Final Exam Flashcards
Jupiter is different from the terrestrial planets in what important way?
A. It shows atmospheric perturbations. B. It radiates more energy than it receives from the Sun. C. It is denser. D. It has a rocky surface. E. None of the above.
B. It radiates more energy than it receives from the Sun.
The banding of Jupiter’s atmosphere is probably related to which of the following?
A. Jupiter’s atmosphere shows no banding.
B. Reflection of the surface features.
C. Turbulent winds in the atmosphere of this rapidly spinning planet.
D. The composition of the atmosphere.
C. Turbulent winds in the atmosphere of this rapidly spinning planet.
Jupiter is composed mainly of ____________.
A. hydrogen, lithium, and sodium
B. rocky silicate materials
C. water ice
D. hydrogen and helium
D. hydrogen and helium
Why is Jupiter so much larger than all of the terrestrial planets combined?
A. It radiates a significant amount of energy like the Sun.
B. It formed in the outer solar system where water ice was stable.
C. It has low density.
D. It has a large gravitational attraction.
B. It formed in the outer solar system where water ice was stable.
Where does Jupiter’s large magnetic field come from?
A. It develops like Earth’s field when convection happens in a layer of molten iron deep inside.
B. All planets that spin have magnetic fields.
C. Convection in a layer of ionized hydrogen may create the magnetic field.
D. It is induced by the orbital motions of its moons and the ring system.
C. Convection in a layer of ionized hydrogen may create the magnetic field.
What are some important characteristics of the atmosphere of Jupiter? (Select all that apply.)
A. Jupiter’s atmosphere formed by outgassing of solids in its interior.
B. The clouds are made of ices of ammonia (NH3) and water.
C. The main gases in the atmosphere are ammonia and methane
D. Jupiter’s atmosphere formed by trapping nebula gas on to a large icy core.
E. It is poor in carbon dioxide, unlike Mars.
B, D & E
PHOTO - This diagram shows the layered structure of Jupiter. Which letter labels the zone that consists of metallic hydrogen?
B
How are the rings of Jupiter related to the small moons Adrastea and Metis?
A. The magnetic fields of tiny Adrastea and Metis shepherd small chunks of ice into a narrow ring.
B. Collisions at the surface of these bodies may send showers of small particles spiraling inward to Jupiter.
C. Geysers of liquid water spew from the surface, freeze into droplets of ice, and go in orbit around Jupiter.
B. Collisions at the surface of these bodies may send showers of small particles spiraling inward to Jupiter.
In what way is Io similar to Earth’s Moon? (Select all that apply.)
A. They are about the same size. B. Both are tidally locked with one face pointed toward their host planet. C. Both have active volcanoes. D. Both have heavily cratered surfaces. E. They have about the same density.
A, B & E
The surface of Io is thought to be less than a million years old because ________________.
A. it is internally differentiated
B. volcanoes have been discovered on its surface
C. it has no impact craters
D. it is too close to Jupiter
C. it has no impact craters
Which of the following are major differences between Io and Europa?
A. Europa is much larger than Io.
B. The age of their surfaces.
C. Europa is much denser than Io.
D. The composition of the surface materials.
D. The composition of the surface materials.
The age of the surface of Europa is like which of the satellites of Jupiter?
A. Ganymede
B. Io
C. Amalthea
D. Callisto
B. Io
Which of the following statements is true about Europa?
A. Europa has abundant craters and large impact basins.
B. Europa has no water ice at its surface and is dominated by silicates.
C. It is composed of ice throughout.
D. It has crisscrossing stripes and fractures.
D. It has crisscrossing stripes and fractures.
The most volcanically active body in the solar system is ______________.
A. Jupiter B. Enceladus C. Europa D. Earth E. Io
E. Io
PHOTO - Which of these close up views is an image of part of Europa?
A
Europa has large fractures and polygons of ice, while Io has bright yellow and orange colors with volcanic features
PHOTO - This set of photographs shows various landscapes on Io and Europa. Which image likely provides evidence that Io is still volcanically active?
