Deck 2: Earth From a Larger Perspective

Question 1

In 1994, scientists witnessed a major impact on a planet, which was a sober reminder that Earth-crossing comets and asteroids pose a serious threat to life on Earth. On which of the following planets did this impact occur?

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

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Nuclear reactions within the sun release electromagnetic radiation.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Which of the following is most true regarding the Big Bang Theory?

A) The universe began expanding from a single point about 14 billion years ago.
B) It resulted from the ignition of an enormous concentration of hydrogen gas.
C) All of the matter in the universe was created in an instant.
D) The theory has been disproved in recent years.
E) The theory applies only to the Milky Way Galaxy.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Venus is the only planet in the solar system that rotates clockwise, or opposite the other planets. Which of the following is the most accepted scientific explanation for this?

A) Early in the history of the solar system there was a large impact that reversed the direction of Venus' spin.
B) Venus is denser than the other planets, which causes it to rotate in an opposing direction.
C) Early in the history of the solar system, Earth and Venus were so close to each other that their gravitational attraction caused them to spin in opposing directions.
D) Venus lacks a moon, which causes it to behave differently from the other planets.
E) Venus did not form with the rest of the planets, but was a stray asteroid that was captured by the Sun's gravitational field.

Question 5

Which of the following refers to the massive and sudden loss of plants and animals relative to the number of new species being added?

A) Mass extinction
B) Catastrophism
C) Great death
D) Fossil depletion
E) All of the answers listed here

Question 6

Which of the following best describes Uranus?

A) gas giant planet
B) supernova
C) terrestrial planet
D) coronal body
E) asteroid

Question 7

Which of the following statements is NOT true regarding Earth's ozone layer?

A) It is responsible for the greenhouse effect.
B) It is a thin layer of oxygen molecules (O₃), called ozone, found in the Earth's upper atmosphere.
C) It naturally absorbs much of the incoming ultraviolet radiation from the sun.
D) It has been damaged by the use of CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons).
E) The hole in the ozone layer is slowing repairing itself.

Question 8

Which statement best describes the four outer planets in our solar system?

A) They are large and made of gas.
B) They are large and made of rock.
C) They orbit the Sun much more quickly than the inner planets.
D) They are all the same in size, type of atmosphere, and density.
E) They all have plate tectonics similar to the Earth.

Question 9

Which of the following statements regarding the Moon is true?

A) It has reduced the wobble in Earth's axis, thereby helping to stabilize Earth's climate.
B) It had an atmosphere at one time that shielded it from asteroid impacts.
C) It has a large magnetic field which that shields the Earth from solar radiation.
D) Its surface is covered mostly with sedimentary rocks.
E) All of the answers listed here.

Question 10

What is the name of the hypothesis proposed for the formation of the solar system?

A) Nebular hypothesis
B) Heliocentric hypothesis
C) Coronal hypothesis
D) Andromeda hypothesis
E) Electromagnetic hypothesis

Question 11

Which of the following statements best describes the first life-forms on Earth, which existed about 3.6 billion years ago?

A) Microbial life began at a time when the planet's atmosphere and climate were very different from today.
B) Microbial life began at the same time the Earth turned into a solid.
C) Microbial life evolved rapidly into more complex life forms in only a few hundred million years.
D) The first microbial life forms were restricted to what is now the Middle East.
E) Evidence for the first microbial life forms is found in igneous rocks.

Question 12

Evidence for the nebular hypothesis includes which of the following?

A) All of the answers listed here.
B) The heavily cratered surfaces we see on some planets and moons, which indicates a period of intense bombardment associated with accretion.
C) Radiometric dating has shown that the Earth, Moon, and asteroids all solidified at approximately the same time.
D) Visual evidence from Hubble shows that accretion and planetary development is occurring in other parts of the universe.
E) Visual evidence from Hubble shows that new stars are forming in other parts of the universe.

Question 13

Which term is used to describe the relatively small area around a star where surface temperatures would allow liquid water to exist?

A) Habitable Zone
B) Biosphere
C) Terrestrial Region
D) Potential Biotic Area
E) Hydrosphere

Question 14

It is now feasible for scientists and engineers to change the trajectory of an Earth-crossing asteroid such that it will not impact our planet.

Question 15

Which of the following best describes what happened to the dinosaurs about 65 million years ago?

A) A large asteroid impact resulted in global climatic change and the death of the dinosaurs.
B) A large solar flare quickly raised Earth's temperature to the point where dinosaurs couldn't survive.
C) A massive volcanic eruption resulted in global cooling, which killed the dinosaurs.
D) The extinction of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago remains a great mystery to scientists.
E) More intelligent mammals began to evolve and competed for limited food resources, ultimately causing dinosaurs to go extinct

Question 16

The four inner planets are collectively referred to as what?

A) Terrestrial Planets
B) Jovian Planets
C) Mercurian Planets
D) Venetian Planets
E) Habitable Planets

Question 17

Which of the following assumptions are inherent in the concept of habitable zones?

A) All life-forms require liquid water.
B) Water is present, in some form, on all planets.
C) The size and energy output of stars with habitable zones will remain constant.
D) Life is present everywhere in the universe.
E) A planet's gravity must be similar to that of the Earth's.

Question 18

In addition to Earth, which other planet has relatively few impact craters due to weathering and erosion processes on the surface?

A) Venus
B) Earth is the only planet where weathering and erosion have occurred, erasing evidence of impacts.
C) Mars
D) Mercury

Question 19

What is the primary nuclear reaction that takes place within the sun?

A) Fusion
B) Fission
C) Radiation
D) Nucleation
E) Solar wind

Question 20

Comets are composed primarily of rocky and metallic materials.