theory - A disturbance (supernova?) in the primordial nebula caused ripples of increased density and temperature. - Gained enough energy to trigger nuclear fusion and created the Protosun. |
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How is a star born? |
- When dense materials collide with each other to cause gas to heat up, until temperature and density is high enough for nuclear fusion to start - Heating -> Fusion |
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Gravitational Collapse (3 steps) |
- Explains orderly motion of most of the solar system objects Heating -> Protosun -> Sun - A Star is born Spinning -> Smoothing of random motions - Conservation of angular momentum causes incoming material to spin faster as they get closer to the center of the collapsing cloud - Very chaotic Flattening -> Protoplanetary disk - Collision of material transitions from chaotic motion into orderly rotating disk |
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Frost line |
- The region between Mars and Jupiter - Where hydrogen and helium can condense and become solid) |
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Accretion |
- Process which small planetesimals become planets by collision |
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What are planetesimals? |
- Small metal and rocks that were condensed (gas to solid) that collide & stick together. - Undergoes accretion to become Terrestrial Planets |
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Accretion disk |
- A rotating disk of matter formed by accretion around a massive body under the influence of gravity |
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Solar wind |
- Constant outflow of gas from the Sun |
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What are the evidence of solar wind? (2 points) |
- Comet tails always point away from the sun, which is indicative of their existence - SOHO (SOlar and Heliospheric Observatory) |
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What are the effects of Solar Wind on Planet Formation |
- Solar winds blew away gases in planetary nebula, ending the formation of the planets |
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Nebular Capture of the Jovian Planets.(How were the Jovian Planets created?) 4 points |
- Beyond the frost line, there was an abundant amount of solid materials (ice) that grew in size by accretion - Large planetesimals gravitationally attracted materials around them to form a small accretion disk - The creation of Jovian planets were similar to the creation of the Solar System (heating, spinning, flattening to form small accretion disk) - Jovian planets are failed Suns since they weren't massive enough to trigger nuclear fusion |
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What is an asteroid? Why haven't they formed terrestrial planets? |
- Rocky leftover planetesimals of inner solar system - Jupiter is a dick and it affected the orbits of these asteroids and sent them out of the Solar System or into planets. |
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What is a comet? |
- Icy leftover planetesimals of outer solar system - Comets in between Jupiter & Neptune either collided with big planets*** or sent out to the Kuiper Belt or Oort Cloud^ - How earth got its water |
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Do we see similar features between Mars & Earth? |
- Both have volcanoes, craters, atmospheres, water features - Canadian arctic and the pulses in water at Mars |
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What do Earth and Mars both have in common?
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Volcanoes, craters, atmospheres, and water features
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How do you measure the diameters of the planets?
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– Know distances (d, from Newton, Kepler)
– Observe angular size (a, in arcseconds) –– 1 arcminute = 1/60 degree – Derive the diameter from the angular size equation: D = a * d / 206,265 |
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List the terrestrial planets in order of their size from largest to smallest:
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Earth, Venus, Mars, Mercury (and then Moon)
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List the Jovian planets in order of their size from largest to smallest:
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Jupiter, Saturn (without rings), Uranus, Neptune
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Why does the moon have more craters than the earth?
A) Craters develop much better on smaller planetary bodies B) The moon captured most asteroids before they could strike the earth C) The moon has a stronger gravitational attraction than the earth D) The moon has little tectonics or weathering to obliterate craters E) The moon is much older than the earth |
D) The moon has little tectonics or weathering to obliterate craters
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Which planet has a runaway greenhouse effect?
A) Mars B) Mercury C) Neptune D) Uranus E) Venus |
E) Venus
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Which planet has virtually no atmosphere?
A) Mars B) Mercury C) Neptune D) Uranus E) Venus |
B) Mercury
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What is Io?
A) A comet B) A moon of Jupiter C) A protoplanet D) An asteroid E) The nearest star |
A) A moon of Jupiter
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What speed is needed for a gas molecule to escape from a planet?
A) Escape velocity B) Orbital speed C) Solar wind speed D) Speed of light E) Speed of sound |
A) Escape velocity
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What are comets mostly made of?
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ice
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What is the glowing head of a comet called?
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Coma
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20) The length of the Moon's rotation period
A) is equal to its orbit period due to the tidal effect of the Earth. B) is gradually decreasing due to tidal drag from the Earth. C) has not changed since the Moon formed. D)is about 24 hours long. E) will eventually be equal to a Solar year. |
A) Is equal to its orbit period due to the tidal effect of the Earth
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The acceleration due to gravity on the surface of the Moon
A) is more than it is on the Earth because the Moon's mass is much smaller than the Earth's mass. B) is equal to what it is on the surface of the Earth. C) is less than it is on the Earth because the Moon's mass is much smaller than the Earth's mass. D) is less than it is on the Earth because the Moon's mass is much larger than the Earth's mass. E) is more than it is on the Earth because the Moon's mass is much larger than the Earth's mass. |
C) is less than it is on the Earth because the Moon's mass is much smaller than the Earth's mass.
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In comparing the physical properties of the moon and Mercury, the most striking difference is:
A. in the surface features, especially the craters. B. bulk density; the moon's is much lower. C. materials that make up the surface layers. D. atmosphere; Mercury's is much more substantial. |
B. bulk density; the moon's is much lower.
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Which of the following lunar features were PRIMARILY created by lava outflows?
A. Maria. B. Craters. C. Highlands. D. Mountains. |
A. Maria
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The long scarps on Mercury's surface were probably caused by:
A. the impacts of large bodies on the surface. B. shrinkage of the crust and/or core. C. chains of volcanic eruptions. D. lava flows over large basin areas. |
B. shrinkage of the crust and/or core.
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Both the moon and Mercury have very large temperature variations between day and night. The main reason for this large variation is:
A. small mass. B. rocky composition. C. distance from the sun. D. lack of atmosphere. |
D. Lack of an atmosphere
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Based on the Apollo results, which is the best description of the moon's core?
A. Hot, probably molten, made of nonmetals. B. Hot, partially molten, made of metals. C. Cool, made of nonmetals. D. Cool, made of metals. |
A. Hot, probably molten, made of nonmetals.
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Based on our knowledge of the bulk density of Mercury and comparing it to the earth, which of the following is probably the best description of Mercury's core?
A. Hot, molten, made of rocky materials. B. Hot, molten in part, made of metals. C. Cool and solid, made of metals. D. Cool and solid, made of rocks. |
B. Hot, molten in part, made of metals.
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Mercury's magnetic field:
A. is much stronger than the Earth's. B. does not show a dipole structure. C. interacts with the charged particles of the solar wind. D. has not yet been measured. |
C. Interacts with the charged particles of the solar wind.
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According to the Apollo mission results, the generally oldest regions of the moon's surface are the:
A. maria (lowlands). B. highlands. C. poles. D. equator. |
B. Highlands
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Comparing the moon and Mercury, we can infer that the evolutionary processes:
A. were much the same for both planets. B. caused the moon to evolve far more than Mercury. C. caused Mercury to evolve far more than the moon. D. never operated long enough to have much of an effect. |
A. were much the same for both planets.
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The giant impact model for the moon's origin is NOT supported by which of these?
A. Total angular momentum of the earth–moon system. B. Different chemical composition of the moon. C. Different bulk densities of the earth and moon. D. Fact that earth rocks are significantly older than moon rocks. |
D. Fact that earth rocks are significantly older than moon rocks.
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If a smaller crater on the moon overlays a larger one, you can conclude that:
A. the smaller crater is older than the larger one. B. the smaller crater is younger than the larger one. C. both craters are the same age. D. both craters are very old. |
B. the smaller crater is younger than the larger one.
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What could have cased the scarps on Mercury?
A. Water erosion in a wetter early history, as on Mars. B. Impacts by meteoroids, as on all terrestrial bodies. C. Tidal stresses and differential heating and core contraction. D. Atmospheric pressure when planet was still outgassing. |
C. Tidal stresses and differential heating and core contraction.
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Why does one face of our moon always point toward the earth?
A. NASA has attached an anchor to the Sea of Tranquility. B. The moon is following its natural motion in spacetime. C. The differential forces due to Mars and earth are equally balanced. D. Because the rotation and revolution periods are equivalent. |
D. Because the rotation and revolution periods are equivalent.
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Why is the moon's surface "gravity" weaker?
A. Because the moon is, on average, further from the sun. B. Because part of it is used to make the tides on the earth. C. Because the moon's mass and density are less than the earth's. D. Because the moon has no magnetic field. |
C. Because the moon's mass and density are less than the earth's.
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What is the main physical reason for the earth's ocean tides?
A. The moon's gravity on one face of the earth causes large tidal structure. B. The different gravitational pull on opposing sides of the earth due to the Moon. C. The force of the moon's gravity lifts large Navy vessels, therefore producing tidal displacements. D. Tides are the result of the ocean's natural motion through spacetime. |
B. The different gravitational pull on opposing sides of the earth due to the Moon.
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Mercury's orbital period is 88 days and its rotational period is 59 days. Which statement is true?
A. One solar day on Mercury is shorter that its orbital period. B. One solar day on Mercury is longer than its orbital period. C. One solar day on Mercury is shorter than its rotational period. D. The orbital period is 2/3 as long as the rotational period. |
B. One solar day on Mercury is longer than its orbital period.
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One possible reason for Mercury's weak magnetic field is:
A. the planet's core is made of nonmetallic hydrogen. B. scarps have released the core material. C. the planet is too close to the sun. D. the planetary rotation period is relatively long. |
D. the planetary rotation period is relatively long.
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19) The magnetic poles of Mercury are intersected by an imaginary line that does NOT pass through the center of the planet. If the magnetic poles are fixed in space (even though the planet rotates), what could we surmise about the origin of our field?
A. The nature of the magnetic field is due mainly to the influence of the solar wind. B. The planet's core is molten iron. C. The planet's core is a solid, magnetic material. D. Not much, for we need more information besides observations of the shape and dynamics of the planetary magnetic field. |
B. The planet's core is molten iron.
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Scarps on Mercury could be caused by:
A. stresses from differential heating/cooling and tidal forces. B. atmospheric pressure. C. water erosion. D. impacts by meteoroids. |
A. stresses from differential heating/cooling and tidal forces.
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Which of these features are notably absent from lunar farside?
A. Craters. B. Mare. C. Rays. D. Rilles. |
B. Mare
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The lunar mare are composed of what rock?
A. Anorthosite. B. Basalt. C. Carbonates. D. Granite. |
B. Basalt
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The lunar highlands are composed primarily of:
A. Anorthosite. B. Basalt. C. Carbonates. D. Diorite |
A. Anorthosite.
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Which of these best separates Mercury and the moon from the other terrestrial planets?
A. They are both low in density. B. They are made of different elements than the others. C. They are too small to retain a substantial atmosphere. D. They are the only bodies without asteroids orbiting them. |
C. They are too small to retain a substantial atmosphere.
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Which is the best explanation for the lack of a lunar magnetic field, yet the presence of one around Mercury?
A. Mercury has remained much more volcanically active than our moon. B. Mercury spins on its axis much faster than our moon does. C. Mercury's higher density implies more iron in its core. D. Mercury is much closer to the solar magnetic field than is our moon. |
C. Mercury's higher density implies more iron in its core.
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Comparing Mars and Venus to the earth, which of the following statements is correct?
A. Venus has a greater bulk density than Mars and the earth. B. Mars has a greater bulk density than the earth and Venus. C. The earth has a greater bulk density than Venus and Mars. D. Mars and Venus have similar bulk densities. |
C. The earth has a greater bulk density than Venus and Mars.
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What is the main reason that no liquid water exists on the surface of Mars now?
A. The surface pressure is too low. B. The surface pressure is too high. C. No water in any form exists on Mars now. D. The temperature never gets high enough for water to melt. |
A. The surface pressure is too low.
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How does the surface pressure on Venus compare to the earth's?
A. It is much less. B. It is about the same. C. It is much greater. D. It is negligible. |
C. It is much greater
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Venus' atmospheric surface pressure, compared to the earth, is:
A. only 1/100th as great as ours. B. about 1/10th as great as ours. C. about the same as ours. D. almost 100x greater than ours. |
D. Almost 100x greater than ours.
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Compared with the earth's surface, radar maps show that the surface of Venus has:
A. a much lower percentage of lowland areas. B. about the same percentage of lowland areas. C. a much larger percentage of lowland areas. D. no highland areas at all. |
C. A much larger percentage of lowland areas.
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In a model for the evolution of a terrestrial, the most important physical property in determining the extent of a planet's evolution is its:
A. bulk density. B. total mass. C. distance from the sun. D. atmospheric composition. |
D. Atmospheric composition
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Which of the following points is the strongest evidence that the earth is the most evolved of the terrestrial planets?
A. It has liquid water on its surface. B. It has the highest surface gravity. C. It has the lowest percentage of carbon dioxide in the air. D. It has the most geologic activity now. |
D. It has the most geologic activity now.
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The noon and midnight temperatures at the surface of Venus are just about the same. The main reason for this is that:
A. sunlight does not penetrate the clouds well. B. Venus is not very far from the sun. C. carbon dioxide makes for a strong greenhouse effect. D. Venus rotates very slowly on its axis. |
C. carbon dioxide makes for a strong greenhouse effect.
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What is the single most bizarre characteristic of Venus?
A. It has no magnetic field. B. It orbits opposite the other planets. C. Its atmosphere consists entirely of Helium. D. The revolution of the planet is opposite its rotation. |
D. The revolution of the planet is opposite its rotation.
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If the Klingons seize your spaceship and leave you stranded on Venus, it would mean certain death. Why?