A
The lobate lava flows spreading out from a common location as seen in A show Io is still volcanically active.
PHOTO - This set of photographs shows various landscapes on Io and Europa. Which image shows that the surface of Europa has been tectonically deformed?
D
In image D we see large, criss-crossing fractures that are evidence of extensional tectonics.
Which of the following is true about the subdued crater palimpsests on Ganymede?
A. They formed as the planet froze and expanded.
B. They are more abundant in the grooved terrain than in the cratered terrain.
C. Palimpsests were produced by ionic deformation within the ice.
D. They were produced as the icy lithosphere flowed to fill in an impact crater.
D. They were produced as the icy lithosphere flowed to fill in an impact crater.
The grooved terrain of Ganymede _______________.
A. is younger than its cratered terrain
B. is older than the cratered terrain
C. forms only a small part of Ganymede’s surface.
D. developed as Earth-style plate tectonics developed
A. is younger than its cratered terrain
On Ganymede, grooved terrain formed by which process?
A. Tectonic disruption of heavily cratered terrain.
B. Impact cratering.
C. Hot spot volcanism.
D. Planetary contraction.
A. Tectonic disruption of heavily cratered terrain.
How did the multiple rings of Valhalla on Callisto form?
A. Collapse of a volcanic caldera.
B. Domal upwarping of the lithosphere.
C. Crustal breakage as impact shock waves traveled through the surface.
D. Eruption of flowing ice outward from a surface fracture.
C. Crustal breakage as impact shock waves traveled through the surface.
Differences in the appearance of multiring basins on the Moon with those developed on Callisto are thought to be a result of which of the following?
A. The volcanic origin of Callisto’s basins.
B. The difference in the behavior of ice and silicates when impacted.
C. The lack of the differentiation of Callisto.
D. Global contraction on Callisto, but not on the other bodies.
B. The difference in the behavior of ice and silicates when impacted.
What is the evidence that Ganymede and Callisto have more ice in their interiors than Io and Europa do?
A. Ganymede and Callisto have lower densities.
B. Ganymede and Callisto have large magnetic fields.
C. Ganymede and Callisto have fewer impact craters because ice is so weak.
D. Ganymede and Callisto have river channels formed when ice melted during impact.
A. Ganymede and Callisto have lower densities.
PHOTO - Which letter in this image of Ganymede labels an area of grooved terrain?
Ganymeade is made up of two primary terrains: the dark cratered terrain and the bright, grooved terrain. C is the grooved terrain, we can determine this by seeing grooves within bright bands that cuts across darker terrain (A).
The composition of the surface of Ganymede is most like which of the other satellites of Jupiter?
A. Amalthea
B. Io
C. Europa
D. Triton
C. Europa
The icy layers of Jupiter’s satellites increase in thickness as one moves from Europa to Callisto because ____________________. (Select all that apply.)
A. the outer satellites orbit farther from the Sun
B. they accreted in a thermal gradient centered around Jupiter
C. the larger satellites retained more of there accretionary heat
D. the inner satellites didn’t out gas as much as the outer satellites
B. they accreted in a thermal gradient centered around Jupiter
Which of the Galilean satellites of Jupiter has the most heavily cratered surface.
A. Io
B. Callisto
C. Europa
D. Ganymede
B. Callisto
If you were a solar system explorer in search of liquid water at or near the surface, which of the satellites of Jupiter would be most likely to have it today?
A. Io
B. Ganymede
C. Callisto
D. Europa
D. Europa
Why isn’t Earth’s Moon heated by tidal flexing? (Select all that apply.)
A. The Moon is too far away from the Earth.
B. The outer part of the Moon is too rigid to flex as a result of tidal forces.
C. The tidal energy is dissipated by the rise and fall of tides in Earth’s oceans.
D. The orbit of the Moon is nearly circular.
E. Earth only has one large moon, unlike Jupiter.
D. The orbit of the Moon is nearly circular.
E. Earth only has one large moon, unlike Jupiter.
Would you expect to find young basaltic lavas at the surface of Callisto? Why? (Select all that apply.)
