Question 1

Why are almost all the craters we see on the Moon circular?

Accepted Answer

A)  because the rocks and icebergs that fell from space to make them were all spherical 
B)  because the volcanoes that make them erupt in a symmetrical way, making circular openings for the lava to emerge 
C)  because the active surface of the Moon converts the craters into circular basins, no matter what shape they start out being 
D)  because the rocks and icebergs that hit the Moon are moving so fast, they explode on impact, making a circular hole 
E)  this is an unsolved mystery; it's one of the most puzzling things about the Moon 
A)  because the rocks and icebergs that fell from space to make them were all spherical 
B)  because the volcanoes that make them erupt in a symmetrical way, making circular openings for the lava to emerge 
C)  because the active surface of the Moon converts the craters into circular basins, no matter what shape they start out being 
D)  because the rocks and icebergs that hit the Moon are moving so fast, they explode on impact, making a circular hole 
E)  this is an unsolved mystery; it's one of the most puzzling things about the Moon

Question 2

Why are the largest craters we find on the Moon and Mercury so much larger than the largest craters we find on the Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  because the Moon and Mercury have larger gravity than Earth, and this can attract larger pieces 
B)  because the Moon and Mercury do not have atmospheres to protect them from the largest pieces that can hit 
C)  because the Earth's magnetic field protects us from larger impacts 
D)  because the Moon and Mercury have much larger volcanic eruptions 
E)  because the largest craters were made early in each world's history, and geologic activity has erased all traces of this early period on the Earth's surface 
A)  because the Moon and Mercury have larger gravity than Earth, and this can attract larger pieces 
B)  because the Moon and Mercury do not have atmospheres to protect them from the largest pieces that can hit 
C)  because the Earth's magnetic field protects us from larger impacts 
D)  because the Moon and Mercury have much larger volcanic eruptions 
E)  because the largest craters were made early in each world's history, and geologic activity has erased all traces of this early period on the Earth's surface

Question 3

The mountains on the Moon

Accepted Answer

A)  have been formed in the same way as the mountains on the Earth 
B)  were formed through the eruption of volcanoes early in the Moon's history 
C)  were formed by the collision of continental plates early in the Moon's history 
D)  are the result of giant impacts during the Moon's long history of being hit 
E)  are a complete mystery, which astronomers have not been able to explain 
A)  have been formed in the same way as the mountains on the Earth 
B)  were formed through the eruption of volcanoes early in the Moon's history 
C)  were formed by the collision of continental plates early in the Moon's history 
D)  are the result of giant impacts during the Moon's long history of being hit 
E)  are a complete mystery, which astronomers have not been able to explain

Question 4

The first human being to step out onto the surface of another world was:

Accepted Answer

A)  Luke Skywalker 
B)  Jack Schmitt 
C)  James Van Allen 
D)  Neil Armstrong 
E)  Yuri Gagarin 
A)  Luke Skywalker 
B)  Jack Schmitt 
C)  James Van Allen 
D)  Neil Armstrong 
E)  Yuri Gagarin

Question 5

What formation or formations are evidence that the planet Mercury may have shrunk (gotten a bit smaller) as it cooled?

Accepted Answer

A)  the Caloris basin 
B)  the large basins in general 
C)  the long scarps or cliffs 
D)  the thin atmosphere emerging from inside the planet 
E)  the big ticket with size 8 crossed out and size 6 written in 
A)  the Caloris basin 
B)  the large basins in general 
C)  the long scarps or cliffs 
D)  the thin atmosphere emerging from inside the planet 
E)  the big ticket with size 8 crossed out and size 6 written in

Question 6

Which of the following statements about the rocks brought back from the Earth's Moon by the astronauts is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Moon rocks resemble Earth rocks in every detail 
B)  The Moon rocks are fundamentally different from Earth rocks, with materials never seen on Earth 
C)  The Moon rocks did not survive long enough in the Earth's oxygen-rich atmosphere for us to analyze them 
D)  The Moon rocks were puzzling, because they resemble rocks from the Earth's crust in many ways, but also have subtle differences 
E)  The Moon rocks resemble many of the main dishes in our college cafeteria 
A)  The Moon rocks resemble Earth rocks in every detail 
B)  The Moon rocks are fundamentally different from Earth rocks, with materials never seen on Earth 
C)  The Moon rocks did not survive long enough in the Earth's oxygen-rich atmosphere for us to analyze them 
D)  The Moon rocks were puzzling, because they resemble rocks from the Earth's crust in many ways, but also have subtle differences 
E)  The Moon rocks resemble many of the main dishes in our college cafeteria

Question 7

What is one important way in which both the Moon and Mercury are different from Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  they are made mostly of frozen gases, not rock 
B)  they are both much further from the Sun's heat than Earth is 
C)  they do not have an atmosphere 
D)  they are both significantly larger than the Earth 
E)  they both turn on their axes much faster than the Earth 
A)  they are made mostly of frozen gases, not rock 
B)  they are both much further from the Sun's heat than Earth is 
C)  they do not have an atmosphere 
D)  they are both significantly larger than the Earth 
E)  they both turn on their axes much faster than the Earth

Question 8

In the future, a pair of astronauts are sent on a mission to the planet Mercury. They watch the Sun set one mercurian evening and decide they will go exploring in opposite directions and meet again the NEXT time the Sun is setting in the spot where they started. How long will they have to wait for the next sunset at that spot?

