ASTR FINAL EXAM 2024-2025, Exams of Nursing

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Which of the following worlds has the greatest difference in temperature between its "no atmosphere" temperature and its actual temperature? A) Mercury B) Venus C) Earth D) the Moon E) Mars

B) Venus

Why does Venus have such a great difference in temperature between its "no atmosphere" temperature and its actual temperature? A) It has a slow rotation. B) It is so close to the Sun. C) It has a large amount of greenhouse gases in its atmosphere. D) It has a high level of volcanic activity. E) It has no cooling effects from oceans.

C) It has a large amount of greenhouse gases in its atmosphere.

Which planet experiences the greatest change between its actual day temperature and actual night temperature? A) Mercury B) Venus C) Earth D) Mars

A) Mercury

Earth's stratosphere is heated primarily by which process? A) Convection from the Earth's surface. B) Absorption of infrared radiation by greenhouse gases. C) Absorption of visible light by ozone. D) Absorption of ultraviolet radiation by ozone. E) Atoms and molecules absorb infrared sunlight.

D) Absorption of ultraviolet radiation by ozone.

Suppose Earth's atmosphere had no greenhouse gases. Then Earth's average surface temperature would be A) 250 K, which is well below freezing. B) 273 K, or about the freezing point for water. C) 283 K, or about 5 K cooler than it is now. D) 288 K, or about the same as it is now. E) 293 K, or about 5 K warmer than it is now.

A) 250 K, which is well below freezing.

What are greenhouse gases? A) gases that absorb visible light B) gases that absorb ultraviolet light C) gases that absorb infrared light D) gases that transmit visible light E) gases that transmit infrared light

C) gases that absorb infrared light

Which of the following gases absorbs ultraviolet light best? A) carbon dioxide B) nitrogen C) oxygen D) hydrogen E) ozone

E) ozone

X rays from the Sun's corona A) are absorbed in Earth's troposphere. B) are absorbed in Earth's thermosphere. C) cause meteor showers. D) break apart ozone in the stratosphere. E) generally reach Earth's surface and fry us.

B) are absorbed in Earth's thermosphere.

How does the greenhouse effect work? A) Greenhouse gases transmit visible light, allowing it to heat the surface, but then absorb infrared light from Earth, trapping the heat near the surface. B) The higher pressure of the thick atmosphere at lower altitudes traps heat in more effectively. C) Ozone transmits visible light, allowing it to heat the surface, but then absorbs most of the infrared heat, trapping the heat near the surface. D) Greenhouse gases absorb X rays and ultraviolet light from the Sun, which then heat the atmosphere and the surface. E) Greenhouse gases absorb infrared light from the Sun, which then heats the atmosphere and the surface.

A) Greenhouse gases transmit visible light, allowing it to heat the surface, but then absorb infrared light from Earth, trapping the heat near the surface.

The proper order of the layers of a generic atmosphere from lowest altitude to highest is A) troposphere, stratosphere, exosphere, thermosphere. B) troposphere, stratosphere, thermosphere, exosphere. C) stratosphere, troposphere, exosphere, thermosphere. D) stratosphere, troposphere, thermosphere, exosphere. E) none of the above

B) troposphere, stratosphere, thermosphere, exosphere.

What is the exosphere? A) the lowest layer in the atmosphere B) the part of the atmosphere that absorbs optical light C) the part of the atmosphere that absorbs ultraviolet D) the part of the atmosphere that absorbs X rays E) the highest layer in the atmosphere

E) the highest layer in the atmosphere

What is the thermosphere? A) the lowest layer in the atmosphere B) the part of the atmosphere that absorbs optical light C) the part of the atmosphere that absorbs ultraviolet D) the part of the atmosphere that absorbs X rays E) the highest layer in the atmosphere

D) the part of the atmosphere that absorbs X rays

What is the stratosphere? A) the lowest layer in the atmosphere B) the part of the atmosphere that absorbs optical light C) the part of the atmosphere that absorbs ultraviolet D) the part of the atmosphere that absorbs X rays E) the highest layer in the atmosphere

C) the part of the atmosphere that absorbs ultraviolet

What is the troposphere? A) the lowest layer in the atmosphere B) the part of the atmosphere that absorbs optical light C) the part of the atmosphere that absorbs ultraviolet D) the part of the atmosphere that absorbs X rays E) the highest layer in the atmosphere

A) the lowest layer in the atmosphere

Which of the following planets has a stratosphere? A) Mercury B) Venus C) Earth D) Mars E) all of the above

C) Earth

Which of the following planets has an exosphere? A) Mercury B) Venus C) Earth D) Mars E) all of the above

E) all of the above

The thermosphere is warm because it A) absorbs X rays. B) absorbs infrared light. C) absorbs visible light. D) contains greenhouse gases. E) absorbs ultraviolet light.

A) absorbs X rays.

Ultraviolet light is absorbed in the A) exosphere. B) thermosphere. C) stratosphere. D) troposphere. E) none of the above

C) stratosphere.

The ionosphere is a layer of ionized gas that is A) above the exosphere.

B) between the thermosphere and the exosphere. C) within the thermosphere. D) within the stratosphere. E) within the troposphere.