A. No, because it is too cold.
B. No, because it does not have silicates near the surface that could melt.
C. Yes, Callisto is strongly tidally heated to create magma.
D. Yes, large areas of dark, smooth plains are evidence that there are young lavas on Callisto.
A. No, because it is too cold.
B. No, because it does not have silicates near the surface that could melt.
PHOTO - arrange these images of Jupiter’s satellites by their distance from Jupiter as they orbit. Place the closest satellite on the top and the farthest one on the bottom.
Closest - BCDA
Io, Europa, Ganymede, Callisto
Saturn is the most similar in composition and internal structure to which of the planets below.
A. Mercury
B. Mars
C. Jupiter
D. Neptune
C. Jupiter
When comparing Jupiter and Saturn, which of the following is correct? (Select all that apply.)
A. Jupiter has no rings.
B. Jupiter is denser.
C. Jupiter is smaller.
D. Jupiter has more large satellites (those larger than the moon).
B & D
Compared to Jupiter, Saturn has a yellowish tint. What gives it this color?
A. Sulfur in the clouds B. Methane in the atmosphere C. Metallic hydrogen in the interior D. Molecular hydrogen in the atmosphere E. Crystals of ammonia ice in the clouds
E. Crystals of ammonia ice in the clouds
What is the most likely explanation for Saturn’s magnetic field?
A. The magnetic field forms like Earth’s—in a convecting core of molten iron.
B. The magnetic field forms by convection in a shell of metallic hydrogen.
C. The magnetic field forms by convcetion in the core of rock and ice driven by the great pressure of Saturn’s interior.
D. Saturn has no magnetic field. It isn’t spinning fast enough.
E. Saturn has no magnetic field. It has the wrong composition.
B. The magnetic field forms by convection in a shell of metallic hydrogen.
What is the most abundant of the gases comprising Saturn?An image of Saturn.
A. nitrogen
B. helium
C. hydrogen
D. ammonia
C. hydrogen
What is the most important source of energy that drives the circulation of Saturn’s atmosphere?
A. solar heating B. rotation C. heat released from the interior D. large storms in the outer atmosphere E. the large magnetic field
C. heat released from the interior
Which of the following is true about Saturn’s rings?
A. They are a series of solid disks spinning around Saturn like a hula hoop.
B. The rings are composed of many small particles of water ice in orbit around Saturn.
C. The rings have the same composition and brightness as the rings of Jupiter.
D. Saturn is the only planet with rings in our solar system.
B. The rings are composed of many small particles of water ice in orbit around Saturn.
The Roche limit _________________________. (Select all that apply.)
A. is produced by tidal interaction between two planetary bodies
B. changes with the distance between two planetary bodies
C. governs the distance within which orbiting materials will not accrete together
D. is the attention span of students during a slide show
A & C
Where is Saturn’s Roche limit for small icy bodies in orbit around it?
A. Near the orbit of Tethys. B. In the Cassini Division. C. Near the outer edge of the rings. D. Near the inner edge of the rings. E. Just beyond the orbit of the outermost satellite.
C. Near the outer edge of the rings.
What causes the Cassini Division, the 400 km wide break in the rings of Saturn?An image of Saturn’s rings, showing the Cassini Division.
A. The tidal disruption of small bodies at this distance.
B. The low temperature at this distance.
C. Orbital resonance of the ring particles with the larger satellites.
D. The presence of a ring shepherd in the gap.
C. Orbital resonance of the ring particles with the larger satellites.
What is the evidence that the moons of Saturn are generally icy?
A. They orbit near the icy rings of Saturn so they must also be icy.
B. Their most common mineral is light-colored feldspar.
C. They have densities less than 2.0 g/cm3.
D. They are volcanically active like Io.
C. They have densities less than 2.0 g/cm3.
PHOTO - Enceladus (500 km across) and Mimas (400 km across) are both small, icy moons with about the same diameter. Enceladus is shown here. Which letter labels a feature that makes Enceladus so different from Mimas?