Accepted Answer

A)  one Mercury rotation period, 59 Earth days 
B)  one Mercury year, 88 Earth days 
C)  two Mercury rotation periods, 119 Earth days 
D)  two Mercury years, 176 Earth days 
E)  one Earth day 
A)  one Mercury rotation period, 59 Earth days 
B)  one Mercury year, 88 Earth days 
C)  two Mercury rotation periods, 119 Earth days 
D)  two Mercury years, 176 Earth days 
E)  one Earth day

Question 9

The large, roughly circular, dark, and somewhat younger regions on the Moon are called:

Accepted Answer

A)  highlands 
B)  maria 
C)  rilles 
D)  tectonic blobs 
E)  anti-cyclones 
A)  highlands 
B)  maria 
C)  rilles 
D)  tectonic blobs 
E)  anti-cyclones

Question 10

Which of the eight planets has a smaller mass than Mercury?

Accepted Answer

A)  Earth 
B)  Venus 
C)  Jupiter 
D)  Neptune 
E)  You can't fool me, Mercury has the smallest mass of the eight planets 
A)  Earth 
B)  Venus 
C)  Jupiter 
D)  Neptune 
E)  You can't fool me, Mercury has the smallest mass of the eight planets

Question 11

According to the giant impact hypothesis about the formation of the Moon, why did the Earth not break apart into many pieces when the giant impact happened?

Accepted Answer

A)  cosmic impacts are always so slow, the bodies involved never break into pieces 
B)  the impactor was about the size of Mars or smaller, so it ejected material from the Earth but did not break it 
C)  the impactor was made of such light material (mostly gas and liquid) it could not break the Earth apart 
D)  there were more than a dozen small impactors, all hitting one after another 
E)  the Earth did break apart into many pieces, which then re-formed into a planet
Section 9.5: Mercury 
A)  cosmic impacts are always so slow, the bodies involved never break into pieces 
B)  the impactor was about the size of Mars or smaller, so it ejected material from the Earth but did not break it 
C)  the impactor was made of such light material (mostly gas and liquid) it could not break the Earth apart 
D)  there were more than a dozen small impactors, all hitting one after another 
E)  the Earth did break apart into many pieces, which then re-formed into a planet
Section 9.5: Mercury

Question 12

What is the source of the fine, powdery dust found on the Moon's surface?

Accepted Answer

A)  it is sand, produced in exactly the same way sand is produced on the Earth's beaches 
B)  it is the result of volcanic activity on the Moon over billions of years 
C)  it is the result of many impacts, breaking surface rocks apart over billions of years 
D)  it is the result of gas bubbling up from inside the Moon, which chemically changes the surface soil 
E)  even though the astronauts brought home lots of samples of Moon dust, we have no idea why there is such a layer on the Moon's surface 
A)  it is sand, produced in exactly the same way sand is produced on the Earth's beaches 
B)  it is the result of volcanic activity on the Moon over billions of years 
C)  it is the result of many impacts, breaking surface rocks apart over billions of years 
D)  it is the result of gas bubbling up from inside the Moon, which chemically changes the surface soil 
E)  even though the astronauts brought home lots of samples of Moon dust, we have no idea why there is such a layer on the Moon's surface

Question 13

Which of the following statements about our Moon is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

A)  its average density is less than that of the Earth (it seems to have fewer heavy materials) 
B)  most of what we know about its geology is the result of the Apollo landings 
C)  on Earth, we can see all its sides in the course of a month as it goes around us 
D)  its mass is less than that of the Earth 
E)  it has no real atmosphere to speak of 
A)  its average density is less than that of the Earth (it seems to have fewer heavy materials) 
B)  most of what we know about its geology is the result of the Apollo landings 
C)  on Earth, we can see all its sides in the course of a month as it goes around us 
D)  its mass is less than that of the Earth 
E)  it has no real atmosphere to speak of

Question 14

[An alternate phrasing of question 15]: These days the theory of the Earth's Moon's origin that best fits with the facts we have about the Moon is:

Accepted Answer

A)  the Moon came out of the Earth 
B)  the Moon was formed in the same area of space and at the same time as the Earth 
C)  the Moon was formed elsewhere and was later captured by the Earth 
D)  a large object hit the Earth and the collision produced a filament of material that condensed to make the Moon 
E)  the Moon was the gift of the Green Cheese Producers on Mars 
A)  the Moon came out of the Earth 
B)  the Moon was formed in the same area of space and at the same time as the Earth 
C)  the Moon was formed elsewhere and was later captured by the Earth 
D)  a large object hit the Earth and the collision produced a filament of material that condensed to make the Moon 
E)  the Moon was the gift of the Green Cheese Producers on Mars

Exam 9: Cratered Worlds: the Moon and Mercury

Why are almost all the craters we see on the Moon circular?

Why are the largest craters we find on the Moon and Mercury so much larger than the largest craters we find on the Earth?

The mountains on the Moon

The first human being to step out onto the surface of another world was:

What formation or formations are evidence that the planet Mercury may have shrunk (gotten a bit smaller) as it cooled?

Which of the following statements about the rocks brought back from the Earth's Moon by the astronauts is TRUE?

What is one important way in which both the Moon and Mercury are different from Earth?

The large, roughly circular, dark, and somewhat younger regions on the Moon are called:

Which of the eight planets has a smaller mass than Mercury?

According to the giant impact hypothesis about the formation of the Moon, why did the Earth not break apart into many pieces when the giant impact happened?

What is the source of the fine, powdery dust found on the Moon's surface?

Which of the following statements about our Moon is FALSE?

[An alternate phrasing of question 15]: These days the theory of the Earth's Moon's origin that best fits with the facts we have about the Moon is:

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

Earthlike Planets: Venus and Mars

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