Question 1

The large circular coronae on Venus are:

Accepted Answer

A)  rings of mountains created by continental plates grinding against each other 
B)  large regions where hot magma rising from the interior of Venus puts pressure on the surface material 
C)  the outer rings of material thrown up by giant impacts long ago 
D)  impact basins flooded with lava, just like the maria on the Moon 
E)  tracks for racing dune buggies on the surface of the sandy planet
Section 10.3: The Massive Atmosphere of Venus 
A)  rings of mountains created by continental plates grinding against each other 
B)  large regions where hot magma rising from the interior of Venus puts pressure on the surface material 
C)  the outer rings of material thrown up by giant impacts long ago 
D)  impact basins flooded with lava, just like the maria on the Moon 
E)  tracks for racing dune buggies on the surface of the sandy planet
Section 10.3: The Massive Atmosphere of Venus B

Question 2

The troposphere (the lowest layer in the atmosphere) of Venus

Accepted Answer

A)  is quite cold and thin 
B)  is a layer with quite a bit of water vapor, held down by the pressure of the layers above 
C)  has roughly the same air pressure as the troposphere of the Earth 
D)  resembles being about a kilometer or so under the Earth's ocean -- a huge mass of air keeps temperatures pretty much the same all over the planet 
E)  resembles the ozone layer of the Earth's atmosphere in many ways 
A)  is quite cold and thin 
B)  is a layer with quite a bit of water vapor, held down by the pressure of the layers above 
C)  has roughly the same air pressure as the troposphere of the Earth 
D)  resembles being about a kilometer or so under the Earth's ocean -- a huge mass of air keeps temperatures pretty much the same all over the planet 
E)  resembles the ozone layer of the Earth's atmosphere in many ways D

Question 3

Which of the following statements about the atmosphere of Mars today is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

A)  it is made mostly of carbon dioxide 
B)  it is roughly as thin as the Earth's air would be about 30 km up 
C)  it has a haze made of carbon dioxide crystals 
D)  droplets of liquid water rain irrigate the surface of Mars regularly 
E)  there are occasionally great windstorms in the lower atmosphere 
A)  it is made mostly of carbon dioxide 
B)  it is roughly as thin as the Earth's air would be about 30 km up 
C)  it has a haze made of carbon dioxide crystals 
D)  droplets of liquid water rain irrigate the surface of Mars regularly 
E)  there are occasionally great windstorms in the lower atmosphere D

Question 4

Which of the following statements about Valles Marineris, the great "grand canyon system" on Mars is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  it is much shorter than the Grand Canyon in Arizona, but much much wider 
B)  it was discovered by Giovanni Schiaparelli in the 19th century 
C)  it was hard to photograph because it is always covered by wind-blown dust 
D)  landslides have helped broaden the canyons since they were first formed 
E)  although the canyons are long and wide, they are very shallow, only a few feet deep
Section 10.5: Water and Life on Mars 
A)  it is much shorter than the Grand Canyon in Arizona, but much much wider 
B)  it was discovered by Giovanni Schiaparelli in the 19th century 
C)  it was hard to photograph because it is always covered by wind-blown dust 
D)  landslides have helped broaden the canyons since they were first formed 
E)  although the canyons are long and wide, they are very shallow, only a few feet deep
Section 10.5: Water and Life on Mars

Question 5

The total surface area of planet Mars is roughly equal to the

Accepted Answer

A)  surface area of the Earth's continents 
B)  surface area of Venus 
C)  surface area of the Moon 
D)  total surface area of the Earth 
E)  you can't fool me, Mars is bigger in surface area than any of the above 
A)  surface area of the Earth's continents 
B)  surface area of Venus 
C)  surface area of the Moon 
D)  total surface area of the Earth 
E)  you can't fool me, Mars is bigger in surface area than any of the above

Question 6

The largest volcano on Mars is called:

Accepted Answer

A)  the Red Spot 
B)  Olympus Mons (Mt. Olympus) 
C)  Mariner Valley 
D)  Hellas 
E)  Mount Maxwell 
A)  the Red Spot 
B)  Olympus Mons (Mt. Olympus) 
C)  Mariner Valley 
D)  Hellas 
E)  Mount Maxwell

Question 7

Why does Mars have an overall reddish color when we see its surface from afar?

