Deck 20: Earth: the Standard of Comparative Planetology

Question 1

The terrestrial planets are

A) Earth and Moon,Mercury,Jupiter,Saturn.
B) Mercury,Venus,Earth and Moon,Mars.
C) Jupiter,Saturn,Uranus,Neptune.

Answer 1

Mercury,Venus,Earth and Moon,Mars.

Question 2

The plates of Earth's lithosphere move at speeds of

A) a few millimeters per century.
B) a few centimeters per year.
C) a few meters per day.
D) a few centimeters per day.
E) a few millimeters per 1000 years.

Answer 2

a few centimeters per year.

Question 3

Slow surface evolution is caused by

A) wind erosion.
B) plate tectonics.
C) cratering.
D) all of the above
E) a and b

Answer 3

a and b

Question 4

The central regions of Earth's core are a solid because

A) the composition at the center of the core is lower in iron.
B) the pressure at the center raises the melting point.
C) the magnetic field cannot penetrate into the center of the core.
D) convection does not extend all the way to the center of the core.
E) Earth initially formed from solid particles in the solar nebula.

Question 5

NARRBEGIN: Diagram 20-01
Diagram 20-1 NARREND
Diagram 20-1 shows a schematic of Earth.If an earthquake occurs at point X on Earth's surface,at which of the locations indicated by numbers would observers receive P waves from this earthquake?

A) 1 & 2
B) 3 & 4
C) 1,2,& 3
D) only 4
E) all of them

Question 6

The youngest parts of Earth's crust are

A) the bottom layer found in the walls of the Grand Canyon.
B) the continents.
C) the continental margins.
D) the Appalachian Mountains.
E) the midocean rifts.

Question 7

Which of the following is not one of the four stages in the development of a terrestrial planet?

A) flooding
B) cratering
C) slow surface evolution
D) accretion
E) differentiation

Question 8

In the development of a planet,the stage of ____ occurred when molten rock flowed through fissures and filled deep basins with molten rock.

A) differentiation
B) cratering
C) glaciation
D) accretion
E) flooding

Question 9

The Himalayan Mountains are rugged,jagged peaks and the Appalachians are smooth and rolling.Why is there a difference?

A) The Himalayas are much older,and the rocks have begun breaking off.
B) The Himalayas are volcanic mountains,and the Appalachians are not.
C) The Appalachians are much older and have been smoothed by erosion.
D) The Appalachians are younger and just started to be thrust upward by plate tectonics.
E) a and d

Question 10

All terrestrial planets have

A) a solid surface.
B) an atmosphere.
C) water oceans.

Question 11

Which of the following is not produced by plate tectonics?

A) midocean rifts
B) rift valleys
C) the ring of fire
D) the Appalachian Mountains
E) Earth's magnetic field

Question 12

The parts of a terrestrial planet from the center out are

A) core,mantle,crust.
B) crust,mantle,core.
C) mantle,core,crust.

Question 13

All terrestrial planets have ____.

A) thick atmospheres
B) strong magnetic fields
C) craters
D) liquid water oceans

Question 14

That Earth ____ is evidence that Earth differentiated with a metal core and stone crust.

A) rotates slowly
B) has an average density that is higher than the density of the crust
C) has a magnetic field
D) Both answers "b" and "c".
E) all of these

Question 15

NARRBEGIN: Diagram 20-01
Diagram 20-1 NARREND
Diagram 20-1 shows a schematic of Earth.If an earthquake occurs at point X on Earth's surface,at which of the locations indicated by numbers would observers receive S waves from this earthquake?

A) 1 & 2
B) 3 & 4
C) 1,2,& 3
D) only 4
E) all of them

Question 16

The energy that moves the plates of Earth's crust comes from

A) the solar wind.
B) convection from the hot interior.
C) tides in the oceans.
D) friction between wind and the land surface.
E) Earth's magnetic field.

Question 17

The terrestrial planets are all made of

A) hydrogen only.
B) Helium only.
C) Hydrogen,Helium only.
D) mostly rock,metal.
E) all of the above

Question 18

Saying that Earth's mantle is plastic means that

A) Earth's mantle is made of common plastics.
B) it has the properties of a solid but is capable of flowing under pressure.
C) it has the properties of a liquid but because of the high pressure it transmits both P and S waves.
D) only S waves can travel through it.
E) only P waves can travel through it.

Question 19

The graph below shows the temperature of material inside a hypothetical planet as a function of depth.Also plotted is the melting point temperature of the material at that depth.Which of the following statements is true for this planet?

A) The core is part liquid and part solid.
B) The core is completely solid.
C) The mantle is a liquid.
D) The planet surface is solid and liquid.
E) both a and d

Question 20

Earth possesses few visible craters while the moon possesses many.This is because

A) Earth formed later than the moon and,therefore,hasn't encountered as many meteorites.
B) the moon doesn't have an atmosphere that could burn up many of the meteorites before impacting.
C) erosion and plate tectonics have slowly removed evidence of past cratering on earth.
D) all of the above
E) only b and c

Question 21

What property does carbon dioxide have that makes it a greenhouse gas?

A) It easily absorbs ultraviolet radiation.
B) It easily absorbs infrared radiation.
C) It is heavier than oxygen gas in the atmosphere.
D) It easily reacts with ozone destroying large concentrations in the Earth's atmosphere.

Question 22

Evidence for the drifting of continents or plate tectonics is

A) the manner in which the outlines of continents fit together much like puzzle pieces.
B) the similarity of rocks found occurring along certain continental coastal areas.
C) the long,continuous ridges found in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.
D) all of the above.

Question 23

Why would a decrease in the density of the ozone layer create a public health concern?