C) within the thermosphere.

The sky is blue because A) molecules scatter blue light more effectively than red light. B) molecules scatter red light more effectively than blue light. C) the Sun mainly emits blue light. D) the atmosphere transmits mostly blue light. E) the atmosphere absorbs mostly blue light.

A) molecules scatter blue light more effectively than red light.

Sunsets are red because A) the Sun emits more red light when it's setting. B) sunlight must pass through more atmosphere then, and the atmosphere scatters even more light at bluer wavelengths, transmitting mostly red light. C) sunlight must pass through more atmosphere then, and the atmosphere scatters more light at red wavelengths than bluer wavelengths. D) the cooler atmosphere in the evening absorbs more blue light. E) none of the above

sunlight must pass through more atmosphere then, and the atmosphere scatters even more light at bluer wavelengths, transmitting mostly red light.

Convection occurs in the troposphere but not in the stratosphere because A) the troposphere is warmer than the stratosphere. B) the troposphere is cooler than the stratosphere. C) lower altitudes of the troposphere are warmer than higher altitudes, unlike in the stratosphere. D) higher altitudes of the troposphere are warmer than lower altitudes, unlike in the stratosphere. E) the troposphere contains fewer greenhouse gases than the stratosphere.

C) lower altitudes of the troposphere are warmer than higher altitudes, unlike in the stratosphere.

Radio communication between distant places on Earth is possible because the A) ionosphere reflects radio signals. B) ionosphere transmits radio signals. C) stratosphere reflects radio signals. D) exosphere reflects radio signals.

A) ionosphere reflects radio signals.

There are no aurora on Venus because it A) lacks atmospheric oxygen. B) is too hot. C) lacks a strong magnetic field.

D) lacks an ionosphere. E) lacks strong winds.

C) lacks a strong magnetic field.

What is the difference in meaning between the terms weather and climate? A) Weather refers to local conditions, and climate refers to global conditions. B) Weather refers to short-term variations in conditions, and climate refers to long-term variations in conditions. C) Weather refers to small storms, and climate refers to large storms. D) Weather refers to wind and rain, and climate refers to processes like convection. E) There is no difference between weather and climate.

B) Weather refers to short-term variations in conditions, and climate refers to long-term variations in conditions.

How is the atmosphere of a planet affected by the rotation rate? A) The rotation rate determines how much atmosphere a planet has. B) The rotation rate determines how long the planet is able to retain its atmosphere. C) Faster rotation rates raise surface temperatures and thus determine how much material is gaseous versus icy or liquid. D) Faster rotation rates raise the atmospheric temperature. E) Faster rotation rates produce stronger winds.

E) Faster rotation rates produce stronger winds.

Which of the following is not caused by the Coriolis effect on Earth? A) The earth's circulation cells are split into three separate cells in each hemisphere. B) Objects moving northward in the Northern Hemisphere are deflected to the east. C) Objects moving southward in the Northern Hemisphere are deflected to the west. D) Hurricanes swirl in opposite directions in the Northern and Southern hemispheres. E) Water going down a drain swirls in opposite directions in the Northern and Southern hemispheres.

E) Water going down a drain swirls in opposite directions in the Northern and Southern hemispheres.

The strength of the Coriolis effect depends on A) a planet's distance from the Sun. B) the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. C) a planet's size and rotation rate. D) a planet's temperature. E) the tilt of a planet's axis.

C) a planet's size and rotation rate.

Which of the following factors could explain a gradual warming trend in a planet's climate? A) a decreasing albedo B) a decrease in the amount of greenhouse gases C) a decrease in the brightness of the Sun

D) a major volcanic eruption that increases the albedo of the planet by making clouds E) none of the above

A) a decreasing albedo

Venus has a high albedo because its surface is covered by A) light-colored rocks. B) snow. C) clouds. D) dust storms. E) volcanic ash.

C) clouds.

Why doesn't Venus have seasons like Mars and Earth do? A) It does not have an ozone layer. B) It is too close to the Sun. C) Its rotation axis is not tilted. D) It does not rotate fast enough. E) all of the above

C) Its rotation axis is not tilted.

Which of the following best describes rain on Venus? A) It does not have rain. B) It has sulfuric acid rain that causes erosion on the surface. C) It has sulfuric acid rain in its atmosphere, but the drops evaporate before hitting the surface. D) It has liquid water rain that causes erosion on the surface. E) It has liquid water rain in its atmosphere, but the drops evaporate before hitting the surface.

C) It has sulfuric acid rain in its atmosphere, but the drops evaporate before hitting the surface.

