phy ?

) List at least three of the notable exceptions to the general patterns of the solar system. Answer:

(a) Mercury and Pluto have large orbital eccentricities and inclinations. (b) The rotational axes of Uranus and Pluto are substantially tilted. (c) Venus rotates backward, that is, clockwise. (d) Unlike other terrestrial planets, Earth has a large Moon. (e) Pluto has a moon that is almost as large as itself. (f) Some of the moons of the jovian planets orbit in the opposite direction.

Earth and Mars possess two properties in which they are very similar. What are they? a. length of solar day and inclination of spin axis to the ecliptic b. planet diameter and inclination of spin axis to the ecliptic plane c. orbital period and length of solar day d. length of solar day and diameter

*a. length of solar day and inclination of spin axis to the ecliptic

8) What do we mean by accretion in the context of planet formation? A) the formation of moons around planets B) the growth of planetesimals from smaller solid particles that collided and stuck together C) the solidification of ices, rocks, and metal from the gas of the solar nebular D) the growth of the Sun as the density of gas increased in the center of the solar nebula

B) the growth of planetesimals from smaller solid particles that collided and stuck together

How do we know that the "new" comets are members of the solar system and not just interstellar objects passing near the sun? A) they are too hot to be interstellar objects. B) they follow elliptical orbits C) there are no interstellar objects as large as comets D) they are moving too fast to have come from interstellar space

B) they follow elliptical orbits

Which body in the inner Solar System has the densest atmosphere? A)...Mercury. B)... Venus. C)... Earth. D)...Mars. E)...Our Moon.

B)... Venus.

14) What is the giant impact hypothesis for the origin of the Moon? A) The Moon formed when two gigantic asteroids collided with one another. B) The Moon originally was about the same size as Earth, but a giant impact blasted most of it away so that it ended up much smaller than Earth. C) The Moon formed from material blasted out of the Earth's mantle and crust by the impact of a Mars-size object. D) The Moon formed just like Earth, from accretion in the solar nebula.

C) The Moon formed from material blasted out of the Earth's mantle and crust by the impact of a Mars-size object.

The nebular theory of the formation of the solar system successfully predicts all but one of the following. Which one does the theory not predict? A) Planets orbit around the Sun in nearly circular orbits in a flattened disk. B) the compositional differences between the terrestrial and jovian planets C) the equal number of terrestrial and jovian planets D) asteroids, Kuiper-belt comets, and the Oort cloud E) the craters on the Moon

C) the equal number of terrestrial and jovian planets

5) According to our present theory of solar system formation, which of the following best explains why the solar nebula ended up with a disk shape as it collapsed? A) It was fairly flat to begin with, and retained this flat shape as it collapsed. B) The force of gravity pulled the material downward into a flat disk. C) the law of conservation of energy D) It flattened as a natural consequence of collisions between particles in the nebula.

D) It flattened as a natural consequence of collisions between particles in the nebula.

Which of the following planets is most likely to retain a thick atmosphere? A) a planet with a hot atmosphere, low gravity B) a planet with a hot atmosphere, high gravity C) a planet with a cool atmosphere, low gravity D) a planet with a cool atmosphere, high gravity

D) a planet with a cool atmosphere, high gravity

21. Evidence that the polarity of Earth's geomagnetic field has reversed in the past is found: a. As magnetic striping in volcanic arcs b. In magnetic reversals recorded by iron minerals in oceanic crust c. In accretionary prisms d. Where magma develops above a subducting slab e. All of the above

b. In magnetic reversals recorded by iron minerals in oceanic crust

19. Oceanic crust a. Is formed by asteroid impact. b. Is enriched in iron and magnesium compared to continental crust. c. Forms from sea salt. d. Is made of metamorphic rock. e. None of the above

b. Is enriched in iron and magnesium compared to continental crust.

23. The three types of convergent plate boundaries are: a. Convergent, divergent, and volcanic. b. Ocean-ocean, ocean-continent, and continent-continent. c. Subducting, divergent, and shearing. d. Igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic. e. None of the above.

b. Ocean-ocean, ocean-continent, and continent-continent.

Which of the following provide evidence that Earth's core is at least partially motlen? a. P waves do not penetrate Earth's core. b. S waves do not penetrate Earth's core. c. S waves are reflected by Earth's core. d. P waves are reflected by Earth's core. e. Neither S nor P waves are refracted by Earth's core.

b. S waves do not penetrate Earth's core.