A) The greenhouse effect would not be as efficient and the temperature of Earth would decrease.
B) The greenhouse effect would be more efficient and the temperature of Earth would increase.
C) Plant life would no longer have the ozone it needs for photosynthesis to create chlorophyll.
D) Infrared radiation from the sun would bombard Earth and cause an increase in skin cancers.
E) none of the above

Question 24

Which of the following provide evidence that Earth's core is at least partially molten?

A) P waves do not penetrate Earth's core.
B) S waves do not penetrate Earth's core.
C) S waves are reflected by Earth's core.
D) P waves are reflected by Earth's core.
E) Neither S nor P waves are refracted by Earth's core.

Question 25

What is the most abundant gas in the Earth's atmosphere?

A) CO₂
B) O₂
C) N₂
D) CH₄

Question 26

The ____ show(s)an emission spectrum and is(are)caused by large electrical currents that flow into Earth's atmosphere near the north and south poles.

A) Van Allen belts
B) ozone layer
C) lithosphere
D) solar wind
E) aurora

Question 27

Which of the following was not discussed as one of the four stages of planetary development?

A) flooding
B) differentiation
C) slow surface evolution
D) convection
E) cratering

Question 28

The Earth has an atmosphere which contains ...

A) oxygen
B) nitrogen
C) carbon dioxide
D) argon
E) all of the above

Question 29

The ozone layer is

A) transparent to ultraviolet radiation.
B) opaque to ultraviolet radiation.
C) opaque to visible light.
D) opaque to infrared radiation.
E) responsible for producing most of the oxygen that animal life needs.

Question 30

Earth's magnetic field is generated by the dynamo effect in the

A) molten metallic core.
B) solid central core.
C) plastic mantle.
D) the crust.
E) aurora.

Question 31

The Van Allen belts are

A) composed of high energy particles from the solar wind that are trapped in Earth's magnetosphere.
B) two large convection currents in Earth's liquid core that produce Earth's magnetic field.
C) a series of large midocean rifts stretching across the ring of fire.
D) a series of midocean rifts stretching from the north polar region to the Antarctic.
E) the tropical zone of Earth's atmosphere where the predominant wind direction is from east to west.

Question 32

If Earth's average surface temperature were to increase by several degrees,

A) plant life in all areas of Earth would grow more efficiently and be more lush.
B) the ozone layer would be destroyed.
C) sea level would rise and flood coastal areas.
D) the carbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphere would be destroyed.
E) none of the above

Question 33

Which of the following terrestrial planets does not have a significant atmosphere?

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

Question 34

How are scientists able to study the interior of the Earth?

A) They study seismic waves that travel through the interior of the Earth.
B) They monitor the changes in the Earth magnetic field.
C) They drill down to individual layers of interest.
D) They use X-rays to map out the interior.

Question 35

Which waves can pass all the way through the liquid portions of the Earth's interior?

A) P Seismic waves
B) S Seismic waves
C) Light waves
D) water waves
E) none of the above can pass through the liquid interior of the Earth.

Question 36

The greenhouse effect occurs because

A) carbon dioxide is transparent to visible light and opaque to infrared radiation.
B) carbon dioxide is transparent to infrared radiation and opaque to ultraviolet radiation.
C) ozone is transparent to infrared radiation and opaque to ultraviolet radiation.
D) ozone is transparent to visible light and opaque to infrared radiation.
E) the sun emits more infrared radiation than ultraviolet radiation.

Question 37

The gas that is most responsible for the greenhouse effect on Earth is

A) oxygen (O₂)
B) nitrogen (N₂)
C) carbon dioxide (CO₂)
D) ozone (O₃)
E) ammonia (NH₃)

Question 38

The oxygen in Earth's atmosphere

A) was manufactured inside stars.
B) was added to the atmosphere by plant life.
C) has grown more abundant since the origin of Earth.
D) all of these
E) none of these

Question 39

Where are the Van Allen belts of radiation found?

A) crust
B) subduction zones
C) upper mantle
D) magnetosphere

Question 40

The graph below indicates the temperature of Earth's atmosphere as a function of altitude.At what altitude is Earth's atmosphere the coldest?

A) 100 km
B) 130 km
C) 0 km
D) 150 km
E) 350 km

Question 41

A plate sliding into a(n)____________________ can trigger volcanism.

Question 42

Volcanism can occur in a midocean rift,above a hot spot in the mantle,or where one tectonic plate slides below another.

Question 43

Oxygen in Earth's atmosphere is out gassed in volcanic eruptions.

Question 44

According to the heterogeneous accretion theory,Earth's first atmosphere consisted of gases trapped from the solar nebula.

Question 45

The ____________________ of Earth is composed of rocks at high density that behave as a plastic.

Question 46

Earth's magnetic field has reversed itself.

Question 47

Which part of the Earth is most dense?

A) The atmosphere
B) The oceans
C) The crust
D) The mantle
E) The core

Question 48

The central part of Earth's core is solid.

Question 49

Earth's magnetic field is generated in the iron rich mantle.

Question 50

Pressure (P)waves can travel through a liquid,but shear (S)waves cannot.

Question 51

The separation between Africa and Arabia is a(n)____________________ valley.

Question 52

____________________ is responsible for absorbing ultraviolet radiation in Earth's upper atmosphere.

Question 53

The greenhouse effect occurs because carbon dioxide is opaque to infrared radiation.

Question 54

Molecular nitrogen (N₂)is the most harmful greenhouse gas in the Earth's atmosphere.

Question 55

The Earth has ._____.the Earth's Moon which has many.

A) many more craters than
B) fewer craters than
C) no craters at all due to atmospheric protection compared to

Question 56

The ozone layer is produced by oxygen atoms that link to form O₃.