Deck 17: Moons and Small Solar System Bodies

Question 1

Charon is a moon of ______________ .

A) Earth
B) Venus
C) Neptune
D) Mars
E) Pluto

Answer 1

E

Question 2

Long-period comets are believed to come from ______________.

A) the Oort cloud
B) interstellar space
C) the asteroid belt
D) the Great Red Spot

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Short-period comets, such as Halley's comet, are believed to come from ______________.

A) the Kuiper Belt
B) the Oort cloud
C) the asteroid belt
D) Earth

Answer 3

A

Question 4

______________ is the only moon in the solar system to have retrograde motion.

A) Ganymede
B) Europa
C) Callisto
D) Titan
E) Triton

Question 5

When a meteoroid enters Earth's atmosphere, it is called a(n) ______________.

A) meteor or "shooting star"
B) asteroid
C) star
D) planet
E) dwarf planet

Question 6

As comets approach and move around the Sun, the coma and the tail ______________ in size.

A) decrease
B) increase
C) remain the same
D) none of the above

Question 7

Comets are composed of ______________.

A) dust and ice
B) rock
C) helium
D) lead
E) iron

Question 8

Nix and Hydra are moons of ______________ .

A) Earth
B) Venus
C) Neptune
D) Mars
E) Pluto

Question 9

The seriousness of an asteroid collision is gauged by the ______________ scale.

A) Torino
B) Richter
C) Decibel
D) Sunami
E) Star

Question 10

The ______________ surrounds the nucleus of a comet.

A) head or coma
B) cloud
C) fuzz
D) cover
E) epinucleus

Question 11

Saturn's moon named ______________ is the second largest moon in the solar system.

A) Titan
B) Europa
C) Ganymede
D) Phobos
E) Diamos

Question 12

______________ is the major moon of Neptune.

A) Triton
B) Titan
C) Ganymede
D) Europa
E) Callisto

Question 13

______________ is the largest known asteroid.

A) Pluto
B) Mars
C) Ceres
D) Vesta
E) Mercury

Question 14

When a meteor strikes Earth's surface, it is called a(n) ______________.

A) asteroid
B) star
C) planet
D) meteorite
E) ball

Question 15

A meteor ______________ results when a large number of meteoroids enter Earth's atmosphere.

A) fall
B) landing
C) group
D) explosion
E) shower

Question 16

The particles of interplanetary dust are called ______________.

A) micrometeoroids
B) asteroids
C) meteors
D) meteorites

Question 17

Probably the best-known comet is ______________ Comet.

A) Sally's
B) Bally's
C) Bailey's
D) Malley's
E) Halley's

Question 18

The major moons of ______________ were named after literary characters.

A) Mars
B) Jupiter
C) Saturn
D) Uranus
E) Neptune

Question 19

The local solar time at 135°W is 12:00 noon. What is the longitude of an observer who sees the full moon on her meridian at this time?

A) 45°E
B) -45°E
C) 135°E
D) 135°W
E) None of the above

Question 20

Halley's Comet returns about every ______________ years.

A) 4
B) 12
C) 1000
D) 10,000
E) 76

Question 21

Craters on the Moon are believed to have been caused by

A) wind erosion.
B) water erosion.
C) the impact of meteorites.
D) volcanic action.

Question 22

Which of the following is not a general feature of the Moon's surface?

A) Dry ocean plains
B) Multiring basins
C) Secondary craters
D) None of these; that is, all these features are present

Question 23

A high tide is occurring at Charleston, South Carolina (80°W, 33°N). What two longitudes are experiencing low tide?

A) 10°E and 170°E
B) 10°W and 170°W
C) 10°E and 170°W
D) 10°W and 170°E

Question 24

At what longitude is an observer who sees the last-quarter moon on his meridian when it is 12:00 noon local solar time at 75°W?

A) 165°W
B) 15°E
C) 15°W
D) 165°E
E) 75°E

Question 25

If a person weighs 252 lb on Earth, what will the person weigh on the Moon?

A) 42 lb
B) 1512 lb
C) 252 lb
D) 126 lb
E) 25.2 lb

Question 26

If a person weighs 150 lb on Earth, what will the person weigh on the Moon?

A) 25 lb
B) 900 lb
C) 150 lb
D) 75 lb
E) 300 lb

Question 27

The diameter of the Moon is approximately

A) 800 mi.
B) 239,000 mi.
C) 93,000,000 mi.
D) 2200 mi.

