Question 1

Why are meteorites a possible source of information regarding the origin and composition of Earth? Also, what other "clues" might be present in meteorites?

Accepted Answer

Because all of the solar system formed from a nebula following a supernova explosion, meteorites and comets are remnants of that early nebula that have not been affected by all of the processes that rocks on earth have seen. Thus, we can use them to evaluate elemental abundances and isotopic abundances in the solar nebular, etc. They also provide clues of planetary formation and destruction. with iron- nickel meteorites showing origins from a planet that had formed but was later destroyed.

Question 2

Why do lunar scientists think the surface of the Moon was once a magma ocean?

Accepted Answer

A)  The surface of the Moon is entirely volcanic. 
B)  Early lunar craters show a morphology suggesting impact with a liquid. 
C)  The lunar highlands contain large amounts of the rock anorthosite, which is the light material that "floated" on the top of the magma ocean. 
D)  None of these is correct. 
A)  The surface of the Moon is entirely volcanic. 
B)  Early lunar craters show a morphology suggesting impact with a liquid. 
C)  The lunar highlands contain large amounts of the rock anorthosite, which is the light material that "floated" on the top of the magma ocean. 
D)  None of these is correct. C

Question 3

___________are thought to be composed of dust and tiny, icy particles encased in small, solidified, metallic fragments.

Accepted Answer

A)  Asteroids 
B)  Meteorites 
C)  Comets 
D)  Planets 
A)  Asteroids 
B)  Meteorites 
C)  Comets 
D)  Planets C

Question 4

What moon in the outer solar system is most "earthlike" in terms of landforms, and possesses liquids liquid methane not water. flowing across the surface?

Accepted Answer

A)  Ganymede 
B)  Titan 
C)  Europa 
D)  Tethys 
A)  Ganymede 
B)  Titan 
C)  Europa 
D)  Tethys

Question 5

Jupiter's atmosphere displays spectacular cyclonic and anticyclonic storms, some persisting for long periods of time. How do these storms form?

Accepted Answer

A)  Jupiter has a very strong magnetic field, and these storms both form the field and are strengthened by it as it feeds electric currents in the atmosphere. 
B)  They form like storms on the Sun, for low level nuclear fusion in Jupiter's core. 
C)  They are due to internal heat exchange within the planet, basically convection currents transferring internal heat to the surface. 
D)  Like on Earth, they result from differential solar heating of the equatorial region versus poles, and resultant atmospheric circulation. 
A)  Jupiter has a very strong magnetic field, and these storms both form the field and are strengthened by it as it feeds electric currents in the atmosphere. 
B)  They form like storms on the Sun, for low level nuclear fusion in Jupiter's core. 
C)  They are due to internal heat exchange within the planet, basically convection currents transferring internal heat to the surface. 
D)  Like on Earth, they result from differential solar heating of the equatorial region versus poles, and resultant atmospheric circulation.

Question 6

Both Earth's Moon and Mars have thick layers of loose surface materials. How are they different?

Accepted Answer

A)  They are different. Lunar regolith is mostly ejecta from impacts whereas Martian regolith is primarily wind- blown dust and sand on older surfaces that vary from water laid surfaces to volcanic surfaces. 
B)  They are not different. They are both comprised primarily of ejecta from impacts that accumulates on the surface. 
C)  They are not different. Both have surfaces that are remnant soils from a period when they had water on the surface. 
D)  They are different. Lunar regolith is mostly ejecta from impacts, whereas Martian soil is more earthlike with classic soils developed by weathering of rock. 
A)  They are different. Lunar regolith is mostly ejecta from impacts whereas Martian regolith is primarily wind- blown dust and sand on older surfaces that vary from water laid surfaces to volcanic surfaces. 
B)  They are not different. They are both comprised primarily of ejecta from impacts that accumulates on the surface. 
C)  They are not different. Both have surfaces that are remnant soils from a period when they had water on the surface. 
D)  They are different. Lunar regolith is mostly ejecta from impacts, whereas Martian soil is more earthlike with classic soils developed by weathering of rock.

Question 7

The largest known volcano in the solar system is ___________.

Accepted Answer

A)  Vulcan on Venus 
B)  Mauna Loa, Hawaii, on Earth 
C)  Olympus Mons on Mars 
D)  Solfatara on Jupiter 
A)  Vulcan on Venus 
B)  Mauna Loa, Hawaii, on Earth 
C)  Olympus Mons on Mars 
D)  Solfatara on Jupiter

Question 8

We know from the Apollo missions and unmanned probes that the Moon's surface is covered with loose, unconsolidated material with a texture similar to soil on earth. How did this material form on the Moon?