Accepted Answer

A)  This is an optical illusion caused by the Earth's atmosphere scattering the colors of light differently 
B)  Mars is completely cloudy, and its clouds are made of red materials 
C)  The material of Mars' surface contains a lot of iron oxide, the same chemistry that makes rusting metals look reddish 
D)  the giant volcanoes on Mars are constantly spewing out reddish lava 
E)  The martians are constantly at war, and spilling a lot of red blood 
A)  This is an optical illusion caused by the Earth's atmosphere scattering the colors of light differently 
B)  Mars is completely cloudy, and its clouds are made of red materials 
C)  The material of Mars' surface contains a lot of iron oxide, the same chemistry that makes rusting metals look reddish 
D)  the giant volcanoes on Mars are constantly spewing out reddish lava 
E)  The martians are constantly at war, and spilling a lot of red blood

Question 8

Which of the following is NOT a way we have studied the planet Mars so far?

Accepted Answer

A)  observing it through telescopes from Earth 
B)  sending a spacecraft into orbit around it 
C)  landing a spacecraft on the surface and examining the soil in an automated laboratory 
D)  studying samples of Mars that were blasted off Mars by impacts long ago, and found later on Earth 
E)  sending spacecraft to Mars which have brought samples of the planet back to Earth 
A)  observing it through telescopes from Earth 
B)  sending a spacecraft into orbit around it 
C)  landing a spacecraft on the surface and examining the soil in an automated laboratory 
D)  studying samples of Mars that were blasted off Mars by impacts long ago, and found later on Earth 
E)  sending spacecraft to Mars which have brought samples of the planet back to Earth

Question 9

The largest continental (highland) area on Venus is called:

Accepted Answer

A)  Stein 
B)  Sapas Mons 
C)  Venera 
D)  Danu 
E)  Aphrodite 
A)  Stein 
B)  Sapas Mons 
C)  Venera 
D)  Danu 
E)  Aphrodite

Question 10

A crucial difference that helps explain why Venus is so hot and the Earth isn't is that:

Accepted Answer

A)  on Venus, there was eventually no ocean to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere 
B)  on Venus, the rocks have enormous amounts of radioactivity, heating up the environment (and also making life impossible) 
C)  on Venus, the life forms give off more heat than they absorb 
D)  on Earth, there is additional argon, which exerts a tremendous cooling effect 
E)  there are no volcanoes on Venus, but many on Earth, producing extra heat 
A)  on Venus, there was eventually no ocean to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere 
B)  on Venus, the rocks have enormous amounts of radioactivity, heating up the environment (and also making life impossible) 
C)  on Venus, the life forms give off more heat than they absorb 
D)  on Earth, there is additional argon, which exerts a tremendous cooling effect 
E)  there are no volcanoes on Venus, but many on Earth, producing extra heat

Question 11

One of the most impressive features of the geology of Mars is an uplifted area about the size of North America, with volcanoes on it, which is called the

Accepted Answer

A)  Olympus Mountains 
B)  Tharsis Bulge 
C)  Hellas Basin 
D)  Mariner Valley 
E)  Bayonne pimple 
A)  Olympus Mountains 
B)  Tharsis Bulge 
C)  Hellas Basin 
D)  Mariner Valley 
E)  Bayonne pimple

Question 12

What makes astronomers believe that Mars once had rivers and running water?

Accepted Answer

A)  there is a grand canyon system about 2,500 mi long on its surface (all of it made by running water) 
B)  the volcanoes today show evidence of water coming from their highest points and running down (implying this would have happened even more long ago) 
C)  Images from orbiting spacecraft reveal ancient channels that look like dried-up river beds on Earth (and our rovers show geological formations made by running water) 
D)  giant basins (like Hellas) show evidence of being filled with frozen water that was once probably a sea 
E)  you can't fool me, there is no evidence at all that Mars ever had any water 
A)  there is a grand canyon system about 2,500 mi long on its surface (all of it made by running water) 
B)  the volcanoes today show evidence of water coming from their highest points and running down (implying this would have happened even more long ago) 
C)  Images from orbiting spacecraft reveal ancient channels that look like dried-up river beds on Earth (and our rovers show geological formations made by running water) 
D)  giant basins (like Hellas) show evidence of being filled with frozen water that was once probably a sea 
E)  you can't fool me, there is no evidence at all that Mars ever had any water

Question 13

Why are there no smaller craters on the surface of Venus, only bigger ones?