Why does Mars have more extreme seasons than Earth? A) because it is farther from the Sun B) because it has a larger axis tilt C) because it has a more eccentric orbit in addition to its tilt D) because it has more carbon dioxide in its atmosphere E) all of the above

C) because it has a more eccentric orbit in addition to its tilt

Where is most of the water on Mars? A) in its clouds B) in its polar caps and subsurface ground ice C) frozen on the peaks of its tall volcanoes D) in deep underground deposits E) distributed evenly throughout its atmosphere

B) in its polar caps and subsurface ground ice

Which of the following is not one of the four major factors that can cause a long-term change in a planet's climate? A) the fact that the Sun has gradually grown brighter over the past 4 billion years B) a change in the planet's axis tilt C) a change in the planet's abundance of greenhouse gases D) a change in the amount of dust particles suspended in the planet's atmosphere E) a change in the strength of the planet's magnetic field

E) a change in the strength of the planet's magnetic field

What is the main reason mountaintops are so cold? A) The air is thinner at higher altitudes. B) Mountaintops are above much of the greenhouse gas in the atmosphere. C) The winds are stronger at higher altitudes. D) There is more water vapor at higher altitudes, causing there to be more snow. E) All of the above are true.

B) Mountaintops are above much of the greenhouse gas in the atmosphere.

Why isn't Earth's atmosphere mostly hydrogen? A) Earth formed too close to the Sun for any planetesimals to have hydrogen. B) All the hydrogen was blasted away during the early bombardment stage of the solar system. C) Light gases such as hydrogen move faster than heavier gases and escape from Earth's gravitational field. D) The hydrogen is frozen in the polar ice caps. E) All the hydrogen reacted with oxygen and formed the oceans.

C) Light gases such as hydrogen move faster than heavier gases and escape from Earth's gravitational field.

The atmosphere on Mercury is due to A) volcanic outgassing. B) evaporation. C) sublimation. D) bombardment. E) There is no detectable atmosphere on Mercury.

D) bombardment.

Why is Mars red? 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.

B) Its surface rocks were rusted by oxygen.

Venus may have started with an ocean's worth of water. Where is its water now? A) The original water remains vaporized in the atmosphere due to Venus's intense heat. B) Most of the water is frozen beneath the surface. C) Most of the water combined with rocks in chemical reactions. D) The water was lost when ultraviolet light broke apart water molecules and the hydrogen escaped to space. E) The water changed to carbon dioxide through chemical reactions.

D) The water was lost when ultraviolet light broke apart water molecules and the hydrogen escaped to space.

Deuterium is more abundant on Venus than elsewhere in the solar system. What do we think this fact tells us about Venus? A) It was formed in a part of the solar nebula where deuterium condensed easily. B) It was formed in a part of the solar nebula where deuterium was surprisingly abundant. C) It once had huge amounts of water in its atmosphere. D) It once had an atmosphere made mostly of hydrogen. E) Its volcanoes outgassed primarily carbon dioxide and deuterium, but little water.

C) It once had huge amounts of water in its atmosphere.

Which of the following is not a product of outgassing? A) water B) nitrogen C) oxygen D) carbon dioxide E) sulfur dioxide

C) oxygen

Which of the following statements about the greenhouse effect is true? A) Without the naturally occurring greenhouse effect, Earth would be too cold to have liquid oceans. B) A weak greenhouse effect operates on Mars. C) The burning of fossil fuels increases the greenhouse effect on Earth because of the release of carbon dioxide. D) One result of an increased greenhouse effect on Earth may be an increased number of severe storms. E) All of the above are true.

E) All of the above are true.

Why does the burning of fossil fuels increase the greenhouse effect on Earth? A) Burning fuel warms the planet. B) Burning releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. C) Burning depletes the amount of ozone, thereby warming the planet. D) Burning produces infrared light, which is then trapped by existing greenhouse gases. E) All of the above are true.

B) Burning releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Why would the weather become more severe as the greenhouse effect increased? A) Warming would increase the evaporation of the oceans, leading to more water in the atmosphere and more frequent and severe storms. B) Warming of the planet would lead to terrible droughts and reduce the amount of water on Earth. C) Warming would dry out the atmosphere and the crust, leading to devastation of Earth through more meteor bombardment and volcanism. D) The depleted ozone layer would let in more particles from the solar wind. E) all of the above

A) Warming would increase the evaporation of the oceans, leading to more water in the atmosphere and more frequent and severe storms.

Of the four gases CO2, H2O, N2, and O2, which are greenhouse gases? A) only CO B) CO2 and H2O C) CO2 and N D) all except O E) all four

B) CO2 and H2O

Earth's atmosphere contains only small amounts of carbon dioxide because A) Earth's volcanoes did not outgas as much carbon dioxide as those on Venus and Mars. B) most of the carbon dioxide was lost during the age of bombardment. C) chemical reactions with other gases destroyed the carbon dioxide and replaced it with the nitrogen that is in the atmosphere now. D) carbon dioxide dissolves in water, and most of it is now contained in the oceans and carbonate rocks. E) Earth doesn't have as strong a greenhouse effect as is present on Venus.

D) carbon dioxide dissolves in water, and most of it is now contained in the oceans and carbonate rocks.