A. Because of the extreme temperature changes. B. Because the Sun never sets. C. Because of the lack of oxygen, and tremendous atmospheric pressure. D. Because there are no hotels or running water. |
C. Because of the lack of oxygen, and tremendous atmospheric pressure.
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The planet Venus has a very dense atmosphere made mostly of carbon dioxide, nitrogen and water/sulfuric acid clouds. Therefore from the earth we can't see the surface of the planet. How do we know that the rotation of the planet is opposite the rotation of Earth?
A. We can infer the direction of rotation from the rapid motion of the clouds in the upper atmosphere. B. The Mariner 10 probe transmitted the information after its soft landing. C. We observe the rotation of the intense magnetic field which is coupled to Venus. D. By looking at the red and blue shifts of radar waves that are bounced off of the limbs of the planet. |
D. By looking at the red and blue shifts of radar waves that are bounced off of the limbs of the planet.
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The trapping of heat in Venus atmosphere is called the:
A. Outhouse effect (due to hydrogen sulfide). B. Whitehouse effect (political heat). C. Greenhouse effect (carbon dioxide). D. Hothouse effect (volcanic steam). |
C. Greenhouse effect (carbon dioxide)
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Which of these planets has the largest volcanoes and rift valleys found to date?
A. The earth. B. Mars. C. Venus. D. Mercury. |
B. Mars
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Which of these are most alike in size?
A. The earth and the moon. B. Mercury and our moon. C. Mars and Venus. D. The earth and Venus. |
D. The earth and Venus
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Chief gas in the atmosphere of Venus.
A. Sulfuric acid B. Carbon dioxide C. Oxygen D. Nitrogen |
B. Carbon dioxide
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Droplets of this make up clouds of Venus.
A. Sulfuric acid B. Carbon dioxide C. Oxygen D. Nitrogen |
A. Sulfuric acid
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Chief gas in the earth's atmosphere.
A. Sulfuric acid B. Carbon dioxide C. Oxygen D. Nitrogen |
D. Nitrogen
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Combined with silicon, makes up the mantles of the rocky worlds.
A. Sulfuric acid B. Carbon dioxide C. Oxygen D. Nitrogen |
C. Oxygen
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Makes up 20% of the earth's atmosphere.
A. Sulfuric acid B. Carbon dioxide C. Oxygen D. Nitrogen |
C. Oxygen
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Comparing the Jovian and terrestrial planets in terms of their group characteristics, which of these is NOT correct?
A. The Jovian planets have a higher density. B. The Jovian planets are more massive. C. The Jovian planets have stronger magnetic fields. D. The Jovian planets have many more satellites. |
A. The Jovian planets have a higher density.
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Which of the following Jovian planets has the lowest density?
A. Jupiter. B. Saturn C. Uranus. D. Neptune. |
B. Saturn
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Which two Jovians are most similar in sizes, masses, composition, and structure?
A. Jupiter and Saturn. B. Saturn and Uranus. C. Neptune and Uranus. D. Neptune and Jupiter. |
C. Neptune and Uranus
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Compared to our moon, the Galilean moons of Jupiter tend to have:
A. a smaller mass. B. smaller radii. C. a lower density. D. far fewer impact craters. |
C. A lower density
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Consider the fact that both Jupiter and the earth have strong planetary magnetic fields. In the context of the dynamo model, this means that both planets have:
A. rapid rotation and conducting cores. B. conducting cores of metals like iron and nickel. C. dense cores of lead and uranium. D. rapid rotation and fusion of hydrogen into helium. |
A. rapid rotation and conducting cores.
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In what sense have the Jovian planets, compared to the terrestrial ones, NOT evolved much since their formation?
A. They have sunlike compositions. B. The planets are much farther from the sun. C. The planets show no records of their pasts. D. The planets have far more mass and slower evolution. |
C. The planets show no records of their pasts.
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Which statement about magnetic fields is FALSE?
A. Jupiter's comes from its liquid magnetic helium. B. The earth's has often switched polarity. C. Uranus' and Neptune's are tilted about 60 degrees off their rotational axis. D. Venus and Mars have weak if any magnetic fields. |
A. Jupiter's comes from its liquid magnetic helium.
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Which of the following is NOT a key dynamical feature of the solar system that any model of its origin must explain?
A. The planets lie in the same plane. B. The planets revolve in the same direction. C. The sun contains most of the solar system's mass. D. The sun spins faster than do the planets. |
D. The sun spins faster than do the planets.
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Consider the general physical properties of the small bodies in the solar system. Which two are the MOST similar?
A. Comets and asteroids. B. Comets and meteorites. C. Asteroids and meteorites. D. Asteroids and meteoroids. |
C. Asteroids and meteorites.
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Which of these is NOT indicated to us by meteorite data?
A. The solar system formed about 4.6 billion years ago. B. No solid matter was present at the formation. C. Metallic and rocky materials condensed early on. D. There were organic molecules already present early on. |
B. No solid matter was present at the formation.
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The "angular momentum problem" for nebular models of the solar system's origin essentially means that:
A. the sun should be spinning faster than it does. B. the planets should have faster orbital speeds. C. the jovian planets have too much mass. D. the jovian planets rotate too fast. |
A. the sun should be spinning faster than it does.
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In the condensation sequence, the terrestrial planets end up with very little hydrogen and helium (compared to the Jovian planets) because the:
A. original nebula contain little hydrogen and helium. B. sun drew in hydrogen and helium from the inner nebula. C. temperatures were too high for these to condense. D. temperatures were too low for these to condense. |
C. temperatures were too high for these to condense.
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Which of the following steps in the modern nebular model is OUT OF PLACE in the sequence, where (a) happened first and (d) last?
A. Process of nebular collapse. B. Formation of protoplanets. C. Transfer of angular momentum. D. Dissipation of the nebula. |
C. Transfer of angular momentum
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In their distances from the sun, which two planets can trade places?
A. Earth and Venus. B. Uranus and Neptune. C. Uranus and Pluto. D. Pluto and Neptune. |
D. Pluto and Neptune
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The large comet due to reach perihelion in early 1997 is named:
A. Halley B. Hale–Bopp C. Hyakutake |
B. Hale–Bopp
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The ionic tail of a comet points:
A. along the Earth–Sun direction. B. along the direction of motion. C. along the line connecting the earth and the comet. D. along a line joining the comet and the Sun. |
D. along a line joining the comet and the Sun.
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The dust tail of a comet points:
A. along the Earth–Sun direction. B. along a line joining the comet and the Sun. C. to the nearest asteroid. D. mostly along the direction of its motion. |
D. mostly along the direction of its motion.
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If you scooped out some of the Sun's material and let it cool, it would form an object that has the characteristics of:
A. a black hole. B. a meteorite. C. a white dwarf. D. a comet. |
B. a meteroite
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Meteoroids are determined to be about 4.6 billion years old. This means that:
A. they formed at the same time as the Earth. B. they formed near Jupiter. C. they formed in the Oort cloud. D. they are of extra–galactic origin. |
A. they formed at the same time as the Earth.
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Which is not pertinent to the origin of the solar system?
A. Planets can be classed as Jovian and Terrestrial. B. The planetary orbits are mostly co–planar. C. The planets rotate with a variety of periods. D. the planetary orbits are regularly spaced. |
C. The planets rotate with a variety of periods.
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Which of these would NOT support the belief that meteoroids originate from within the vicinity of our own solar system?
A. Because they contain the same materials that make up asteroids and comets. B. Because meteorites are roughly the same age as Earth's age. C. Because the existence of interplanetary debris. D. The finding of much more uranium in some meteorites than in other bodies. |
D. The finding of much more uranium in some meteorites than in other bodies.
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As a comet travels in its orbit around the Sun the material tail is oriented with respect to the _______, and the ion tail is oriented with respect to the________.
A. earth–moon direction/comet's trajectory B. comet's trajectory/comet–earth direction C. comet–sun direction/comet's trajectory D. comet's trajectory/comet–sun direction |
D. comet's trajectory/comet–sun direction
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There are more stony meteorites than any other type. Why?
A. The cores of all asteroids are stony, their crusts icy. B. Comets are about 90% stone, 10% ice. C. In terrestrial bodies, the mantle is stony and extensive. D. The core of comets is stony, their crusts icy. |
C. In terrestrial bodies, the mantle is stony and extensive.
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The most widely accepted version of the extinction of the dinosaurs presently is that:
A. a large asteroid struck the Yucatan Peninsula about 63 million years ago. B. great volcanic eruptions in India darkened the skies for years. C. a nearby supernova showered the Earth with intense cosmic rays. D. the mammals ate up all the dinosaur eggs. |
A. a large asteroid struck the Yucatan Peninsula about 63 million years ago.
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The most likely origin for meteor showers is:
A. volcanic debris from Io and Triton. B. the breakup of old short period comets. C. the unraveling of the jovian's rings. D. random debris from the asteroid belt. |
B. the breakup of old short period comets.
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Because of our rotation and revolution, we are most likely to observe meteor showers:
A. in the evening, just after sunset. B. just before midnight. C. after midnight. D. after sunrise. |
C. After midnight
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What is unusual about Comet Shoemaker–Levy 9?
A. Its fragments collided very strikingly with Jupiter in July 1994. B. It was thrown completely out of the solar system by Jupiter. C. It will collide with the sun in the next century. D. It is the parent comet to the Perseid meteor shower. |
A. Its fragments collided very strikingly with Jupiter in July 1994.
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What was unusual about Comet Hyakutake 1996B2 in March 1996 ?
A. It proved to be a largest comet ever seen. B. It hit Jupiter, leaving behind very dark spots in the jovian atmosphere. C. It missed the earth by only .1 AU. D. It hit the Sun, creating a very violent solar flare. |
C. It missed the earth by only .1 AU.
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In order to determine the earth's mass, you need Newton's law of gravitation and the:
A. earth's radius and surface gravity. B. earth's shape and surface gravity. C. earth's composition and surface gravity. D. earth's radius and internal structure. |
A. earth's radius and surface gravity.
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In estimating the earth's age, we apply the technique of:
A. carbon–14 dating of organic materials. B. radioactive dating of rocks containing uranium. C. tree–ring dating. D. estimating the amount of salt water in the oceans. |
B. radioactive dating of rocks containing uranium.
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The earth's atmosphere does NOT affect our astronomical observations by:
A. creating turbulence that limits the seeing. B. absorbing some of the light that passes through it. C. scattering red light more than blue. D. blocking most forms of invisible energy. |
C. scattering red light more than blue.
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The earth's atmosphere helps to keep the surface warm by:
A. keeping out the cold space. B. absorbing a large fraction of the incoming sunlight. C. absorbing a large fraction of the outgoing infrared. D. reflecting sunlight back to space. |
C. absorbing a large fraction of the outgoing infrared.
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The earth's core is more dense than the crust or mantle. This fact can be used to infer what about the earth's history?
A. The metals accreted first and then the silicates. B. Gravity has compacted the core and made it denser. C. The entire planet was molten at one time. D. The sun heated the earth more in the past then now. |
C. The entire planet was molten at one time.
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The main driving source of the earth's evolution is:
A. life. B. meteoritic bombardment from space. C. outflow of heat from the earth's interior. D. the influence of the earth's magnetic field. |
C. outflow of heat from the earth's interior.
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The earth's magnetosphere arises from the interaction of the our magnetic field and:
A. charged particles in the solar wind. B. neutral particles in the solar wind. C. charged particles from the moon. D. charged particles from Jupiter. |
A. charged particles in the solar wind.
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The northern lights, referred to as aurora borealis, are caused by:
A. fluctuations in the earth's magnetosphere near the poles. B. infalling planetary debris along the earth's equator. C. charged particles falling into the earth near the poles. D. the scattering of blue light by the earth's atmosphere. |
C. charged particles falling into the earth near the poles.
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Why does the sky appear reddish near sunset?
A. The human eye is more sensitive to red in the evening. B. Blue light is backscattered by dust and air molecules. C. All the wavelengths are bent by the atmosphere except red. D. The light from the full moon rising is also red. |
B. Blue light is backscattered by dust and air molecules.
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The fact that the earth's dipole magnetic field changes orientation over relatively short astronomical time scales strongly implies that:
A. a magnetic dynamo production of planetary magnetic fields is likely. B. the earth's core is completely solid. C. the earth was once like Venus. D. the earth's magnetic field is dying out, like Mars. |
A. a magnetic dynamo production of planetary magnetic fields is likely.
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Which of these processes does NOT explain our present atmospheric composition?
A. Outgassing from volcanism. B. Photosynethesis by plants. C. Infalling ices riding aboard comets D. The earth's ability to retain atomic hydrogen at this distance from the Sun. |
D. The earth's ability to retain atomic hydrogen at this distance from the Sun.
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A region where new igneous crust is extruded is:
A. a trench. B. a mid–ocean rift. C. a subduction zone. D. a fault block. |
B. a mid–ocean rift.
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Where is the earth's crust likely to be thickest?
A. Under Hawaii's tallest volcanoes. B. Under the Himalayas' highest peaks. C. Under the deepest trenches. D. At the mid–ocean rifts. |
B. Under the Himalayas' highest peaks.
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Where is the earth's crust likely to be thinnest?