Question 28

A high tide is occurring at Charleston, South Carolina (151°W, 36°N). At approximately what other longitude is a high tide occurring?

A) 29°E
B) 151°E
C) 61°E
D) 61°W
E) 29°W

Question 29

The oldest rocks on the Moon were formed about how many years ago?

A) 1.5 million
B) 4.4 million
C) 1.5 billion
D) 4.4 billion

Question 30

It is 12:00 noon local solar time at 75°W. The date is March 21. At which of the following longitudes would an observer be able to see the last-quarter moon rising?

A) 105°W
B) 75°E
C) 15°W
D) 105°E

Question 31

Moonquakes are believed to have caused the Moon's

A) rays.
B) craters.
C) rills
D) plains (maria).

Question 32

A high tide is occurring at Charleston, South Carolina (70°W, 12°N). At approximately what other longitude is a high tide occurring?

A) 110°E
B) 70°E
C) 20°E
D) 20°W
E) 110°W

Question 33

The local solar time at 75°W is 12:00 noon. What is the longitude of an observer who sees the full moon on her meridian at this time?

A) 105°E
B) 75°E
C) 15°E
D) 15°W
E) None of the above

Question 34

The far side of the Moon

A) has never been seen.
B) has more craters than the near side.
C) looks just like the near side.
D) is always dark.

Question 35

A high tide is occurring at Charleston, South Carolina (80°W, 33°N). At approximately what other longitude is a high tide occurring?

A) 100°E
B) 80°E
C) 60°E
D) 40°E
E) 20°E

Question 36

Pulverized rock is believed to make up the Moon's

A) rays.
B) craters.
C) rills.
D) plains (maria).

Question 37

The impact of meteorites on the Moon has caused

A) craters only.
B) rays only.
C) rills only.
D) both rays and craters.

Question 38

A high tide is occurring at Charleston, South Carolina (36°W, 59°N). Which listed longitude is experiencing a low tide occurring?

A) 144°E
B) 36°E
C) 54°E
D) 54°W
E) 144°W

Question 39

The Moon is thought to be

A) older than Earth.
B) the same age as Earth.
C) younger than Earth.
D) infinitely old.

Question 40

A high tide is occurring at Charleston, South Carolina (45°W, 64°N). Which listed longitude is experiencing a low tide occurring?

A) 135°E
B) 65°E
C) 45°E
D) 45°W
E) 145°W

Question 41

The Moon always presents the same face to Earth because

A) the Moon does not rotate on its axis.
B) the Moon rotates on its axis at same rate at which it revolves around Earth.
C) the Moon revolves around the Sun in one month.
D) none of these

Question 42

The full moon by definition occurs

A) for only a day.
B) for 7-3/8 days.
C) only for an instant.
D) only once every month.

Question 43

The last-quarter Moon rises approximately at

A) 6 A.M.
B) noon.
C) 6 P.M.
D) midnight.

Question 44

The Moon

A) revolves about Earth from west to east.
B) has a day equal to 29.5 Earth days.
C) has an elliptical orbit about Earth.
D) all of these.

Question 45

When the Moon rises at approximately 12 noon, it is in the ______________ phase.

A) first-quarter
B) last-quarter
C) new
D) full

Question 46

The direction of the Moon's orbit about Earth is

A) westward.
B) eastward.
C) clockwise, as viewed from above Earth's North Pole.
D) none of these.

Question 47

The Moon's orbital plane is inclined to Earth's orbital plane by

A) 0°.
B) 5°.
C) 23.5°.
D) 30°.

Question 48

When the Moon is on an observer's meridian at 9 A.M., the Moon is in the ______________ phase.

A) waning crescent
B) waning gibbous
C) waxing crescent
D) waxing gibbous

Question 49

The Moon's average density is

A) greater than Earth's.
B) less than Earth's.
C) approximately the same as Earth's.
D) nonexistent because water is not present.

Question 50

Rills on the Moon are believed to have been caused by

A) moonquakes.
B) meteorite impacts.
C) volcanoes.
D) expansion and contraction of the Moon's surface.

Question 51

The Moon completes one orbit around Earth about every

A) 29.5 days.
B) 7 days.
C) 365 days.
D) sidereal day.

Question 52

A lunar eclipse can occur only when the Moon is in or near the ______________ phase.

A) new
B) first-quarter
C) last-quarter
D) full

Question 53

The Moon revolves around Earth

A) in a clockwise direction, as viewed from above Earth's North Pole.
B) once every day.
C) once every 7-3/8 days.
D) none of these

Question 54

During a solar eclipse, the umbra moves across Earth's surface generally from

A) east to west.
B) west to east.
C) south to north.
D) north to south.