What are oxidation reactions? A) reactions that produce oxygen atoms B) reactions that destroy oxygen atoms C) reactions that remove oxygen from the atmosphere, such as fire and rust D) reactions that convert CO2 to O E) all of the above, i.e., any reaction involving oxygen

C) reactions that remove oxygen from the atmosphere, such as fire and rust

What are fossil fuels? A) any fuel that releases CO2 into the atmosphere upon burning B) any fuel that is extracted from the interior of Earth C) mineral-rich deposits from ancient seabeds D) the carbon-rich remains of plants that died millions of years ago E) carbonate-rich deposits from ancient seabeds

D) the carbon-rich remains of plants that died millions of years ago

If Earth were to warm up a bit, what would happen? A) Carbonate materials would form in the oceans more rapidly, the atmospheric CO2 content would decrease, and the greenhouse effect would weaken slowly over time. B) Carbonate materials would form in the oceans more slowly, the atmospheric CO2 content would increase, and the greenhouse effect would strengthen slowly over time. C) Carbonate materials would form in the oceans more rapidly, the atmospheric CO2 content would decrease, and the greenhouse effect would strengthen slowly over time. D) There would be a runaway greenhouse effect, with Earth becoming ever hotter until the oceans evaporated (as may have happened on Venus). E) The ice caps would melt and cool Earth back to its normal temperature.

Carbonate materials would form in the oceans more rapidly, the atmospheric CO2 content would decrease, and the greenhouse effect would weaken slowly over time.

The most recent ice age ended A) about 1000 years ago. B) about 10,000 years ago. C) about 100,000 years ago. D) about one million years ago. E) hundreds of millions of years ago.

B) about 10,000 years ago.

Geological evidence points to a history of extended ice ages in Earth's history. How did Earth recover from this snowball phase? A) The increased ice coverage on Earth's surface absorbed more sunlight than water and rocks, thus gradually heating Earth until the ice melted. B) Life vanished, leading to an increase in CO2, and increased global warming, eventually melting the ice. C) Volcanoes continued to inject CO2 into Earth's atmosphere, increasing the greenhouse effect to the point where ice melted. D) Plate tectonics gradually subducted all the ice below Earth's surface. E) As the Sun aged, it grew brighter and increased Earth's temperature, melting the ice.

C) Volcanoes continued to inject CO2 into Earth's atmosphere, increasing the greenhouse effect to the point where ice melted.

From where did the molecular oxygen in Earth's atmosphere originate? A) photosynthesis from plant life B) photosynthesis from single-celled organisms C) outgassing from volcanoes D) atmospheric bombardment E) oxidation of surface rocks

B) photosynthesis from single-celled organisms

Why do jovian planets bulge around the equator, that is, have a "squashed" appearance? A) They are much more massive than the terrestrial planets. B) Their large systems of moons and rings gravitationally attract the mass around the equator more.

C) Their rapid rotation flings the mass near the equator outward. D) Their internal heat sources exert a pressure against the sides of the planets. E) all of the above

C) Their rapid rotation flings the mass near the equator outward.

How much energy does Jupiter emit compared with how much it receives from the Sun? A) It emits 10 times as much. B) It emits twice as much. C) It emits half as much. D) It emits 10 percent as much. E) It emits 1 percent as much.

B) It emits twice as much.

How many more times is the atmospheric pressure in Jupiter's core greater than the atmospheric pressure at Earth's surface? A) 10 thousand B) 100 thousand C) 1 million D) 10 million E) 100 million

E) 100 million

Which of the following does not yield information on jovian planet interiors? A) Earth-based observations of the mass and size of the planets B) spacecraft measurements of magnetic and gravitational fields C) laboratory studies and theoretical models D) spectroscopy of the cloud layers E) detailed observations of planetary shapes

D) spectroscopy of the cloud layers

How do astronomers think Jupiter generates its internal heat? A) radioactive decay B) internal friction due to its high rotation rate C) chemical processes D) nuclear fusion in the core E) by contracting, changing gravitational potential energy into thermal energy

E) by contracting, changing gravitational potential energy into thermal energy

How does Jupiter's core compare to Earth's? A) It is the same size and mass. B) It is about 10 times larger both in size and mass. C) It is about 10 times larger in size and the same mass. D) It is about the same size but is 10 times more massive. E) Jupiter doesn't have a core-it is made entirely from hydrogen and helium.

D) It is about the same size but is 10 times more massive.

Why is Jupiter denser than Saturn? A) It is made of a different composition than Saturn, including a higher proportion of hydrogen compounds and rocks. B) The extra mass of Jupiter compresses its interior to a greater extent than that of Saturn. C) Its core is much larger than Saturn's. D) It has a greater proportion of helium to hydrogen compared to Saturn. E) It is unknown why this is so.

B) The extra mass of Jupiter compresses its interior to a greater extent than that of Saturn.

Why is Neptune denser than Saturn? A) It has a different composition than Saturn, including a higher proportion of hydrogen compounds and rocks. B) It has a greater proportion of hydrogen than Saturn. C) The extra mass of Neptune compresses its interior to a greater extent than that of Saturn. D) Its hydrogen is molecular, whereas Saturn's hydrogen is atomic. E) It is not denser than Saturn.

A) It has a different composition than Saturn, including a higher proportion of hydrogen compounds and rocks.

Why is Saturn almost as big as Jupiter, despite its smaller mass? A) Jupiter's greater mass compresses it more, thus increasing its density. B) Saturn's rings make the planet look bigger. C) Saturn is further from the Sun, thus cooler, and therefore less compact. D) Saturn has a larger proportion of hydrogen and helium than Jupiter, and is therefore less dense. E) Jupiter's strong magnetic field constrains its size.