Accepted Answer

A)  The material is mostly volcanic ash ejected from volcanos that are no longer active. 
B)  The same as Earth, but soils are ancient from a time when the moon still had an atmosphere and water. 
C)  The material is produced by spalling from rock surfaces caused by the extreme heat- cold cycles as the moon rotates through a 1 lunar day, or approximately one Earth month. 
D)  The loose material is mostly micrometeorite fragments and ejecta from impact craters, so is very different from soil on Earth. 
A)  The material is mostly volcanic ash ejected from volcanos that are no longer active. 
B)  The same as Earth, but soils are ancient from a time when the moon still had an atmosphere and water. 
C)  The material is produced by spalling from rock surfaces caused by the extreme heat- cold cycles as the moon rotates through a 1 lunar day, or approximately one Earth month. 
D)  The loose material is mostly micrometeorite fragments and ejecta from impact craters, so is very different from soil on Earth.

Question 9

Which observation supports the theory that the planets formed from a disk shaped nebula?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Sun is the center of the solar system. 
B)  Pluto and comets follow elliptical orbits that pass inside the orbit of Neptune. 
C)  The planets revolve around the Sun in approximately the same plane of the ecliptic. 
D)  The rocky planets are close to the Sun. 
A)  The Sun is the center of the solar system. 
B)  Pluto and comets follow elliptical orbits that pass inside the orbit of Neptune. 
C)  The planets revolve around the Sun in approximately the same plane of the ecliptic. 
D)  The rocky planets are close to the Sun.

Question 10

The high surface temperatures of___________ have been attributed to the greenhouse effect.

Accepted Answer

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

Question 11

The most abundant gas in the planetary atmospheres in___________ .

Accepted Answer

A)  nitrogen 
B)  water vapor 
C)  sulfur 
D)  hydrogen 
A)  nitrogen 
B)  water vapor 
C)  sulfur 
D)  hydrogen

Question 12

Which of the following is not true of the rings of Saturn

Accepted Answer

A)  They are mostly very thin, forming a large planar disk. 
B)  They are comprised of various sized objects ranging from dust to moon- size objects. 
C)  The faintest outer rings are closely associated with the moon Enceladus. 
D)  They are remnants of the formation of the planet and have not changed over time. 
A)  They are mostly very thin, forming a large planar disk. 
B)  They are comprised of various sized objects ranging from dust to moon- size objects. 
C)  The faintest outer rings are closely associated with the moon Enceladus. 
D)  They are remnants of the formation of the planet and have not changed over time.

Question 13

There is evidence of water on ___________.

Accepted Answer

A)  Mercury 
B)  the Moon 
C)  Mars 
D)  Venus 
A)  Mercury 
B)  the Moon 
C)  Mars 
D)  Venus

Question 14

Venus is usually described as a runaway greenhouse effect world, which is true in the sense that the atmosphere is mostly CO2. However, the slow rotation of Venus produces a huge heat influx difference from the day to night side of the planet, which produces descending air on the night side and ascending air on the day side. Because the atmosphere is so dense, this means air rises to high elevations on the day side, and descends to surface on the night side. As a result, the night side of the planet is nearly as hot, or even hotter, than the day side. What would be the principal reason for this?

Accepted Answer

A)  The air is so dense it has a large heat capacity. 
B)  As the air descends on the night side of the planet, it is heated by adiabatic compression to a very high temperature-a grand scale equivalent of Chinook or Santa Ana winds on Earth. 
C)  The winds must be very, very high, and transport the heat efficiently from one side of the planet to the other. 
D)  None of these makes sense. 
A)  The air is so dense it has a large heat capacity. 
B)  As the air descends on the night side of the planet, it is heated by adiabatic compression to a very high temperature-a grand scale equivalent of Chinook or Santa Ana winds on Earth. 
C)  The winds must be very, very high, and transport the heat efficiently from one side of the planet to the other. 
D)  None of these makes sense.

Question 15

The youngest rocks found on the Moon by Apollo missions are___________ than all but a few rocks on Earth.