10. The major gases in the Solar System include a. Ice, argon, methane, and carbon. b. Water, carbon dioxide, ammonia, helium, hydrogen, carbon monoxide c. Lithium, carbon dioxide, carbon, hydrogen, carbon monoxide d. Ammonia, oxygen, helium, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and water e. Water, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, helium, lithium, carbon monoxide

b. Water, carbon dioxide, ammonia, helium, hydrogen, carbon monoxide

18. Subduction occurs: a. When one plate crashes into another b. When a lithospheric plate is recycled into Earth's interior c. When a plate enters the inner core d. When a continent is recycled beneath an overriding plate e. During orogenesis

b. When a lithospheric plate is recycled into Earth's interior

The energy that moves the plates of Earth's crust comes from a. the solar wind. b. convection from the hot interior. c. tides in the oceans. d. friction between wind and the land surface. e. Earth's magnetic field.

b. convection from the hot interior.

Saying that Earth's mantle is plastic means that a. Earth's mantle is made of common plastics. b. it has the properties of a solid but is capable of flowing under pressure. c. it has the properties of a liquid but because of the high pressure it transmits both P and S waves. d. only S waves can travel through it. e. only P waves can travel through it.

b. it has the properties of a solid but is capable of flowing under pressure.

The central regions of Earth's core are a solid because a. the composition at the center of the core is lower in iron. b. the pressure at the center raises the melting point. c. the magnetic field cannot penetrate into the center of the core. d. convection does not extend all the way to the center of the core. e. Earth initially formed from solid particles in the solar nebula.

b. the pressure at the center raises the melting point.

which of the following is most distant from the sun a.neptune b.a comet in the Oort cloud c. an asteroid in the asteroid belt d. a comet in the kuiper belt e. mercury

b.a comet in the Oort cloud

which planet could float in a bathtub full of water, due to its low density a.jupitur b.saturn c.earth d.mercury e.mars

b.saturn

which moon has the most substantial atmosphere a.ganymede b.titan c.europa d.triton e.Io

b.titan

The pressures of the atmospheres at the surfaces of Mercury, Venus, and Mars, in terms of the pressure at the surface of the Earth, (known as 1 atmosphere) are a. 0.01 atmosphere; almost 100 atmospheres; 1/10 atmosphere. b. 0; about 10 atmospheres; 0.1 atmosphere. c. 0; almost 100 atmospheres; 0.01 atmosphere. d. 0.1 atmosphere; almost 100 atmospheres; 1/10 atmosphere.

c. 0; almost 100 atmospheres; 0.01 atmosphere.

3. Mercury, Venus, and Mars are different than Earth because: a. They are closer to the Sun. b. Earth has volcanoes and they don't. c. Earth currently has liquid water and they don't. d. Earth is the only planet with ice this close to the Sun. e. None of the above.

c. Earth currently has liquid water and they don't.

Most surface rocks on the Earth are younger than a few million years old, whereas ages of lunar rocks have been measured in billions of years. Why is this? a. The ages of Earth and Moon are fundamentally different, the Moon being an old object captured from space by a younger Earth. b. Most early surface rocks on Earth have been washed into the sea by weathering and rainwater, and this does not happen on the Moon. c. Much of the Earth's surface is continually recycled (created and subducted) by the underlying mantle because of plate tectonic activity, and this does not occur on the Moon. d. The complete surface of the Earth has been covered periodically by younger material from intense volcanic eruptions in the last few million years. No such activity occurred on the Moon.

c. Much of the Earth's surface is continually recycled (created and subducted) by the underlying mantle because of plate tectonic activity, and this does not occur on the Moon.

Why does the moon have more craters than the earth? Craters develop much better on smaller planetary bodies a.The moon captured most asteroids before they could strike the earth b.The moon has a stronger gravitational attraction than the earth c. The moon has little tectonics or weathering to obliterate craters d. The moon is much older than the earth

c. The moon has little tectonics or weathering to obliterate craters

That Earth _______________ is evidence that Earth differentiated. a. rotates slowly b. has an average density that is lower than the density of the crust c. has a magnetic field d. has a surface that is 75% water e. all of these

c. has a magnetic field

5. The basic structure of the Solar System is described as a. the ecliptic. b. the Oort Cloud. c. inner terrestrial and outer gaseous planets. d. the asteroid filter. e. rotating nuclear fission.

c. inner terrestrial and outer gaseous planets.

9. Which of the following is the name of a hypothesis explaining the origin of the Solar System? a. planetesimal collision b. nebular expansion c. solar nebula d. nuclear fusion e. solar objects

c. solar nebula

The surprising fact about the magnetic field of Uranus compared to that of the Earth or Jupiter is a. that it is extremely small or absent. b. that it is much more intense than that of any other planet. c. that its axis makes a larger angle to the planet's spin axis than any other planet. d. that its axis is precisely aligned with the spin axis of the planet.

c. that its axis makes a larger angle to the planet's spin axis than any other planet.

