Question 1

The scarps on Mercury are extremely similar to the cratered lunar highlands in appearance.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

Comparing the densities of the Moon and Mercury,we find:

Accepted Answer

A)  the Moon is slightly denser than Mercury. 
B)  similar in surface appearance, they are also similar in density. 
C)  that density increases as we go outward from the Sun. 
D)  the Moon's is similar to Earth's crust, while Mercury's is similar to the entire Earth. 
E)  both are much denser than our water-covered planet. 
A)  the Moon is slightly denser than Mercury. 
B)  similar in surface appearance, they are also similar in density. 
C)  that density increases as we go outward from the Sun. 
D)  the Moon's is similar to Earth's crust, while Mercury's is similar to the entire Earth. 
E)  both are much denser than our water-covered planet.

Question 3

Explain how crater counts allow us to estimate the ages of surfaces throughout the solar system.

Accepted Answer

Craters are the rule...everybody was a t

Question 4

What do moonquakes reveal about the Moon?

Accepted Answer

A)  It has a strong magnetic field generated by a large molten core. 
B)  It has a differentiated core, displaced away from us by the Moon's rotation. 
C)  Its small, partially molten core has been pulled toward us by tidal forces. 
D)  The Moon has been geologically dead throughout its entire history. 
E)  The Moon is quite active, almost as much so as Jupiter's moon Io. 
A)  It has a strong magnetic field generated by a large molten core. 
B)  It has a differentiated core, displaced away from us by the Moon's rotation. 
C)  Its small, partially molten core has been pulled toward us by tidal forces. 
D)  The Moon has been geologically dead throughout its entire history. 
E)  The Moon is quite active, almost as much so as Jupiter's moon Io.

Question 5

Which of these features is attributed to the shrinking of Mercury's core?

Accepted Answer

A)  rilles 
B)  scarps 
C)  craters 
D)  mare 
E)  rays 
A)  rilles 
B)  scarps 
C)  craters 
D)  mare 
E)  rays

Question 6

Mercury and the Moon appear similar,but we note that:

Accepted Answer

A)  the lunar mare are darker than Mercury's intercrater plains. 
B)  Mercury has "weird terrain" opposite its huge Caloris Basin. 
C)  Mercury has striking lobate scarps due to the shrinking of its core. 
D)  Mercury does not always keep the same face toward the Sun, while the Moon does have the Earthside always facing us. 
E)  All of the above are correct. 
A)  the lunar mare are darker than Mercury's intercrater plains. 
B)  Mercury has "weird terrain" opposite its huge Caloris Basin. 
C)  Mercury has striking lobate scarps due to the shrinking of its core. 
D)  Mercury does not always keep the same face toward the Sun, while the Moon does have the Earthside always facing us. 
E)  All of the above are correct.

Question 7

What is the likely source of lunar ice?

Accepted Answer

A)  water that was present when the Moon formed 
B)  contamination from human exploration of the Moon 
C)  volcanism earlier in the Moon's history 
D)  impacts of meteoroids and comets 
A)  water that was present when the Moon formed 
B)  contamination from human exploration of the Moon 
C)  volcanism earlier in the Moon's history 
D)  impacts of meteoroids and comets

Question 8

How does Mercury's rotation relate to the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A)  It always keeps one face tidally locked toward the Sun, as our Moon does with us. 
B)  Its year is much shorter, only 88 days, than its slow rotation of 243 days on its axis. 
C)  Its rotation rate is 2/3 as long as its year, due to tidal resonances. 
D)  Its day is the same length as its year. 
E)  It does not spin at all, being tidal stopped by the solar tides. 
A)  It always keeps one face tidally locked toward the Sun, as our Moon does with us. 
B)  Its year is much shorter, only 88 days, than its slow rotation of 243 days on its axis. 
C)  Its rotation rate is 2/3 as long as its year, due to tidal resonances. 
D)  Its day is the same length as its year. 
E)  It does not spin at all, being tidal stopped by the solar tides.

