exam 3 Flashcards
- Jupiter emits about twice as much energy per second as it receives from the Sun, probably because of ________. Saturn emits about three times as much energy per second as it receives from the Sun, probably because of ________.
a) escape of residual heat; ongoing differentiation
b) ongoing differentiation; escape of residual heat
c) nuclear reactions; ongoing differentiation
d) escape of residual heat; nuclear reactions
e) tidal forces; rapid rotation
a) escape of residual heat; ongoing differentiation *
- The most common gas in the atmospheres of Mars and Venus is ________. The most common gas in the atmospheres of Jupiter and Saturn is ________.
a) CO2; N2
b) N2; O2
c) CO2; H2
d) H2O; CO2
c) CO2; H2 *
- The channels and outflow features discovered on Mars by Mariner 9 and the Mars Global Surveyor show that
a) there was a huge flood of lava from the southern highlands into the northern lowlands.
b) there was a huge flood of lava from the northern highlands into the southern lowlands.
c) there was a huge flood of water from the southern highlands into the northern lowlands.
d) there was a huge flood of water from the northern highlands into the southern lowlands.
c) there was a huge flood of water from the southern highlands into the northern lowlands. *
- Impact craters on Mercury are generally smaller than impact craters on the Moon because
a) the Moon is closer to the Earth.
b) the Moon has more active volcanoes.
c) the surface gravity of Mercury is higher.
d) the surface gravity of Mercury is lower.
e) Mercury is closer to the Sun.
c) the surface gravity of Mercury is higher. *
- The magnetic fields of Earth, Jupiter, and Neptune are thought to be generated in regions containing ________, respectively.
a) metallic hydrogen; ionic slush; molten iron
b) molten iron; metallic hydrogen; ionic slush
c) ionic slush; molten iron; metallic hydrogen
d) molten iron; metallic hydrogen; metallic hydrogen
e) molten iron; metallic hydrogen; molten iron
b) molten iron; metallic hydrogen; ionic slush *
- The retrograde spin of Venus and the 98 degree tilt of the spin axis of Uranus are thought to be due to
a) recent volcanic activity.
b) violent collisions in the distant past.
c) ancient volcanic activity.
d) huge floods.
e) heating from the Sun.
b) violent collisions in the distant past. *
- The clouds of Venus are composed of droplets of ________. The water that was once on Venus has been ________.
a) nitrogen; destroyed due to heat and solar radiation
b) carbon dioxide; destroyed due to heat and solar radiation
c) sulfuric acid; destroyed due to heat and solar radiation
d) sulfuric acid; absorbed by surface rocks
e) sulfuric acid; frozen out at the poles
c) sulfuric acid; destroyed due to heat and solar radiation *
- The huge “Valles Marineris’’ (Mariner Valley) on Mars was formed by ________. The Grand Canyon on Earth was formed by ________.
a) water erosion; volcanic flows
b) wind erosion; water erosion
c) volcanic flows; water erosion
d) water erosion; tectonic fracturing
e) tectonic fracturing; water erosion
e) tectonic fracturing; water erosion *
- The reverse runaway greenhouse effect probably occurred on Mars because
a) the planet was too warm for enough CO2 and H2O gas to be retained in the atmosphere to form a thermal blanket.
b) the planet was too cold for enough CO2 and H2O gas to be retained in the atmosphere to form a thermal blanket.
c) too many asteroids were hitting the planet.
d) the layer of glass surrounding the planet shattered.
b) the planet was too cold for enough CO2 and H2O gas to be retained in the atmosphere to form a thermal blanket. *
- Currently, Venus is very hot and Mars is very cold. It may be possible for Mars to become Earth-like in the future, but this is not the case for Venus because the water molecules
a) have been absorbed by the rocks under the surface.
b) have been removed by volcanoes.
c) have been split up by solar radiation, with the hydrogen escaping into space.
d) have been split up by solar radiation, with the oxygen escaping into space.
e) have been frozen solid during a solar eclipse.
c) have been split up by solar radiation, with the hydrogen escaping into space. *
- The planets Uranus and Neptune are more blue in appearance than Jupiter and Saturn because
a) Uranus and Neptune have less methane gas in their atmospheres.
