question

(T/F) Asteroids, meteoroids, and comets are remnants of the early solar system.

answer

True

question

(T/F) The solar system is of largely uniform composition.

answer

False

question

(T/F) The largest planets also have the largest densities.

answer

False

question

(T/F) Asteroids were recently formed by the collision and breakup of an object orbiting in the asteroid belt.

answer

False

question

(T/F) Astronomers have no theoretical explanation for the "hot Jupiters" observed orbiting some other stars.

answer

False

question

In the leading theory of solar system formation, the planets... a) are much younger than the Sun. b) formed from the same flattened, swirling gas cloud that formed the Sun. c) were ejected from the Sun following a close encounter with another star. d) are much older than the Sun.

answer

b) formed from the same flattened, swirling gas cloud that formed the Sun.

question

(T/F) Because of tidal forces, the Moon is in a synchronous orbit around Earth.

answer

True

question

(T/F) Luna maria are extensive lava-flow regions.

answer

True

question

(T/F) Volcanic activity continues today on the surface of the moon.

answer

False

question

(T/F) Like Earth, the Moon has a molten metal core.

answer

False

question

(T/F) Earth's magnetic field is the result of our planet's large, permanently magnetized iron core.

answer

False

question

Sunlight absorbed by Earth's surface is reemitted in the form of .... a) microwave radiation. b) infrared radiation. c) ultraviolet radiation. d) visible radiation.

answer

b) infrared radiation

question

The most likely theory of the formation of the Moon is that it... a) formed simultaneously with Earth's formation. b) formed from a collision of Earth with a Mars-sized object. c) was formed by the gravitational capture of a large asteroid. d) was created from a collision scooping out the Pacific Ocean.

answer

b) formed from a collision of Earth with a Mars-sized object.

question

(T/F) There is strong circumstantial evidence that active volcanism continues on Venus.

answer

True

question

(T/F) Mars has the largest volcanoes in the solar system.

answer

True

question

(T/F) Valles Marineris is comparable in size to Earth's Grand Canyon.

answer

False

question

(T/F) Numerous surface features on Venus can be seen in Earth-based images made in the ultraviolet part of the spectrum.

answer

False

question

(T/F) Evidence of lava flows is common on the surface of Venus.

answer

True

question

Mercury's large overall density suggests that the planet... a) is younger than the Moon. b) has a dense metal core. c) has an interior structure similar to that of Earth's moon. d) has a weaker magnetic field that the Moon.

answer

b) has a dense metal core

question

Venus's surface is permanently obscured by clouds. As a result, the surface has been studied primarily by... a) orbiting satellites using radar. b) robotic landers. c) radar signals from Earth. d) spectroscopy.

answer

a) orbiting satellites using radar.

question

In terms of area, the extinct Martian volcano Olympus Mons is about the size of... a) Mt. Everest. b) Colorado. c) North America. d) Earth's Moon.

answer

b) Colorado.

question

(T/F) Jupiter emits more energy than it receives from the Sun.

answer

True

question

(T/F) Storms in the jovian planets' atmospheres are generally much longer lived than storms on Earth.

answer

True

question

(T/F) Around northern midsummer on Uranus, an observer near the north pole would observe the Sun high and almost stationary in the sky.

answer

True

question

(T/F) Neptune probably does not have a rocky core.

answer

False

question

(T/F) The element helium plays an important role in producing Saturn's atmospheric colors.

answer

False

question

The main constituent of Jupiter's atmosphere is... a) helium. b) hydrogen. c) ammonia. d) carbon dioxide.

answer

b) hydrogen.

question

Compared to Earth, Saturn's core is roughly.... a) 10 times more massive. b) the same mass. c) half the mass. d) twice as massive.

answer

a) 10 times more massive.

question

(T/F) Sunspots appear dark because they are hotter than the surrounding gas in the photosphere.

answer

False

question

(T/F) The most abundant element in the Sun is hydrogen.

answer

True

question

(T/F) The density and temperature in the solar corona are much higher than in the photosphere.

answer

False

question

(T/F) Neutrinos have never been detected experimentally.

answer

False

question

(T/F) There are as many absorption lines in the solar spectrum as there are elements present in the Sun.

answer

False

question

The Sun is roughly... a) the same size as Earth. b) 100 times larger than Earth. c) 1 million times larger than Earth. d) 10 times larger than Earth.

