Question 1

Which dwarf planet did the NASA New Horizons spacecraft flyby in 2015?

Accepted Answer

A)  Pluto 
B)  Eris 
C)  Ceres 
D)  Haumea 
A)  Pluto 
B)  Eris 
C)  Ceres 
D)  Haumea

Question 2

Most of the carbon dioxide on Venus

Accepted Answer

A)  has frozen out in the polar regions 
B)  is dissolved in oceans of liquid water, forming carbonate rocks 
C)  is still present in the atmosphere 
D)  has escaped into space 
A)  has frozen out in the polar regions 
B)  is dissolved in oceans of liquid water, forming carbonate rocks 
C)  is still present in the atmosphere 
D)  has escaped into space

Question 3

Mercury and the Moon do not have atmospheres because

Accepted Answer

A)  their surfaces are so cold that any atmospheric gases freeze out onto their surfaces 
B)  charged particles from the Sun have stripped away their atmospheres 
C)  they are rotating too rapidly, causing their atmospheres to be thrown out into space 
D)  their gravities are too weak to prevent atmospheric gases escaping into space 
A)  their surfaces are so cold that any atmospheric gases freeze out onto their surfaces 
B)  charged particles from the Sun have stripped away their atmospheres 
C)  they are rotating too rapidly, causing their atmospheres to be thrown out into space 
D)  their gravities are too weak to prevent atmospheric gases escaping into space

Question 4

If life exists in Uranus and Neptune, it will most likely be found

Accepted Answer

A)  in the oceans of liquid ices beneath the surface 
B)  floating on the surface of a layer of liquid metallic hydrogen 
C)  high in the atmosphere where it could collect solar radiation 
D)  at the center, close to the rocky core where a rocky surface exists 
A)  in the oceans of liquid ices beneath the surface 
B)  floating on the surface of a layer of liquid metallic hydrogen 
C)  high in the atmosphere where it could collect solar radiation 
D)  at the center, close to the rocky core where a rocky surface exists

Question 5

The planet Saturn is approximately 10 times farther away from the Sun than the Earth is. Given this, how much sunlight does it receive compared to the Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  1/1,000th 
B)  1/10,000th 
C)  1/100th 
D)  1/10ᵗʰ 
A)  1/1,000th 
B)  1/10,000th 
C)  1/100th 
D)  1/10ᵗʰ

Question 6

Which of the following is not property of a dwarf planet?

Accepted Answer

A)  symmetrical shape 
B)  orbits the Sun 
C)  intermediate in size between an asteroid and a small terrestrial planet 
D)  irregular shape 
A)  symmetrical shape 
B)  orbits the Sun 
C)  intermediate in size between an asteroid and a small terrestrial planet 
D)  irregular shape

Question 7

Which kind of robotic space mission enables us to determine the chemical composition of a solar system body in a laboratory?

Accepted Answer

A)  sample return 
B)  flyby 
C)  lander/probe 
D)  orbiter 
A)  sample return 
B)  flyby 
C)  lander/probe 
D)  orbiter

Question 8

Hayabusa was an example of which kind of mission?

Accepted Answer

A)  lander 
B)  flyby 
C)  sample return 
D)  orbiter 
A)  lander 
B)  flyby 
C)  sample return 
D)  orbiter

Question 9

The search for life in the solar system that is similar to life on Earth is essentially a search for

Accepted Answer

A)  organic molecules 
B)  liquid water 
C)  molecular oxygen 
D)  energy sources 
A)  organic molecules 
B)  liquid water 
C)  molecular oxygen 
D)  energy sources

Question 10

Small bodies like asteroids and comets are unlikely to harbor life because they

Accepted Answer

A)  are constantly colliding with each other, sterilizing any life that may be present 
B)  have not had liquid water inside them for extended periods now or in the past 
C)  do not contain any organic molecules 
D)  are so far from the Sun that any water would be permanently frozen 
A)  are constantly colliding with each other, sterilizing any life that may be present 
B)  have not had liquid water inside them for extended periods now or in the past 
C)  do not contain any organic molecules 
D)  are so far from the Sun that any water would be permanently frozen

Question 11

Based on its distance from the Sun, we would expect the surface of Venus to be

Accepted Answer

A)  much hotter than the Earth 
B)  much colder than the Earth 
C)  a little hotter than the Earth 
D)  the same temperature as the Earth 
A)  much hotter than the Earth 
B)  much colder than the Earth 
C)  a little hotter than the Earth 
D)  the same temperature as the Earth

Question 12

Which of the following is an advantage that liquid water has as a biological solvent compared to other alternatives?

Accepted Answer

A)  when it freezes it becomes less dense 
B)  it is a liquid over a wide temperature range and remains liquid at higher temperatures 
C)  it is able to dissolve many things 
D)  all of these are advantages 
A)  when it freezes it becomes less dense 
B)  it is a liquid over a wide temperature range and remains liquid at higher temperatures 
C)  it is able to dissolve many things 
D)  all of these are advantages

Question 13

Which one of the following properties is unique to water?

Accepted Answer

A)  it has a high heat capacity 
B)  it is a good solvent 
C)  it is a liquid over a wide temperature range 
D)  it expands on freezing 
A)  it has a high heat capacity 
B)  it is a good solvent 
C)  it is a liquid over a wide temperature range 
D)  it expands on freezing

Question 14

A common way a robotic spacecraft can be accelerated and have its trajectory changed without the use of any fuel is via

Accepted Answer

A)  a gravitational slingshot from another spacecraft 
B)  radiation pressure from the Sun 
C)  the ejection of mass from the probe 
D)  a gravitational slingshot from another planet 
A)  a gravitational slingshot from another spacecraft 
B)  radiation pressure from the Sun 
C)  the ejection of mass from the probe 
D)  a gravitational slingshot from another planet

Question 15

Europa may have a subsurface ocean of liquid water due to

Accepted Answer

A)  the insulating properties of its icy surface 
B)  tidal heating from Jupiter and the other Galilean moons 
C)  internal heat left over from its formation 
D)  tidal heating from the Sun 
A)  the insulating properties of its icy surface 
B)  tidal heating from Jupiter and the other Galilean moons 
C)  internal heat left over from its formation 
D)  tidal heating from the Sun

Question 16

Which of the following alternatives to water has a wider temperature range over which it is a liquid?