A. Under the ocean deepest basins. B. Under the continental plains. C. Under the highest mountains. D. Along the continental shelf. |
A. Under the ocean deepest basins.
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Most of the earth's supply of carbon dioxide was removed from the early atmosphere and is now in the form of:
A. Plant life. B. Fossil fuels. C. Carbonate rocks. D. Carbonated water. |
C. Carbonate rocks.
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Where are the oldest rocks on the earth's surface found?
A. In the oceanic trenches. B. At the mid–ocean rifts. C. In the interiors of continents. D. At the leading edges of continents. |
C. In the interiors of continents.
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Which of these is NOT consistent with a differentiated body?
A. An iron core with silicate mantle. B. An icy core with a rocky crust. C. A rock core with a liquid water ocean on crust. D. A rocky core with a carbon rich crust. |
B. An icy core with a rocky crust.
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Combined with oxygen, makes up majority of our mantle and crust.
A. silicon. B. carbon dioxide. C. hydrogen. D. iron. |
A. Silicon
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With nickel, sank to core and contributes to our magnetic field.
A. silicon. B. carbon dioxide. C. hydrogen. D. iron. |
D. Iron
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Now found cemented away in form of carbonate rocks like limestone.
A. silicon. B. carbon dioxide. C. hydrogen. D. iron. |
B. Carbon dioxide
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In elemental form, driven away from terrestrial planets by the sun.
A. silicon. B. carbon dioxide. C. hydrogen. D. iron. |
C. Hydrogen
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The lithosphere of a planet is the layer that consists of
A) material above the crust. B) material between the crust and the mantle. C) the rigid rocky material of the crust and uppermost portion of the mantle. D) the softer rocky material of the mantle. E) the lava that comes out of volcanoes. |
C) the rigid rocky material of the crust and uppermost portion of the mantle.
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What is the most important factor that determines the thickness, and therefore strength, of the lithosphere?
A) pressure B) viscosity C) composition D) internal temperature E) distance of planet from Sun |
D) internal temperature
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Which internal energy source produces heat by converting gravitational potential energy into thermal energy?
A) accretion B) differentiation C) radioactivity D) both A and B E) all of the above |
D) both A and B
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Which internal energy source is the most important in continuing to heat the terrestrial planets today?
A) accretion B) differentiation C) radioactivity D) tidal heating E) all of the above |
C) radioactivity
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Which of the following worlds have the thinnest lithospheres?
A) Earth and the Moon B) Venus and the Moon C) Mercury and Venus D) Earth and Mars E) Earth and Venus |
E) Earth and Venus
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Which of the following best describes why the smaller terrestrial worlds have cooler interiors than the larger ones?
A) They were cooler when they formed. B) The smaller ones are farther from the Sun. C) They have relatively fewer radioactive elements. D) They have relatively more surface area compared to their volumes. E) They had more volcanic eruptions in the past, which released their internal heat. |
D) They have relatively more surface area compared to their volumes.
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18) Which of the terrestrial worlds has the strongest magnetic field?
A) Mars B) Earth C) the Moon D) Venus E) Mercury |
B) Earth
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Why does Earth have the strongest magnetic field among the terrestrial worlds?
A) It is the only one that has a metallic core. B) It rotates much faster than any other terrestrial world. C) It is the only one that has both a partially molten metallic core and reasonably rapid rotation. D) It is by far the largest terrestrial world. E) It is the most volcanically active world. |
C) It is the only one that has both a partially molten metallic core and reasonably rapid rotation.
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Which of the following most likely explains why Venus does not have a strong magnetic field?
A) It does not have a metallic core. B) Its rotation is too slow. C) It is too close to the Sun. D) It is too large. E) It has too thick an atmosphere. |
B) Its rotation is too slow.
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Which two properties are most important in determining the surface temperature of a planet?
A) composition and distance from the Sun B) size and chemical composition C) size and atmosphere D) internal temperature and atmosphere E) distance from the Sun and atmosphere |
E) distance from the Sun and atmosphere
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How large is an impact crater compared to the size of the impactor?
A) the same size B) 10–20 percent larger C) 10 times larger D) 100 times larger E) 1,000 times larger |
C) 10 times larger
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The relatively few craters that we see within the lunar maria
A) were formed by impacts that occurred before those that formed most of the craters in the lunar highlands. B) were formed by impacts that occurred after those that formed most of the craters in the lunar highlands. C) were created by the same large impactor that led to the formation of the maria. D) are volcanic in origin, rather than from impacts. E) are sinkholes that formed when sections of the maria collapsed. |
B) were formed by impacts that occurred after those that formed most of the craters in the lunar highlands.
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When we see a region of a planet that is not as heavily cratered as other regions, we conclude that
A) there is little volcanic activity to create craters. B) the planet is rotating very slowly and only one side was hit by impactors. C) the planet formed after the age of bombardment and missed out on getting hit by leftover planetesimals. D) the surface in the region is older than the surface in more heavily cratered regions. E) the surface in the region is younger than the surface in more heavily cratered regions. |
E) the surface in the region is younger than the surface in more heavily cratered regions.
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Volcanism is more likely on a planet that
A) is closer to the Sun. B) is struck often by meteors and solar system debris. C) has high internal temperatures. D) doesn't have an atmosphere or oceans. |
C) has high internal temperatures.
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Shallow–sloped shield volcanoes are made from lava that
A) is as runny as liquid water. B) has a medium viscosity. C) has a high viscosity. D) can have any viscosity. |
B) has a medium viscosity.
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Steep–sided stratovolcanoes are made from lava that
A) is as runny as liquid water. B) has a medium viscosity. C) has a high viscosity. D) can have any viscosity. |
C) has a high viscosity.
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What type of stresses broke Earth's lithosphere into plates?
A) impacts of asteroids and planetesimals B) internal temperature changes that caused the crust to expand and stretch C) the circulation of convection cells in the mantle, which dragged against the lithosphere D) cooling and contracting of the planet's interior, which caused the mantle and lithosphere to be compressed E) volcanism, which produced heavy volcanoes that bent and cracked the lithosphere |
C) the circulation of convection cells in the mantle, which dragged against the lithosphere
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Which of the following describes tectonics?
A) the excavation of bowl–shaped depressions by asteroids or comets striking a planet's surface B) the eruption of molten rock from a planet's interior to its surface C) the disruption of a planet's surface by internal stresses D) the wearing down or building up of geological features by wind, water, ice, and other phenomena of planetary weather |
C) the disruption of a planet's surface by internal stresses
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A planet is most likely to have tectonic activity if it has
A) low surface gravity. B) high surface gravity. C) low internal temperature. D) high internal temperature. E) a dense atmosphere. |
D. High internal temperature
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What kind of surface features may result from tectonics?
A) mountains B) valleys C) volcanos D) cliffs E) all of the above |
E) All of the above
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What is basalt?
A) any substance that evaporates easily and is a gas, liquid, or ice on Earth B) a type of rock that makes relatively low–viscosity lava C) a type of metal that tends to create stratovolcanoes when eruptions occur D) a type of mineral that is the main ingredient of sea salt E) another name for lava |
B) a type of rock that makes relatively low–viscosity lava
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How did the lunar maria form?
A) Large impacts fractured the Moon's lithosphere, allowing lava to fill the impact basins. B) The early bombardment created heat that melted the lunar surface in the regions of the maria. C) Volatiles escaping from the Moon's interior heated and eroded the surface in the regions of the maria. D) The giant impact that created the Moon left smooth areas that we call the maria. E) The maria are the result of gradual erosion by micrometeorites striking the Moon |
A) Large impacts fractured the Moon's lithosphere, allowing lava to fill the impact basins.
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Why does the Moon have a layer of powdery "soil" on its surface?
A) Large impacts shattered lunar rock to make this soil. B) The soil exists because the Moon accreted from powdery material after a giant impact blasted Earth. C) Volatiles escaping from the Moon's interior bubble upward and make the soil. D) The soil is the result of the same processes that make powdery sand on Earth. E) It's the result of gradual erosion by micrometeorites striking the Moon |
E) It's the result of gradual erosion by micrometeorites striking the Moon
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The Caloris Basin on Mercury covers a large region of the planet, but few smaller craters have formed on top of it. From this we conclude that
A) erosion destroyed the smaller craters that formed on the basin. B) Mercury's atmosphere prevented smaller objects from hitting the surface. C) only very large impactors hit Mercury's surface in the past. D) the Caloris Basin formed toward the end of the solar system's period of heavy bombardment. E) the Caloris Basin was formed by a volcano |
D) the Caloris Basin formed toward the end of the solar system's period of heavy bombardment.
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Why do we think Mercury has so many tremendous cliffs?
A) They were probably carved in Mercury's early history by running water. B) They were probably formed by tectonic stresses when the entire planet shrank as its core cooled. C) They probably formed when a series of large impacts hit Mercury one after the other. D) They are almost certainly volcanic in origin, carved by flowing lava. E) They represent one of the greatest mysteries in the solar system, as no one has suggested a reasonable hypothesis for their formation. |
B) They were probably formed by tectonic stresses when the entire planet shrank as its core cooled.
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How have we been able to construct detailed maps of surface features on Venus?
A) by studying Venus from Earth with powerful telescopes B) by studying Venus with powerful optical telescopes on spacecraft that were sent to orbit Venus C) by making computer models of geological processes on Venus D) by using radar from spacecraft that were sent to orbit Venus E) by landing spacecraft on the surface for close–up study |
D) by using radar from spacecraft that were sent to orbit Venus
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Which two geological processes appear to have been most important in shaping the present surface of Venus?
A) impacts and volcanoes B) impacts and tectonics C) tectonics and erosion D) volcanoes and tectonics E) volcanoes and erosion |
D) volcanoes and tectonics
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Spacecraft have landed on all the terrestrial worlds except
A) Mercury. B) Venus. C) Moon. D) Mars |
A) Mercury
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What process has shaped Earth's surface more than any other?
A) impact cratering B) volcanism C) plate tectonics D) erosion E) acid rain |
C) plate tectonics
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Why are there fewer large craters on the seafloor than on the continents?
A) The seafloor crust is younger than the continental crust. B) The oceans slow large impactors and prevent them from making craters. C) The oceans erode away craters faster than erosion processes on land. D) Large impactors primarily strike land masses. E) Large impactors aim for life–forms such as dinosaurs |
A) The seafloor crust is younger than the continental crust.
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How does seafloor crust differ from continental crust?
A) Seafloor crust is thicker, older, and higher in density. B) Seafloor crust is thinner, younger, and higher in density. C) Seafloor crust is thinner, older, and lower in density. D) Seafloor crust is thicker, older, and lower in density. E) Seafloor crust is thicker, younger, and lower in density. |
B) Seafloor crust is thinner, younger, and higher in density.
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Which of the following is not evidence for plate tectonics on Earth?
A) some continental boundaries fit together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle B) similar rocks and fossils are found in different continents C) high ocean ridges between the continents D) existence of volcanoes E) earthquakes |
D) existence of volcanoes
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How fast do plates move on Earth?
A) a few centimeters per year B) a few millimeters per century C) a few kilometers per century D) quite fast, but only during earthquakes E) about 1 mile per hour |
A) a few centimeters per year
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What drives the motion of the tectonic plates on Earth?
A) convection cells in the mantle B) lava flows in trenches along the sea floor C) the Coriolis force D) Earth's magnetic field E) tidal forces |
A) convection cells in the mantle
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Ridges in the middle of the ocean are places where
A) one plate slides under another, returning older crust to the mantle. B) hot mantle material rises upward, creating volcanic islands. C) hot mantle material rises upward and spreads sideways, pushing the plates apart. D) plates push together, creating ocean mountain chains. E) plates slip sideways relative to one another |
C) hot mantle material rises upward and spreads sideways, pushing the plates apart.
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Deep trenches in the ocean mark places where
A) one plate slides under another, returning older crust to the mantle. B) plates pull apart, leaving great rifts in the crust. C) hot mantle material rises upward and spreads sideways, pushing the plates apart. D) plates push together, creating ocean mountain chains. E) plates slip sideways relative to one another |
A) one plate slides under another, returning older crust to the mantle
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Some of the oldest continental crust on Earth lies in:
A) Hawaii. B) California. C) the Great Plains. D) the deep South. E) Northeastern Canada. |
E) Northeastern Canada.
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Which of the following regions was the result of plumes of hot mantle rising in a hot spot within a plate?
A) Alaska's Aleutian Islands B) Japan and the Philippines C) the islands of Hawaii D) the volcano Mount St. Helens E) all of the above |
C) the islands of Hawaii
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Which of the objects below orbit the sun?
A) planets B) asteroids C) All of these objects orbit the sun D) comets |
C) All of these objects orbit the sun
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What are the differences between asteroids and planets?
A) Asteroids are able to hit Earth, and planets are not B) Planets are larger and shaped like spheres, while asteroids are smaller and not spherical C) Planets rotate at a speed much faster than asteroids D) Planets orbit around the sun and asteroids do not |
B) Planets are larger and shaped like spheres, while asteroids are smaller and not spherical
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What is actually a "shooting star"?
A) Stars revolving around the sun B) Meteoroids burning up in Earth's atmosphere C) Asteroids passing close to Earth D) Comets streaking by Earth |
B) Meteoroids burning up in Earth's atmosphere
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__________are small pieces of "space junk," _________ are space junk that burns up in Earth's atmosphere, and _________ are space junk that actually reaches Earth's surface
A) asteroids; comets; meteors B) meteors; meteorites; meteoroids C) meteoroids; meteors; meteorites D) meteorites; meteors; asteroids |
C) meteoroids; meteors; meteorites
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What is the main difference between meteoroids and asteroids?
