Question 1

In which of the following ways are Venus and Mars alike,yet markedly different from Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  Their surface temperatures are both much higher than that of Earth. 
B)  They are both perpetually shrouded in clouds. 
C)  They both have either active or extinct volcanoes on their surfaces. 
D)  Their atmospheres are made up primarily of carbon dioxide.

Question 2

One of the most important sources of heat in the interiors of moons that orbit close to giant planets is

Accepted Answer

A)  reflection of sunlight from the planet's surface onto the moons. 
B)  continuous tidal distortion from other moons and the planet. 
C)  absorption of thermal radiation from the planet. 
D)  decay of radioactive elements within the moons.

Question 3

What appears to be the "impact history" of cratering on the Moon?

Accepted Answer

A)  More-or-less constant bombardment from the earliest times to the present 
B)  Heaviest bombardment when the Moon first formed,gradually decreasing (except for increased activity about 4 billion years ago)to light bombardment today 
C)  Short periods of heavy bombardment alternating with long periods of light bombardment throughout the Moon's life 
D)  An early period of heavy bombardment followed by a decrease in intensity (except for a spike around 4 billion years ago)and then very light bombardment to the present

Question 4

What information about the age of a planet or moon can be determined by examining impact craters?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What information about the age of a...

Question 5

The surface of Europa,one of the Galilean moons of Jupiter,appears to be covered with

Accepted Answer

A)  dark areas of older crust separated by lighter,grooved terrain. 
B)  many ancient craters and maria. 
C)  rugged mountain ranges and ancient volcanoes. 
D)  a smooth layer of ice,crossed by many cracks.

Question 6

On the basis of the surface and atmospheric conditions existing on Mars today,why could there be no permanent liquid water on its surface?

Accepted Answer

A)  The water would boil and evaporate rapidly under the low atmospheric pressure or freeze to ice at the low surface temperatures. 
B)  It would have reacted chemically with the surface rocks. 
C)  The UV radiation from the Sun would have dissociated the water molecules into hydrogen (which would leave the planet)and oxygen,which is still present. 
D)  It would have soaked into the porous surface of Mars.

Question 7

Jupiter's satellite Europa is thought to be composed of

Accepted Answer

A)  ice,with possibly a small,rocky core. 
B)  rock only. 
C)  ice and rock mixed throughout in roughly equal proportions. 
D)  a metallic inner core and a rocky outer core covered by an "ocean" of ice.

Question 8

Mars has a thin,almost cloudless atmosphere that permits a clear view of the surface and the most striking visible features are the polar ice caps.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

Scarps formed on what planet when it was young and it cooled and contracted?

Accepted Answer

A)  Mercury 
B)  Venus 
C)  Mars 
D)  All of these

Question 10

When Venus is seen at inferior conjunction,a ring of light is seen around it.What does this tell us about Venus?

Accepted Answer

A)  Venus has auroral displays similar to those on Earth that extend over the whole planet. 
B)  Venus has a thick atmosphere that scatters sunlight toward us. 
C)  The surface of Venus is so hot that it glows,even on its dark side. 
D)  Venus is sufficiently massive that its gravitational field bends sunlight around the planet toward us.

Question 11

The polar caps on Mars are most likely made up of

Accepted Answer

A)  water and CO2 ices. 
B)  light-colored dust blown there by intense dust storms and large dust devils. 
C)  volcanic outflow of light-colored lava and dust similar to that produced by Earth-based volcanoes. 
D)  sulfur dioxide and sulfur compounds.

Question 12

Europa is the only world in the solar system other than Earth on which there is liquid water.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

The Moon has relatively few craters and is said to be geologically active.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

Evidence of hot-spot volcanoes caused by hot,rising plumes under the planet's surface is present on Venus and Mars,as well as on Earth.What distinguishes those on Earth from those on the other planets?

