Question 1

In the Earth's crust,lower density igneous rock such as _________ make up the continents,and higher density volcanic rock such as _________ make up the ocean floor.

Accepted Answer

A)  limestone;granite
B)  granite;iron-rich silicates
C)  granite;basalt
D)  limestone;sandstone
E)  marble;basalt

Question 2

Continental drift occurs at a typical rate of a few:

Accepted Answer

A)  mm/year
B)  cm/year
C)  m/year
D)  km/year
E)  nm/year

Question 3

Based on the assumption that a liquid,conducting core and rapid rotation are both required for a magnetic dynamo to operate,which terrestrial planets would you expect to have magnetic fields?

Accepted Answer

A)  only Earth
B)  only Earth,Venus,and Mars
C)  only Earth and Mars
D)  only Earth and Mercury
E)  Earth,Venus,Mars,and Mercury

Question 4

What are the four main processes that shape the surfaces of the terrestrial planets?

Accepted Answer

The four main proces...

Question 5

Which object would have the LARGEST impact if it were to strike the Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  a 1-m diameter asteroid moving at 100 m/s
B)  a 1-m diameter comet moving at 100 m/s
C)  a 10-m diameter comet moving at 10 m/s
D)  a 10-m diameter asteroid moving at 10 m/s
E)  a 1-m diameter comet moving at 50 m/s

Question 6

If a radioactive element has a half-life of 10,000 years,what fraction of it is left in a rock after 40,000 years?

Accepted Answer

A)  1⁄2
B)  1⁄4
C)  1⁄8
D)  1⁄16
E)  1⁄32

Question 7

All the terrestrial planets show evidence of disruptions due to tectonics occurring now or in the past.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Mars has a diameter that is approximately half that of Earth's.If the interiors of these planets are heated by radioactive decays,how does the heating rate of Mars' interior compare to that of Earth's?

Accepted Answer

A)  Mars's heating rate is 0.125 times that of Earth's.
B)  Mars's heating rate is 8 times that of the Earth's.
C)  Mars's heating rate is 0.5 times that of Earth's.
D)  Mars's heating rate is 4 times that of the Earth's.
E)  The heating rates are about the same.

Question 9

Differentiation refers to materials that are separate based on their:

Accepted Answer

A)  weight
B)  mass
C)  volume
D)  density
E)  heat capacity

Question 10

The interior of the Earth is hot mainly because of the pressure induced by the weight of the material above it.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

Consider an external solar system in which there are three terrestrial planets.All are located far from other objects so tidal forces aren't significant.If planet A has a radius of 1 Earth radius,and planet B has a radius of 2 Earth radii,and planet C has a radius of 3 Earth radii,which planet has the highest chance of having at least a partially liquid core and a detectable magnetic field?

Accepted Answer

A)  Planet A
B)  Planet B
C)  Planet C
D)  They all have the same likelihood of having a liquid core.
E)  None of these planets should have a liquid core,because they all should have completely solidified.

Question 12

The dynamo theory says that a planet will have a strong magnetic field if it has:

Accepted Answer

A)  fast rotation and a solid core
B)  slow rotation and a liquid core
C)  fast rotation and a liquid core
D)  slow rotation and a solid core
E)  fast rotation and a gaseous core

Question 13

The interior of the Earth is differentiated because it cooled very quickly.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

The Mars rovers named Spirit and Opportunity found evidence in the chemical makeup of the rocks that proves Mars had liquid water on its surface in the past.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

The Moon has a diameter that is approximately one-fourth that of Earth.If these objects' interiors are heated by radioactive decays,and the total amount of energy in decays is proportional to the object's volume,then how does the amount of heat the Moon has compare to that of Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Moon has 0.016 times that of Earth's.
B)  The Moon's heating rate is 8 times that of the Earth's.
C)  The Moon's heating rate is 0.5 times that of Earth's.
D)  The Moon's heating rate is 4 times that of the Earth's.
E)  The heating rates are about the same.

Question 16

Which is NOT a reason that we suspect that the extinction of the dinosaurs was caused by a large impact by a large object?

Accepted Answer

A)  Many dinosaur fossils are found below the K-T boundary,but none above it.
B)  The material in the K-T boundary is rich in iridium.
C)  Soot is found in the material in the K-T boundary,which probably came from fires caused by the impact.
D)  An impact crater has been found near Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula.
E)  The remaining meteorite has been identified on the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico.

Question 17

According to studies of impact cratering,which of these terrestrial objects has,on average,the oldest surface?

Accepted Answer

A)  Mercury
B)  Venus
C)  Earth
D)  Mars
E)  the Moon

Question 18

Volcanoes on Earth typically occur in the middle of oceans where two tectonic plates are spreading apart.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

Describe the difference between seismic primary and secondary waves and why this difference makes them useful in probing the structure of the Earth's interior.

Accepted Answer

Secondary waves are transverse waves.The...

