ASTRONOMY FINAL 2

1.

1 point

The average rate of erosion on the Moon is far less than that on the Earth because:

The Moon is younger than the Earth.

There are no tidal forces acting on the Moon.

The Moon lacks wind and running water.

The crust of the Moon is denser than the Earth's crust.

2.

1 point

Without a greenhouse effect operating in our atmosphere,

We would not have to worry about any ecological problems.

The ice at the Earth's poles would have melted long ago.

All of these.

Earth would have an average surface temperature of about -23 degrees Celsius.

3.

1 point

Where are the asteroids generally found in the solar system?

between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter

beyond the orbit of Uranus

among the orbits of the terrestrial planets

among the orbits of the jovian planets

4.

1 point

Which of these is not a characteristic of the solar nebula theory?

All the planets should follow the ecliptic plane.

All the planets should orbit the sun counterclockwise.

Larger planets should form closer to their star.

Planets should rotate counterclockwise as well.

5.

1 point

The presence of a magnetic field is a good indication that:

A large amount of magnetic material, probably brought to Earth during a meteorite fall, is buried somewhere near the North Pole.

The Earth is completely solid.

The Earth is composed mostly of iron.

A quantity of liquid metal is swirling around in the Earth's core.

6.

1 point

In noting that the Earth is "differentiated," we mean that:

.

The density increases as you descend downward toward the core.

The radioactive heating of the Earth takes place at a slower rate today than it did billions of years ago.

Earth's magnetic field undergoes reversals.

Earth is different from any other planet in the solar system

7.

1 point

Compare the magnitude of the tidal gravitational force on Earth due to Jupiter with that due to the Moon. Assume an Earth-Jupiter distance of 4.2 A.U. Based on your answer do you think that the tidal stresses caused by a "cosmic convergence" -- a chance alignment of the four jovian planets, so that they all appear from Earth to be in exactly the same direction in the sky -- would have any noticeable affect on our planet?

yes

no

8.

1 point

What do moonquakes reveal about the lunar interior?

They show the intensity of the Moon's magnetic field.

They show that the Moon is a geologically very active world.

They show that the Moon is a geologically dead world.

They show that the Moon might have a small, partially molten core

9.

1 point

When two tectonic plates collide:

They do not stop moving, but produce large deformations of various types.

That region is safe from earthquakes.

They stop moving.

Volcanoes always occur along the boundary between the two plates.

10.

1 point

What happens when a solar nebula contracts?

It spins faster.

It heats up.

All of these.

It flattens out.

11.

1 point

The Moon's atmosphere is composed of:

Carbon dioxide.

Hydrogen and helium.

It has no atmosphere.

Nitrogen and oxygen.

12.

1 point

What is the primary ingredient in the Earth's atmosphere?

Oxygen

Nitrogen and oxygen in equal amounts

Carbon Dioxide

Nitrogen

13.

1 point

In composition and density, Jupiter most resembles:

asteroids.

comets.

Uranus

The Sun

14.

1 point

Almost all of the Earth's atmospheric gases lie in the:

exosphere

ozone layer

stratosphere

troposphere

15.

1 point

Pluto is most like a(n) __________.

terrestrial planet

jovian moon

asteroid

jovian planet

16.

1 point

What factor caused different planets to form out of different types of material?

All of these.

The angular momentum of the forming planet.

The variation in temperature throughout the solar nebula.

The quantity of dust particles in the solar nebula.

17.

1 point

The Earth is about _____ covered in water.

60%

50%

70%

80%

18.

1 point

How do the densities of the terrestrial and jovian planets compare?

The terrestrial planets have higher densities than the jovian planets.

No generalization can be made; each planet is quite different from the next.

They all have similar densities.

The jovian planets generally have higher densities than terrestrial planets.

19.

1 point

Seismic waves are most useful for mapping:

the bottom of the ocean.

the Earth's mantle and core.

the ozone layer.

the topography of the continents.

20.

1 point

What is the role of irregularities in the solar system in terms of theories of its origin?

The solar system has no irregularities; it is perfectly regular and orderly.

They introduce a need for flexibility in theories of the solar system's origin.

Theories of the solar system are entirely based on the many irregularities found among the planets and moons.

They are too minor to play a role; astronomers ignore them.

21.

1 point

The lunar mare are found:

all over the entire Moon uniformly.

to be water and ice after all

predominately on far side.

predominately on Earth side.

