Question 1

The cores of the terrestrial worlds are made mostly of metal because ________.

Accepted Answer

A)   metals sunk to the centers a long time ago when the interiors were molten throughout
B)   the terrestrial worlds as a whole are made mostly of metal
C)   the core contained lots of radioactive elements that decayed into metals
D)   over billions of years, convection gradually brought dense metals downward to the core

Question 2

Sunsets are red because sunlight must pass through more atmosphere then, and the atmosphere scatters even more light at bluer wavelengths, leaving mostly red light to color the sky.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

Why are there fewer large impact craters on the Earth's seafloor than on the continents?

Accepted Answer

A)   Seafloor crust is younger than continental crust, so it has had less time in which to suffer impacts.
B)   The oceans slow large impactors and prevent them from making craters.
C)   Erosion erases impact craters must faster on the ocean bottom than on land.
D)   Most impacts occur on the land.

Question 4

All of the statements below are true. Which one gives the primary reason why the surface of Venus today is some 450∘ C hotter than the surface of Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)   Venus has a much stronger greenhouse effect than Earth.
B)   Venus is only about 73% as far from the Sun as Earth.
C)   Venus has a much higher reflectivity than Earth.
D)   Venus has a higher atmospheric pressure than Earth.

Question 5

Why is the sky blue (on Earth) ?

Accepted Answer

A)   Because molecules scatter blue light more effectively than red light
B)   Because the Sun emits mostly blue light
C)   Because molecules scatter red light more effectively than blue light
D)   Because deep space is blue in color
E)   No one knows-this is one of the great mysteries of science.

Question 6

What is the most important factor that determines the thickness, and therefore strength, of the lithosphere?

Accepted Answer

A)   pressure
B)   composition
C)   internal temperature
D)   distance of planet from Sun

Question 7

Why is Mars red?

Accepted Answer

A)   It is made primarily of red clay.
B)   Its surface rocks were rusted by oxygen.
C)   Its atmosphere scatters blue light more effectively than red light.
D)   Its surface is made of ices that absorb blue light.
E)   Its surface is made of ices that absorb red light.

Question 8

Earth is the only planet in the solar system known to have plate tectonics.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

Which of the following best describes the lunar maria?

Accepted Answer

A)   Relatively smooth, flat plains on the Moon
B)   Densely cratered regions on the Moon
C)   Mountainous regions on the Moon
D)   Frozen oceans of liquid water on the Moon

Question 10

Which of the following does not provide evidence that Mars once had abundant liquid water on its surface?

Accepted Answer

A)   The presence of canali, discovered in the late 1800s by Giovanni Schiaparelli and mapped by Percival Lowell
B)   The presence of features that look like dried up river beds
C)   The presence of what looks like sedimentary layers in some crater bottoms
D)   The presence of very old craters that appear to have been eroded by rain

Question 11

Today, Mars has virtually no magnetic field.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Earth and Venus both presumably had similar gases outgassed from their volcanoes. Briefly explain how their atmospheres ended up so different.

Accepted Answer

On Venus, water and carbon dioxide remai...

Question 13

Why does Earth have so little carbon dioxide in its atmosphere compared to Venus?

Accepted Answer

A)   Earth has just as much carbon dioxide as Venus, but most of it is locked up in carbonate rocks rather than being free in the atmosphere.
B)   Earth's volcanoes outgassed far less carbon dioxide than those on Venus.
C)   Earth once had a lot of carbon dioxide, but it was lost to space during the heavy bombardment early in our solar system's history.
D)   Chemical reactions turned Earth's carbon dioxide into nitrogen.

Question 14

How did the lunar maria form?

Accepted Answer

A)   Large impacts fractured the Moon's lithosphere, allowing lava to fill the impact basins.
B)   The early bombardment created heat that melted the lunar surface in the regions of the maria.
C)   Volatiles escaping from the Moon's interior heated and eroded the surface in the regions of the maria.
D)   The giant impact that created the Moon left smooth areas that we call the maria.
E)   The maria are the result of gradual erosion by micrometeorites striking the Moon.

Question 15

The choices below describe four hypothetical planets. Which one would you expect to have the hottest interior? (Assume the planets orbit a star just like the Sun and that they are all the same age as the planets in our solar system.)

Accepted Answer

A)   Size: twice as big as Earth. Distance from Sun: same as Mercury. Rotation rate: once every 6 months.
B)   Size: same as the Moon. Distance from Sun: same as Mars. Rotation rate: once every 10 days.
C)   Size: same as Mars. Distance from Sun: same as Earth. Rotation rate: once every 18 hours.
D)   Size: same as Venus. Distance from Sun: same as Mars. Rotation rate: once every 25 hours.

Question 16

Based on its surface features, the most important event on Venus in the past billion years or so was ________.

Accepted Answer

A)   a global "repaving" that erased essentially all the surface features that had existed earlier
B)   the eruption of a giant volcano that formed one of Venus's "continents"
C)   the impact of an unusually large asteroid that left a deep scar on one side of the planet
D)   the onset of mantle convection, which caused Venus's lithosphere to split into plates like those on Earth

Question 17

Briefly describe how the solar wind affects magnetospheres and how auroras are produced.

Accepted Answer

Some particles from the solar wind get c...