C
Mimas is a geologically dead moon and saturated with craters. While Enceladus does have some heavily cratered terrain, it also has younger terrain shown at C.
SAME PHOTO - What is the origin of the features identified in the picture of Enceladus
A. icy volcanism and tidal heating
B. impact melting
C. collision with a passing comet
D. heat released by radioactive decay of K, U, and Th
A
The observed features are icy volcanoes. They cannot be a result of a comet impact, or impact melting because they do not have the structures of impacts. Nor can the heat be formed by radioactive decay, because Enceladus would not have many radioactive elements to begin with, and its supply would be exhausted by now. The only logical source of heat for Enceladus and the production of icy volcanoes is tidal heating. The same process that keeps Io warm and volcanically active.
Why was it surprising to discover that Enceladus had the features you just identified?
A. It is composed mostly of water ice.
B. Because it is so small, young surfaces were not expected. It should have cooled long ago.
C. It is so close to Saturn one would expect many craters.
D. It lies so far from Saturn.
B
Enceladus is small (like Mimas), and based on size, it should be geologically dead and saturated with craters, just like Mimas and even our Moon. But since there is young terrain, we know something more is going on here.
Complete this sentence. Some of the satellites of Saturn ____________________. (Select all that apply.)
A. are composed of materials that melt at high temperatures explaining the abundance of craters on all of their surfaces
B. orbit closer to the planet than its famous rings
C. also orbit Jupiter
D. Have equatorial ridges formed by accumulation of ring materials
B & D
Which of the following are common features on the icy satellites of Saturn?
A. Large shield volcanoes like those on Mars.
B. Multiring impact features like those on Callisto and Ganymede.
C. Integrated hydrologic systems with rivers and oceans.
D. Global rifts apparently caused by expansion.
E. Thick atmospheres of carbon dioxide
D. Global rifts apparently caused by expansion.
What is evidence that many of the outer moons of Saturn are captured rather than formed in orbit around Saturn? (Choose all that apply.)
A. Many of them have highly inclined orbits.
B. These outer moons are rocky and must have formed in the inner solar system before moving outward and being captured by Saturn.
C. They are so big they could not have formed near Saturn which would have melted them.
D. Many have retrograde orbits around Saturn.
A & D
Why are many of Saturn’s moons shaped like this one (Phoebe) (no pic needed), instead of being essentially spherical?
A. They lie too far from the Sun to become spherical—a feature caused by more intense solar winds near the Sun
B. These satellites lie too far from Saturn to be affected by its intense magnetic field.
C. The size and hence the gravity field are not large enough to deform the irregular bodies into near spherical shapes.
D. The irregular satellites have solid surfaces unlike the gaseous, but spherical moons.
C. The size and hence the gravity field are not large enough to deform the irregular bodies into near spherical shapes.
The only satellite of Jupiter or Saturn known to have a substantial atmosphere is _________________.
A. Ganymede B. Triton C. Io D. Rhea E. Titan
E. Titan
What are the principal differences between Titan and the other satellites of Saturn? (Select all that apply.)
A. Titan is the the biggest moon of Saturn.
B. Titan is the only moon that has a young surface with few impact craters
C. Titan has liquids that flow and pond on its surface.
D. The small size of Titan compared to the others is an important feature.
E. Titan is the only moon with dunes.
A, C & E
Titan’s atmosphere is rich in nitrogen (N2) and _____________.
A. methane (CH4)
B. carbon dioxide (CO2)
C. has as much oxygen (O2) as the Earth’s atmosphere
D. Ammonia (NH3)
A. methane (CH4)
Why does Titan have an atmosphere rich in nitrogen and methane while the Galilean satellites of Jupiter lack atmospheres?