b) Uranus and Neptune have more methane gas in their atmospheres.
c) Uranus and Neptune have more ammonia gas in their atmospheres.
d) Uranus and Neptune have less ammonia gas in their atmospheres.
e) the rate at which infrared radiation is emitted by Uranus and Neptune into space equals the rate of solar heating.
b) Uranus and Neptune have more methane gas in their atmospheres. *
- The theory for the Moon’s formation thought to be most likely is
a) the capture theory.
b) the daughter or fission theory.
c) the sister or coformation theory.
d) the collision or impact theory.
d) the collision or impact theory. *
- The sidereal rotation period of Jupiter’s magnetic field is approximately
a) 1 hour
b) 10 hours
c) 24 hours
d) 59 hours
e) 100 hours
b) 10 hours *
- The clouds observed on Jupiter and Saturn have rotation periods that vary with latitude. This is called ________ rotation. The motion of the Great Red Spot on Jupiter is driven by ________.
a) prograde; the shear motion of the surrounding belts
b) differential; the shear motion of the surrounding belts
c) differential; the orbital motion of the Jovian moons
d) transverse; the shear motion of the surrounding belts
e) prograde; the orbital motion of the Jovian moons
b) differential; the shear motion of the surrounding belts *
- The internal heating that powers the volcanoes on Io is caused by
a) radiation from the Sun.
b) decay of radioactive elements.
c) tidal forces from Jupiter.
d) slow gravitational collapse of Io.
e) impacts with other moons of Jupiter.
c) tidal forces from Jupiter. *
- We see that the densities of the planets ________ as we move outward through the solar system, due to ________.
a) increase; condensation, which causes the dense material to stay away from the Sun.
b) decrease; condensation, which causes the dense material to stay near the Sun.
c) increase; differentiation, which causes the dense material to stay away from the Sun.
d) decrease; differentiation, which causes the dense material to stay near the Sun.
d) decrease; differentiation, which causes the dense material to stay near the Sun. *
- Based on telescopic observations, it is easy to see that the maria (dark regions) on the Moon have far fewer craters than the highlands (bright regions). This led scientists to believe that
a) The highlands are 4 billion years old and the maria are 3 billion years old.
b) The highlands are 1 billion years old and the maria are 4 billion years old.
c) The highlands are 4 billion years old and the maria are 100 million years old.
d) The highlands are 1 billion years old and the maria are 100 million years old.
e) The highlands and the maria are both 2 billion years old.
c) The highlands are 4 billion years old and the maria are 100 million years old. *
- Based on radioactive dating of lunar samples bought back to Earth by the Apollo astronauts, we now know that the highlands are actually ________ years older than the maria. This implies that ________.
a) 1 million years; the cratering rate in the solar system increased sharply about 3.5 billion years ago
b) 0.5 billion years; the cratering rate in the solar system dropped sharply about 3.5 billion years ago
c) 0.5 billion years; the cratering rate in the solar system increased sharply about 3.5 billion years ago
d) 1 million years; the cratering rate in the solar system dropped sharply about 3.5 billion years ago
b) 0.5 billion years; the cratering rate in the solar system dropped sharply about 3.5 billion years ago *
- Helium precipitation occurs on Saturn but not on Jupiter because Jupiter ________. The hypothesis of helium precipitation in Saturn’s atmosphere helps to explain its ________ and also the lack of ________ in its clouds.
a) is too cold for helium to condense; high temperature; methane
b) is too cold for helium to condense; low temperature; hydrogen
c) is too warm for helium to condense; high temperature; helium
d) is too warm for helium to condense; high temperature; methane
e) is too warm for hydrogen to condense; low temperature; helium
c) is too warm for helium to condense; high temperature; helium *
- Even though it is close to the Sun, Mercury’s orbit is not synchronous because
a) circular orbits can’t be synchronous.
b) elliptical orbits can’t be synchronous.
c) the cratering rate is too high on Mercury.
d) the solar wind keeps the orbit from being synchronous.
b) elliptical orbits can’t be synchronous. *
- The density of Mercury is similar to the density of the Earth. This implies
a) the atmospheres of the two planets are probably similar.