Accepted Answer

A)  Because Venus is so close to the Sun, the Sun's gravity pulls all smaller chunks of material into the Sun before they can reach Venus 
B)  The seas and lakes of Venus erode away all the smaller craters when they flood 
C)  In Venus' thick atmosphere all smaller chunks of material burn up before they can reach the surface 
D)  Venus is so hot that smaller craters generally melt in the heat, becoming smooth surface 
E)  This is an unsolved mystery in astronomy; no one knows 
A)  Because Venus is so close to the Sun, the Sun's gravity pulls all smaller chunks of material into the Sun before they can reach Venus 
B)  The seas and lakes of Venus erode away all the smaller craters when they flood 
C)  In Venus' thick atmosphere all smaller chunks of material burn up before they can reach the surface 
D)  Venus is so hot that smaller craters generally melt in the heat, becoming smooth surface 
E)  This is an unsolved mystery in astronomy; no one knows

Question 14

Which of the following is NOT a correct statement about the rotation of Venus?

Accepted Answer

A)  Venus rotates in roughly the same time period as Earth 
B)  Venus rotates in a retrograde way (east to west) 
C)  the two definitions of a day (how long it takes for a star to return to the same position in the sky and how long it takes the Sun to return to the same position) do not agree on Venus 
D)  the rotation rate of Venus had to be determined from radar measurements 
E)  Venus has the longest rotation period of any planet in the solar system 
A)  Venus rotates in roughly the same time period as Earth 
B)  Venus rotates in a retrograde way (east to west) 
C)  the two definitions of a day (how long it takes for a star to return to the same position in the sky and how long it takes the Sun to return to the same position) do not agree on Venus 
D)  the rotation rate of Venus had to be determined from radar measurements 
E)  Venus has the longest rotation period of any planet in the solar system

Question 15

Which of the following is evidence for volcanic activity on Venus?

Accepted Answer

A)  the fact that the lava plains are only 500 million or so years old 
B)  the existence of large volcanic mountains such as Sif Mons 
C)  the discovery of thousands of small volcanic cones of the surface of Venus 
D)  the pancake domes of Venus 
E)  all of the above 
A)  the fact that the lava plains are only 500 million or so years old 
B)  the existence of large volcanic mountains such as Sif Mons 
C)  the discovery of thousands of small volcanic cones of the surface of Venus 
D)  the pancake domes of Venus 
E)  all of the above

Question 16

On some parts of Mars, it gets cold enough for a gas to freeze out of the atmosphere that does not freeze out by itself at the temperatures and pressures on Earth. This gas makes up some of the polar caps on Mars and is:

Accepted Answer

A)  water 
B)  argon 
C)  carbon dioxide 
D)  methane 
E)  oxygen 
A)  water 
B)  argon 
C)  carbon dioxide 
D)  methane 
E)  oxygen

Question 17

The spacecraft that soft-landed successfully on the surface of Venus (and briefly sent back pictures while sitting in that destructive environment) were called

Accepted Answer

A)  Magellan 
B)  Venera 
C)  Pioneer 
D)  Voyager 
E)  Bayonne 
A)  Magellan 
B)  Venera 
C)  Pioneer 
D)  Voyager 
E)  Bayonne

Question 18

I want to examine the surface of a planet which is completely covered by a thick layer of clouds all the time. What wavelength of electromagnetic radiation would I be smartest to use:

Accepted Answer

A)  visible light 
B)  x-rays 
C)  radio waves (like radar) 
D)  any of the above would work 
E)  none would work 
A)  visible light 
B)  x-rays 
C)  radio waves (like radar) 
D)  any of the above would work 
E)  none would work

Question 19

Astronomers estimate that the plains of Venus are only about 500 to 600 million years old. How do they estimate dates like this?

