The Inner Solar System Flashcards

1
Q

What is the correct formula of Kepler’s third law is a is the semi-major axis and T is the orbital period

A

T ~ -/ a^3

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2
Q

Which planets have a large obliquity

A

Venus and Uranus

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3
Q

Why is Earths magnetic field important for life

A

It prevents solar wind from reaching the surface of the planet

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4
Q

What are the stages of the creation of an impact crater from earliest to latest?

A

Body strikes the surface, body is buried, an explosion creates the crater, the rocks rebound at the centre

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5
Q

What is false about Mercury?

A - lobate scarps are due to the impact with a proto-planet
B - mercury was heavily cratered in the final stages of planet formation
C - a large impact with a proto-planet caused the Caloris basin
D - planet cooling caused lobate scarps due to shrinkage

A

A

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6
Q

Why is CO2 a predominant gas in Venus’s atmosphere and not in Earth’s atmosphere?

A

Venus lost its water due to the absence of a magnetic field

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7
Q

Where is water found on Mars

A

Underground and at the poles

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8
Q

Which of the following is false about the moon?

A - the moon has a low density crust and mantle
B - the moon has a thicker crust on the outward looking face with respect to earth
C - the moon’s rotation is gravitationally locked with Earth
D - the presence of Maria is evidence of the presence of old seas

A

D

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9
Q

Why are volcanoes on Mars larger than those on Earth?

A

The lack of tectonic activity of Mars

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10
Q

What do terrestrial planets all have?

A

Solid rocky surfaces and dense metal cores

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11
Q

Describe the orbits of the planets in the solar system

A

Elliptical with low eccentricity and anti-clockwise as seen from the North Pole

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12
Q

What is the second stage if the solar nebula hypothesis?

A

Disc rotation

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13
Q

What is the third of the four possible stages of planet formation?

A

Flooding by lava and/or water

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14
Q

What is continental drift the motion of

A

Tectonic plates moving due to convection currents in the mantle

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15
Q

Where did the majority of water on earth come from

A

Comets hitting earth during the period of intense bombardment

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16
Q

Describe the crust of the far side of the moon

A

Thick because it cooled faster

17
Q

What is the Caloris Basin on mercury responsible for?

A

The jumbled terrain on the opposite side of the planet

18
Q

What spacecraft have landed on Venus?

A

Venera 9 and 13

19
Q

What was studied on Mars to help us learn about Earth?

A

Macro weather patterns

20
Q

Name 4 Martian rovers

A

Opportunity, Curiosity, Perseverance, Spirit

21
Q

What is true about the weather on Mars.

A - insufficient atmosphere to support weather
B - Martian weather is dominated by runaway greenhouse gasses
C - weather on Mars has dust storms, cyclonic behaviour and dust devils
D - the magnetic fields shields it from solar wind

A

C

22
Q

Shield volcanoes on Mars are

A - responsible for the formation of island chains
B - larger than those on earth due to lack of continental drift
C - occur primarily in the subduction zones
D - a currently active due to the molten core

A

B

23
Q

What does Keplers second law explain?

A

Why planets travel faster when they are closer to the sun

24
Q

What does the solar nebula hypothesis explain?

A

Why the solar system is disc shaped and has nearly uniform direction of rotation

25
Q

What gives us the most information about Earths interior?

A

The propagation of shear and pressure waves

26
Q

What if the following does Mercury have in common with terrestrial planets?

A - presence of lobate scarps
B - a sizeable magnetic field
C - it orbit and rotation are locked by gravitational tidal resonance
D - it is rocky, dense and formed by silicates and iron

A

D

27
Q

Why should we not explore Venus compared to the other terrestrial planets?

A

The temperature, pressure and acidic atmosphere are dangerous