A. Titan formed farther from the Sun where ammonia and methane ice were stable in the ancient accretion disk.
B. Titan is big enough to have trapped nitrogen from the solar nebula.
C. The Galilean satellites never became warm enough to out gas atmospheres.
D. The galilean satellites of Jupiter once had thick, nitrogen-rich atmospheres, but they were swept away by Jupiter’s intense magnetic field
A. Titan formed farther from the Sun where ammonia and methane ice were stable in the ancient accretion disk.
Which of the following Earth-like features have been identified on Titan? (Select all that apply.)
A. Eolian dunes B. River channels C. Lakes or small seas D. A system of tectonics involving the large scale movement of lithospheric plates E. A nitrogen-rich atmosphere F. Glaciers of water ice G. Linear ranges formed by contraction
All except D and F
PHOTO - Which of the letters on this image of Titan’s dunes labels a feature that is the strongest evidence for the movement of sand in the dunes?
C
C shows linear dunes that are very indicative of movement of sand particles. B and A are both hills with no dunes on their surfaces.
PHOTO - What do the features in this image imply about the geologic history of Titan?
A. It has an ancient surface.
B. Glaciers of moving nitrogen ice have carved intricate channels.
C. Mountains formed by north-south contraction.
D. Landslides have shaped the surface on a large and small scale.
E. Rivers of liquid have flowed across the surface and eroded it.
F. Huge floods of lava drained across its surface.
E
The dendritic pattern of this feature suggests the flowing of liquids in the form of rivers. These dendritic patterns are very similar to those seen in rivers on Earth.
Why is it appropriate to call Uranus the “oddball” planet?
A. It lacks a ring system.
B. It has a density similar to terrestrial planets in spite of its gas-rich composition.
C. Its spin axis is tipped from vertical by over 90 degrees.
D. It revolves around the Sun in a retrograde direction.
C. Its spin axis is tipped from vertical by over 90 degrees.
In what way is the magnetic field of Uranus distinctive? Choose all that apply.
A. It has an unexpected orientation
B. It is tilted compared to the spin axis
C. It is irregular and may be experiencing a reversal.
D. It is created by convection in its iron core.
E. It is the strongest in the solar system
A,B & C
Why does the interior of Uranus appear to lack a layer of metallic hydrogen like those in Saturn and Jupiter?
A. Uranus is too far from the Sun and the temperature is consequently too low.
B. Uranus doesn’t have enough hydrogen to make the transition to metallic state.
C. The magnetic field of Uranus is too weak to make the hydrogen convert to its metallic form.
D. Uranus is too small and the internal temperature and pressure are not high enough for metallic hydrogen.
D. Uranus is too small and the internal temperature and pressure are not high enough for metallic hydrogen.
The particles in the rings of Uranus are ______________________.
A. dark and probably composed of darkened methane ice
B. bright like the ice particles in the rings of Saturn
C. dark like the ice particles in the rings of Saturn
D. orbiting the planet outside the Roche limit.
A. dark and probably composed of darkened methane ice
In what way are the icy moons of Uranus different from those of Saturn?
A. lower abundance of impact craters
B. slightly higher densities
C. uniformly larger sizes
D. all have methane atmospheres
B. slightly higher densities
Which of the following is a common process that occurred during the evolution of the satellites of Uranus?
A. fluvial erosion by running water
B. eolian erosion by strong, cold winds
C. cracking as they expanded late in their histories
D. the eruption of basaltic (silicate) lavas
E. accretion from dense rocky materials
C. cracking as they expanded late in their histories
The last 2 or 3 billion years of the histories of the small inner planets (like the Moon and Mercury) are dominated by contraction, whereas the late histories of the small icy satellites of Saturn and Uranus are dominated by expansion like that evidenced in Ariel. Why?
A. The outer planet satellites have warmed and expanded over that time.
B. The outer planet satellites have a lot of water ice that expands as it freezes.
C. The outer planet moons are so small that gravity is not strong and they expand as a result.
D. The outer planet satellites were hit by many more large impacts and these have fractured them.
B. The outer planet satellites have a lot of water ice that expands as it freezes.
PHOTO - Which letter on this image of Ariel’s surface labels an area that has evidence for late expansion and possible volcanism?