Accepted Answer

A)  ammonia 
B)  methanol 
C)  methane 
D)  ethane 
A)  ammonia 
B)  methanol 
C)  methane 
D)  ethane

Question 17

Mars may have been more Earth-like in the past because

Accepted Answer

A)  its atmosphere was thicker and warmer 
B)  it was rotating more rapidly 
C)  the Sun was dimmer, putting out less solar radiation 
D)  it was not as close to the Sun 
A)  its atmosphere was thicker and warmer 
B)  it was rotating more rapidly 
C)  the Sun was dimmer, putting out less solar radiation 
D)  it was not as close to the Sun

Question 18

If life exists on Mars today, it will most likely be found

Accepted Answer

A)  on the surface 
B)  at the center of the planet 
C)  beneath the surface where liquid water may still exist 
D)  floating high in the atmosphere 
A)  on the surface 
B)  at the center of the planet 
C)  beneath the surface where liquid water may still exist 
D)  floating high in the atmosphere

Question 19

All of the most likely alternatives to water as a biological solvent are liquids at

Accepted Answer

A)  higher temperatures 
B)  lower temperatures 
C)  lower pressures 
D)  similar temperatures 
A)  higher temperatures 
B)  lower temperatures 
C)  lower pressures 
D)  similar temperatures

Question 20

Which of the following is NOT a basic requirement for chemically based life?

Accepted Answer

A)  a liquid medium to transport biological molecules 
B)  a source of molecules from which to build living cells 
C)  oxygen from photosynthesis 
D)  a source of energy to fuel metabolism 
A)  a liquid medium to transport biological molecules 
B)  a source of molecules from which to build living cells 
C)  oxygen from photosynthesis 
D)  a source of energy to fuel metabolism

Which dwarf planet did the NASA New Horizons spacecraft flyby in 2015?

Most of the carbon dioxide on Venus

Mercury and the Moon do not have atmospheres because

If life exists in Uranus and Neptune, it will most likely be found

The planet Saturn is approximately 10 times farther away from the Sun than the Earth is. Given this, how much sunlight does it receive compared to the Earth?

Which of the following is not property of a dwarf planet?

Which kind of robotic space mission enables us to determine the chemical composition of a solar system body in a laboratory?

Hayabusa was an example of which kind of mission?

The search for life in the solar system that is similar to life on Earth is essentially a search for

Small bodies like asteroids and comets are unlikely to harbor life because they

Based on its distance from the Sun, we would expect the surface of Venus to be

Which of the following is an advantage that liquid water has as a biological solvent compared to other alternatives?

Which one of the following properties is unique to water?

A common way a robotic spacecraft can be accelerated and have its trajectory changed without the use of any fuel is via

Europa may have a subsurface ocean of liquid water due to

Which of the following alternatives to water has a wider temperature range over which it is a liquid?

Mars may have been more Earth-like in the past because

If life exists on Mars today, it will most likely be found

All of the most likely alternatives to water as a biological solvent are liquids at

Which of the following is NOT a basic requirement for chemically based life?

A Universe of Life

The Science of Life in the Universe

The Universal Context of Life

The Habitability of Earth

The Nature of Life on Earth

The Origin and Evolution of Life on Earth

Mars

Life on Jovian Moons

The Nature and Evolution of Habitability

Extrasolar Planets: Their Nature and Potential Habitability

The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

Interstellar Travel and the Fermi Paradox

Filters

Exam 7: Searching for Life in Our Solar System

Which dwarf planet did the NASA New Horizons spacecraft flyby in 2015?

Most of the carbon dioxide on Venus

Mercury and the Moon do not have atmospheres because

If life exists in Uranus and Neptune, it will most likely be found

The planet Saturn is approximately 10 times farther away from the Sun than the Earth is. Given this, how much sunlight does it receive compared to the Earth?

Which of the following is not property of a dwarf planet?

Which kind of robotic space mission enables us to determine the chemical composition of a solar system body in a laboratory?

Hayabusa was an example of which kind of mission?

The search for life in the solar system that is similar to life on Earth is essentially a search for

Small bodies like asteroids and comets are unlikely to harbor life because they

Based on its distance from the Sun, we would expect the surface of Venus to be

Which of the following is an advantage that liquid water has as a biological solvent compared to other alternatives?

Which one of the following properties is unique to water?

A common way a robotic spacecraft can be accelerated and have its trajectory changed without the use of any fuel is via

Europa may have a subsurface ocean of liquid water due to

Which of the following alternatives to water has a wider temperature range over which it is a liquid?

Mars may have been more Earth-like in the past because

If life exists on Mars today, it will most likely be found

All of the most likely alternatives to water as a biological solvent are liquids at

Which of the following is NOT a basic requirement for chemically based life?

A Universe of Life

The Science of Life in the Universe

The Universal Context of Life

The Habitability of Earth

The Nature of Life on Earth

The Origin and Evolution of Life on Earth

Mars

Life on Jovian Moons

The Nature and Evolution of Habitability

Extrasolar Planets: Their Nature and Potential Habitability

The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

Interstellar Travel and the Fermi Paradox

Filters