Question 9

The cratering of the lunar highlands shows us:

Accepted Answer

A)  they are younger than the maria. 
B)  they are older than the smoother maria. 
C)  they have been unchanged for the last 4.6 billion years. 
D)  they are like the Earth's continents, removed from the tectonic cycle of the mare. 
E)  they were made of more rigid lavas than the basalts that made the maria. 
A)  they are younger than the maria. 
B)  they are older than the smoother maria. 
C)  they have been unchanged for the last 4.6 billion years. 
D)  they are like the Earth's continents, removed from the tectonic cycle of the mare. 
E)  they were made of more rigid lavas than the basalts that made the maria.

Question 10

The lunar highlands are:

Accepted Answer

A)  more rugged, heavily cratered, and older than the lunar mare. 
B)  made of lighter colored, younger rocks than the mare. 
C)  formed by plate tectonics, like the Earth's Himalayas. 
D)  formed by volcanic eruptions, much like our Andes. 
E)  brighter than the mare, since they are covered with reflective glass from the rays. 
A)  more rugged, heavily cratered, and older than the lunar mare. 
B)  made of lighter colored, younger rocks than the mare. 
C)  formed by plate tectonics, like the Earth's Himalayas. 
D)  formed by volcanic eruptions, much like our Andes. 
E)  brighter than the mare, since they are covered with reflective glass from the rays.

Question 11

From Earth,due to their motions and the fact that the Sun lights only a portion of each surface,both Mercury and the Moon:

Accepted Answer

A)  always look full from Earth. 
B)  appear to go through phases. 
C)  pass through Earth's shadow. 
D)  appear to be half-lit by the Sun. 
E)  always have the same side facing Earth. 
A)  always look full from Earth. 
B)  appear to go through phases. 
C)  pass through Earth's shadow. 
D)  appear to be half-lit by the Sun. 
E)  always have the same side facing Earth.

Question 12

What is true of the Moon's orbital and rotational periods?

Accepted Answer

A)  The rotational period is longer. 
B)  The orbital period is longer. 
C)  The rotational period varies with the Moon's phase. 
D)  They are equal. 
E)  The orbital period is greatest at full moon. 
A)  The rotational period is longer. 
B)  The orbital period is longer. 
C)  The rotational period varies with the Moon's phase. 
D)  They are equal. 
E)  The orbital period is greatest at full moon.

Question 13

Based on Mercury's peak temperature of about 700 K,what would the average molecular speed of carbon dioxide be? How does this compare to Mercury's escape velocity? If Mercury's atmosphere initially had substantial carbon dioxide,in line with what is believed about the early atmospheres of the other terrestrial planets,do you think Mercury would have retained this atmosphere? Why/why not? Would your answer change if you considered only Mercury's coldest regions that are around 125 K?

Accepted Answer

Carbon dioxide's average speed would be

Question 14

The presence of a Mercurian magnetic field surprised the planetary scientists on the Mariner 10 team because:

Accepted Answer

A)  Mercury is low in iron. 
B)  Mercury spins to rapidly to produce a stable dynamo. 
C)  It's still too hot for its core to have differentiated. 
D)  The dynamo theory predicted that Mercury was spinning too slowly for one. 
E)  Mercury lacks an iron core. 
A)  Mercury is low in iron. 
B)  Mercury spins to rapidly to produce a stable dynamo. 
C)  It's still too hot for its core to have differentiated. 
D)  The dynamo theory predicted that Mercury was spinning too slowly for one. 
E)  Mercury lacks an iron core.

Question 15

Lunar volcanism is obvious from the huge mare basins,and the more localized ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Lunar volcanism is obvious from the huge...

Question 16

The spacecraft which reveal the possibility of lunar ice are:

Accepted Answer

A)  Lunar Ranger and Surveyor. 
B)  Apollos XI and XVII. 
C)  Lunar Orbiter and Rover. 
D)  Clementine and Lunar Prospector. 
E)  Vikings 1 and 2. 
A)  Lunar Ranger and Surveyor. 
B)  Apollos XI and XVII. 
C)  Lunar Orbiter and Rover. 
D)  Clementine and Lunar Prospector. 
E)  Vikings 1 and 2.

Question 17

What is true of the lunar highlands?