answer

b) 100 times larger than Earth.

question

The Sun spins on its axis roughly once each... a) hour. b) day. c) month. d) year.

answer

c) month.

question

The condensation sequence theory explains why... a) our planet Earth has water and rain. b) stars are more likely to form large planets orbiting very near. c) terrestrial planets are different from jovian planets. d) the Moon formed near to Earth. e) Pluto has such a circular orbit.

answer

c) terrestrial planets are different from jovian planets.

question

The major difference(s) between the terrestrial and jovian planets involve(s).... a) mass. b) density. c) surface gravity. d) density and surface gravity. e) mass and density.

answer

e) mass and density.

question

Without the greenhouse effect in our atmosphere.... a) we would not have to worry about ecological problems. b) the Earth's oceans would be frozen. c) the amount of nitrogen & oxygen would be much less. d) the icecaps would have melted. e) global warming would still occur.

answer

b) the Earth's oceans would be frozen.

question

There is very little atmosphere on the Moon because... a) dry rocks on the Moon absorbed its own atmosphere. b) it was blown away by meteor bombardment. c) its low mass and high temperature allowed most gasses to escape. d) the gravitational tidal forces from Earth stripped it away.

answer

c) its low mass and high temperature allowed most gasses to escape.

question

Which of the following inner solar system bodies has the densest atmosphere? a) Mercury b) Venus c) Earth d) Moon e) Mars

answer

b) Venus

question

Venus' surface shows all of the following EXCEPT... a) many impact craters of all sizes. b) shield volcanoes. c) a continent-sized plateau. d) huge circular volcanic coronae. e) lava domes.

answer

a) many impact craters of all sizes.

question

Both Jupiter and Saturn.... a) have liquid metallic hydrogen in their interiors. b) have rings. c) emit more energy than they absorb from the Sun. d) rotate very rapidly. e) All of the above.

answer

e) All of the above.

question

Jupiter and the other jovian planets are noticeably oblate because they have.... a) very strong magnetic fields. b) powerful gravity pulling on the poles. c) rapid rotation and a fluid interior. d) many moons that tidally distort their shapes. e) All of the above.

answer

c) rapid rotation and a fluid interior.

question

The two outer jovian planets appear bluish in color because.... a) gaseous ammonia in their atmospheres absorbs blue light. b) methane absorbs red light. c) cold hydrogen reflects blue light. d) dust in their atmospheres scatters blue light,similar to Earth.

answer

b) methane absorbs red light.

question

The Sun is stable as a star because.... a) gravity balances forces from pressure. b) the rate of fusion equals the rate of fission. c) radiation and convection balance. d) mass is converted into energy. e) fusion doesn't depend on temperature.

answer

a) gravity balances forces from pressure.

question

Inside a star the mass of our Sun, energy is transported from the deep interior outward by a process most like the process that.... a) makes a blacktop hot in the summertime. b) heats the coil of an electric stove. c) makes hot water boil. d) makes your hand feel heat when you put it near a candle flame.

answer

d) makes your hand feel heat when you put it near a candle flame.

question

The light from the East limb (edge) of the Sun is blueshifted and the light from the West limb is redshifted. This is because.... a) different kinds of atoms emit light at the opposite edges. b) the Sun is rotating. c) the distance form the Sun to Earth changes. d) the two sides of the Sun are at different temperatures.

answer

b) the Sun is rotating.

question

The number of sunspots and solar activity in general peaks a) every 27 days, the apparent rotation period of the Sun's surface. b) once a year. c) every 51⁄2 years. d) every 11 years. e) approximately every 100 years.

answer

d) every 11 years.

question

(T/F) The total mass of all the planets is much less than the moss of the Sun.

answer

T

question

(T/F) Most comets have short periods and orbit close to the ecliptic plane.

answer

F

question

If we were to construct an accurate scale model of the solar system on a football field with the sun at one end and pluto at the other, the planet closest ti the center of the field would be a) Earth b) Jupiter c) Saturn d) Uranus

answer

d) Uranus

question

The solar system is differentiated because a) the heavy elements in the outer solar system sank to the center b) the light elements in the inner solar system fell into the Sun c) the light elements in the inner solar system were carried off as comets d) only rocky and metallic particles could form close to the Sun

answer

d) only rocky and metallic particles could form close to the Sun

question

Water on Earth was a) transported here by comets b) accreted from solar nebula c) produced by volcanoes in the form of steam d) created by chemical reactions involving hydrogen and oxygen shortly after Earth formed

answer

a) transported here by comets

question

The number of confirmed exoplanets is a) less than 10 b) roughly 50 c) more than 500 d) more than 5000

answer

c) more than 500

question

Astronomers have not yet reported any Earth-like planets orbiting other stars because a) there are none b) they are not detectable with current technology c) no nearby stars are of the type expected to have Earth-like planets d) the government is preventing us from reporting their discovery

answer

b) they are not detectable with current technology

question

(T/F) Except for the layer of air closest to Earth's surface, the ozone layer is the warmest part of the atmosphere.

answer

T

question

(T/F) Motion of the crustal plates is driven by convection in Earth's upper mantle.

answer

T

question

If you were making a scale model of Earth, representing our planet by a 12-inch basketball, the inner core would be about the same size of a) a half-inch ball bearing b) a 2-inch golf ball c) a 4-inch tangerine d) a 7-inch grapefruit

answer

b) a 2-inch golf ball

question

Earth's average density is about the same as that of a) a glass of water b) a heavy iron meteorite c) an ice cube d) a chunk of black volcanic rock

answer

d) a chunk of black volcanic rock

question

The deepest geologists have drilled into the Earth is about the same as a) the height of the statue of liberty b) the altitude most commercial jet airplanes fly c) the distance between NY & LA d) the distance between the US & China

answer

b) the altitude most commercial jet airplanes fly

question

If Earth had no Moon, the tides would a) not occur b) occur more often and with more intensity c) still occur, but not really be measurable d) occur with the same frequency, but would not be as strong

answer

d) occur with the same frequency, but would not be as strong

question

(T/F) Mercury's solar day is longer than its solar year.

answer

T

question

(T/F) There are many indications of past plate tectonics on Mars.

answer

F

question

Compare with Earth, Venus has a level of plate tectonic activity that is a) much more rapid b) somewhat less rapid c) about the same d) virtually nonexistent

answer

b) somewhat less rapid

question

Venus's atmospheric temperature is a) about the same as Earth's b) cooler than temperatures on Mercury c) hotter than temperatures on Mercury d) high due to the presence of sulfuric acid

answer

b) cooler than temperatures on Mercury

question

In comparison to the atmosphere of Venus, the vastly different atmospheric character of Mars is likely due to a(n) a) ineffective greenhouse effect b) reverse greenhouse effect c) absence of greenhouse gases in the Martian atmosphere d) greater distance from the sun

answer

d) greater distance from the sun

question

(T/F) The solid surface of Jupiter lies just below the cloud layers that are visible from Earth.

answer

F

question

(T/F) Although often referred to as a gaseous planet, Jupiter is mostly liquid in its interior.

answer

T

question

(T/F) The magnetic fields of Uranus and Neptune are highly titles relative to their rotation axes and offset from the planets' centers.

answer

T

question

Saturn's cloud layers are much thicker than those of Jupiter because Saturn has a) more mass b) lower density c) a weaker magnetic field d) weaker gravity

answer

d) weaker gravity

question

Uranus was discovered about the same time as a) Columbus reached North America b) the US Declaration of Independence c) the American Civil War d) the Depression

answer

b) the US Declaration of Independence

question

Compared with Uranus, the planet Neptune is a) much smaller b) much larger c) roughly the same size d) closer to the Sun

answer

c) roughly the same size

question

(T/F) Flares are caused by magnetic disturbances in the lower atmosphere of the Sun.

answer

T

question

(T/F) The proton-proton chain releases energy because mass is created in the process.

answer

F

question

Astronomers on Venus would measure a solar constant____ on Earth a) larger than b) smaller than c) the same as

answer

a) larger than

question

A typical solar granule is about the same size of a) a US city b) a large US state c) the moon d) Earth

answer

b) a large US state

question

The time between successive sunspot maxima is about a) a month b) a year c) a decade d) a century

answer

c) a decade

question

Solar energy is produced by a) fusion of light nuclei into heavier ones b) fission of heavy nuclei into lighter ones c) the release of heat left over from the Sun's formation d) solar magnetism

answer

a) fusion of light nuclei into heavier ones

EXAM 2: Astronomy 4 – 9 (Not 8) – Flashcards

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