b) the presence of active volcanoes.
c) there is probably a massive iron core inside Mercury.
d) widespread erosion from the solar wind.
c) there is probably a massive iron core inside Mercury. *
- Since the average densities of the Moon and Mars are about ________, we conclude that both objects ________.
a) 5-6 gm/cm^3; have a large fraction of iron
b) 5-6 gm/cm^3; do not have a large fraction of iron
c) 3-4 gm/cm^3; have a large fraction of iron
d) 3-4 gm/cm^3; do not have a large fraction of iron
e) formed due to violent collisions in the past
d) 3-4 gm/cm^3; do not have a large fraction of iron *
- The densities of the Jovian moons Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto decrease with increasing distance from Jupiter. However, the moons of Saturn do not show this trend. This is because
a) Jupiter is closer to the Sun than Saturn is.
b) Saturn is closer to the Sun than Jupiter is.
c) Jupiter radiated much more heat during the formation of its moons than Saturn did, causing more differentiation of the moon system.
d) Saturn radiated much more heat during the formation of its moon than Jupiter did, causing more differentiation of the moon system.
c) Jupiter radiated much more heat during the formation of its moons than Saturn did, causing more differentiation of the moon system. *
- The 70% albedo of Venus is due to
a) the high surface pressure of the atmosphere.
b) the reflective cloud layer at high altitudes.
c) the high surface density of the atmosphere.
d) the presence of CO2 gas.
e) the presence of runaway greenhouses on the surface.
b) the reflective cloud layer at high altitudes. *
- The spin axis of the planet Uranus is tilted by ________ compared to the orbital axis. This causes ________ seasonal variations.
a) 10 degrees; mild
b) 10 degrees; extreme
c) 98 degrees; mild
d) 98 degrees; extreme
d) 98 degrees; extreme *
- The Cassini division in Saturn’s rings is due to
a) a 1:1 orbital resonance with the moon Mimas.
b) a 2:1 orbital resonance with the moon Rhea.
c) a 3:1 orbital resonance with the moon Rhea.
d) a 2:1 orbital resonance with the moon Mimas.
e) an electromagnetic interaction with the moon Mimas.
d) a 2:1 orbital resonance with the moon Mimas. *
- The planet Mars is easiest to observe during favorable opposition because
a) the planet is closest to the Earth.
b) the planet is closest to the Sun.
c) the planet appears full from Earth.
d) the planet has a low average density.
e) both (a), (b), and (c)
e) both (a), (b), and (c) *
CHAPTER 8 Review & Discussion: 2
Compare and contrast the bulk properties of
Earth, the Moon, and Mercury.
- Mercury and the Earth each have massive iron cores, which push their mean densities up to around 6 grams/cm^3. On the other hand, the Moon has little iron, and therefore it does not have a significant iron core. Hence the mean density of the Moon is only about 3 grams/cm^3.
CHAPTER 8 Review & Discussion: 3)
Employ the concept of escape speed to explain why
the Moon and Mercury have no significant atmospheres.
- The escape velocity is very low on Mercury and the Moon because they have relatively low masses. Therefore most of the gas that would have formed their atmospheres escaped into space long ago.
CHAPTER 8 Review & Discussion: 5)
What does it mean to say that Mercury has a 3:2 spinorbit resonance? Why didn’t Mercury settle into a synchronous orbit around the Sun, as the Moon did around Earth?
- Mercury has a 3:2 spin-orbit resonance. This means that Mercury experiences exactly 3 sidereal days for every 2 sidereal years. This also imples that the length of the solar day on Mercury is equal to 2 sideral years. Mercury can’t settle into a 1:1 spin-orbit resonance because it is in an elliptical orbit, unlike the Moon.
CHAPTER 8 Review & Discussion: 9)
Name two pieces of evidence indicating that
the lunar highlands are older than the maria.
- We think that the lunar highlands are older than the maria because (1) the surface is more heavily cratered and (2) radioactive dating indicates a much higher age.
CHAPTER 9 Review & Discussion: 1)
Why does Venus appear so bright to the eye?
Upon what factors does the planet’s brightness depend?