B
Grabens are the main evidence for expansion of a moon. the letter B is the only letter in a graben making it the correct answer.
Why is Neptune blue?
A. Because of the scattering of light by dust grains in its atmosphere.
B. Because of reflection off an ocean of liquid water that lies just below the cloud layer.
C. Because its atmosphere contains a significant proportion of methane.
D. Because it has a high concentration of metallic hydrogen near the base of the clouds.
B. Because of reflection off an ocean of liquid water that lies just below the cloud layer.
Both Neptune and Uranus have magnetic fields that ___________________.
A. are tilted with respect to the axis of rotation
B. are stronger than Jupiter’s
C. produced by convection of molten iron deep inside them
D. have heated their satellites to the point of melting
A. are tilted with respect to the axis of rotation
In contrast to Jupiter, Uranus and Neptune are thought to ________________________.
A. have narrow ring systems
B. have water ice in their interiors.
C. be rocky bodies composed mostly of silicates
D. have captured satellites which formed elsewhere in the solar system
B. have water ice in their interiors.
In the early 1980’s, some planetary scientists suggested that Triton has a sea of liquid nitrogen. Voyager 2 showed that _____________________________.
A. this sea is about 100 m deep
B. Triton is too cold for liquid nitrogen
C. Triton is too warm for liquid nitrogen
D. Triton has no nitrogen
B. Triton is too cold for liquid nitrogen
In what way is the orbit of Triton distinctive?
A. It is retrograde.
B. Its spin axis is tilted almost 90 degrees so that it rolls like a ball around Neptune.
C. It is highly elliptical.
D. It is not tidally locked.
A. It is retrograde.
Triton, because of its small size and frigid surface, was thought to be an unlikely spot for recent geologic activity. What did Voyager 2 reveal? (Select all that apply.)
A. This was true.
B. Triton has many young surfaces and active “volcanic” vents.
C. Triton has a dark surface ruptured by volcanic vents.
D. Triton was probably heated by tidal activity
B & D
PHOTO - Which letter on this image of Triton labels the youngest area of icy volcanism?
B
Icy volcanism, like basaltic volcanism, covers the surface making it smooth. Just like the area labelled B.
Which letter on this image of Triton marks an area that has a composition like Earth’s atmosphere?
D
Triton’s polar ice cap is dominated by nitrogen ice. D is this ice cap as shown in figure 12.13. Also, look for the dark streaks that are present within the ice cap.
No Photo Needed These are images of two of Neptune’s moons. In the photos, both are about the same size; in reality, one has a much larger diameter. Which one is larger?
Triton and Proteus
A - triton
We can tell Triton is actually larger because it is more spherical, the larger a planetary body gets the more spherical it becomes as its gravitational force overcomes the strength of the rock.
Pluto is considered to be a dwarf planet by some astronomers. Why?
A. Because it is not big enough to have developed a nearly spherical shape.
B. Because it generates heat by nuclear fusion deep in its core.
C. Because its orbit is elliptical and inclined.
D. Because it has not cleared its orbital path of debris.
D. Because it has not cleared its orbital path of debris.
Which statements are true for the Kuiper belt? (Select all that apply.)
A. It contains many small icy objects in orbit around the Sun.
B. It is another name for the asteroid belt.
C. It extends halfway to the nearest star.
D. The orbits formed a flattened disk in the outer solar system.
E. Pluto is one of the bodies in the Kuiper belt.
F. It is a semi-spherical cloud of orbiting bodies with highly inclined orbits.
A, D & E
Based on what we know today, which of the following is most like Pluto in its size, composition, and density?
A. Mercury B. the Earth's Moon C. Europa D. Triton E. Neptune
D. Triton
Pluto’s atmosphere is tenuous and temporary, but what are it’s major constituents?