A) Jupiter's greater mass compresses it more, thus increasing its density.

How do astronomers think Saturn generates its internal heat? A) radioactive decay B) internal friction due to its high rotation rate C) chemical processes D) by raining dense helium droplets from higher to lower altitudes, resembling the process of differentiation E) nuclear fusion in the core

D) by raining dense helium droplets from higher to lower altitudes, resembling the process of differentiation

How do the jovian planet interiors differ? A) All have cores of about the same mass, but differ in the amount of surrounding hydrogen and helium. B) The core mass decreases with the mass of the planet. C) The composition changes from mostly ammonia in Jupiter and Saturn to mostly methane in Uranus and Neptune.

D) The composition changes from mostly hydrogen in Jupiter and Saturn to mostly helium in Uranus and Neptune. E) All have about the same amount of hydrogen and helium but the proportion of rocks is greater in those planets closer to the Sun.

A) All have cores of about the same mass, but differ in the amount of surrounding hydrogen and helium.

Why do the jovian planet interiors differ? A) The more distant planets formed in a cooler region of the solar nebula and therefore contain a greater proportion of ices than the closer jovian planets. B) They differ due to giant impacts at the late stages of planet formation. C) Accretion took longer further from the Sun, so the more distant planets formed their cores later and captured less gas from the solar nebula than the closer jovian planets. D) The solar heating is less for the more distant planets than the closer planets. E) The more distant planets had longer to form than the closer planets, since the solar nebula lasted longer at greater distances from the Sun.

C) Accretion took longer further from the Sun, so the more distant planets formed their cores later and captured less gas from the solar nebula than the closer jovian planets.

Why does Jupiter have several distinct cloud layers? A) Different layers represent clouds made of gases that condense at different temperatures. B) Different layers represent the various regions where the temperature is cool enough for liquid water to condense. C) Different gases are present at different altitudes in Jupiter's atmosphere. D) Winds prevent clouds from forming at some altitudes, so we see clouds only at the other altitudes. E) Clouds form randomly, so on average there are always several layers.

A) Different layers represent clouds made of gases that condense at different temperatures.

The belts and zones of Jupiter are A) alternating bands of rising and falling air at different latitudes. B) cyclonic and anticyclonic storms. C) names for different cloud layers on Jupiter. D) alternating regions of charged particles in Jupiter's magnetic field. E) the thermosphere and stratosphere respectively.

A) alternating bands of rising and falling air at different latitudes.

What is Jupiter's Great Red Spot? A) the place where reddish particles from Io impact Jupiter's surface B) a hurricane that comes and goes on Jupiter C) a large mountain peak poking up above the clouds D) a long-lived, high-pressure storm E) the place where Jupiter's aurora is most visible

D) a long-lived, high-pressure storm

Why do Uranus and Neptune have blue methane clouds but Jupiter and Saturn do not? A) Methane does not condense into ice in the warmer atmospheric temperatures of Jupiter and Saturn. B) Methane did not exist in the solar nebula at the radii of Jupiter and Saturn when the planets formed. C) The greater gravitational force of Jupiter and Saturn prevents the methane from rising to the upper edges of the atmosphere. D) Methane reacts with the abundant ammonia clouds in Jupiter and Saturn. E) The relatively slow rotation of Uranus and Neptune allows methane to migrate to higher levels in the atmosphere and condense into clouds.

A) Methane does not condense into ice in the warmer atmospheric temperatures of Jupiter and Saturn.

The four Galilean moons around Jupiter are A) all made of rock. B) all made of ice. C) a mixture of rock and ice. D) very similar to asteroids. E) hydrogen and helium gas.

C) a mixture of rock and ice.

Why are there no impact craters on the surface of Io? A) It is too small to have been bombarded by planetesimals in the early solar system. B) Jupiter's strong gravity attracted the planetesimals more strongly than Io and thus none landed on its surface. C) Io did have impact craters but they have all been buried in lava flows. D) Any craters that existed have been eroded through the strong winds on Io's surface. E) Io's thick atmosphere obscures the view of the craters.

C) Io did have impact craters but they have all been buried in lava flows.

The fact that most moons always show the same face to their planet is A) very surprising and a great mystery. B) a natural consequence of the fact that the entire solar nebula rotated in the same direction. C) explained by the law of conservation of angular momentum. D) a natural consequence of tidal forces acting on the moons. E) a result of the fact that the moons once had atmospheres.

D) a natural consequence of tidal forces acting on the moons.

) What causes synchronous rotation? A) Most jovian moons were formed out of their planet's nebula with the same rotational period as their parent planet. B) Most jovian moons were formed out of their planet's nebula with the same orbital period. C) A massive planet exerts a tidal force on a moon that causes the moon to obtain the same rotational period as its parent planet. D) A massive planet exerts a tidal force on a moon that causes the moon to align itself such that its tidal bulges always point toward and away from the planet. E) orbital resonances with other moons

A massive planet exerts a tidal force on a moon that causes the moon to align itself such that its tidal bulges always point toward and away from the planet.