A) Asteroids are only found in the "belt" between Mars and Jupiter B) Meteoroids are generally bigger than asteroids C) Asteroids are generally bigger than meteoroids D) Asteroids are pieces of comets, whereas meteoroids are pieces of space debris |
C) Asteroids are generally bigger than meteoroids
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What feature of the moon's surface was most likely created by meteorites?
A) Its maria B) Its craters C) Its dust D) Its shape |
B) Its craters
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What is the concept that adding or removing a weight from the earth's crust causes it to depress or rebound?
A) Continental drift B) Isostasy C) Plate tectonics D) Rifting E) Seafloor spreading |
B) Isostasy
[ Isostasy refers to a flotation type of equilibrium in vertical crustal movements. ] |
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What name did Alfred Wegener give to his theory of horizontal crustal movements?
A) Continental drift B) Isostasy C) Plate tectonics D) Rifting E) Seafloor spreading |
A) Continental drift
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What name did Wegener give to his proposed single supercontinent?
A) Eurasia B) Gondwanaland C) Laurasia D) Pangea E) Panthalassa |
D) Pangea
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What type(s) of evidence did Wegener use to support his theory?
A) Distributions of fossil plants and animals B) Distributions of modern plants and animals C) Geographic fit of the continents and features thereon D) Paleoclimatic oddities such as glacial till, coral reefs, and coal E) All of the above |
E) All of the above
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When a ship passes over seafloor that has a 'reverse' magnetic polarization, how does this effect the magnetic field reading?
A) The magnetic field is directed east. B) The magnetic field is directed south. C) The magnetic field is directed west. D) The strength of the magnetic field is slightly stronger than usual. E) The strength of the magnetic field is slightly weaker than usual. |
E) The strength of the magnetic field is slightly weaker than usual.
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What is the character of magnetic anomalies on the seafloor?
A) They occur in stripes that parallel mid–ocean ridges and are offset along transform faults. B) They occur in stripes that run perpendicular to mid–ocean ridges and parallel transform faults. C) They occur in stripes that parallel continental margins and transform faults. D) They occur in stripes that run perpendicular to continental margins and parallel to transform faults. E) They occur in stripes that parallel transform faults and end at mid–oceanic ridges. |
A) They occur in stripes that parallel mid–ocean ridges and are offset along transform faults.
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What theory did magnetic anomalies on the seafloor give rise to?
A) Continental drift B) Isostasy C Plate tectonics D) Rifting E) Seafloor spreading |
E) Seafloor spreading
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What is the current comprehensive theory of horizontal crustal movements?
A) Continental drift B) Isostasy C) Plate tectonics D) Rifting E) Seafloor spreading |
C) Plate tectonics
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What is the age order of sea floor types (the crust underlying them) from oldest to youngest?
A) Abyssal hills, abyssal plains, mid–ocean ridge, continental shelf B) Abyssal plains, abyssal hills, mid–ocean ridge, continental shelf C) Continental shelf, abyssal plains, abyssal hills, mid–ocean ridge D) Mid–ocean ridge, abyssal hills, abyssal plains, continental shelf E) Mid–ocean ridge, abyssal plains, abyssal hills, continental shelf |
C) Continental shelf, abyssal plains, abyssal hills, mid–ocean ridge
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Which sea is an example of rifting forming an incipient ocean?
A) Baltic Sea B) Bering Sea C) Black Sea D) English Channel E) Red Sea |
E) Red Sea
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Which sea is a remnant of a larger ocean that has closed up?
A) Baltic Sea B) Bering Sea C) Black Sea D) English Channel E) Red Sea |
C) Black Sea
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What happens when a piece of continent reaches an ocean–bound subduction zone?
A) A decollement forms along a foredeep B) An island chain is quickly formed C) Subduction ceases D) Subduction switches to the other plate E) The continent is subducted |
What has become accepted as the primary mechanism for seafloor spreading?Density differences in the crustGravitational and tidal forcesMantle convection cellsThe pole–fleeing forceWeight of seafloor sedimentsD) Subduction switches to the other plate
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What has become accepted as the primary mechanism for seafloor spreading?
A) Density differences in the crust B) Gravitational and tidal forces C) Mantle convection cells D) The pole–fleeing force E) Weight of seafloor sediments |
C) Mantle convection cells
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How is oceanic crust forced back into the earth's mantle?
A) It wants to float but is forced to curl as it cools. B) It wants to float but is forced under by colliding plates. C) It wants to sink because it is made of high density minerals. D) It wants to sink because it is cold and therefore dense. E) It wants to sink because of its high iron content. |
D) It wants to sink because it is cold and therefore dense.
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What do we call the moon's surface layer?
A) Regolith B) Rilles C) Maria D) Craters |
A) Regolith
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What are rays?
A) Canyons, caused by lava flows or crustal cracking. B) Long, light streaks of pulverized rock radiating outward from craters. C) Mountainous regions. D) Areas with no craters at all. |
B) Long, light streaks of pulverized rock radiating outward from craters.
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How were the maria formed?
A) Maria were formed by ancient oceans on the Moon's surface. B) Maria formed from ash falls from long dead volcanoes. C) Molten rock from the Moon's interior flooded the huge basins after large impacts. D) They were formed by the huge tidal interaction between the Earth and Moon. |
C) Molten rock from the Moon's interior flooded the huge basins after large impacts.
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Why doesn't the Moon have an atmosphere?
A) It never had volcanoes and the gravity is too weak to hold a substantial atmosphere. B) The blasts that formed the craters blew it away. C) The Moon's atmosphere was drawn away from it by Earth's stronger gravitational force. D) The solar wind evaporated the Moon's atmosphere. |
A) It never had volcanoes and the gravity is too weak to hold a substantial atmosphere.
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How do most astronomers today believe the Moon formed?
A) The Moon is actually a planet that was drawn in and captured by the Earth's gravitational force. B) The Earth and Moon formed together as twin planets. C) A Mars–sized object struck the young Earth, and the ejected debris formed the Moon. D) The Moon is a piece of the Earth that broke off while the Earth was forming. |
C) A Mars–sized object struck the young Earth, and the ejected debris formed the Moon.
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About how big is the Moon's radius compared to the Earth's?
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One–quarter
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Craters form when _________.
A) lunar volcanoes blow their tops B) solid bodies such as asteroids strike the Moon's surface. C) pieces of the Moon fall off, leaving holes in its surface. D) Both a and c. |
B) solid bodies such as asteroids strike the Moon's surface.
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What two elements is the universe primarily made of?
A. Iron and Nickel B. Silicon and Oxygen C. Hydrogen and Helium D. Carbon and Nitrogen |
C. Hydrogen and Helium
[Hydrogen and helium are the two smallest atoms and most abundant elements in the universe as a whole. ] |
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What is the correct order of the planets in the Solar System, starting closest to the Sun?
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Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
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What is thought to be the age of the nine planets relative to each other?
A. The inner planets formed together first and then the outer planets formed together later B. The outer planets formed together first and then the inner planets formed together later C. They all formed at roughly the same time D. They formed sequentially from Pluto inward with the one nearest the Sun formed last E. They formed sequentially from the Sun outward with Pluto forming last |
C. They all formed at roughly the same time.
[The similar orbits of the nine planets suggests that they formed at roughly the same time from the same planetary nebula. ] |
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Why does the moon have more craters than the Earth?
A. Craters develop much better on smaller planetary bodies B. The moon captured most asteroids before they could strike the Earth C. The moon has a stronger gravitational attraction than the Earth D. The moon has little tectonics or weathering to obliterate craters E. The moon is much older than the Earth |
D. The moon has little tectonics or weathering to obliterate craters
[ The moon is a museum of events from the early history of the solar system while the earth has been resurfaced and eroded continuously. ] |
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What elements are the atmospheres of Jupiter and Saturn primarily composed of?
A. Argon and Krypton B. Hydrogen and Helium C. Nitrogen and carbon dioxide D. Nitrogen and methane E. Nitrogen and Oxygen |
B. Hydrogen and Helium
[Both the sun and the gas giants are comprised mostly of the same two elements as the rest of the universe, hydrogen and helium. ] |
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Where did the heavy elements that make up the bulk of the Earth originate?
A. In a supernova B. In meteorites C. In the Big Bang D. In the Earth itself E. In the sun |
A. In a supernova
[Only giant stars have the gravitational forces necessary to create heavy elements by nuclear fusion, and such stars have short lifespans and explode in supernovas, thus providing heavy elements as raw materials for planetary formation. ] |
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What are the lunar maria made of?
A. Basalt B. Breccia C. Granite D. Salt E. Water |
A. Basalt
[ The lunar maria are basalt flows. ] |
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Which planet is closest in size to the Earth?
A. Mars B. Mercury C. Neptune D. Uranus E. Venus |
E. Venus
[Venus is about the same size as the earth and seems to have tectonic similarities. ] |
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Which planet besides Earth has evidence of erosion by running water?
A. Mars B. Mercury C. Neptune D. Uranus E. Venus |
A. Mars
[Mars has some structures that appear like stream drainages. ] |
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Which planet has a runaway greenhouse effect?
A. Mars B. Mercury C. Neptune D. Uranus E. Venus |
E. Venus
[Venus has a thick atmosphere of carbon dioxide that traps infrared light and keeps the surface 475 degrees C. ] |
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Which planet has virtually no atmosphere?
A. Mars B. Mercury C. Neptune D. Uranus E. Venus |
B. Mercury
[Mercury, being small and bombarded by powerful solar winds, has virtually no atmosphere. ] |
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What is the largest planet in the Solar System?
A. Earth B. Jupiter C. Mars D. Neptune E. Saturn |
B. Jupiter
[ Jupiter is the largest of the gas giants and thus the largest planet in the solar system. ] |
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Which of the following planets is not a gas giant?
A. Jupiter B. Neptune C. Pluto D. Saturn E. Uranus |
C. Pluto
[Pluto is not a gas giant and is one of the smallest planets in the solar system. ] |
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Which planet has the most extensive ring structure?
A. Jupiter B. Neptune C. Pluto D. Saturn E. Uranus |
D. Saturn
[Saturn has by far the most orbiting rings, and they can be seen from the earth with modest telescopes. ] |
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What is Io?
A. A comet B. A moon of Jupiter C. A protoplanet D. As asteroid E. The nearest star |
B. A moon of Jupiter
[Io is the closest moon to Jupiter and has frequent volcanic eruptions due to the intense tidal forces it is subject to. ] |
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What speed is needed for a gas molecule to escape from a planet?
A. Escape velocity B. Orbital speed C. Solar wind speed D. Speed of light E. Speed of sound |
A. Escape velocity
[The escape velocity is the speed necessary for an object to leave the gravitational field of a planetary body. ] |
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What are comets mostly made of?
A. Ammonia B. Hydrogen C. Ice D. Iron E. Rock |
C. Ice
[Comets are big dirty snowballs. ] |
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What is the glowing head of a comet called?
A. Coma B. Crater C. Head D. Maria E. Nova |
A. Coma
[The coma is the glowing head surrounding the nucleus of the comet. ] |
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The light–year is a measure of ________.
A. Time B. Speed C. Distance D. Weight E. Brightness |
C. Distance
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About how long does it take light from the Sun to reach the Earth?
A. About 8 seconds B. About 8 minutes C. No time at all D. About 4 years E. About a week |
B. About 8 minutes
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The zenith is ______________________.
A. The point on the sky directly overhead from the North Pole. B. The point on the sky on the horizon to the due south. C. The point on the sky directly overhead from the Equator. D. The point on the sky the Sun occupies. E. The point on the sky directly overhead. |
E. The point on the sky directly overhead.
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Constellations are:
A. Patterns of stars in the sky B. Clusters of stars very near each other in space C. Groupings of planets in the sky D. Close associations of stars and visible planets E. Non–existant |
A. Patterns of stars in the sky
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The apparent magnitude of a star is a measure of its:
A. Intrinsic radiance B. Rate of energy output at all wavelengths C. Brightness if it was at a distance of ten parsecs D. Brightness as seen from Earth E. Angular diameters as seen from Earth |
D. Brightness as seen from Earth
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If the inclination of Earth's rotational axis increased:
A. Winters would be cooler B. Summers would be cooler C. Winters would be warmer D. Summer would be the same E. Winters would be the same |
A. Winters would be cooler
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The seasons we experience on the Earth are caused by:
A. The precession of the Earth's pole B. The change in the luminosity of the Sun during the year C. The change in the Earth's distance from the Sun during the year D. The tilt of the Earth's axis with respect to the ecliptic pole E. The change in the Moon's distance from the Earth during the year |
D. The tilt of the Earth's axis with respect to the ecliptic pole
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The precession of the Earth:
A. Causes rapid, large changes in the position of the Celestial Poles B. Causes the position of the Celestial Poles to change very slowly C. Was only discovered in the last century D. Is causing the rotation rate of the Earth to decrease E. Is making the Earth spiral into the Sun |
B. Causes the position of the Celestial Poles to change very slowly
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If the moon was new a week ago, what would its phase be now?
A. First quarter B. Full C. Third quarter D. Waxing gibbous E. Waning crescent |
A. First quarter
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Spring tides occur near which lunar phases?
