ASTR Midterm 3 Review #1

Lost Mass

"Lost" mass (4 million tons each second) is released through energetic "neutrinos" and a gamma ray photon

#13 You measure the parallax angle for a star to be 0.1 arc seconds. The distance to this star is 10 light years 10 parsecs 0.1 light year 0.1 par secs

10 parsecs

How many Helium atoms combine to make a Carbon atom?

3 Helium Atoms combine to make a Carbon atom - on test

Mars is a smaller planet than Earth or Venus. Why is it then, that Olympus Mons is much taller than mountains on Earth or Venus? A) Martian plate tectonics was much more active than the other planets before the planet's core cooled. B) There was a larger reservoir of magma near the Martian surface. This is true C) Martian gravity is weaker so mountains can be higher. D) Erosion tears down mountains faster on Earth and Venus

A) Martian plate tectonics was much more active than the other planets before the planet's core cooled. Not true about being more active B) There was a larger reservoir of magma near the Martian surface. This is true C) Martian gravity is weaker so mountains can be higher. True that gravity is weaker There's a limit to the size a mountain can grow to because of the strong pressure from gravity pushing down on it The rock will liquify as the pressure of gravity overcomes it, turning it into liquid, compress, and re-solidify If martian gravity is weaker than gravity on Earth, the mountains will continue to grow higher!

30. We have observed lakes of liquid methane or ethane on Titan, but we have not observed any lakes of liquid water. Is it possible that liquid water lakes also exist? Why or why not? A) No, because it is too cold. B) No, because like Mars, the atmospheric pressure is too low for water to be stable. C) Yes, but they are too small for our cameras to have detected so far. D) Yes, but they exist only during Titan's summer season.

A) No, because it is too cold.

24. Which of the following is NOT a moon of Jupiter? A) Titan B) Ganymede C) Callisto D) Io

A) Titan

32. Who was the one of the first scientists to suggest that Mars may be inhabited? A) William Herschel B) Percival Lowell C) Giovanni Schiaparelli D) Angelo Secchi

A) William Herschel

38. What is the Martian Dichotomy? A) a sharp contrast in the geological age and features of the northern and southern hemispheres of Mars B) the question of how water on Mars disappeared C) the formations of the Martian moons Phobos and Deimos D) the differences in the sizes of the northern and southern polar caps

A) a sharp contrast in the geological age and features of the northern and southern hemispheres of Mars

40. Much of Europa's surface appears chaotic and clogged with huge iceberg-like blocks. This is consistent with A) a thin icy crust that has been broken into pieces by tidal forces below which is a subsurface ocean of water B) the surface thawing due to heat emitted by Jupiter C) the breaking up of the surface due to plate tectonics D) a giant impact that has recently shattered the crust into pieces

A) a thin icy crust that has been broken into pieces by tidal forces below which is a subsurface ocean of water

22. Voyagers 1 and 2 were examples of which kind of space mission? A) flyby B) orbiter C) sample return D) lander/probe

A) flyby

28. Saturn's icy moon Enceladus A) has fountains of ice particles and water vapor spraying out from its surface B) has an ancient, heavily cratered surface reminiscent of the Moon C) is small and irregular in shape like an asteroid D) has a smooth, icy surface criss-crossed with dark cracks

A) has fountains of ice particles and water vapor spraying out from its surface

36. Compared to the summer, the atmospheric pressure above a Martian polar cap in winter is A) lower B) about the same C) slightly higher D) much higher

A) lower

29. Why do the moons of Saturn have large amounts of methane and ammonia ice, but the moons of Jupiter do not? A) Methane and ammonia are lightweight and therefore escaped to greater distances from the Sun than heavier gases. B) It was too warm for these ices to condense at Jupiter's distance in the solar nebula. C) Saturn is closer to the Oort Cloud comets, which bring in these ices. D) Jupiter's strong magnetic field prevented these ices from condensing.

B) It was too warm for these ices to condense at Jupiter's distance in the solar nebula.