What is the most important reason why an icy moon is more likely to be geologically active than a rocky moon of the same size? A) Ice has a lower melting point than rock. B) Ice is less rigid than rock. C) Ice contains more radioactive elements than rock. D) Ice is affected by tidal forces to a greater extent than rock. E) Ice is less dense than rock.

A) Ice has a lower melting point than rock.

What mechanism is most responsible for generating the internal heat of Io that drives the volcanic activity? A) accretion B) radioactive decay C) differentiation D) tidal heating E) bombardment

D) tidal heating

Which of the following is not due to tidal forces? A) the synchronous rotation of the Moon around Earth B) the volcanos on Io (a moon of Jupiter) C) the rings of Saturn D) the grooved terrain of Enceladus (a moon of Saturn) E) the backward orbit of Triton (a moon of Neptune)

E) the backward orbit of Triton (a moon of Neptune)

Which moon has the most substantial atmosphere? A) Titan B) Ganymede C) Io D) Europa E) Mimas

A) Titan

What is the most abundant gas in Titan's atmosphere? A) methane B) nitrogen C) hydrogen compounds D) oxygen E) argon

B) nitrogen

Which of the following statements about Titan is not true? A) It may have an ocean of liquid ethane. B) Its atmosphere is mostly nitrogen. C) Its temperature is too cold for liquid water to exist. D) Its surface is hidden from view by its thick atmosphere. E) It is the coldest moon in the solar system.

E) It is the coldest moon in the solar system.

Why does Titan have such a nitrogen-rich atmosphere? A) It was formed that way in the solar nebula. B) The nitrogen comes from the breakup of ammonia (NH3) by solar radiation and subsequent thermal escape of the hydrogen. C) The nitrogen was formed from the chemical reaction of sulphuric acid with surface rocks. D) Through the impact of nitrogen rich comets during the early solar system. E) The nitrogen was created through a chain of fusion reactions in Titan's core.

B) The nitrogen comes from the breakup of ammonia (NH3) by solar radiation and subsequent thermal escape of the hydrogen.

Why do astronomers think Miranda has such an unusual surface? A) It underwent an episode of tidal heating in the past. B) It was squashed by a giant impact. C) It formed from the remains of a giant impact relatively recently. D) Its surface is covered with a powdery dust from micrometeorite impacts. E) Its low temperature affects the colors of its surface ice.

A) It underwent an episode of tidal heating in the past.

Why do astronomers believe Triton may have been a planet that was captured by Neptune? A) It orbits Neptune in the opposite direction of Neptune's rotation. B) It is too large to have been formed in the jovian nebula that formed Neptune. C) It has an atmosphere and a measurable greenhouse effect. D) It undergoes seasonal changes. E) It is colder than any other moon or planet.

A) It orbits Neptune in the opposite direction of Neptune's rotation.

How thick are Saturn's rings from top to bottom? A) a few million kilometers B) a few tens of thousands of kilometers C) a few hundred kilometers D) a few kilometers E) a few tens of meters

E) a few tens of meters

Why are Saturn's rings so thin? A) Saturn's gravity prevents particles from migrating upwards out of the rings.

B) The "gap" moons shepherd the particles and maintain its thin profile. C) Any particle in the ring with an orbital tilt would collide with other ring particles, flattening its orbit. D) Solar radiation pressure keeps particles pressed into the rings. E) The current thinness is a short-lived phenomenon that is special to this time.

C) Any particle in the ring with an orbital tilt would collide with other ring particles, flattening its orbit.

Planetary rings are A) nearer to their planet than any of the planet's large moons. B) orbiting in the equatorial plane of their planet. C) composed of a large number of individual particles that orbit their planet in accord with Kepler's third law. D) known to exist for all of the jovian planets. E) all of the above

E) all of the above

What is the Cassini division of Saturn's rings? A) a dark ring, visible from Earth, composed of dark, dusty particles B) a large gap, visible from Earth C) the imaginary circle marking the halfway point of Saturn's rings D) the widest ring of Saturn, located between two large ring gaps E) the most opaque ring of Saturn, made of highly reflective ice particles

B) a large gap, visible from Earth

Which of the following statements about the rings of the four jovian planets is not true? A) All rings lie within their planet's Roche zone. B) All the particle orbits are fairly circular, near their planet's equatorial plane. C) All have gaps and ringlets, probably due to gap moons, shepherd moons, and orbital resonances. D) All probably look much like they did when the solar system first formed. E) All are made of individual particles of rock or ice that orbit in accord with Kepler's laws: inner ring particles orbiting faster, and outer ring particles orbiting slower. Answer: D

D) All probably look much like they did when the solar system first formed.

Which of the jovian planets have rings? A) Jupiter B) Saturn C) Uranus D) Neptune E) all of the above

E) all of the above

Which of the following planets cannot be seen with the naked eye? A) Venus B) Mars

C) Jupiter D) Saturn E) Neptune

E) Neptune

Which previously unknown planet's location was predicted from mathematical calculations of orbital motions? A) Mercury B) Uranus C) Neptune D) Pluto E) all of the above

C) Neptune

Which of the following statements about comets and asteroids is true? A) Only asteroids collide with Earth. B) Comets are balls of ice and dust. C) Most of the trillions of comets in our solar system have tails. D) All asteroids lie in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. E) There are about 1 million known asteroids in the solar system.