A. New and first quarter B. New and full C. First quarter and third quarter D. Full and third quarter E. Full and last quarter |
B. New and full
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Newton's Force Law relates:
A. The acceleration an object experiences with its mass B. The acceleration an object experiences with a force applied to it. C. The mass of an object to its composition D. All of the above E. Only A and B are correct |
E. Only A and B are correct
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The length of the Moon's rotation period:
A. Will eventually be equal to the Solar year B. Is about 24 hours long C. Is equal to its orbit period due to the tidal effects of the Earth D. Has not changed since the Moon formed E. Is gradually decreasing due to tidal drag from the Earth |
C. Is equal to its orbit period due to the tidal effects of the Earth
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Observations of astronomical objects at wavelengths across the electromagnetic spectrum are so useful because:
A. The only source of electromagnetic radiation is stars B. Our eyes see such a large fraction of the electromagnetic spectrum C. Very hot matter does not radiate D. Different states of matter radiate in very different wavelengths E. Visible light does not tell us anything about stars |
D. Different states of matter radiate in very different wavelengths
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Light from the optical part of the spectrum:
A. is mostly emitted from very hot gas in interstellar space B. is mostly emitted from small grains of solid matter C. is mostly emitted from the surfaces of stars D. Tells us about the nature of very cold matter E. Tells us about the nature of very hot, diffuse matter |
C.is mostly emitted from the surfaces of stars
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The frequency of a light wave is inversely proportional to its:
A. Speed B. Energy C. Velocity D. Amplitude E. Wavelength |
E. Wavelength
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The radial velocity of a star can be determined from its:
A. Spectral type B. Spectral line Doppler shift C. Distance and luminosity D. Proper motion E. Right ascension and declination |
B. Spectral line Doppler shift
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If we compare two stars of different temperature, the hotter star:
A. Will be larger B. Will appear redder C. Will have a brighter apparent magnitude D. Will have a brighter absolute magnitude E. Emits more energy from each unit area of surface |
E. Emits more energy from each unit area of surface
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To find the total mass of a visual binary, we need to first find its:
A. Distance from Earth and the apparent orbit B. Doppler shift and proper motion C. True orbit and proper motion D. Apparent magnitude and distance from Earth E. Space velocity and apparent orbit |
A. Distance from Earth and the apparent orbit
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We know the stars called Red Giants are much larger than the Sunbecause:
A. They are cool and luminous, so the Stefan–Boltmann law argues they must be large. B. All stars are larger than the Sun. C. They are hot and luminous, so the Stefan–Boltmann law argues they must be large. D. They are cool and faint, so the Stefan–Boltmann law argues they must be large. E. They are hot and faint, so the Stefan–Boltmann law argues they must be large. |
A. They are cool and luminous, so the Stefan–Boltmann law argues they must be large. |
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Stars transport energy from their cores to their surfaces:
A. By radiative diffusion B. By convection C. By conduction D. 1 and 2 are correct. E. 1 and 3 are correct |
D. 1 and 2 are correct:
By radiative diffusion and convection |
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The interstellar medium consists of:
A. Ionized hydrogen gas B. Neutral hydrogen gas C. Interstellar dust grains D. Interstellar molecules E. All of the above |
E. All of the above
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Why doesn't the sun presently create energy by fusing helium intoheavier elements?
A. There's no helium in the sun's core B. Neutrinos inside the sun prevent helium fusion C. The sun's core isn't hot and dense enough D. When helium fuses, no energy is ever released E. Helium nuclei cannot fuse to make heavier atoms |
C. The sun's core isn't hot and dense enough |
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Why are protostars so difficult to observe?
A. They emit most of their radiation in the IR B. They do not emit photons C. They emit most of their radiation as x–rays D. Stars are no longer forming in our Galaxy E. They are too small to have high luminosities. |
A. They emit most of their radiation in the IR (infrared)
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The elements heavier than hydrogen and helium that we find on earthprobably were created:
A. Inside the earth B. None of the other answers is correct. C. Inside a star that is no longer visible D. In the sun E. When the universe was created |
C. Inside a star that is no longer visible |
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Einstein concluded that mass:
A. Has no effect on light B. Decreases as you go faster C. Has no relationship with energy D. Causes space to curve E. Increases the speed of light |
D. Causes space to curve
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Einstein concluded that an observer isolated in a small box, butfeeling his normal weight, could not tell if he were:
A. On the surface of the Earth or being accelerated by a rocket in space B. On the Earth or the moon C. On a neutron star or a white dwarf D. Travelling through time E. Having his clock sped up by a nearby mass |
A. On the surface of the Earth or being accelerated by a rocket in spac |
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Our Milky Way galaxy consists of:
A. A disk containing gas, dust, and globular clusters B. A sphere of stars centered on Sagittarius C. A disk, central bulge, and halo D. A disk or plane only E. A spherical distribution of stars centered on the sun |
C. A disk, a central bulge, and halo
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About how many trips has the Sun made around the Galaxy since itformed?
A. One tenth B. Two dozen C. One thousand D. One million E. One billion |
B. Two dozen |
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A large cluster of galaxies is likely to have:
A. Cold gas between the galaxies, emitting X–rays B. Cold gas between the galaxies, absorbing X–rays C. Hot gas between the galaxies, absorbing radio waves D. Dark matter between the galaxies absorbing visible light E. Hot gas between the galaxies, emitting X–rays |
E. Hot gas between the galaxies, emitting X–rays
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The key to discovering that spiral objects seen in the sky were reallyseparate galaxies was:
A. Proper motion of the objects B. Measuring their distances C. Radial velocity showing rotation of the objects D. Measuring the parallax of the objects E. Measuring their sizes |
B. Measuring their distances |
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The greater the distance of a galaxy away from the Earth:
A. The greater the observed red shift B. The older it is C. The greater the observed blue shift D. The more massive it is E. None of the choices given here is correct. |
A. The greater the observed red shift.
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93) The distance to the most distant thing in the observable universe isset by the:
A. Mass of the Universe B. Effects of gravity C. Age of the Universe D. Most distant Cepheid variables we can see E. Blockage of light by interstellar dust |
C. Age of the Universe |
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The Hubble constant measures the:
A. Density of the universe B. Curvature of space in the universe C. Temperature of the universe D. Distance to galaxies in the Local Group E. Current expansion rate of the universe |
E. Current expansion rate of the universe
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95) One major success of the Big Bang Theory for the origin of theuniverse is that it predicted the:
A. Existence of galaxies B. Amount of iron atoms in the universe C. Spin of spiral galaxies D. Cosmic background radiation E. Blueshifts of quasars |
D. Cosmic background radiation |
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Our current understanding is that the night sky is dark because:
A. The Universe had a beginning B. There are large quantities of dust C. The light from distant stars is converted into neutrinos D. No one knows E. Distant stars are gravitationally lensed |
A. The Universe had a beginning.
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The path through the sky taken by the sun annually is the:
A. Equator B. Ecliptic C. Horizon D. Zenith |
B. Ecliptic
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What causes a solar eclipse?
A. The moon's shadow falls on a small portion of the earth B. The earth covers the sun, as viewed from the moon C. The sun's shadow covers the earth, as seen from moon D. The earth's shadow falls on the full moon |
A. The moon's shadow falls on a small portion of the earth.
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When does Jupiter retrograde?
A. Near greatest elongation, when it passes between us and the sun B. Near opposition, as it rises when the sun sets C. Near conjunction, with it passing in front of sun D. Near conjunction, with it passing behind the sun |
B. Near opposition, as it rises when the sun sets.
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The astronomical cycle that establishes the month is the:
A. Motion of the moon relative to the horizon B. Motion of the moon relative to the stars C. Motion of the moon throughout a year D. Repetition of the phases of the moon |
D. Repetition of the phases of the moon.
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In order to have a total lunar eclipse, you need to have:
A. Any full moon B. Any new moon C. A full moon on or close to the ecliptic D. A new moon on or close to the ecliptic |
C. A full moon on or close to the ecliptic
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In order to have a solar eclipse, you need to have:
A. Any full moon B. Any new moon C. The full moon on or close to the ecliptic D. The new moon on or close to the ecliptic. |
D. The new moon on or close to the ecliptic
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In general, the observed spectra of stars appear as what kind of spectrum?
A. Absorption B. Continuous C. Emission D. Nonthermal |
A. Absorption
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Which of the following has the LOWEST frequency?
A. X–rays B. Visible light C. Radio waves D. Infrared |
C. Radio waves
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Which of the following has the LONGEST wavelength?
A. Red light B. Blue light C. Green light D. Infrared light |
D. Infrared light
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Compared to radio waves, ultraviolet light:
A. Travels faster B. Has a longer wavelength C. Has more energy per photon D. Has a lower frequency |
C. Has more energy per photon
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In the overall electromagnetic spectrum, consider radio, visible light, and gamma rays in terms of their wavelength. Their correct order, from longest to shortest, is:
A. radio, visible, gamma rays B. gamma rays, visible, radio C. visible, gamma rays, radio D. visible, radio, gamma rays |
A. Radio, visible, gamma rays
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When viewing hot nitrogen gas through a spectroscope, you observe:
A. A continuous spectrum B. A dark–line (absorption) spectrum C. A bright–line (emission) spectrum D. A spectrum similar to our Sun's spectrum |
C. A bright–line (emission) spectrum
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Which of the following has the HIGHEST frequency?
A. X–rays B. Visible light C. Radio waves D. Gamma rays |
D. Gamma rays
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In the visible spectrum, which of the following has the SHORTEST wavelength?
A. Red light B. Blue light C. Green light D. Ultraviolet light |
B. Blue light
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Some of the electromagnetic radiation is absorbed by the earth's atmosphere. The types reaching sea level are mostly:
A. X–rays and gamma rays B. X–rays and ultra violet C. Ultraviolet and infrared D. Visible and some radio |
D. Visible and some radio
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Which is an example of a scientific model of the cosmos from ancient astronomy?
A. Babylonian cosmology B. Ptolemaic cosmology C. Egyptian cosmology D. Mayan calendars |
B. Ptolemaic cosmology
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Which of the following is NOT an assumption made by Ptolemy?
A. The heavens are spherical B. The earth is spherical C. The universe is geocentric D. The universe is infinite |
D. The universe is infinite.
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According to the physical ideas of Aristotle, the motions of the celestial bodies took place because of:
A. A force between the planets and the sun B. A force between the planets and the earth C. The natural motion of the earth in space D. The natural spinning motion of the celestial spheres |
D. The natural spinning motion of the celestial spheres
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When Ptolemy finally put his complete cosmological model together, he ended up violating one of his starting assumptions. Which of the following did he NOT follow?
A. The universe is geocentric B. The planets move uniformly along circles C. The heavens are spherical D. The earth is spherical |
B. The planets move uniformly along circles
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Ptolemy introduced epicycles into his model in order to explain what observation?
A. The retrograde motion of the planets B. The nonuniform motion of the sun along the ecliptic C. Venus always appearing close to the sun D. Total eclipses of the sun |
A. The retrograde motion of the planets
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Which of the following did NOT contribute to the acceptance of the Ptolemaic model?
A. It predicted the positions of the planets well enough B. It conformed to the physics of the time C. It was based on simple geometric ideas D. It explained why nearby stars show annual parallax |
D. It explained why nearby stars show annual parallax
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Which of these planets retrogrades close to its conjunction with the sun?
A. Mercury B. earth C. Mars D. Jupiter |
A. Mercury
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Which of the following astronomical concepts did not arise from Greek notions of geometry and symmetry?
A. The earth is spherical B. The celestial spheres rotate C. All celestial motions are uniform and circular D. The orbits of the planets are ellipses |
D. The orbits of the planets are ellipses
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Who of the following did NOT support the geocentric model?
A. Aristotle B. Hipparchus C. Aristarchus D. Ptolemy. |
C. Aristarchus
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Which of the following was NOT an asset of the Ptolemaic system?
A. It predicted the positions of the planets reasonably well B. It agreed with the symmetry doctrines of Greek philosophy C. It set from observations the distance scale to the planets D. It gave a simple explanation for planetary retrograde motion |
C. It set from observations the distance scale to the planets
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Which of the following geometric devices was used by Ptolemy to explain retrograde motion of the planets?
A. Eccentrics alone B. Ellipses and variation in speed C. Epicycles and deferents D. Eccentrics and equants |
C. Epicycles and deferents
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You stop by the coffee shop for breakfast. Your friend starts to discuss the contributions of Ptolemy and Hipparchus. She notes that geometrical devices were NOT used by them:
A. To describe prograde/retrograde motions of the planets B. To describe the nonuniform motion of the planets and the sun with respect to the stars (through the zodiac) C. To show that the universe was heliocentric D. To show that all motions were circular |
C. To show that the universe was heliocentric
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Which ancient culture first developed a geometric model for the universe?
A. Babylonian B. Egyptian C. Aztec D. Greek |
D. Greek
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In which way did Copernicus' model differ with Ptolemy's?
A. The earth is spherical B. Celestial motions should be uniform and circular C. The moon revolves around the earth D. The earth revolves around the sun |
D. The earth revolves around the sun
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In the Copernican model, retrograde motion:
A. Comes from circular motion with epicycles B. Arises for planets farther from the sun than the earth C. Occurs when one planet passes another D. Occurs only once a year for each planet. |
C. Occurs when one planet passes another
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In what respect did the Copernican model have a weakness compared to the Ptolemaic?
A. Explanation of retrograde motions B. Relative distances of planets from the sun C. The use of geometrical ideas D. The physical basis |
D. The physical basis
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Which of the following statements showed a direct influence of Copernicus on the ideas of Kepler?
A. Planets revolve around the sun B. The planets move in elliptical orbits C. A force between the sun and planets control their orbits D. The sun lies at one focus of the planet's orbit |
A. Planets revolve around the sun
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How did Kepler's model for the solar system have a stronger physical basis than the earlier model of Copernicus?