Question 20

The maria,the dark regions of the Moon's surface,are approximately 1 billion years younger than the rest of its surface.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 8: The Terrestrial Planets and Earths Moon

Correct Answer
verified

According to studies of impact cratering,which of these terrestrial objects has,on average,the oldest surface?

Correct Answer
verified

All the terrestrial planets show evidence of disruptions due to tectonics occurring now or in the past.

Correct Answer
verified

Based on the assumption that a liquid,conducting core and rapid rotation are both required for a magnetic dynamo to operate,which terrestrial planets would you expect to have magnetic fields?

Correct Answer
verified

Mars has a diameter that is approximately half that of Earth's.If the interiors of these planets are heated by radioactive decays,how does the heating rate of Mars' interior compare to that of Earth's?

Correct Answer
verified

The Mars rovers named Spirit and Opportunity found evidence in the chemical makeup of the rocks that proves Mars had liquid water on its surface in the past.

Correct Answer
verified

The interior of the Earth is hot mainly because of the pressure induced by the weight of the material above it.

Correct Answer
verified

The Moon has a diameter that is approximately one-fourth that of Earth.If these objects' interiors are heated by radioactive decays,and the total amount of energy in decays is proportional to the object's volume,then how does the amount of heat the Moon has compare to that of Earth?

Correct Answer
verified

Volcanoes on Earth typically occur in the middle of oceans where two tectonic plates are spreading apart.

Correct Answer
verified

Continental drift occurs at a typical rate of a few:

Correct Answer
verified

Differentiation refers to materials that are separate based on their:

Correct Answer
verified

Which object would have the LARGEST impact if it were to strike the Earth?

Correct Answer
verified

The dynamo theory says that a planet will have a strong magnetic field if it has:

Correct Answer
verified

The maria,the dark regions of the Moon's surface,are approximately 1 billion years younger than the rest of its surface.

Correct Answer
verified

If a radioactive element has a half-life of 10,000 years,what fraction of it is left in a rock after 40,000 years?

Correct Answer
verified

Which is NOT a reason that we suspect that the extinction of the dinosaurs was caused by a large impact by a large object?

Correct Answer
verified

What are the four main processes that shape the surfaces of the terrestrial planets?

Correct Answer
verified
The four main proces...
View Answer

Describe the difference between seismic primary and secondary waves and why this difference makes them useful in probing the structure of the Earth's interior.

Correct Answer
verified
Secondary waves are transverse waves.The...
View Answer

The interior of the Earth is differentiated because it cooled very quickly.

Correct Answer
verified

In the Earth's crust,lower density igneous rock such as _ make up the continents,and higher density volcanic rock such as _ make up the ocean floor.

Correct Answer
verified

Exam 8: The Terrestrial Planets and Earths Moon

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

According to studies of impact cratering,which of these terrestrial objects has,on average,the oldest surface?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

All the terrestrial planets show evidence of disruptions due to tectonics occurring now or in the past.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Based on the assumption that a liquid,conducting core and rapid rotation are both required for a magnetic dynamo to operate,which terrestrial planets would you expect to have magnetic fields?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Mars has a diameter that is approximately half that of Earth's.If the interiors of these planets are heated by radioactive decays,how does the heating rate of Mars' interior compare to that of Earth's?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The Mars rovers named Spirit and Opportunity found evidence in the chemical makeup of the rocks that proves Mars had liquid water on its surface in the past.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The interior of the Earth is hot mainly because of the pressure induced by the weight of the material above it.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The Moon has a diameter that is approximately one-fourth that of Earth.If these objects' interiors are heated by radioactive decays,and the total amount of energy in decays is proportional to the object's volume,then how does the amount of heat the Moon has compare to that of Earth?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Volcanoes on Earth typically occur in the middle of oceans where two tectonic plates are spreading apart.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Continental drift occurs at a typical rate of a few:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Differentiation refers to materials that are separate based on their:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which object would have the LARGEST impact if it were to strike the Earth?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The dynamo theory says that a planet will have a strong magnetic field if it has:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The maria,the dark regions of the Moon's surface,are approximately 1 billion years younger than the rest of its surface.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

If a radioactive element has a half-life of 10,000 years,what fraction of it is left in a rock after 40,000 years?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which is NOT a reason that we suspect that the extinction of the dinosaurs was caused by a large impact by a large object?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What are the four main processes that shape the surfaces of the terrestrial planets?

Correct AnswerverifiedThe four main proces...View AnswerShow Answer

Describe the difference between seismic primary and secondary waves and why this difference makes them useful in probing the structure of the Earth's interior.

Correct AnswerverifiedSecondary waves are transverse waves.The...View AnswerShow Answer

The interior of the Earth is differentiated because it cooled very quickly.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In the Earth's crust,lower density igneous rock such as _________ make up the continents,and higher density volcanic rock such as _________ make up the ocean floor.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified
The four main proces...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified
Secondary waves are transverse waves.The...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified

In the Earth's crust,lower density igneous rock such as _ make up the continents,and higher density volcanic rock such as _ make up the ocean floor.

Correct Answer
verified