Question 55

The first-quarter Moon sets at approximately

A) midnight.
B) noon.
C) 6 P.M.
D) 6 A.M.

Question 56

On March 21, the Moon is in its first-quarter phase. An observer who sees this Moon on his or her meridian at this time

A) cannot see the Sun.
B) sees the Sun setting.
C) sees the Sun rising.
D) none of these

Question 57

The Moon rises 50 minutes later each day because

A) the tidal forces on the Moon slow Earth's rotation, causing its period to be longer.
B) the Moon revolves eastward around Earth.
C) the Moon rotates on its axis.
D) the Moon revolves westward around Earth.

Question 58

The phase of the Moon that one observes on the overhead meridian at 10 P.M. local time is a ______________ moon.

A) waxing crescent
B) waning crescent
C) waxing gibbous
D) waning gibbous

Question 59

At the time of a full moon, an astronaut on the Moon looking at Earth would see a

A) full Earth moon.
B) first-quarter Earth moon.
C) last-quarter Earth moon.
D) new Earth moon.

Question 60

A solar eclipse occurs at or near the time of a

A) first-quarter moon.
B) last-quarter moon.
C) new moon.
D) full moon.

Question 61

Suppose you live on the near side of the Moon in the crater Copernicus. How often will the Sun set below your horizon?

A) Every 12 hours
B) Every 24 hours
C) Every 29.5 days
D) Never

Question 62

Spring tides occur close to the time of ______________ moon.

A) the new
B) the first-quarter
C) both the new and the full
D) the last-quarter

Question 63

Tides are caused by

A) the gravitational pull of the Moon and the Sun.
B) Earth's rotation.
C) the Moon keeping the same face toward Earth.
D) none of these.

Question 64

Which of the following is Jupiter's largest moon?

A) Io
B) Europa
C) Ganymede
D) Callisto

Question 65

Someone on the far side of the Moon would observe Earth rise once every

A) 24 hours.
B) 24 hours and 50 minutes.
C) 29.5 Earth days.
D) None of these, the observer would never see Earth rise.

Question 66

The "horns" of the crescent moon point

A) always away from the Sun.
B) in random directions.
C) down toward Earth.
D) always away from Earth.

Question 67

Which of Jupiter's moons is believed to be covered with water ice and possibly have life sustaining conditions?

A) Io
B) Europa
C) Ganymede
D) Callisto

Question 68

Which of the following has the most moons?

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

Question 69

A waxing phase of the Moon can be seen

A) 10 days after a full moon.
B) 10 days after a new moon.
C) 10 days before a new moon.
D) none of these

Question 70

Which of the following moons has retrograde motion?

A) Ganymede
B) Titan
C) Miranda
D) Triton

Question 71

Which planet's major moons were named after literary characters?

A) Jupiter
B) Saturn
C) Uranus
D) Neptune

Question 72

Spring tides occur

A) only in March.
B) when Earth, the Moon, and the Sun line up.
C) fewer than 10 times a year.
D) once a month.

Question 73

Which of the Jovian planets has the most moons?

A) Jupiter
B) Saturn
C) Uranus
D) Neptune

Question 74

Which of the Galilean moons has volcanic activity?

A) Io
B) Europa
C) Ganymede
D) Callisto

Question 75

Tides occur later each day because of

A) Earth's rotation with respect to the Sun.
B) the Moon's rotation with respect to Earth.
C) Earth's rotation with respect to the Moon.
D) a change in gravitational attraction.

Question 76

An observer on the Moon looking at Earth would

A) always see a fully illuminated Earth.
B) always see a half-illuminated Earth.
C) see phases of Earth.
D) see continuous darkness.

Question 77

Which planet has the second largest moon in the solar system?

A) Jupiter
B) Saturn
C) Uranus
D) Neptune

Question 78

In exactly 14 days after a full moon, one would see a

A) new moon.
B) waxing crescent moon.
C) first-quarter moon.
D) waning crescent moon.

Question 79

Someone on the near side of the Moon would observe Earth rise once every

A) 24 hours.
B) 24 hours and 50 minutes.
C) 29.5 Earth days.
D) None of these, the observer would never see Earth rise or set.

Question 80

Which planet has a large moon with retrograde motion?

A) Jupiter
B) Saturn
C) Uranus
D) Neptune