39. What is the origin of the nitrogen in Titan's atmosphere? A) gas captured from the solar nebula B) breakdown of ammonia (NH3) by ultraviolet light from the Sun C) outgassing from Titan's interior D) impacts from comets

B) breakdown of ammonia (NH3) by ultraviolet light from the Sun

34. The atmosphere of Mars is made mostly of A) nitrogen B) carbon dioxide C) hydrocarbons D) ammonia

B) carbon dioxide

39. The volcano Olympus Mons on Mars is A) smaller than Mt. Everest but as large as North America B) taller than Mt. Everest and as large as the state of Arizona C) taller than Mt. Everest and but only as large as the Big Island of Hawaii D) about the same height and size as Mt. St. Helens in Washington State, USA

B) taller than Mt. Everest and as large as the state of Arizona

35. Venus may have been more Earth-like in the past because A) it was rotating more rapidly B) the Sun was dimmer, putting out less solar radiation C) it was not as close to the Sun D) its atmosphere was thinner

B) the Sun was dimmer, putting out less solar radiation

28. Which of the following best describes the most likely internal structure of Europa? A) thin icy crust, subsurface ocean of water, thick iron mantle, central rocky core B) thin icy crust, subsurface ocean of water, thick rocky mantle, central iron core C) thin icy crust, thick rocky mantle, central iron core D) surface ocean of water, thick rocky mantle, central iron core

B) thin icy crust, subsurface ocean of water, thick rocky mantle, central iron core

19. Europa may have a subsurface ocean of liquid water due to A) the insulating properties of its icy surface B) tidal heating from Jupiter and the other Galilean moons C) internal heat left over from its formation D) tidal heating from the Sun

B) tidal heating from Jupiter and the other Galilean moons

37. What source of energy might keep water beneath the surface of Enceladus liquid? A) radioactive decay only B) tidal heating only C) tidal heating and radioactive decay D) heat released from a partially molten core

B) tidal heating only

40. The middle era of the geological history of Mars is called the A) Amazonian B) Noachian C) Hesperian D) Phanerozonian

C) Hesperian

27. Even though Jupiter's moon Io is similar in size to our geologically dead Moon, it is more geologically active than the Earth. How can this be? A) because Io orbits very close to Jupiter, it still has a lot of heat trapped inside from its formation B) Io is tidally heated by tidal forces exerted by the outer Galilean moons, which flex and distort its interior C) Io is tidally heated due to its elliptical orbit, which causes the large tidal forces exerted by Jupiter to constantly change, flexing and distorting its interior D) Io has much more radioactive decay occurring inside it than does the Earth

C) Io is tidally heated due to its elliptical orbit, which causes the large tidal forces exerted by Jupiter to constantly change, flexing and distorting its interior

37. Mercury and the Moon are probably the least-habitable bodies in the solar system because they A) have never had carbon compounds on their surfaces B) do not have atmospheres containing oxygen C) are unlikely to have liquids anywhere D) do not receive any sunlight

C) are unlikely to have liquids anywhere

24. In order for life to survive in the atmospheres of Jupiter and Saturn it would have to A) be high in the atmosphere where it could collect solar radiation B) be at the center, close to the rocky core where a rocky surface exists C) be large and buoyant, allowing it to maintain a stable altitude in the atmosphere D) float on the surface of the layer of liquid metallic hydrogen

C) be large and buoyant, allowing it to maintain a stable altitude in the atmosphere

22. In 2008 the Phoenix spacecraft landed in the Martian arctic and found water ice A) on the surface B) deep beneath the surface C) just below the surface D) was nowhere to be found

C) just below the surface

33. The Huygens probe is an example of which kind of robotic spacecraft? A) orbiter B) sample return C) lander D) flyby

C) lander

31. The biggest obstacle to life being present in the atmospheres of Jupiter and Saturn is the A) absence of liquid water in their atmospheres B) high levels of solar radiation that would destroy any biological molecules C) strong vertical wind speeds that would rapidly carry organisms into the hot interior where they would be destroyed D) very low temperatures at the tops of the clouds where water would not be liquid

C) strong vertical wind speeds that would rapidly carry organisms into the hot interior where they would be destroyed

38. Which of the following did NOT contribute to the thinning of the Martian atmosphere during its early history? A) the photodissociation of water molecules by ultraviolet light in the atmosphere B) the stripping of the atmosphere by solar wind particles from the Sun C) the consumption of carbon dioxide by photosynthetic bacteria D) atmospheric gases being blasted into space by large impacts

C) the consumption of carbon dioxide by photosynthetic bacteria

31. Titan is roughly the same size as Mercury, yet Titan has an atmosphere while Mercury does not. How can this be? A) Although Titan is roughly the same size as Mercury, it is much denser, making its gravitational field stronger B) Unlike Mercury, Titan is constantly being bombarded by icy comets that evaporate and maintain its atmosphere C) On its surface, Titan has volcanism that is constantly replenishing its atmosphere while Mercury does not D) Even though Titan's gravity is weak, it is much colder, allowing molecules to be trapped in its atmosphere

D) Even though Titan's gravity is weak, it is much colder, allowing molecules to be trapped in its atmosphere