What is thought to be the age of the nine planets relative to each other? a.The inner planets formed together first and then the outer planets formed together later b.The outer planets formed together first and then the inner planets formed together later c.They all formed at roughly the same time d. They formed sequentially from Pluto inward with the one nearest the sun formed last e. They formed sequentially from the sun outward with Pluto formed last

c.They all formed at roughly the same time

what is jupiters great red spot? a. a large mountain peak poking up above the clouds b. the place where reddish particles from Io impact jupiturs surface c.a long lived high pressure storm d.an idicator that the planet is on sale for christmas e.the place where jupiter aurora is most visible

c.a long lived high pressure storm

What is the glowing head of a comet called? Coma Crater Head Maria Nova

coma

32. Hydorgen molecules in the Earth's atmosphere, at an average temperature of 300 Kelvins, move at 2 km/sec. What would be their average sppeed if the temperatured cooled to 75 Kelvins? a. 0.5 km/sec b. 2.0 km/sec c. 1.5 km/sec d. 1.0 km/sec

d. 1.0 km/sec

4. The largest storm in the Solar System is found on which planet? a. Uranus b. Earth c. Mars d. Jupiter e. Pluto

d. Jupiter

20. Magnetic reversals are caused by: a. Lunar gravitational effects. b. Changes in the rate at which Earth orbits the Sun. c. Impacts of extraterrestrial objects. d. Unknown causes. e. Faster subduction rates across Earth

d. Unknown causes.

An Earth-based telescopic view of Venus shows a. evidence of ice-covered polar caps and huge dust storms. b. a crater-covered surface of reddish color. c. a smooth, dark surface with few mountain ranges. d. a completely cloud-shrouded planet with high atmospheric wind speeds.

d. a completely cloud-shrouded planet with high atmospheric wind speeds.

Which of the following is not one of the four stages in the development of a terrestrial planet? a. flooding b. cratering c. slow surface evolution d. accretion e. differentiation

d. accretion

Most of the craters on the Moon are thought to have been caused by a. the continuous bombardment throughout the Moon's life, including the present and recent past, by large and small asteroids. b. the collapse of volcanic domes, leaving central peaks in the craters. c. volcanic activity, leaving behind volcano craters similar to those on Earth. d. the intense bombardment by large and small bodies over some specific early period in the Moon's history.

d. the intense bombardment by large and small bodies over some specific early period in the Moon's history.

planetary rings are made of a.hydrogen and helium gas b.ammonia and methane gas c.solid disks of ice in rigid rotation d.bits of rock and ice up to boulder size in keplerian orbits e.hydrogen ions trapped in the magnetic field

d.bits of rock and ice up to boulder size in keplerian orbits

the sky is blue because a.the sun mainly emits blue light b.molecules scatter red light more effectively than blue light c.the atmosphere absorbs mostly blue light d.molecules scatter blue light more effectively than red light.

d.molecules scatter blue light more effectively than red light.

what mechanism is most responsible for generating the internal heat of Io that drives the volcanic activity. a. Bombardment b.radioactive decay c.accretion d.tidal forces e.differentiation

d.tidal forces

which planet has no known moons? a. mars b. neptune c. uranus d.venus e. saturn

d.venus

12. Extraterrestrial impacts a. Probably occurred in two waves b. May have delivered water to Earth and an early atmosphere c. May have originated at the Oort cloud and Kuiper belt regions d. Produced the scars on the Moons surface e. All the above

e. All the above

In the development of a planet, the stage of _______________ occurred when molten rock flowed through fissures and filled deep basins with molten rock. a. differentiation b. cratering c. glaciation d. accretion e. flooding

e. flooding

Earth possesses few visible craters and the moon possesses many. This is because a. Earth formed later than the moon and, therefore, hasn't encountered as many meteorites. b. the moon doesn't have an atmosphere that could burn up many of the meteorites before impacting. c. erosion and plate tectonics have slowly removed evidence of past cratering on earth. d. all of the above e. only b and c

e. only b and c

since all stars begin their lives with the same basic composition, what characteristic most determines how they will differ a.location where they are formed b.luminosity they are formed with c.color they are formed with d. time they are formed e.mass they are formed with

e.mass they are formed with

which of the below is the most significant reason plutos status as a planet was changed? a.it was discovered last b.it was discovered by an american c.it isn't round d.its orbit is tilted more than that of the other planets compared to the ecliptic e.other similar sized objects were found in the same orbital plane

e.other similar sized objects were found in the same orbital plane

a rocky left over planetesimal orbiting the sun is a. a comet b. a meteor c.an asteroid d. a meteorite e.possibly and of the above

e.possibly and of the above

which world has no visible craters a.mercury b.the moon c.earth d.mars e.uranus

e.uranus

What speed is needed for a gas molecule to escape from a planet? Escape velocity Orbital speed Solar wind speed Speed of light Speed of sound

escape velocity

What are comets mostly made of? Ammonia Hydrogen Ice Iron Rock

ice

What is the largest planet in the solar system? Earth Jupiter Mars Neptune Saturn