Accepted Answer

A)  Those on the other planets occurred on tectonic plate boundaries,and they are therefore distorted and have spread over the planet surface. 
B)  Plate tectonics on all three planets has formed chains of small volcano cones,but those on Earth have all occurred under the sea and are hidden. 
C)  This type of volcano occurred only at the spin axes or poles of the other planets,where tidal stress was greatest,whereas on Earth they occurred near the equator. 
D)  Plate tectonics on Earth has moved the hot-spot volcanic site continuously over recent geological time,whereas no such movement has occurred on Venus or Mars.

Question 15

Where did the Mars Pathfinder carrying the wheeled robot Sojourner land?

Accepted Answer

A)  Very close to one of the large shield volcanoes 
B)  Near the northern water and CO2 ice cap 
C)  On a flat,moderately cratered plain 
D)  In an ancient flood channel

Question 16

Despite the planet's close proximity to the Sun,water ice remains on the surface of Mercury because it

Accepted Answer

A)  is permanently shielded from the Sun by crater walls at the north and south poles. 
B)  exists as permafrost below the thermally insulating surface,being exposed only by occasional impacts. 
C)  is continuously replenished by fresh impacts from comets. 
D)  is continuously replenished by condensation of water vapor from volcanoes.

Question 17

On Earth,volcanoes are of two basic types: shield volcanoes (lava welling up from local hot spots)and cone volcanoes (caused by the collision of tectonic plates).In surveying the inner part of the solar system (leaving out Earth),namely Mercury,Venus,the Moon,and Mars,we find

Accepted Answer

A)  no volcanoes,either active or dormant. 
B)  shield volcanoes only. 
C)  cone volcanoes only. 
D)  volcanoes of both types.

Question 18

How does the atmosphere of Mars compare to Earth's atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How does the atmosphere of Mars compare...

Question 19

Spirit and Opportunity are

Accepted Answer

A)  two rovers that explored the surface of Mars. 
B)  two satellites that orbited Mercury. 
C)  two probes that smashed into the surface of the Moon. 
D)  the names of two of the space shuttles.

Question 20

What evidence would a planetary geologist use to identify a "young" crater on Mercury?

Accepted Answer

A)  Infrared and photographic results showing evidence of water released recently from the permafrost by the impact 
B)  Sharper rim and central peak compared to older craters,whose features would have suffered significant erosion by wind and dust 
C)  Lighter-colored central region,because older craters would have acquired a layer of dark dust over time 
D)  Few,if any,smaller craters within it or on its rim

Exam 6: Exploring Terrestrial Surface Processes and Atmospheres

In which of the following ways are Venus and Mars alike,yet markedly different from Earth?

One of the most important sources of heat in the interiors of moons that orbit close to giant planets is

What appears to be the "impact history" of cratering on the Moon?

What information about the age of a planet or moon can be determined by examining impact craters?

The surface of Europa,one of the Galilean moons of Jupiter,appears to be covered with

On the basis of the surface and atmospheric conditions existing on Mars today,why could there be no permanent liquid water on its surface?

Jupiter's satellite Europa is thought to be composed of

Mars has a thin,almost cloudless atmosphere that permits a clear view of the surface and the most striking visible features are the polar ice caps.

Scarps formed on what planet when it was young and it cooled and contracted?

When Venus is seen at inferior conjunction,a ring of light is seen around it.What does this tell us about Venus?

The polar caps on Mars are most likely made up of

Europa is the only world in the solar system other than Earth on which there is liquid water.

The Moon has relatively few craters and is said to be geologically active.

Evidence of hot-spot volcanoes caused by hot,rising plumes under the planet's surface is present on Venus and Mars,as well as on Earth.What distinguishes those on Earth from those on the other planets?

Where did the Mars Pathfinder carrying the wheeled robot Sojourner land?

Despite the planet's close proximity to the Sun,water ice remains on the surface of Mercury because it

On Earth,volcanoes are of two basic types: shield volcanoes (lava welling up from local hot spots) and cone volcanoes (caused by the collision of tectonic plates) .In surveying the inner part of the solar system (leaving out Earth) ,namely Mercury,Venus,the Moon,and Mars,we find

How does the atmosphere of Mars compare to Earth's atmosphere?

Spirit and Opportunity are

What evidence would a planetary geologist use to identify a "young" crater on Mercury?