Accepted Answer

A)  They are found on the Moon's northern hemisphere. 
B)  They are less heavily cratered than the mare. 
C)  They are the darker regions of the Moon seen with the naked eye. 
D)  They are younger than the darker mare. 
E)  They are the oldest part of the lunar surface. 
A)  They are found on the Moon's northern hemisphere. 
B)  They are less heavily cratered than the mare. 
C)  They are the darker regions of the Moon seen with the naked eye. 
D)  They are younger than the darker mare. 
E)  They are the oldest part of the lunar surface.

Question 18

One of the effects of Mercury's very slow spin is:

Accepted Answer

A)  extreme variations in its surface temperature. 
B)  an intensely powerful magnetic field. 
C)  tectonic activity. 
D)  wind patterns that are slow, but global in size. 
E)  large variations in the size of its polar cap. 
A)  extreme variations in its surface temperature. 
B)  an intensely powerful magnetic field. 
C)  tectonic activity. 
D)  wind patterns that are slow, but global in size. 
E)  large variations in the size of its polar cap.

Question 19

What two properties of Mercury imply that it is differentiated?

Accepted Answer

A)  its size and magnetic field 
B)  its large average density and its surface features 
C)  its surface features and its size 
D)  its large average density and its magnetic field 
E)  its magnetic field and its surface features 
A)  its size and magnetic field 
B)  its large average density and its surface features 
C)  its surface features and its size 
D)  its large average density and its magnetic field 
E)  its magnetic field and its surface features

Question 20

The lunar mare radioactively date back to 4.6 billion years,at the origin of the Moon,hence their dark color due to this aging.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 8: The Moon and Mercury: Scorched and Battered Worlds

The scarps on Mercury are extremely similar to the cratered lunar highlands in appearance.

Comparing the densities of the Moon and Mercury,we find:

Explain how crater counts allow us to estimate the ages of surfaces throughout the solar system.

What do moonquakes reveal about the Moon?

Which of these features is attributed to the shrinking of Mercury's core?

Mercury and the Moon appear similar,but we note that:

What is the likely source of lunar ice?

How does Mercury's rotation relate to the Sun?

The cratering of the lunar highlands shows us:

The lunar highlands are:

From Earth,due to their motions and the fact that the Sun lights only a portion of each surface,both Mercury and the Moon:

What is true of the Moon's orbital and rotational periods?

The presence of a Mercurian magnetic field surprised the planetary scientists on the Mariner 10 team because:

Lunar volcanism is obvious from the huge mare basins,and the more localized ________.

The spacecraft which reveal the possibility of lunar ice are:

What is true of the lunar highlands?

One of the effects of Mercury's very slow spin is:

What two properties of Mercury imply that it is differentiated?

The lunar mare radioactively date back to 4.6 billion years,at the origin of the Moon,hence their dark color due to this aging.

Charting the Heavens: The Foundations of Astronomy

The Copernican Revolution: The Birth of Modern Science

Radiation: Information from the Cosmos

Spectroscopy: The Inner Workings of Atoms

Telescopes: The Tools of Astronomy

The Solar System: Comparative Planetology and Formation Models

Earth: Our Home in Space

Venus: Earth's Sister Planet

Mars: A Near Miss for Life?

Jupiter: Giant of the Solar System

Saturn: Spectacular Rings and Mysterious Moons

Uranus and Neptune: The Outer Worlds of the Solar System

Solar System Debris: Keys to Our Origin

Exoplanets: Planetary Systems Beyond Our Own

The Sun: Our Parent Star

The Stars: Giants,Dwarfs,and the Main Sequence

The Interstellar Medium: Gas and Dust among the Stars

Star Formation: A Traumatic Birth

Stellar Evolution: The Life and Death of a Star

Stellar Explosions: Novae,Supernovae,and the Formation of the Elements

Neutron Stars and Black Holes: Strange States of Matter

The Milky Way Galaxy: A Spiral in Space

Galaxies: Building Blocks of the Universe

Galaxies and Dark Matter: The Large-Scale Structure of the Cosmos

Cosmology: The Big Bang and the Fate of the Universe

The Early Universe: Toward the Beginning of Time

Life in the Universe: Are We Alone?

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