- Venus is very bright because it is the closest planet to Earth and it has a very high albedo.
CHAPTER 9 Review & Discussion: 2)
Explain why Venus is always found in the same general part of the sky as the Sun.
- Venus is always in the same region of the sky as the Sun because it is an inferior planet, meaning that it is closer to the Sun than the Earth is.
CHAPTER 9 Review & Discussion: 4)
How did radio observations of Venus made in
the 1950s change our conception of the planet?
- Radio observations showed that the surface of the planet is very hot, much hotter than expected based upon the observations of the cloud-tops visible from Earth.
CHAPTER 9 Review & Discussion: 5)
What did ultraviolet images returned by Pioneer
Venus show about the planet’s high-level clouds?
- The ultaviolet images revealed fast-moving upper layers of clouds. These clouds had velocities of up to 400 km/hr.
CHAPTER 9 Review & Discussion: 7)
What are the main constituents of Venus’s atmosphere? What are clouds in the upper atmosphere made of?
The atmosphere of Venus is 96.5 percent carbon dioxide, and 3.5 percent nitrogen, plus other trace gasses. The clouds are made of sulfuric acid.
CHAPTER 9 Review & Discussion: 8)
What component of Venus’s atmosphere causes the planet to be so hot? Explain why there is so much of this gas in the atmosphere of Venus, compared with its presence in Earth’s atmosphere. What happened to all the water that Venus must have had when the planet formed?
- The runaway greenhouse effect occurs when the temperature of a planet is too high for oceans to form and absorb most of the carbon dioxide and water vapor. The failure to remove these greenhouse gasses leads to further heating of the atmosphere, in a runaway process. The water vapor became so hot that is rose high in the atmosphere, until it was broken up by ultraviolet radiation from the Sun. After that, the hydrogen gas escaped into space and the oxygen reacted to form more ** carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide.**
CHAPTER 9 Review & Discussion: 14)
Given that Venus, like Earth, probably has a partially
molten iron-rich core, why doesn’t Venus also have a magnetic field?
- We think that Venus does not have a magnetic field because of the very slow rotation of the planet. This is despite the fact that the planet probably has a molten core.
CHAPTER 10 Review & Discussion: 1)
Why is opposition the best time to see Mars from Earth? Why are some Martian oppositions better than others for viewing Mars?
- The best time to observe Mars from Earth is during favorable opposition, when the distance between the two planets is at a minimum.
CHAPTER 10 Review & Discussion: 4)
Why is Mars red?
- Mars is red due to the presence of iron oxide (rust) on its surface.
CHAPTER 10 Review & Discussion: 8)
What is the evidence that water once flowed on Mars? Is there liquid water on Mars today?
- The evidence that water once flowed on Mars consists of dry runoff channels, riverbeds, and outflow channels.
CHAPTER 10 Review & Discussion: 9)
Is there water on Mars today, in any form?
- There probably is some liquid water on Mars today, as we see in the seasonal outflows that are observed near the equator. There is also likely to be vast quantities of water locked in the permafrost layer beneath the ground at higher latitudes.
CHAPTER 10 Review & Discussion: 13)
What is the evidence that Mars never melted as extensively as Earth?
- The presence of iron on the surface of Mars suggests that Mars never melted as extensively as the Earth did, and therefore it did not undergo complete differentiation.
CHAPTER 11 Review & Discussion: 2)
What is differential rotation, and how is it observed on Jupiter?
- Differential rotation is the failure of an object to rotate as a single solid body. We can observe differential rotation on Jupiter by following the motions of the cloud bands.
CHAPTER 11 Review & Discussion: 4)
What is the Great Red Spot? What is known about the source of its energy?
- The Great Red Spot is a storm that has been visible from Earth for over 300 years. The source of its energy is probably the oppositely-directed flows to the north and south of the spot.
CHAPTER 11 Review & Discussion: 5)
What is the cause of the colors in Jupiter’s atmosphere?
- The colors indicate clouds with various compositions. The different clouds lie at different altitudes in the atmosphere. The highest clouds are white and composed of ammonia ice. The yellows, reds, and browns are found in lower cloud layers which contain ammonium hydrosulfide ice.