A. The shape of the planetary orbits is elliptical B. The speeds of the planets in their orbits vary C. A force from the sun controls the motions of the planets D. Retrograde motion is explained naturally |
C. A force from the sun controls the motions of the planets
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As a planet moves in an elliptical orbit around the sun, it:
A. Comes closest to the sun at perihelion B. Comes closest to the sun at aphelion C. Stays the same distance from the sun D. Can never undergo retrograde motion |
A. Comes closest to the sun at perihelion
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The single greatest advantage of Kepler's system compared to that of Copernicus was:
A. It was geocentric B. It explained retrograde motion in a natural way C. It pictured the cosmos as finite D. It predicted planetary positions with greater accuracy |
D. It predicted planetary positions with greater accuracy
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According to Kepler's second law, when a planet moves closer to the sun in its orbit:
A. It speeds up B. It slows down C. It undergoes retrograde motion D. It changes the focal point of its ellipse |
A. It speeds up
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Kepler's third law points out that, among the planets in the solar system, the farther a planet is from the sun, then the:
A. More eccentric is its orbit B. Slower its orbital speed C. Faster its orbital speed D. More inclined is its orbit. |
B. Slower its orbital speed
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According to Kepler's first law and the geometry of ellipses, a planet:
A. Stays the same distance from the sun B. Comes closest to the sun at perihelion C. Comes closest to the sun at aphelion D. Has an orbit whose semi–major axis varies |
B. Comes closest to the sun at perihelion
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In Kepler's view, the motion of a planet around the sun is such that:
A. The sun is at the center of the orbit B. The planet moves along a circle C. Celestial spheres drive the motion D. The sun is at one focus of the planet's elliptical orbit |
D. The sun is at one focus of the planet's elliptical orbit
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Kepler introduced some mathematics to explain the observed motion of planets. Basically, it describes the motion of a planet as an ellipse and determines the period of the orbit in terms of:
A. The average distance from the planet to the sun B. The mass of the planet C. The tilt of the planet orbit about the sun D. The planet's distance to Jupiter |
A. The average distance from the planet to the sun
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Kepler's third law expresses the square of the period of a planet's orbit in years in terms of a constant times:
A. The average distance from the planet to the sun in astronomical units B. The square of the average distance from the planet to the sun in AU C. The cube of the average distance from the planet to the sun in AU D. The inverse square of its average distance from the sun in AU |
C. The cube of the average distance from the planet to the sun in AU
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Which of these concepts was NOT part of Ptolemy's model?
A. It was geocentric B. The planet's orbits were ellipses C. Eastward motion was along the planet's deferrent D. Westward motion was along the planet's epicycle |
B. The planet's orbits were ellipses
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Which concept below was NOT part of Kepler's laws?
A. The planet orbits are ellipses B. The closer a planet is to the Sun, the faster it moves C. Retrograde motion required use of epicycles D. The sun lies at one focus of all elliptical planetary orbits. |
C. Retrograde motion required use of epicycles
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If an asteroid had an average distance from the sun of four AU, use Kepler's third law to calculate its period in years:
A. 2 years B. 6 years C. 8 years D. 16 years |
C. 8 years
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That planet orbits were NOT necessarily circular was noted in:
A. Copernicus original heliocentric model B. Kepler's first law of planetary motion C. Newton's second law of motion D. Einstein's Special Theory of Relativity |
B. Kepler's first law of planetary motion
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From Kepler's first law, we know that:
A. The distance from the earth to the sun is not constant B. The earth travels more slowly in its orbit than Mercury does C. Periods of orbiting bodies depend upon the sizes of their orbits D. The earth travels slowest at perihelion. |
A. The distance from the earth to the sun is not constant
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Galileo discovered with his telescope four moons orbiting Jupiter. This observation was used to refute an argument in support of the Ptolemaic model; which one did it challenge?
A. No planets should have moons, except the earth B. All celestial motions were centered on the earth C. Planetary motions must be uniform and circular D. The heavens are finite in size |
B. All celestial motions were centered on the earth
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From the following, choose one way in which Galileo's cosmology DIFFERED MOST from that of Kepler:
A. It was heliocentric B. It was geocentric C. The planets moved on circular orbits D. It lacked epicycles to explain retrograde motion |
C. The planets moved on circular orbits
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6) According to Newton's laws of motion, an object undergoes natural motion when it:
A. Moves along a smoothly curved path B. Changes speed at a uniform rate C. Stops and remains motionless for a while D. Moves at a constant speed along a straight line |
D. Moves at a constant speed along a straight line
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Does the earth have any gravitational influence on Mars, according to Newton?
A. Yes, all the time B. No, never C. Yes, but only when the earth and Mars are close D. Yes, but Mars has no influence on the earth |
A. Yes, all the time
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According to Newton's laws of motion and gravitation, the moon goes around the earth in an elliptical orbit because:
A. It is following its natural motion in space B. A centripetal force acts on it, directed to the earth C. A force acts on it in the direction of its motion D. A magnetic force acts on it, directed to the earth |
B. A centripetal force acts on it, directed to the earth
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If the earth were suddenly shrunk to half its present size, what would happen to our planet's escape velocity?
A. Increase B. Decrease C. Stay the same D. Disappear and we would all float away |
A. Increase
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Which of the following is NOT a telescopic discovery of Galileo?
A. Sunspots and the sun's rotation B. 4 satellites of Jupiter C. Annual stellar parallax D. The phases of Venus |
C. Annual stellar parallax
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Which of Newton's laws was used to measure the earth's mass?
A. The Law of Inertia B. The Fig Law C. The Law of Gravitation D. The Reaction Law |
C. The Law of Gravitation
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The changing phases of which planet were used by Galileo to refute Ptolemy's epicycles?
A. Jupiter B. Mercury C. Venus D. Mars |
C. Venus
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According to Einstein, which of the following objects is undergoing natural motion?
A. The moon revolving around the earth B. The earth revolving around the sun C. A satellite revolving around the earth D. All of the above |
D. All of the above
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Which of these was NOT proposed by Einstein?
A. Gravity is not a force B. Time slows down as the velocity approaches c C. The universe must be expanding D. Space curves near massive objects |
C. The universe must be expanding
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Hubble's law tells us that:
A. the further away a galaxy is, the faster it recedes from us B. mass and energy are interchangeable C. the geometry of the universe depends upon its total mass D. NASA must thoroughly test all optics before launching them |
A. The further away a galaxy is, the faster it recedes from us
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In order to determine the earth's mass, you need Newton's law of gravitation and the:
A. earth's radius and surface gravity B. earth's shape and surface gravity C. earth's composition and surface gravity D. earth's radius and internal structure |
A. Earth's radius and surface gravity
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The earth's structure is differentiated. This means that the least dense materials make up the ___, and the most dense the __.
A. core, mantle B. core, crust C. mantle, crust D. crust, core |
D. crust, core
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One reason we infer that the earth's core is metallic is that:
A. the average density is greater than the surface density B. the surface density is greater than the average density C. most of the continents are made of metals D. earthquakes can only occur if the core is metallic |
A. The average density is greater than the surface density
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In estimating the earth's age, we apply the technique of:
A. carbon–14 dating of organic materials B. radioactive dating of rocks containing uranium C. tree–ring dating D. estimating the amount of salt water in the oceans |
B. Radioactive dating of rocks containing uranium
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The age of the earth is estimated at roughly:
A. 4.6 thousand years. per hour westward B. 4.6 million years C. 4.6 billion years D. older than 10 billion years |
C. 4.6 billion years
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The overall structure of the earth's magnetic field is:
A. a single pole at the north magnetic pole B. a dipole with opposite north and south poles C. a diffuse field with no poles at all D. a single pole at the south magnetic pole |
B. a dipole with opposite north and south poles
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The earth's core is more dense than the crust or mantle. This fact can be used to infer what about the earth's history?
A. The metals accreted first and then the silicates B. Gravity has compacted the core and made it denser C. The entire planet was molten at one time D. The sun heated the earth more in the past then now |
C. The entire planet was molten at one time
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Where did the water in the earth's oceans originate?
A. Volcanic outgassing from beneath the crust B. Seepage up from the core and mantle C. From the meteoritic bombardment early on D. From clouds in the atmosphere |
A. Volcanic outgassing from beneath the crust
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The main driving source of the earth's evolution is:
A. life B. meteoritic bombardment from space C. outflow of heat from the earth's interior D. the influence of the earth's magnetic field |
C. Outflow of heat from the earth's interior
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The earth's magnetosphere arises from the interaction of the our magnetic field and:
A. charged particles in the solar wind B. neutral particles in the solar wind C. charged particles from the moon D. charged particles from Jupiter |
A. Charged particles in the solar wind
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The terrestrial planets include:
A. Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Jupiter B. Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune C. Mercury, Venus, the earth, and Mars D. Mercury, Venus, the earth, Mars, and Pluto |
C. Mercury, Venus, the earth, and Mars
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Which type of rocks are used for radioactive dating?
A. Sedimentary B. Igneous C. Metamorphic D. All rocks work equally well in this research |
B. Igneous
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Combined with oxygen, makes up majority of our mantle and crust.
A. silicon B. carbon dioxide C. hydrogen D. iron |
A. silicon
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With nickel, sank to core and contributes to our magnetic field.
A. silicon B. carbon dioxide C. hydrogen D. iron |
D. Iron
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Now found cemented away in form of carbonate rocks like limestone
A. silicon B. carbon dioxide C. hydrogen D. iron |
B. carbon dioxide
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In elemental form, driven away from terrestrial planets by the sun
A. silicon B. carbon dioxide C. hydrogen D. iron |
C. Hydrogen
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Based on the Apollo results, which is the best description of the moon's core?
A. Hot, probably molten, made of nonmetals B. Hot, partially molten, made of metals C. Cool, made of nonmetals D. Cool, made of metals |
A. Hot, probably molten, made of nonmetals
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Which of the following is probably the best description of Mercury's core?
A. Hot, molten, made of rocky materials B. Hot, molten in part, made of metals C. Cool and solid, made of metals D. Cool and solid, made of rocks |
B. Hot, molten in part, made of metals
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Comparing the Jovian and terrestrial planets in terms of their group characteristics, which of these is NOT correct?
A. The Jovian planets have a higher density B. The Jovian planets are more massive C. The Jovian planets have stronger magnetic fields D. The Jovian planets have many more satellites |
A. The Jovian planets have higher density
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Jupiter, Saturn, and Neptune give off more energy to space (as heat) than they receive from the sun, which results in the inference that their interiors:
A. are hot. B. are cold. C. contain fusion reactions. D. have the same chemical composition as the sun. |
A. Are hot
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Which of the following Jovian planets has the lowest density?
A. Jupiter. B. Saturn. C. Uranus. D. Neptune. |
B. Saturn
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The chemical composition of Jupiter indicates the two most abundant elements are:
A. silicon and carbon. B. silicon and oxygen. C. hydrogen and helium. D. hydrogen and oxygen. |
C. Hydrogen and Helium
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Which two Jovians are most similar in sizes, masses, composition, and structure?
A. Jupiter and Saturn. B. Saturn and Uranus. C. Neptune and Uranus. D. Neptune and Jupiter. |
C. Neptune and Uranus
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Compared to the earth' interior, the interior of Jupiter is similar because:
A. the composition is basically the same. B. Jupiter has a large core of rocky material. C. both are largely liquid and conduct electric currents. D. both cores are cooler than their surfaces. |
C. Both are largely liquid and conduct electric currents
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Considering the state of the materials in its interior, Jupiter is mostly:
A. metals. B. solid rocks. C. ices. D. liquid. |
D. Liquid
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Which of the following do the rings of Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus have in common?
A. Small particles orbiting the planet B. Solid sheets of icy materials C. Made of dark, uncoated rocky particles D. Made of light–colored, metallic particles |
A. Small particles orbiting the planet
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Infrared observations indicate that much of the surface of Pluto is covered with:
A. rocks. B. iron. C. water ice. D. methane ice. |
D. methane ice
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Compared to our moon, the Galilean moons of Jupiter tend to have:
A. a smaller mass. B. smaller radii. C. a lower density. D. far fewer impact craters. |
C. A lower density
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In what sense have the Jovian planets, compared to the terrestrial ones, NOT evolved much since their formation?
A. They have sunlike compositions. B. The planets are much farther from the sun. C. The planets show no records of their pasts. D. The planets have far more mass and slower evolution. |
C. The planets show no records of their pasts
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The motion of Jupiter's giant red spot is driven by:
A. fusion reactions in the core of the giant planet. B. the differential rotation of regions of the upper atmosphere. C. temperature changes like on the earth. D. the aurora borealis. |
B. The differential rotation of regions of the upper atmosphere.
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Which of these bodies is NOT known to have active volcanoes presently?
A. Mars. B. The earth. C. Io. D. Triton. |
A. Mars
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Most volcanic body in the solar system.
A. Io. B. Miranda. C. Europa. D. Titan. |
A. Io
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Consider the general physical properties of the small bodies in the solar system. Which two are the MOST similar?