Accepted Answer

A)  almost as old as 
B)  older 
C)  younger 
D)  the same age as 
A)  almost as old as 
B)  older 
C)  younger 
D)  the same age as

Question 16

Earlier in this class you learned about the Coriolis force. Given your knowledge of this force and Jupiter, which of these statements is most accurate?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Coriolis force is much stronger on Jupiter than on Earth because Jupiter rotates more slowly than Earth and is much larger than Earth. 
B)  The Coriolis force is the same on Jupiter as on Earth. 
C)  The Coriolis force is much weaker on Jupiter than on Earth because of the strong gravity on Jupiter. 
D)  The Coriolis force is much stronger on Jupiter than on Earth because it rotates more than twice as fast as Earth and it is much larger than Earth. 
A)  The Coriolis force is much stronger on Jupiter than on Earth because Jupiter rotates more slowly than Earth and is much larger than Earth. 
B)  The Coriolis force is the same on Jupiter as on Earth. 
C)  The Coriolis force is much weaker on Jupiter than on Earth because of the strong gravity on Jupiter. 
D)  The Coriolis force is much stronger on Jupiter than on Earth because it rotates more than twice as fast as Earth and it is much larger than Earth.

Question 17

The most popular theory for the origin of the Moon today is___________ .

Accepted Answer

A)  the Moon was formed when Mars and a comparable size planet collided, and the Moon was ejected toward Earth and captured 
B)  the early Earth and a planet the size of Mars collided, and the ejected material coalesced to form Earth's Moon 
C)  the Moon and Earth coalesced from an eddy in the solar nebular, forming a binary planet system 
D)  Earth captured a small planet, which is our moon 
A)  the Moon was formed when Mars and a comparable size planet collided, and the Moon was ejected toward Earth and captured 
B)  the early Earth and a planet the size of Mars collided, and the ejected material coalesced to form Earth's Moon 
C)  the Moon and Earth coalesced from an eddy in the solar nebular, forming a binary planet system 
D)  Earth captured a small planet, which is our moon

Question 18

The Moon has highland areas which___________ the height of mountains on Earth.

Accepted Answer

A)  are exactly the same as 
B)  are much less than 
C)  approach 
D)  far surpass 
A)  are exactly the same as 
B)  are much less than 
C)  approach 
D)  far surpass

Question 19

Lunar regolith breccia contains crystalline rock fragments and glassy fragments formed by ___________.

Accepted Answer

A)  solar flares 
B)  meteorite impacts 
C)  asteroid fragments 
D)  comet trails 
A)  solar flares 
B)  meteorite impacts 
C)  asteroid fragments 
D)  comet trails

Question 20

Which planet, in addition to Earth, shows clear evidence of water erosion?

Accepted Answer

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

Exam 22: Touring Our Solar System

Why are meteorites a possible source of information regarding the origin and composition of Earth? Also, what other "clues" might be present in meteorites?

Why do lunar scientists think the surface of the Moon was once a magma ocean?

___________are thought to be composed of dust and tiny, icy particles encased in small, solidified, metallic fragments.

What moon in the outer solar system is most "earthlike" in terms of landforms, and possesses liquids liquid methane not water. flowing across the surface?

Jupiter's atmosphere displays spectacular cyclonic and anticyclonic storms, some persisting for long periods of time. How do these storms form?

Both Earth's Moon and Mars have thick layers of loose surface materials. How are they different?

The largest known volcano in the solar system is ___________.

We know from the Apollo missions and unmanned probes that the Moon's surface is covered with loose, unconsolidated material with a texture similar to soil on earth. How did this material form on the Moon?

Which observation supports the theory that the planets formed from a disk shaped nebula?

The high surface temperatures of___________ have been attributed to the greenhouse effect.

The most abundant gas in the planetary atmospheres in___________ .

Which of the following is not true of the rings of Saturn

There is evidence of water on ___________.

The youngest rocks found on the Moon by Apollo missions are___________ than all but a few rocks on Earth.

Earlier in this class you learned about the Coriolis force. Given your knowledge of this force and Jupiter, which of these statements is most accurate?

The most popular theory for the origin of the Moon today is___________ .

The Moon has highland areas which___________ the height of mountains on Earth.

Lunar regolith breccia contains crystalline rock fragments and glassy fragments formed by ___________.

Which planet, in addition to Earth, shows clear evidence of water erosion?

Introduction to Earth Science

Matter and Minerals

Rocks: Materials of the Solid Earth

Plate Tectonics: a Scientific Revolution Unfolds

Earthquakes and Earths Interior

Volcanoes and Other Igneous Activity

Crustal Deformation and Mountain Building

Weathering, Soil, and Mass Movement

Running Water and Groundwater

Glaciers, Deserts, and Wind

Geologic Time

Earths Evolution Through Geologic Time

The Ocean Floor

Ocean Water and Ocean Life

The Dynamic Ocean

The Atmosphere: Composition, Structure, and Temperature

Moisture, Clouds, and Precipitation

Air Pressure and Wind

Weather Patterns and Severe Storms

World Climates and Global Climate Change

Origins of Modern Astronomy

Light, Telescopes, and the Sun

Beyond Our Solar System

Filters