Question 18

Public Policy Informed by Science: Research the Montreal Protocol (1987) that led to a world-wide ban in the use of chlorofluorocarbon compounds (CFCs). What was the scientific case for the ban? Why do you think such coordinated, world-wide action was possible in this case, yet a global consensus has not emerged on how to respond to the challenge of climate change?

Accepted Answer

The scientific case for the ban on chlor...

Question 19

Why is continental crust lower in density than seafloor crust?

Accepted Answer

A)   Continental crust is made from remelted seafloor crust and therefore only the lower-density material rises to form it.
B)   Continental crust is made from volcanic rock called basalt, which is lower in density than what the seafloor crust is made from.
C)   Continental crust is made of rock, while seafloor crust has more metals.
D)   Seafloor crust is more compact due to the weight of the oceans, but it is made of the same material as the continental crust.
E)   Continental crust is actually denser than seafloor crust.

Question 20

Of the four gases CO₂, H₂O, N₂, and O₂, which are greenhouse gases?

Accepted Answer

A)   only CO₂
B)   CO₂ and H₂O
C)   CO₂ and N₂
D)   all except O₂
E)   all four

Exam 7: Earth and the Terrestrial Worlds

Which of the following does not provide evidence that Mars once had abundant liquid water on its surface?

Correct Answer
verified

Based on its surface features, the most important event on Venus in the past billion years or so was ________.

Correct Answer
verified

Sunsets are red because sunlight must pass through more atmosphere then, and the atmosphere scatters even more light at bluer wavelengths, leaving mostly red light to color the sky.

Correct Answer
verified

The cores of the terrestrial worlds are made mostly of metal because ________.

Correct Answer
verified

Why does Earth have so little carbon dioxide in its atmosphere compared to Venus?

Correct Answer
verified

What is the most important factor that determines the thickness, and therefore strength, of the lithosphere?

Correct Answer
verified

Which of the following best describes the lunar maria?

Correct Answer
verified

Why are there fewer large impact craters on the Earth's seafloor than on the continents?

Correct Answer
verified

Why is Mars red?

Correct Answer
verified

Of the four gases CO₂, H₂O, N₂, and O₂, which are greenhouse gases?

Correct Answer
verified

Briefly describe how the solar wind affects magnetospheres and how auroras are produced.

Correct Answer
verified
Some particles from the solar wind get c...
View Answer

Why is the sky blue (on Earth) ?

Correct Answer
verified

Earth is the only planet in the solar system known to have plate tectonics.

Correct Answer
verified

Today, Mars has virtually no magnetic field.

Correct Answer
verified

Earth and Venus both presumably had similar gases outgassed from their volcanoes. Briefly explain how their atmospheres ended up so different.

Correct Answer
verified
On Venus, water and carbon dioxide remai...
View Answer

Correct Answer
Answered by ExamLex AI
The scientific case for the ban on chlor...
View Answer

How did the lunar maria form?

Correct Answer
verified

Why is continental crust lower in density than seafloor crust?

Correct Answer
verified

All of the statements below are true. Which one gives the primary reason why the surface of Venus today is some 450∘ C hotter than the surface of Earth?

Correct Answer
verified

The choices below describe four hypothetical planets. Which one would you expect to have the hottest interior? (Assume the planets orbit a star just like the Sun and that they are all the same age as the planets in our solar system.)

Correct Answer
verified

Exam 7: Earth and the Terrestrial Worlds

Which of the following does not provide evidence that Mars once had abundant liquid water on its surface?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Based on its surface features, the most important event on Venus in the past billion years or so was ________.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Sunsets are red because sunlight must pass through more atmosphere then, and the atmosphere scatters even more light at bluer wavelengths, leaving mostly red light to color the sky.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The cores of the terrestrial worlds are made mostly of metal because ________.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Why does Earth have so little carbon dioxide in its atmosphere compared to Venus?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What is the most important factor that determines the thickness, and therefore strength, of the lithosphere?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following best describes the lunar maria?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Why are there fewer large impact craters on the Earth's seafloor than on the continents?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Why is Mars red?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Of the four gases CO₂, H₂O, N₂, and O₂, which are greenhouse gases?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Briefly describe how the solar wind affects magnetospheres and how auroras are produced.

Correct AnswerverifiedSome particles from the solar wind get c...View AnswerShow Answer

Why is the sky blue (on Earth) ?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Earth is the only planet in the solar system known to have plate tectonics.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Today, Mars has virtually no magnetic field.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Earth and Venus both presumably had similar gases outgassed from their volcanoes. Briefly explain how their atmospheres ended up so different.

Correct AnswerverifiedOn Venus, water and carbon dioxide remai...View AnswerShow Answer

Correct AnswerAnswered by ExamLex AIThe scientific case for the ban on chlor...View AnswerShow Answer

How did the lunar maria form?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Why is continental crust lower in density than seafloor crust?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

All of the statements below are true. Which one gives the primary reason why the surface of Venus today is some 450∘ C hotter than the surface of Earth?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The choices below describe four hypothetical planets. Which one would you expect to have the hottest interior? (Assume the planets orbit a star just like the Sun and that they are all the same age as the planets in our solar system.)

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified
Some particles from the solar wind get c...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified
On Venus, water and carbon dioxide remai...
View Answer

Correct Answer
Answered by ExamLex AI
The scientific case for the ban on chlor...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified