Earth Studies Hw 2 Answers – Flashcards
Unlock all answers in this set
Unlock answersquestion
Which group of planets in our solar system is known as the terrestrial planets?
answer
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars
question
Which group of planets within the solar system is known as the Jovian, or giant, planets?
answer
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
question
Which three groups of substances compose both the inner and outer planets of the solar system?
answer
gases, ices, rocks
question
Which characteristic is shared by both the terrestrial and the Jovian planets in our solar system?
answer
Both the terrestrial and the Jovian planets possess a solid core, made mostly of metallic and/or rocky material.
question
The planets located closest to the Sun are smaller and have high density. How does the nebular hypothesis account for these planets being situated in this position?
answer
The terrestrial planets have small size, high density, and are closest to the Sun because the extremely high temperatures associated with formation allowed only silicate minerals and metals to form solids.
question
The planets that are farthest from the Sun are the largest bodies in the solar system, but have the lowest average densities. Which is the best explanation for this arrangement of the planets?
answer
The Jovian planets had temperatures that were low enough to allow accumulation of ices, which caused planets of large size.
question
Anorthosite represents the oldest rock type found on the Moon and is unique because it is primarily composed of a single mineral. What mineral is it?
answer
plagioclase feldspar
question
Which process results in the formation of breccias on the Moon?
answer
meteorite impacts
question
The broad, flat, dark areas, or maria, seen on the Moon from Earth are composed of which material?
answer
Basaltic Lava Flows
question
Which hypothesis best explains the way scientists think the Moon was formed?
answer
The Moon was formed by ejecta released when a Mars-sized body collided with Earth very early in its history.
question
The occurrence of crystals in the rocks obtained from the Moon during Apollo missions indicates that they formed by which process?
answer
crystallization from a melt
question
Earth and the Moon are in extremely close proximity to each other in the solar system. However, in appearance, the Moon exhibits extensive cratering, while Earth does not. Which best explains this discrepancy in the appearance of these two bodies?
answer
Earth has an atmosphere, water, and tectonic activity, so most of the craters on Earth have been removed by erosion or eliminated via subduction.