22.

1 point

One of the following factors, along with temperature, determines whether a body will retain an atmosphere of a given composition.

escape velocity

rate of rotation

size

distance from the sun

23.

1 point

When strong solar wind storms are directed poleward by our magnetic field lines, we get:

hurricanes and tornadoes

auroral displays.

sunspots.

bad sunburn.

24.

1 point

What force on the Moon causes it to keep a single hemisphere toward Earth?

Tidal force

Centripetal force

Centrifugal force

Magnetic force

25.

1 point

Which of the following creates the greatest tidal impact on the Earth?

Both Sun and Moon equally

The Sun

The Moon

Venus

26.

1 point

What was the primary role of dust in the formation of the solar system?

The Sun formed from a vast spinning cloud consisting only of dust.

Dust provided the radioactive elements that initially heated the Sun.

Dust veiled the process by which our solar system formed.

Dust acted as condensation nuclei; platforms to which other particles could attach and form larger particles of matter.

27.

1 point

In light of modern solar system theory, why do the orbits of the planets all lie in the same plane?

The angular momentum of the solar system was kept to a minimum this way.

This happened purely by chance.

The early solar nebula flattened into a disk.

The Sun's gravity forced them into these orbits.

28.

1 point

What is a distinguishing characteristic of planetesimals which was critical to planetary formation?

They are the final stage in planetary formation, before the accretion of gas.

They were large enough so that their gravity could attract more material and grow still larger.

They were the results of fragmentation.

They were "sticky" enough to hold clumps of matter they encountered.

29.

1 point

In density and composition, the asteroids most resemble:

jovian planets.

the Sun.

terrestrial planets.

30.

1 point

How did Mercury's location in the solar system affect its composition?

Mercury is poor in metals because metallic grains could not survive the high temperatures so near the Sun.

The nearby Sun caused ice in Mercury's interior to melt into liquid water.

Mercury is rich in metals because only metallic grains could survive the high temperatures so near the Sun.

Because Mercury is so near the Sun, its composition is similar to the Sun; mostly hydrogen and helium.

31.

1 point

Would the Moon be a good place to do astronomy?

Yes, because the Moon lacks an atmosphere.

No, because it is too close to the Earth and light reflected from the Earth interferes with the darkness of the lunar skies.

No, because people cannot survive for long on the Moon.

Yes, because lunar soil contains glass, which is useful in the construction of mirrors.

32.

1 point

Which of the following has an icy composition?

asteroids

comets

meteoroids

meteors

33.

1 point

Which atmospheric component is chiefly a product of life processes?

carbon dioxide

oxygen

nitrogen

water vapor

34.

1 point

The region in which charged particles are trapped by our magnetic fields are the:

Van Allen belts

Aurora

ozone layer

exosphere

35.

1 point

What is the process of accretion?

The breakup of large objects by violent collisions with other similar-sized objects.

Growth of an object by the accumulation of matter.

The period of time during which the Sun swept away all the excess material in the solar nebula.

It is the process by which the solar nebula became heated during its collapse.

36.

1 point

The oldest rocks on Earth are dated to be:

Nearly a billion years old.

Nearly 4 billion years old.

No more than about 5,000 years old.

Nearly 10 billion years old.

37.

1 point

What theory of the Moon's origin is favored by most astronomers today?

The Moon originated as material torn from Earth by the collision of a large Mars-sized body.

The Moon formed as a separate object near Earth and at about the same time.

The Moon originated as material torn from the young, mostly molten Earth by centrifugal or tidal forces.

The Moon formed far from Earth and was captured by its gravity.

38.

1 point

What might have made the original solar nebula begin to contract?

The large amount of angular momentum in the nebula

Interstellar magnetism.

The Big Bang

The shock wave from a nearby exploding star.

39.

1 point

What is the best description for the history of the Earth's rotation?

It is speeding up at a rate of about 0.013 seconds per century.

It has remained precisely constant over Earth's entire history.

It goes through abrupt changes, faster or slower, that occur unpredictably.

It is very gradually slowing down at about 0.0015 seconds per century.

40.

1 point

What is the goal of comparative planetology?

To determine the origin and evolution of the solar system.

To help plan visits by unmanned spacecraft.

All of these.

To find out which planets might be most suitable for human habitation.