Section 2

Question 1

What is the Solar Nebula

Answer 1

The cloud of gas and dust out of which the solar system was formed

Question 2

What are the two groups of planets based upon their physical properties

Answer 2

Terrestrials and Jovians

Question 3

In which group of planets do they all have high densities and low masses

Answer 3

Terrestrials

Question 4

In which group of planets do they all have low densities, rings and lots of moons

Answer 4

Jovians

Question 5

What are the two groups of planets based upon their distances from the sun

Answer 5

Inferiors and Superiors

Question 6

At what orbital position can you never see Saturn

Answer 6

Conjunction

Question 7

At what orbital position is Venus at its best to view

Answer 7

Greatest elongation

Question 8

What is the motion of the pieces of the Earth’s crust called

Answer 8

Tectonic activity

Question 9

What removed most of the Earth’s early atmospheric CO2 gas

Answer 9

Earth’s oceans

Question 10

Where did the Earth get the O2 present in its current atmosphere

Answer 10

From photosynthesis

Question 11

Where is the ozone layer of the Earth located?

What does it do for us?

Answer 11

Upper Stratosphere.

It shields us from most of the Sun’s lethal UV light

Question 12

What can we observe if the Sun sends too many charged particles towards the Earth

Answer 12

The aurora (“the northern lights” or “the southern lights”)

Question 13

Does the moon rotate?

If yes, how does it rotate

Answer 13

Yes
Synchronous rotation
(1 rotation per 1 revolution around the Earth)

Question 14

If you are on the far side of the Moon, can you see the Earth in your sky

Answer 14

No

Only the near side of the moon faces the Earth

Question 15

Does the Moon have a magnetic field?

Why or why not

Answer 15

No
Due to its lack of iron and its very slow rotation
(No dynamo is created)

Question 16

If the Moon is rising at sunset, what is the phase of the Moon

Answer 16

Full

Question 17

If the Moon is at first quarter, which type of eclipse can possibly occur

Answer 17

Neither

Question 18

If the Moon is new, which type of eclipse can possibly occur

Answer 18

Solar

Question 19

During a typical total lunar eclipse, does the Moon completely disappear from view

Answer 19

No

It is usually dull reddish in appearance

Question 20

If aliens stole our Moon, what would happen to the tides we experience on the Earth

Answer 20

They would be very small (due to the tides of the Sun)

Question 21

What caused most of the craters we see on the Moon

Answer 21

Impacts

Question 22

What is the Regolith

Answer 22

A powder of pulverized rock covering its surface

Question 23

How did our Moon most likely come into existence

Answer 23

A major impact of the Earth long ago

Question 24

On which planet can we find the Caloris impact basin

Answer 24

Mercury

Question 25

Which planet has the highest range in temperature from noon to midnight? Why

Answer 25

Mercury, due to its very slow rotation and lack of atmosphere

Question 26

In which two ways are Venus and Earth similar

Answer 26

Size and mass

Question 27

How did Magellan map the surface of Venus

Answer 27

Using radio waves it generated a false color altitude map

Question 28

What are Aphrodite Terra and Ishtar Terra

Answer 28

The two "continents" on Venus

Question 29

What created most of the craters we see on Venus

Answer 29

Volcanic features

Question 30

What makes up most of the atmosphere of Venus

Answer 30

Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

Question 31

What caused the surface of Venus to become so hot

Answer 31

A runaway greenhouse effect

Question 32

What is unusual about the rotation of Venus? | What most likely caused this

Answer 32

It is very slow and backwards, most likely due to a major impact in the past

Question 33

Which planet is the only one with surface details visible in telescopes on the Earth

Answer 33

Mars

Question 34

Why was August 2003 a great time to view Mars through a telescope

Answer 34

It was near perihelion at opposition

Question 35

In which two way are Mars and Earth similar

Answer 35

Axis tilt and rotation period

Question 36

What did Lowell believe he was seeing on Mars

Answer 36

Canals (huge water channels built by Martians)

Question 37

On which planet (other than Earth) is there evidence for surface liquid water in the past

Answer 37

Mars

Question 38

Why does Mars appear notably reddish in color

Answer 38

Iron oxide in the soil

Question 39

On which planet are both Olympus Mons and Valles Marineris? | What are they

Answer 39

Mars | These are the tallest volcano and the biggest valley/canyon in the solar system

Question 40

Has life been verified to exist on Mars yet

Answer 40

No

Question 41

Why did the moons of Mars most likely not form with Mars

Answer 41

They are more like objects found in the outer solar system

Question 42

Jupiter is more massive than Earth, yet has a much lower density. Why is this

Answer 42

It is mostly made out of hydrogen and helium

Question 43

Jupiter and Saturn are noticeably oblate. | Why is this

Answer 43

They are made mostly of liquids and gasses and rotate very rapidly

Question 44

What are the bands of Jupiter

Answer 44

Regions of rising and falling material

Question 45

What is the Great Red Spot

Answer 45

The biggest storm system in the solar system

Question 46

Why does Jupiter have such a large magnetic field

Answer 46

Its rapid rotation and vast region of liquid metallic hydrogen

Question 47

Which moon of Jupiter is very volcanically active? | Why is this

Answer 47

Io | Due to tidal heating of its interior

Question 48

Which of Jupiter's moons has a good chance for life? | Why is this

Answer 48

Europa | Due to its liquid water and tidal heating

Question 49

What is the largest moon in the solar system? | Around which planet does it orbit

Answer 49

Jupiter's moon Ganymede

Question 50

Which of Jupiter's moons has the oldest, darkest and most cratered surface

Answer 50

Callisto