40. Which of the three key environmental requirements for life might Europa possess? A) a source of elements and molecules from which to build living organisms B) a source of energy for metabolism and growth C) a liquid medium for transporting the molecules of life D) all of these

D) all of these

27. What is an indication that a planetary moon may have been captured? A) it revolves in retrograde direction, opposite to the direction of planetary spin B) it has a highly elliptical orbit C) it has an orbit which is inclined to the equator of the host planet D) all of these are indications

D) all of these are indications

10. Given the Earth's larger size and strong gravity, the Earth's surface should have more impact craters than the Moon. However, it has very few. Why is this? A) the Moon acted like a shield, protecting the Earth from most impacts B) the Earth's surface was almost completely molten during the Hadean Eon so no impact craters were formed C) almost all impacts occurred in the oceans so no impact craters were formed D) geological processes like plate tectonics, volcanism, and erosion have erased them

D) geological processes like plate tectonics, volcanism, and erosion have erased them

29. Water is present on the Moon and Mercury in the form of A) liquid water present just beneath the surface B) vapor in the atmosphere C) oceans of liquid water on the surface D) ice in polar craters

D) ice in polar craters

32. Which of the following is NOT property of a dwarf planet? A) symmetrical shape B) orbits the Sun C) intermediate in size between an asteroid and a small terrestrial planet D) irregular shape

D) irregular shape

38. Even though Titan has liquid methane on its surface, some internal heat, and plenty of carboncontaining compounds, it is not a suitable place for life because A) Titan orbits within Saturn's radiation belt so its surface is completely sterilized by high-energy particles B) there is too much volcanic activity on the surface C) it has no ozone layer to protect the surface from harmful UV rays from the Sun D) it is far too cold, and methane is not a very good biological solvent

D) it is far too cold, and methane is not a very good biological solvent

23. It is believed that the planet Mars has a much thicker carbon dioxide atmosphere in the past than it does today. Where the bulk of this carbon dioxide go? A) it reacted with surface rocks B) it condensed to form the polar caps C) it was destroyed in the atmosphere through chemical reactions D) it was lost into space

D) it was lost into space

21. Liquid water cannot exist for very long on the surface of Mars today because A) it gets rapidly destroyed by intense solar radiation B) its surface temperature is too high C) it rapidly reacts with the Martian surface to form peroxides D) its atmosphere is too thin

D) its atmosphere is too thin

38. The leading hypothesis for Venus's lack of a global magnetic field is its ________. A) lack of a molten region in its core B) distance from the Sun C) lack of plate tectonics D) slow rotation

D) slow rotation

15. Like our own moon, many Jovian moons exhibit what is called synchronous rotation. This means that they rotate at the same rate A) that their host planet rotates B) as all other moons around the host planet C) that the host planet orbits about the Sun D) that they orbit their host planet

D) that they orbit their host planet

What the Transit Method can tell us

During the transit, spectroscopy can be used to determine the planet's atmosphere, and with precise observations, whether it has moons.

43. The fact that many of the larger Jovian moons orbit nearly in the equatorial plane of their host world, moving in the same direction as their planet's spin, suggest that they were formed from a giant impact between the host world and another body.

F

46. The currently accepted theory for the formation of the Moon is the capture model in which the Moon formed elsewhere and was later captured into orbit by the Earth's gravity.

F

47. Most of the detailed information about the planets in our solar system comes from meteorites.

F

46. The NASA New Horizons spacecraft flew by the dwarf planet Eris in 2015.

False

47. Uranus is the only planet in our solar system that has not yet been studied with an orbiter.

False

49. The fact that Enceladus has a subsurface ocean of liquid water is due to radioactive decay in its rocky mantle

False

Which orbiter has been at Mars the longest? Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Mars Odyssey MAVEN

Mars Odyssey

#10 Which of the following stars are brightest at UV wavelengths? O and B stars A and F stars G and K stars M Stars

O and B stars most luminous!

41. The Jovian moons Ganymede and Titan are larger than Mercury but smaller than the Earth

T

48. Most of the carbon dioxide on Venus is still present in the atmosphere.

T

49. Most of the liquid hydrocarbons on Titan are concentrated in lakes.

T

50. Compared to the Earth, Mars has experienced wild swings in its axis tilt over relatively short time periods. This is because of its proximity to Jupiter and its lack of a large moon.

T

50. Io is the most volcanically active object in the solar system

T

What is the solution to the solar neutrino problem? The sun is generating energy other than by nuclear fusion The sun is generating much less energy than we think it is We do not know how to detect neutrinos Not all fusion reactions create neutrinos The electron neutrinos created in the Sun's core change into another type of neutrino that we did not originally detect

The electron neutrinos created in the Sun's core change into another type of neutrino that we did not originally detect The Solar Neutrino: Problem Since all of the energy produced within the Sun must be radiated away, the Sun's luminosity gives us a measure of how many reactions are taking place in its interior every second. Each reaction produces two electron-type neutrinos. Number of measured neutrinos was 1/3 to half of what it should be! The Solar Neutrino Problem: Solution There are three types of neutrinos: electron, muon, and tau. It was found that neutrinos can change type during their travel from the Sun to the Earth. Measuring all three types of neutrinos showed this effect, which is called "neutrino oscillation."

47. The southern hemisphere of Mars is at a higher elevation than the northern hemisphere

True

48. Mars rover Curiosity has a laser spectrometer for drilling rock samples

True

49. Tidal friction between the Earth and the Moon causes the Earth's rotation to slow gradually and the Moon to move gradually farther from the Earth

True

Does it use nuclear fusion?

Yes. The sun converts hydrogen to helium at a rate of 700 million tons per second.

#12 How can astronomers currently determine the temperature of an extrasolar planet? estimate the temperature based on the planet's distance from the star measure the drop in total infrared light when the planet passes behind the star from our perspective use spectroscopy of the planet to identify the wavelength at which its emission peaks a and b b and c

a and b c is used to find if star is moving away/towards us (doppler effect helps determine how far an object is)

#39 Seasonal variations on Mars are due only to its changing distance from the sun only to its axis tilt to changes in the amounts of energy emitted by the sun both to its axis tilt and its changing distance from the sun

both to its axis tilt and its changing distance from the sun

#18 A habitable zone exists around all stars only exists around stars which are identical to the sun only exists around stars which are similar to our sun only exists around one star, the sun

exists around all stars

#34 Stars are mostly made up of hydrogen and helium pure hydrogen carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen an equal mixture of all elements

hydrogen and helium

#26 When a star finally runs out of hydrogen to fuse in its central core it grows smaller and dimmer, becoming a brown dwarf it grows larger and brighter, becoming a giant or supergiant star it grows smaller and dimmer becoming a white dwarf it remains the same size but grows brighter

it grows larger and brighter, becoming a giant or supergiant star

#9 Since all stars begin their lives with the same basic composition, what characteristics most determines how they will differ? location where they are formed time they're formed luminosity they're formed with mass they're formed with color they're formed with

mass they're formed with

#25 Overtime as they age, the habitable zone of stars like our sun move inward remain the same suddenly disappear move outward

move outward

#7 The first planets around other Sun-like stars were discovered by Huygens, following his realization that other stars are Suns by Galileo following the invention of the telescope at the beginning of the 20th C near the end of the 20th C

near the end of the 20th C - near 1992

#36 If a star has an extrasolar planet, the wavelength of its radial velocity curve is related to the planet's orbital shape radius mass orbital period

orbital period The AMPLITUDE of its radial velocity curve is related to the planet's mass The velocity change (vertical axis) gives the planet's mass, while the period (horizontal axis) of the variation gives the planet's orbital period

#8 The light radiated from the sun's surface reaches earth in about 8 minutes. However the energy of this light was released by fusion in the sun's core about 8 minutes ago 11 years ago several hundred years ago several thousand years ago several hundred thousand years ago

several hundred thousand years ago

#14 What is a protostar? star that has planets intermediate-mass star star in its final stage of life star that is still in the process of forming

star that is still in the process of forming

#19 Which of the following is not evidence for the existence of water on the Martian surface in the past or today? recurring slope linea glacial flows on the Hellas plain Hematite "blueberries" and "popcorn" the sublimation of the Martian polar caps potassium deposits at the mouths of flow channels

the sublimation of the Martian polar caps Sublimation just tells us that the polar caps are made of carbon dioxide not water! Sublimation is the transition of a substance directly from the solid to the gas state, without passing through the liquid state.

Sample #1: Which of the following processes is involved in the sunspot cycle? a slight gravitational contraction of the Sun small variations in the rate of nuclear energy generation in the solar interior an imbalance in the operation of the solar thermostat the winding of magnetic field lines due to the sun's rotation a large change in the amount of visible light emitted by the sun

the winding of magnetic field lines due to the sun's rotation

#37 Other astronomers were skeptical about Percival Lowell's claims of Martian canals because it did not seem possible for his telescope to see the surface through its thick atmosphere they discovered that Lowell suffered from poor vision they were able to prove that Lowell's telescope was faulty when they pointed their own telescopes towards Mars they couldn't see them

when they pointed their own telescopes towards Mars they couldn't see them

How many dips do you have to see to consider it a planet?

→ at least 3 (on test)