A. Comets and asteroids. B. Comets and meteorites. C. Asteroids and meteorites. D. Asteroids and meteoroids. |
C. Asteroids and meteorites
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In the condensation sequence, the terrestrial planets end up with very little hydrogen and helium (compared to the Jovian planets) because the:
A. original nebula contain little hydrogen and helium. B. sun drew in hydrogen and helium from the inner nebula. C. temperatures were too high for these to condense. D. temperatures were too low for these to condense. |
C. Temperatures were too high for these to condense
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For the terrestrial planets to form, the planetesimals had to:
A. accrete to make the protoplanets B. move in from the asteroid belt C. collide and fragment each other into smaller pieces D. melt from radioactive decay and then reform. |
A. Accrete to make the protoplanets
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In contrast to the formation of the terrestrial planets, Jupiter may have:
A. formed at a much higher temperature. B. condensed gravitationally rather than by accretion. C. condensed with mostly metallic materials. D. required a much longer time to form. |
B. Condensed gravitationally rather than by accretion.
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In order to find the earth–sun distance in units such as kilometers, we:
A. bounce radar signals off the sun. B. bounce radar signals off the moon. C. bounce radar signals off Venus. D. know the light travel time from the sun to the earth. |
C. Bounce radar signals off Venus.
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In order to find the sun's mass in kilograms, we need everything BUT:
A. Newton's law of gravitation. B. Newton's second law. C. the earth's mass. D. the earth–sun distance in units such as kilometers. |
C. The earth's mass
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In order to determine the sun's luminosity, you MUST know the:
A. size of the earth. B. size of the sun. C. mass of the sun. D. earth–sun distance in units such as kilometers. |
D. Earth–sun distance in units such as kilometers
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In which region of the sun do photons find that the opacity suddenly becomes very low so that they are free to fly off into space?
A. core. B. photosphere. C. chromosphere. D. corona. |
B. Photosphere
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The two most abundant solar elements, in terms of its mass, are:
A. carbon and oxygen. B. helium and carbon. C. hydrogen and oxygen. D. hydrogen and helium. |
D. Hydrogen and Helium
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What is inferred to be the source of the sun's energy now?
A. Fusion reactions in the core. B. Gravitational energy released by collapse. C. Fission reactions in the core. D. Oxidation of materials such as carbon. |
A. Fusion reactions in the core
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As the sun ages, the chemical composition of its core changes so that it contains a lower percentage of ____________ and a greater percentage of ______________.
A. helium, hydrogen B. uranium, lead C. hydrogen, helium D. oxygen, carbon |
C. Hydrogen, helium
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For what reason do astronomers want to observe and measure neutrinos from the sun?
A. Neutrinos are more energetic than photons from the sun. B. Neutrinos are easier to detect than photons. C. Neutrinos give direct information about the photosphere. D. Neutrinos give direct information about the sun's core. |
D. Neutrinos give direct information about the sun's core
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Which of these regions of the sun has the HIGHEST temperature?
A. Core. B. Photosphere. C. Chromosphere. D. Corona. |
A. Core
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Two important characteristics of sunspots are:
A. low temperature and intense magnetic fields. B. high temperature and intense magnetic fields. C. high temperature and weak magnetic fields. D. low temperature and no magnetic fields. |
A. Low temperature and intense magnetic fields
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The primary transport system for heat to get from the core of our Sun to the outside, as evidenced by its "granular appearance" is:
A. radiation. B. conduction. C. convection. D. levitation. |
C. Convection
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One recent development in astrophysics seems to confuse our understanding of the process of mass conversion to energy in the core of our Sun. What is it?
A. The Sun's surface temperature is decreasing too rapidly. B. The gamma–rays from the Sun are the wrong wavelength. C. The Sun's spectrum should be blue–shifted, but is not. D. There aren't enough neutrinos emitted from the Sun's core. |
D. There aren't enough neutrinos emitted from the Sun's core.
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Solar prominences are clouds of gas above the Sun's photosphere, that are caused:
A. by mass ejection due to rapid rotation of the Sun. B. by the effects of the magnetic fields near active regions. C. by mass ejection due to intense convective effects. D. by the gravitational attraction of the Earth every 22 years. |
B. By the effects of the magnetic fields near active regions
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Increased activity of the Sun as evidenced by an increased occurrence of sunspots and prominences is associated with:
A. solar flares. B. a reduction in the period of solar activity. C. no neutrino emission from the Sun. D. the Vernal equinox. |
A. Solar flares
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The by–products of fusion reactions in the core of the Sun release:
A. energy in the form of gamma–rays, and neutrinos. B. helium and hydrogen. C. metallic hydrogen. D. cool transparent gases. |
A. Energy in the form of gamma–rays, and neutrinos
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Approximate temperature of the Sun's corona.
A. 3,000 K B. 6,000 K C. 1–2 million K D. 8–10 million K |
C. 1–2 million K
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Approximate temperature of the Sun's photosphere.
A. 3,000 K B. 6,000 K C. 1–2 million K D. 8–10 million K |
B. 6,000 K
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Approximate temperature of the Sun's core.
A. 3,000 K B. 6,000 K C. 1–2 million K D. 8–10 million K |
D. 8–10 million K
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To determine the mass of our Sun, we:
A. use the trigonometric parallax. B. extrapolate from the density of the chromosphere. C. use Kepler's third law and Newton's law of gravity. D. use the observed temperature and spectral analysis. |
C. Use Kepler's third law and Newton's law of gravity.
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The energy produced in the fusion reactions within the core of our Sun comes from:
A. the absorption of neutrinos in the photosphere. B. atomic energy associated with the electron orbitals. C. interactions of molecules with the magnetic field. D. mass conversion. |
D. Mass conversion
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Why is the sun's chromosphere much hotter that the photosphere? Probably it is the result of:
A. mass ejection caused by the rapid rotation of the Sun. B. the effects of the magnetic fields near active regions. C. mass ejection caused by intense convective effects. D. the gravitational attraction of the earth every 22 years. |
B. The effects of the magnetic fields near active regions
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The size of the sun is such that _____ could be placed at the center and ____ would still be confined within its photosphere.
A. the earth/the moon's orbit B. Jupiter/the orbit of Io C. Venus/the orbit of Mercury D. Venus/the orbit of the earth |
A. The earth/the moon's orbit
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Which of these could best be seen during a total solar eclipse?
A. Sunspots. B. Prominences. C. Granulation. D. The photosphere. |
B. Prominences
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Auroral displays on Earth are most closely related to:
A. intense solar flares. B. huge sunspot groups. C. a spotless sun. D. radio outbursts from Jupiter. |
A. Intense solar flares
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The net effect of a large amount of sunspot activity is to:
A. slightly warm the earth. B. slightly cool the earth. C. no correlation has been noted. D. the changes from cycle to cycle. |
A. Slightly warm the earth
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The magnetic polarity of sunspot pairs in each hemisphere:
A. has switched in less than an hour. B. switches from week to week. C. switches with each new sunspot cycle. D. has stayed stable for as long as we have observed it. |
C. Switches with each new sunspot cycle
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The greater the distance a star is away from Earth:
A. The more massive it is B. The older it is C. None of the choices given here are correct D. The greater the observed red shift E. The greater the observed blue shift |
D. The greater the observed red shift
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If in an angry moment you kick a wall, your foot will hurt. This is best explained by:
A. Newton's first law of motion B. Newton's third law of motion C. The universal law of gravity D. Newton's second law of motion |
B. Newton's third law of motion
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While the Moon and the Sun both exert tidal forces on the Earth:
A. The Sun's effect is larger because it is so much closer to Earth than the Moon is. B. The Sun's effect is larger because it is so much more massive than the Moon is C. The Moon's effect is larger because it is so much closer to Earth than the Sun is D. The Moon's effect is larger because it is so much more massive than the Sun is. E. They are equal and opposite to one another, so cancel each other out. |
C. The Moon's effect is larger because it is so much closer to Earth than the Sun is
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Which planet is closest in size to the Earth?
A. Neptune B. Uranus C. Mercury D. Mars E. Venus |
E. Venus
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What is the largest planet in the Solar System?
A. Saturn B. Neptune C. Jupiter D. Earth E. Mars |
C. Jupiter
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In simple language, Kepler's second law means that
A. Slowly moving planets are close to the Sun. B. Planets close to the Sun have shorter periods than those farther away. C. The Sun is at the centre of planetary orbits. D. A planet moves more rapidly when near the Sun than when farther away. |
D. A planet moves more rapidly when near the Sun than when farther away
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In simple language, Kepler's third law says that:
A. Planets close to the Sun have shorter periods than those farther away. B. Slowly moving planets are close to the Sun. C. A planet moves more rapidly when near the Sun than when farther away. D. The Sun is at the centre of planetary orbits. |
A. Planets closer to the Sun have shorter periods than those farther away
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The acceleration due to gravity on the surface of the Moon:
A.is more than it is on the Earth because the Moon's mass is much larger than the Earth's mass. B.is less than it is on the Earth because the Moon's mass is much smaller than the Earth's mass. C.is equal to what it is on the surface of the Earth. D.is less than it is on the Earth because the Moon's mass is much larger than the Earth's mass. E. is more than it is on the Earth because the Moon's mass is much smaller than the Earth's mass. |
B. Is less than it is on the Earth because the Moon's mass is much smaller than the Earth's mass
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To study the Universe as it was long ago, we need to:
A. detect neutrinos B. travel to the edge of the Universe C. only observe in radio waves D. determine the composition of dark matter E. observe very distant objects |
E. observe very distant objects
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For the terrestrial planets to form, the planetesimals had to:
A. melt from radioactive decay and then reform. B.move in from the asteroid belt. C.collide and fragment each other into smaller pieces. D.accrete to make the protoplanets. |
D. Accrete to make the protoplanets
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What takes place in the centre of the Sun?
A. All of the answers are correct B. Nuclear fusion C. Helium is formed D. Hydrogen fuses together |
A. All of the answers are correct
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What is nuclear fusion?
A. an explosion caused by putting together two volatile chemicals B. a process that only occurs in bombs C. the process of splitting nuclei to produce energy D. the process of combining lightweight nuclei to make heavier nuclei E. the process of turning matter into pure energy |
D. The process of combining lightweight nuclei to make heavier nuclei
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What is the maximum number of planets readily visible to the naked eye on a given night?
A. 1 B. 2 C. 3 D. 4 E. 5 |
E. 5
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Planets:
A. move rapidly across the sky relative to the stars. B. are stationary relative to the stars. C. all move at the same rate relative to the stars. D. move slowly relative to the stars. E. can appear anywhere in the sky. |
D. Move slowly relative to the stars
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The most readily observed motion of a celestial object is produced by:
A. the motion of the planets across the sky. B. the rotation of the Earth. C. the revolution of the Earth. D. the motion of the Sun around the galaxy. |
B. The rotation of the Earth
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5. An astronomical unit is the:
A. distance from the Earth to the Moon. B. distance from the Earth to the Sun. C. distance from the Earth to the nearest star. D. distance light travels in one year. E. circumference of the Earth. |
B. Distance from the Earth to the Sun
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Which of the following statements about planets is FALSE?:
A. none are visible to observers on the Earth B. they move relative to the stars C. they are found along the zodiac D. they do not twinkle as stars do |
A. none are visible to observers on the Earth
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Precession is:
A. the accuracy with which numbers are given in astronomy. B. the slow motion of the Earth's rotation axis on the celestial sphere. C. the apparent backward motion of planets on the celestial sphere. D. the daily eastward motion of the Sun around the celestial sphere. |
B. The slow motion of the Earth's rotation axis on the celestial sphere
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Who is often considered to be the first truly modern scientist?
A. Brahe B. Kepler C. Copernicus D. Aristotle E. Galileo |
E. Galileo
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Which of the following did Galileo NOT observe?
A. Sunspots B. The moons of Mars C. The phases of Venus D. The craters on the Moon |
B. The moons of Mars
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The escape velocity from a planet's surface depends upon:
A. your mass and the planet's mass. B. your mass and the planet's radius. C. the planet's mass and radius. D. your mass and the planets orbital period. E. the planet's mass and orbital period. |
C. The planet's mass and radius
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Which of the following types of electromagnetic radiation has a wavelength adjacent to but longer than visible light?
A. Radio B. Infrared C. X–ray D. Ultraviolet E. Gamma ray |
B. Infrared
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Radio waves have:
A. high energy and long wavelength. B. low energy and long wavelength. C. low energy and short wavelength. D. high energy and short wavelength. |
B. Low energy and long wavelength
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If Star A is hotter than Star B, and Star A is emitting most of its light at a wavelength corresponding to yellow light, which of the following statements is true?
A. Star B will emit most of its light at a wavelength longer than yellow B. Star B will emit most of its light at a wavelength shorter than yellow C. Star B will emit most of its light at the same wavelength as Star A D. more information is required to answer this question |
A. Star B will emit most of its light at a wavelength longer than yellow
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Which of the following types of light can only be observed from space?
A. visible B. radio C. infrared D. gamma ray |
D. Gamma ray
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What are the cores of the terrestrial planets primarily composed of?
A. Silicates B. Iron and magnesium C. Iron and nickel D. Lead and Uranium |
C. Iron and nickel
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Differentiation is:
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sinking of the densest elements to the center of the planet
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The production of planetary magnetic field requires:
A. High planetary mass B. At least one satellite C. An atmosphere D. Rotation E. A ring around the planet |
D. rotation
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Which of the following gases was NOT present in the early Earth atmosphere?
A. methane B. ammonia C. hydrogen D. oxygen E. water vapor |
D. Oxygen
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Asteroid–sized bodies which formed the cores of the larger planets are known as
A. asteroids. B. the solar nebula. C. planetesimals. D. planetoids. E. minor bodies. |
D. Planetesimals
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Why are large satellites spherical?
A. tidal forces from the planet they orbit force them to be spherical B. the impact of meteoroids removes irregularities C. strong magnetic fields D. gravitational compression |
D. Gravitational compression
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Which of the following is responsible for maintaining thin ring systems?