B) Comets are balls of ice and dust.

What do asteroids and comets have in common? A) Most are unchanged since their formation in the solar nebula. B) They have similar densities. C) They have similar orbital radii. D) They have a similar range of orbital inclinations. E) They have nothing in common with each other.

A) Most are unchanged since their formation in the solar nebula.

A rocky leftover planetesimal orbiting the Sun is A) a comet. B) a meteor. C) an asteroid. D) a meteorite. E) possibly any of the above

C) an asteroid.

An icy leftover planetesimal orbiting the Sun is A) a comet. B) a meteor. C) an asteroid. D) a meteorite. E) possibly any of the above

A) a comet.

Why do asteroids and comets differ in composition? A) Asteroids formed inside the frost line, while comets formed outside. B) Asteroids and comets formed at different times. C) Comets formed from the jovian nebula, while asteroids did not. D) Comets are much larger than asteroids. E) Asteroids are much larger than comets.

A) Asteroids formed inside the frost line, while comets formed outside.

What is the size of the largest asteroid? A) 1 km B) 10 km C) 100 km D) 1,000 km E) 10,000 km

D) 1,000 km

How does the largest asteroid, Ceres, compare in size to other solar system worlds? A) It is larger than Pluto and Mercury. B) It is about the size of a large jovian moon. C) It is about the size of Pluto. D) It is about a quarter the size of the Moon. E) It is smaller than any jovian moon.

D) It is about a quarter the size of the Moon.

Which is closest to the average distance between asteroids in the asteroid belt? A) 1 thousand km B) 10 thousand km C) 100 thousand km D) 1 million km E) 10 million km

D) 1 million km

The combined mass of all the asteroids in the asteroid belt is A) less than that of any terrestrial planet. B) about the same as that of Earth. C) about twice that of Earth. D) about the same as that of Jupiter. E) more than that of all the planets combined.

A) less than that of any terrestrial planet.

Where are the Trojan asteroids located? A) surrounding Jupiter

B) along Jupiter's orbit, 60° ahead of and behind Jupiter C) in the center of the asteroid belt D) on orbits that cross Earth's orbit E) on orbits that cross Mars's orbit

B) along Jupiter's orbit, 60° ahead of and behind Jupiter

We know that there are large gaps in the average distances of asteroids from the Sun (within the asteroid belt) because we A) see the gaps through telescopes. B) see the gaps via stellar occultation. C) know they are there theoretically, although we haven't detected them. D) actually don't know whether there really are gaps or not. E) have plotted distributions of the orbital radii of the asteroids.

E) have plotted distributions of the orbital radii of the asteroids.

The large gaps in the asteroid belt (often called Kirkwood gaps) are caused by A) large asteroids that clear certain regions of the asteroid belt. B) tidal forces from Jupiter. C) tidal forces from the Sun. D) orbital resonances with Jupiter. E) the competing gravitational tugs of Mars and Jupiter.

D) orbital resonances with Jupiter.

Why do we sometimes observe asteroids at the distances of the gaps in the asteroid belt? A) A gap is located at an average orbital distance, and asteroid orbits often have large eccentricities. B) Jupiter's gravitational tugs keep them there. C) They are held in place by resonances with other asteroids. D) They are kept in place by shepherding asteroids. E) Actually, we never see asteroids in the gaps.

A) A gap is located at an average orbital distance, and asteroid orbits often have large eccentricities.

Why isn't there a planet where the asteroid belt is located? A) There was not enough material in this part of the solar nebula to form a planet. B) A planet once formed here, but it was broken apart by a catastrophic collision. C) Gravitational tugs from Jupiter prevented material from collecting together to form a planet. D) There was too much rocky material to form a terrestrial planet, but not enough gaseous material to form a jovian planet. E) The temperature in this portion of the solar nebula was just right to prevent rock from sticking together.

C) Gravitational tugs from Jupiter prevented material from collecting together to form a planet.

How can we determine an asteroid's reflectivity? A) by determining its mass B) by comparing its infrared thermal emission to its visible-light reflection

C) by seeing how dark or light it looks in telescopic images D) by determining how far from the Sun it is E) by determining its size

B) by comparing its infrared thermal emission to its visible-light reflection

If we know the size of an asteroid, we can determine its density by A) comparing its reflectivity to the amount of light it reflects. B) looking for brightness variations as it rotates. C) determining its mass from its gravitational pull on a spacecraft, satellite, or planet. D) radar mapping. E) spectroscopic imaging.

C) determining its mass from its gravitational pull on a spacecraft, satellite, or planet.

Why aren't small asteroids spherical in shape? A) The strength of gravity on small asteroids is less than the strength of the rock. B) Small asteroids have odd shapes because they were all chipped off larger objects. C) Large asteroids were once molten and therefore became spherical, but small asteroids were never molten. D) Large asteroids became spherical because many small collisions chipped off pieces until only a sphere was left; this did not occur with small asteroids.

A) The strength of gravity on small asteroids is less than the strength of the rock.