Accepted Answer

A)  by looking for little brass plates that give the founding date and the name of the governor at the time 
B)  by looking at the radioactive rock samples that have been returned to Earth from Venus 
C)  by noting that all the plains on all the terrestrial planets have the same age 
D)  by seeing how much the continental plates on which the Venus plains are floating have spread apart 
E)  by counting the craters visible on the surface and comparing crater counts to other worlds 
A)  by looking for little brass plates that give the founding date and the name of the governor at the time 
B)  by looking at the radioactive rock samples that have been returned to Earth from Venus 
C)  by noting that all the plains on all the terrestrial planets have the same age 
D)  by seeing how much the continental plates on which the Venus plains are floating have spread apart 
E)  by counting the craters visible on the surface and comparing crater counts to other worlds

Question 20

Astronomers estimate that the runoff channels seen on Mars must be at least 3.9 billion years old. How do they estimate ages like this?

Accepted Answer

A)  by examining radioactive rocks from these channels returned to Earth by robot probes 
B)  by counting impact craters in the regions containing these channels 
C)  by looking for the erosion of these channels by the regular periods of rainfall that occur on Mars even today 
D)  by measuring the height of the region in which the channels occur; on Mars, older regions are always lower in elevation 
E)  guessing 
A)  by examining radioactive rocks from these channels returned to Earth by robot probes 
B)  by counting impact craters in the regions containing these channels 
C)  by looking for the erosion of these channels by the regular periods of rainfall that occur on Mars even today 
D)  by measuring the height of the region in which the channels occur; on Mars, older regions are always lower in elevation 
E)  guessing

Exam 10: Earthlike Planets: Venus and Mars

The large circular coronae on Venus are:

The troposphere (the lowest layer in the atmosphere) of Venus

Which of the following statements about the atmosphere of Mars today is FALSE?

Which of the following statements about Valles Marineris, the great "grand canyon system" on Mars is true?

The total surface area of planet Mars is roughly equal to the

The largest volcano on Mars is called:

Why does Mars have an overall reddish color when we see its surface from afar?

Which of the following is NOT a way we have studied the planet Mars so far?

The largest continental (highland) area on Venus is called:

A crucial difference that helps explain why Venus is so hot and the Earth isn't is that:

One of the most impressive features of the geology of Mars is an uplifted area about the size of North America, with volcanoes on it, which is called the

What makes astronomers believe that Mars once had rivers and running water?

Why are there no smaller craters on the surface of Venus, only bigger ones?

Which of the following is NOT a correct statement about the rotation of Venus?

Which of the following is evidence for volcanic activity on Venus?

On some parts of Mars, it gets cold enough for a gas to freeze out of the atmosphere that does not freeze out by itself at the temperatures and pressures on Earth. This gas makes up some of the polar caps on Mars and is:

The spacecraft that soft-landed successfully on the surface of Venus (and briefly sent back pictures while sitting in that destructive environment) were called

I want to examine the surface of a planet which is completely covered by a thick layer of clouds all the time. What wavelength of electromagnetic radiation would I be smartest to use:

Astronomers estimate that the plains of Venus are only about 500 to 600 million years old. How do they estimate dates like this?

Astronomers estimate that the runoff channels seen on Mars must be at least 3.9 billion years old. How do they estimate ages like this?

Science and the Universe: a Brief Tour

Observing the Sky: the Birth of Astronomy

Orbits and Gravity

Earth, Moon, and Sky

Radiation and Spectra

Astronomical Instruments

Other Worlds: an Introduction to the Solar System

Earth As a Planet

Cratered Worlds: the Moon and Mercury

The Giant Planets

Rings, Moons, and Pluto

Comets and Asteroids: Debris of the Solar System

Cosmic Samples and the Origin of the Solar System

The Sun: a Garden-Variety Star

The Sun: a Nuclear Powerhouse

Analyzing Starlight

The Stars: a Celestial Census

Celestial Distances

Between the Stars

The Birth of Stars and the Discovery of Planets Outside the Solar System

Stars From Adolescence to Old Age

The Death of Stars

Black Holes and Curved Space-Time

The Milky Way Galaxy

Galaxies

Active Galaxies, Quasars, and Supermassive Black Holes

The Evolution and Distribution of Galaxies

The Big Bang

Life in the Universe

Filters