A. Hydrogen and helium inherited from the solar system.
B. Carbon dioxide and oxygen released by volcanism as a secondary atmosphere.
C. Nitrogen and methane that sublime from the most volatile ices on its surface.
D. Water vapor that sublimes from its thick water ice crust.
C. Nitrogen and methane that sublime from the most volatile ices on its surface.
How did the polygonal shapes on Pluto’s Sputnik Planum form? An image of Pluto’s Sputnik Planum.
A. By convection of ice below a rigid upper layer.
B. By the flow of glacial ice from highlands to lowlands.
C. By tectonic compression of the region to form reverse faults.
D. By tectonic extension of the region to form normal faults
E. By shrinkage of the ice layer that fills an old impact crater.
A. By convection of ice below a rigid upper layer.
The tall mountains on Pluto are composed of what kind of ice?
A. Methane B. Nitrogen C. Water D. Carbon dioxide E. Ammonia
C. Water
How did Pluto’s Sputnik Planum form?
A. A supervolcano eruption filled a subsided basin with pyroclastic material.
B. A large impact basin was filled with weak nitrogen ice.
C. A steam explosion excavated a crater which then filled with water ice.
D. Planetary contraction pulled the center of the basin downward
B. A large impact basin was filled with weak nitrogen ice.
PHOTO - What do the arrows in this image show? An image of a planetary body’s surface with red arrows drawn on top of it.
A. The directions of lava flow in a volcanic plain.
B. Glacial flow directions
C. Impact ejecta movement
D. Flash flood deposits.
B. Glacial flow directions
PHOTO - The dark reddish regions on Charon’s north pole result from what process?An image of Charon’s north pole.
A. Impact of icy cometary objects with distinctive compositions.
B. Landslides.
C. Methane from Pluto condenses at Charon’s poles.
D. Deposits from geysers like those on Enceladus.
C. Methane from Pluto condenses at Charon’s poles.
Why are comets thought to have originated in a different part of the solar nebula than asteroids?
A. Because they are much smaller bodies.
B. Because they are composed mostly of ices.
C. Because many are associated with ring systems of the outer planets.
D. Because very few occur in the solar system.
B. Because they are composed mostly of ices.
Which of the following are important components of a comet? (Select all that apply.)
A. Water ice B. Silicate Materials like Olivine C. Methane D. Ammonia E. Carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide
All
The nucleus of a comet __________________.
A. is small, bright, and composed of ices
B. is large, bright, and composed of vapors and dust jetted from the core
C. is small and dark
D. has never been seen
C. is small and dark
Comets glow in the night sky because __________________________.An image of a comet in space.
A. they produce energy by cold fusion
B. they produce energy by thermonuclear fusion
C. they reflect the light from the Sun
D. the coma consists of ionized gasses that interact with the Sun’s magnetic field.
C. they reflect the light from the Sun
The tail of a comet __________________.
A. is a permanent feature
B. develops temporarily when the comet enters the inner solar system
C. develops temporarily when the comet enters the outer solar system in an attempt to slow heat loss
D. develops temporarily as material vaporizes when the comet passes through a planet’s atmosphere
B. develops temporarily when the comet enters the inner solar system
s this comet near the Sun (within the orbit of Jupiter)?
Yes or No
Pic of Comet with a tail
yes
What is the origin of the light-colored streaks extending from the surface of comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko?
A. The streaks are small volcanic eruptions like those on Io.
B. The streaks are just light reflected off the surface to form rays.
C. The streaks were formed as material was ejected from the surface by a small impact.
D. The streaks are plumes of dust and gas ejected from the interior as the Sun heats it.
D. The streaks are plumes of dust and gas ejected from the interior as the Sun heats it.
The final days of comet Shoemaker Levy 9 were marked by which of the following? (Select all that apply.)
A. The formulation of a planetary nebula.
B. Its tidal breakup in orbit around the Sun.
C. The vaporization of all of its ice and consequent disaggregation.
D. Explosions in the atmosphere of Jupiter
C & D
The Oort cloud _____________________.