What is a meteorite? A) a streak of light caused by a star moving across the sky B) a streak of light caused by a small particle from space burning up in Earth's atmosphere C) a fragment of an asteroid from the solar system that has fallen to Earth's surface D) a small moon that orbits one of the giant planets E) a comet that burns up in Earth's atmosphere

C) a fragment of an asteroid from the solar system that has fallen to Earth's surface

What do we call a small piece of solar system debris found on Earth? A) solar system debris B) cometary fragment C) meteor D) meteorite E) meteoroid

D) meteorite

A typical shooting star in a meteor shower is caused by a ________ entering Earth's atmosphere. A) boulder-size particle from an asteroid B) boulder-size particle from a comet C) pea-size particle from an asteroid D) pea-size particle from a comet E) microscopic particle of interstellar dust

D) pea-size particle from a comet

What characteristic distinguishes a meteorite from a terrestrial rock? A) A meteorite is usually covered with a dark crust from burning in Earth's atmosphere. B) A meteorite usually has a high metal content. C) Meteorites have different isotope ratios of particular elements when compared to terrestrial rocks. D) Meteorites contain rare elements, such as iridium, that terrestrial rocks do not. E) All of the above are true.

E) All of the above are true.

Primitive meteorites can be distinguished from other meteorites and terrestrial rocks because they A) contain a noticeable fraction of pure metallic flakes. B) resemble the composition of Earth's core. C) contain a lot of iron and were used by humans to make iron tools. D) resemble the composition of Earth's mantle. E) resemble the composition of rocks from lava flows that occurred on asteroids very shortly after the formation of the solar system.

A) contain a noticeable fraction of pure metallic flakes.

Most meteorites are A) carbon-rich and primitive. B) rocky and primitive. C) carbon-rich and processed. D) rocky and processed. E) iron-rich and processed.

B) rocky and primitive.

Processed meteorites with low metal content probably are A) leftover chunks of rock from the earliest period in the formation of the solar system. B) pieces of comets rather than of asteroids. C) chunks of a larger asteroid that was shattered by a collision. D) chunks of rock chipped off the planet Mercury. E) chunks of rock chipped off the planet Mars.

C) chunks of a larger asteroid that was shattered by a collision.

Meteorites can come from A) the cores of asteroids. B) the Moon. C) Mars. D) comets. E) all of the above

E) all of the above

Halley's comet is named after the English scientist Edmund Halley because he A) discovered it. B) was the first to see it in 1682. C) calculated its orbit and predicted that it would return in 1758. D) was the most famous astronomer in England during its appearance. E) was the first to publish pictures of it and report it to the International Astronomical Union (IAU).

C) calculated its orbit and predicted that it would return in 1758.

In order to have a comet named after you, you have to A) calculate its orbit and predict when it will return. B) publish a picture of it in an astronomical journal. C) be one of the first three discoverers who report it to the International Astronomical Union (IAU). D) be a well-known astronomer. E) be and do all of the above

C) be one of the first three discoverers who report it to the International Astronomical Union (IAU).

When do comets generally begin to form a tail? A) inside Mercury's orbit B) between Mercury and Earth's orbit C) beyond Jupiter's orbit D) inside of Jupiter's orbit E) They always have a tail (until they run out of material).

D) inside of Jupiter's orbit

What part of a comet points most directly away from the Sun? A) the nucleus B) the coma C) the jets of gas D) the plasma tail E) the dust tail

D) the plasma tail

Why does the plasma tail of a comet always point away from the Sun? A) The solar wind electromagnetically "blows" the ions directly away from the Sun. B) Radiation pressure from the Sun's light pushes the ions away. C) The conservation of the angular momentum of the tail keeps it always pointing away from the Sun. D) Gases from the comet, heated by the Sun, push the tail away from the Sun. E) It is allergic to sunlight.

A) The solar wind electromagnetically "blows" the ions directly away from the Sun.

Where did comets that are now in the Oort cloud originally form? A) near the jovian planets B) outside Neptune's orbit C) inside Jupiter's orbit

D) within the solar nebula, but far outside the orbit of Pluto E) all of the above

A) near the jovian planets

Where did comets that are now in the Kuiper belt originally form? A) in the asteroid belt B) inside Jupiter's orbit C) between the orbits of Jupiter and Neptune D) near the radius at which they orbit today E) in the Oort cloud

D) near the radius at which they orbit today

Comets with extremely elliptical orbits, like comets Hyakutake and Hale-Bopp, A) come from the asteroid belt. B) come from the Kuiper belt. C) come from the Oort cloud. D) are Trojan comets. E) are captured by Jupiter.

C) come from the Oort cloud.

The number of comets in the Oort cloud is probably about A) a thousand. B) a million. C) a billion. D) a trillion. E) a quintillion.

D) a trillion.

What is the typical size of comets that enter the inner solar system? A) 1 km B) 10 km C) 100 km D) 1000 km E) Comet sizes are unknown because their tails obscure the nucleus.

B) 10 km

When was Pluto discovered? A) about 30 years ago B) about 80 years ago C) about 200 years ago D) about 2000 years ago E) in ancient history

B) about 80 years ago