A. shepherd satellites B. magnetic fields C. impacts with moons D. solar winds |
A. shepherd satellites
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In terms of composition, the atmosphere of Mars is most similar to that of:
A. Mercury. B. Venus. C. Earth. D. Moon. |
B. Venus
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Which planet is the least differentiated?
A. Mercury B. Venus C. Earth D. Mars |
D. Mars
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Which of the following is/are observed in the atmosphere of Jovian planets?
A. oxygen B. water C. carbon dioxide D. methane and ammonia |
D. Methane and ammonia
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Meteorites are composed of:
A. Hydrogen ices B. Helium ices C. Heavy elements like silicon D. Unknown elements, unlike any found on Earth |
C. heavy elements like silicon
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A meteorite is:
A. A rock or grain of sand passing through the Earth's atmosphere B. The trail left by a rock or piece of sand as it passes through the Earth's atmosphere C. A rock from space that strikes the ground D. Most often a part of a comet's nucleus |
C. A rock from space that strikes the ground
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Comets are thought to have formed:
A. In the Oort cloud where they are today. B. In the inner solar system, where radiation pressure from the Sun pushed them out to their current place in the Oort cloud C. in the vicinity of Uranus and Neptune from whence gravitational forces moved them to the Oort cloud. D. in interstellar space where they were captured by the solar system at the distance of the Oort cloud. |
C. In the vicinity of Uranus and Neptune from whence gravitational forces moved them to the Oort cloud.
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According to the Viking orbiter results, in winter the outer parts of the Martian pole caps consist mostly of: A. water ice. B. carbon dioxide ice. C. ammonia ice. D. methane ice. |
B. carbon dioxide ice. |
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Comparing the interiors of the earth and Mars, we can infer: A. the Earth has a larger core of rocky materials. B. Mars has a larger core of rocky materials. C. the earth has a larger core of metallic materials. D. Mars has a larger core of metallic materials. |
C. the earth has a larger core of metallic materials. |
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The earth has a strong planetary magnetic field, in contrast to Mars, which has a very weak field, if any at all. In terms of the dynamo model, we can explain this difference by noting that: A. Mars rotates very slowly. B. Mars is farther from the sun than the earth. C. the interior of Mars is very hot. D. the interior of Mars is mostly rocky materials. |
D. the interior of Mars is mostly rocky materials. |
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In order for people to survive on Mars, which of the following would pose the most difficult problem? A. Low surface pressure. B. Lack of surface water in liquid form. C. Low surface gravity. D. Rusted iron in the soil. |
B. Lack of surface water in liquid form. |
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In general, impact craters on the surface of Mars are shallower than those on our moon, Deimos, and Phobos. This fact implies that: A. smaller objects hit the surface of Mars. B. the Martian surface is harder than the others. C. more erosion has occurred on Mars than the moons. D. marsquakes have made the crater walls collapse. |
C. more erosion has occurred on Mars than the moons. |
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Which of the following did NOT, directly or indirectly, result from large-scale volcanic eruptions on Mars in the past? A. Large shield volcanoes. B. Carbon dioxide and water vapor in the atmosphere. C. Polar icecaps. D. Impact craters, mostly in the southern hemisphere. |
D. Impact craters, mostly in the southern hemisphere. |
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Consider bouncing a radar signal off of the surface of Mars. When the signal is received at the earth, it will: A. be the same as that transmitted. B. show a red shift only. C. show a blue shift only. D. show a combined red and blue shift. |
D. show a combined red and blue shift. |
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In the text, the author mentions the moons of Mars (Deimos and Phobos) as possibly being captured asteroids. One possible observation which supports such a theory is: A. the fact that Phobos' orbit period is less than Mars' rotational period. B. that their orbits point toward the Oort cloud. C. the existence of polar ice caps. D. if we observed the capture of another asteroid. |
A. the fact that Phobos' orbit period is less than Mars' rotational period. |
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Mars outgasses through volcanic activity as evidenced by the existence of Olympus Mons. Why doesn't the planet have much of an atmosphere? A. The solar wind blew it all away. B. It was frozen into the polar ice caps. C. Gravity is relatively weak due to the density and radius of Mars and much escaped. D. It all rained out and slipped into the cracks. |
C. Gravity is relatively weak due to the density and radius of Mars and much escaped. |
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As carbonate rock, its presence in the Allen Hills meteorite suggested life on Mars. A. Sulfuric acid B. Carbon dioxide C. Oxygen D. Nitrogen |
B. Carbon dioxide |
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Frozen in the winter polar caps of Mars. A. Sulfuric acid B. Carbon dioxide C. Oxygen D. Nitrogen |
B. Carbon dioxide |
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Jupiter's moon Io has no observable impact craters because: A. volcanic activity has covered them over. B. its proximity to Jupiter prevents large impacts. C. the surface is molten and meteorites sink into it. D. a thick atmosphere keeps us from seeing the surface. |
A. volcanic activity has covered them over. |
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Of the Galilean moons of Jupiter, Callisto has a surface that is the most heavily cratered. This fact implies that, compared to the others, Callisto has the: A. highest bulk density. B. least evolved surface. C. most ice on its surface. D. most evolved surface. |
B. least evolved surface. |
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From the Voyagers, we now know that the atmosphere of Titan consists mainly of: A. nitrogen. B. methane. C. oxygen. D. ammonia. |
A. nitrogen. |
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Except for Titan, the largest moons of Saturn are made mostly of: A. rocks. B. metals. C. ices. D. rocks plus ices. |
C. ices. |
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From the results of the Voyager 2 mission of Uranus, we now know that the: A. planet has fewer rings than expected. B. magnetic field has a large tilt to the spin axis. C. larger moons have smooth surfaces and little evolution. D. rings are made of objects hundreds of meters in radius. |
B. magnetic field has a large tilt to the spin axis. |
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The Voyager 2 mission to Uranus showed that, compared to the earth's magnetic field, the magnetic field of Uranus: A. is much weaker. B. would not generate auroras in the atmosphere. C. has a much larger tilt with respect to the spin axis. D. cannot arise from a liquid, conducting core. |
C. has a much larger tilt with respect to the spin axis. |
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Jupiter has a relatively strong magnetic field which has been measured by planetary probes. The physical explanation is that Jupiter's: A. core is made of metallic hydrogen and the planet rotates rapidly. B. core is made of metallic hydrogen and the planet rotates slowly. C. core is made of molten iron and the planet rotates rapidly. D. core is made of molten iron and the planet rotates slowly. |
A. core is made of metallic hydrogen and the planet rotates rapidly. |
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The motion of Jupiter's giant red spot is driven by: A. fusion reactions in the core of the giant planet. B. the differential rotation of regions of the upper atmosphere. C. temperature changes like on the earth. D. the aurora borealis. |
B. the differential rotation of regions of the upper atmosphere. |
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Jupiter's moon, Io, is in a highly eccentric orbit. This means that Io spends alternate times in its orbit near and far from Jupiter. Knowing this, you could hypothesize that Io's volcanic activity could be caused by: A. nuclear heating in the core. B. chemical reactions in the core. C. extreme atmospheric pressure. D. internal heating of the satellite interior by tidal stresses. |
D. internal heating of the satellite interior by tidal stresses. |
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We refer to the planets Uranus and Neptune as sister planets. While they are remarkably similar in character, Uranus: A. has equatorial rings while Neptune does not. B. is much hotter than Neptune. C. rotates on an axis that is in the plane of its orbit. D. undergoes retrograde motion. |
C. rotates on an axis that is in the plane of its orbit. |
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What is one way that the existence of Pluto's satellite Charon was verified? A. The brightness of this binary system varied in a regular way. B. Each time Charon passes within the atmosphere of Pluto, light can be detected. C. Mariner 10 landed there. D. Pluto's radar reflection was doppler shifted by the perturbation of Charon. |
A. The brightness of this binary system varied in a regular way. |
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In 1988/1989, Pluto was near perihelion in it's orbit and measurements made during Pluto's occultation of a distant star showed that it had an atmosphere made ofmethane gas. This is unexpected for such a small planet. One possible explanation is: A. fission reactions is the core warmed Pluto making the atmosphere. B. the sun's radiation heated Pluto enough to make the atmosphere. C. the rotational energy between Pluto and Charon converted to heat energy, thus creating an atmosphere on Pluto. D. Pluto was recently struck by a giant comet which vaporized upon impact. |
B. the sun's radiation heated Pluto enough to make the atmosphere. |
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There are volcanoes on the surface of Jupiter's satellite Io which are active, and we infer that emitted gases are caused by internal heating due to tidal stresses as the planet moves in its highly elliptical orbit. We know that the gas contains sulfur from information gained by: A. infrared observation. B. radio observation. C. optical spectroscopy observation. D. gamma-ray observation. |
C. optical spectroscopy observation. |
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Which of these bodies is NOT known to have active volcanoes presently? A. Mars. B. The earth. C. Io. D. Triton. |
A. Mars. |
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Can exist as a liquid, solid, or gas on Titan's surface. A. Sulfur. B. Water. C. Methane. D. Nitrogen. |
C. Methane |
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In molten form, erupts from the volcanoes on Io. A. Sulfur. B. Water. C. Methane. D. Nitrogen. |
A. Sulfur |
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In liquid form, erupts from the geysers on Triton. A. Sulfur. B. Water. C. Methane. D. Nitrogen. |
D. Nitrogen |
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Liquid droplets in clouds color Uranus and Neptune. A. Sulfur. B. Water. C. Methane. D. Nitrogen. |
C. Methane |
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In frozen form, chief component of most Jovian moons. A. Sulfur. B. Water. C. Methane. D. Nitrogen. |
B. Water |
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Which is NOT true of all rings systems? A. Found only around Jovian planets. B. Revolve around their planets' equators. C. Found within their planet's Roche Limit. D. All are made chiefly of chunks of water ice. |
D. All are made chiefly of chunks of water ice. |
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Which statement about magnetic fields is FALSE? A. Jupiter's comes from its liquid magnetic helium. B. The earth's has often switched polarity. C. Uranus' and Neptune's are tilted about 60 degrees off their rotational axis. D. Venus and Mars have weak if any magnetic fields. |
A. Jupiter's comes from its liquid magnetic helium. |
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As large as our moon, but very smooth with brown lines on it. A. Io. B. Miranda. C. Europa. D. Titan. |
C. Europa |
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Thin veneer of water ice covers a planet-wide ocean. A. Io. B. Miranda. C. Europa. D. Titan. |
C. Europa |
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May have been shattered by impact, fallen back together. A. Io. B. Miranda. C. Europa. D. Titan. |
B. Miranda |
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Most volcanic body in the solar system. A. Io. B. Miranda. C. Europa. D. Titan. |
A. Io |
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Has atmosphere most like ours in composition and density. A. Io. B. Miranda. C. Europa. D. Titan. |
D. Titan |
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The size and density of our Moon, but looks like a pizza. A. Io. B. Miranda. C. Europa. D. Titan. |
A. Io |
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About as big as the planet Mercury, but orange in color. A. Io. B. Miranda. C. Europa. D. Titan. |
D. Titan
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In 1993, the most distant planet from the Sun. A. Jupiter. B. Saturn. C. Uranus. D. Neptune. |
D. Neptune |
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By itself, makes up 70% of mass of all planets. A. Jupiter. B. Saturn. C. Uranus. D. Neptune. |
A. Jupiter |
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Blue disk with much weather, including now disappeared Great Dark Spot. A. Jupiter. B. Saturn. C. Uranus. D. Neptune. |
D. Neptune |
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Bland blue-green disk, with poles presently facing Sun. A. Jupiter. B. Saturn. C. Uranus. D. Neptune. |
C. Uranus |
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Orbited by four moons as large or larger than ours. A. Jupiter. B. Saturn. C. Uranus. D. Neptune. |
A. Jupiter |
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Only planet whose pole is presently facing the sun. A. Jupiter. B. Saturn. C. Uranus. D. Neptune. |
C. Uranus |
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Only planet whose bulk density is less than that of water. A. Jupiter. B. Saturn. C. Uranus. D. Neptune. |
B. Saturn |
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Normally the strongest radio source in the solar system. A. Jupiter. B. Saturn. C. Uranus. D. Neptune. |
A. Jupiter |
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Its moon Triton is only known large retrograde satellite. A. Jupiter. B. Saturn. C. Uranus. D. Neptune. |
D. Neptune |
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Struck by Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 in July 1994. A. Jupiter. B. Saturn. C. Uranus. D. Neptune. |
A. Jupiter |
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In December 1995, the Galileo probe found its atmosphere drier than expected. A. Jupiter. B. Saturn. C. Uranus. D. Neptune. |
A. Jupiter |
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In the death of Comet SL-9, place these events in their correct order: 1) dark cometary debris blends into the atmosphere of Jupiter. 2) comet is discovered as fan-shaped `chain of pearls' 3) comet passes within Jupiter's Roche limit, suffers tidal disruption 4) fireball erupts over Jupiter's morning limb as the fragments impact the atmosphere The correct order is: A. 1,2,3,4 B. 4,3,2,1 C. 3,2,4,1 D. 2,3,4,1 |
C. 3,2,4,1 - Comet passes within Jupiter's Roche limit, suffers tidal disruption - Comet is discovered as fan-shaped `chain of pearls' - Fireball erupts over Jupiter's morning limb as the fragments impact the atmosphere - Dark cometary debris blends into the atmosphere of Jupiter. |