A. is another name for the ancient solar nebula
B. contains the orbits of comets in the outer part of the solar system
C. is not visible outside the orbit of Mars
D. contains material ejected from the Sun that condenses to make icy comets
B. contains the orbits of comets in the outer part of the solar system
In which ways is the Oort cloud different than the Kuiper belt? (Select all that apply.)
A. The Oort cloud is nearer the Sun than most of the Kuiper belt.
B. The Oort cloud is spherical, not disk-shaped.
C. The Oort cloud is disk-shaped, not spherical.
D. Most long period comets come from the Oort cloud.
E. The bodies in the Oort cloud are much richer in silicate minerals than those in the Kuiper belt.
B & D
Which of the following is most important in keeping water a liquid on Earth?
A. the size of Earth
B. the biosphere
C. the original composition of the planet
D. the distance from the Sun
D. the distance from the Sun
Why are the planetary bodies of the inner solar system different in composition from those of the outer solar system? (Select all that apply.)
A. The planets formed in a thermal gradient around the ancient Sun.
B. High-temperature solids could form near the ancient Sun.
C. Low-temperature solids (ices) could only form near the Sun because pressure was higher there.
D. Large icy cores attracted hydrogen and helium from the nebula.
E. Dense objects were attracted more to the Sun and less dense ones moved outward.
A, B & D
Which statement is an accurate general history of cratering on a planet?
A. early heavy cratering with declining intensity to the present
B. initially light cratering, then intense bombardment, then light cratering to the present
C. initially light cratering with increasing intensity to the present
D. approximately constant rate of cratering
A. early heavy cratering with declining intensity to the present
As a dense particle in a planet moves toward the core, the loss of gravitational potential energy is converted to _________ energy.
A. chemical
B. thermal (heat)
C. nuclear
D. solar
B. thermal (heat)
In what way is Earth’s atmosphere unique among the moons and planets?
A. It has a nitrogen-rich (N2) atmosphere.
B. It is rich in oxygen (O2).
C. It is rich in carbon dioxide (CO2) because of animal life.
D. It is rich in carbon dioxide (CO2) because of plant life.
E. It has clouds and storms.
B. It is rich in oxygen (O2).
The absence of large folded mountain systems on the Moon, Mars, and Mercury is evidence that the lithospheres of these planets ___________________.
A. have been highly mobile in recent times
B. are younger than that of Earth
C. are older than that of Earth
D. have histories similar to that of Earth’s
E. thickened “rapidly” as these worlds cooled.
E. thickened “rapidly” as these worlds cooled.
Why aren’t running water and erosion important geologic agents on all planets? (Select all that apply.)An image of the surface of Mars.
A. Some planets lack solid surfaces.
B. Some planets are too cold.
C. Some planets have the wrong composition for water to exist.
D. Some planets are too hot.
A, B, C & D
Suppose that a new planet has been discovered between Venus and Earth. It is about the size of Earth’s Moon. Which of the following statements about it is probably true?
A. It would be covered with a thin layer of water ice.
B. It should have a very active tectonic system.
C. It will have numerous active volcanoes.
D. It should be intensely cratered and lack a thick atmosphere.
E. It should have a thick, oxygen-rich atmosphere.
D. It should be intensely cratered and lack a thick atmosphere.
Which of the following planetary bodies has the oldest surface?
A. Venus B. Mars C. Mercury D. Earth E. the Moon
E. the Moon
What is the most important control on a planet’s present level of geologic activity (especially volcanism and tectonism)?An image of the surface of a planetary body that shows evidence of geologic activity.
A. Its distance from the Sun.
B. Its surface temperature.
C. The thickness of its lithosphere.
D. The composition of its atmosphere.
C. The thickness of its lithosphere.
Which is true of comet Churyumov Gerasimenko (67P - see image above)? (Select all that apply.)
A-It is very bright because of all the ice.
B-It is larger than the asteroid Vesta.
C-It is very dark because of the presence of organics.
D-It is extremely low in density, suggesting pore space inside.
C-It is very dark because of the presence of organics.
D-It is extremely low in density, suggesting pore space inside.