jupitur

Which planet besides the earth has evidence of erosion by running water? Mars Mercury Neptune Uranus Venus

mars

Which planet has virtually no atmosphere? Mars Mercury Neptune Uranus Venus

mercury

Which planet has a runaway greenhouse effect? Mars Mercury Neptune Uranus Venus

venus

Which planet is closest in size to the earth? Mars Mercury Neptune Uranus Venus

venus

10) According to our basic scenario of solar system formation, why do the jovian planets have numerous large moons? A) As the growing jovian planets captured gas from the solar nebula, the gas formed swirling disks around them, and moons formed from condensation accretion within these disks. B) Because of their strong gravity, the jovian planets were able to capture numerous asteroids that happened to be passing nearby, and these became the major moons of the jovian planets. C) The large moons of the jovian planets originally formed in the inner solar system and these moons then migrated out to join up with the jovian planets. D) The many moons of the jovian planets remains one of the unexplained mysteries of the formation of our solar system.

A) As the growing jovian planets captured gas from the solar nebula, the gas formed swirling disks around them, and moons formed from condensation accretion within these disks.

4) According to our theory of solar system formation, what three major changes occurred in the solar nebula as it shrank in size? A) It got hotter, its rate of rotation increased, and it flattened into a disk. B) Its mass, temperature, and density all increased. C) It gained energy, it gained angular momentum, and it flattened into a disk. D) Its gas clumped up to form the terrestrial planets, nuclear fusion produced heavy elements to make the jovian planets, and central temperatures rose to more than a trillion Kelvin.

A) It got hotter, its rate of rotation increased, and it flattened into a disk.

As gaseous material condensed in the solar nebula, ices formed A) only far from the Sun B) only inside the present orbit of Mars C) only between the present orbits of Earth and Venus D) only far above or below the plane of the ecliptic

A) only far from the Sun

1) In essence, the nebular theory holds that A) our solar system formed from the collapse of an interstellar cloud of gas and dust. B) nebulae are clouds of gas and dust in space. C) the planets each formed from the collapse of its own separate nebula. D) the nebular theory is a discarded idea that imagined planets forming as a result of a near-collision between our Sun and another star.

A) our solar system formed from the collapse of an interstellar cloud of gas and dust.

Which part of a comet is the only one that exists when the comet is far from the sun? A) the nucleus B) the dust tail C) the ion tail D) the coma

A) the nucleus

6) What is the primary basis upon which we divide the ingredients of the solar nebula into four categories (hydrogen/helium; hydrogen compound; rock; metal)? A) the temperatures at which various materials will condense from gaseous form to solid form B) the atomic mass numbers of various materials C) the locations of various materials in the solar nebula D) the amounts of energy required to ionize various materials

A) the temperatures at which various materials will condense from gaseous form to solid form

When does a comet have the longest tail and largest coma? A) when it is nearest the sun B) when it is moving most slowly C) when it crosses the ecliptic D) when it is 1 AU from the sun

A) when it is nearest the sun

which of the following worlds has the most substantial atmosphere a.venus b.earth c.mercury d.mars

A.venus

7) According to our present theory of solar system formation, which of the following statements about the growth of terrestrial and jovian planets is not true? A) Both types of planet begun with planetesimals growing through the process of accretion, but only the jovian planets were able to capture hydrogen and helium gas from the solar nebula. B) The jovian planets began from planetesimals made only of ice, while the terrestrial planets began from planetesimals made only of rock and metal. C) Swirling disks of gas, like the solar nebula in miniature, formed around the growing jovian planets but not around the growing terrestrial planets. D) The terrestrial planets formed inside the frost line of the solar nebula and the jovian planets formed beyond it.

B) The jovian planets began from planetesimals made only of ice, while the terrestrial planets began from planetesimals made only of rock and metal.

8) Many meteorites appear to have formed very early in the solar system's history. How do these meteorites support our theory about how the terrestrial planets formed? A) The meteorites sizes are just what we'd expect if metal and rock condensed and accreted as our theory suggests. B) The meteorites appearance and composition is just what we'd expect if metal and rock condensed and accreted as our theory suggests. C) Their overall composition is just what we believe the composition of the solar nebula to have been: mostly hydrogen and helium. D) Their appearance and composition matches what we observe in comets today, suggesting that meteorites were once pieces of icy planetesimals.

B) The meteorites appearance and composition is just what we'd expect if metal and rock condensed and accreted as our theory suggests.

New stars are formed from A) the collision of one or more stars B) the gas in the interstellar medium C) coalescence of planets D) cosmic rays trapped in a magnetic field

B) the gas in the interstellar medium

22. Three plate boundaries, defined by relative motion, are: a. Converging, diverging, and lateral. b. Convergent, divergent, and transform. c. Strike slip, hotspot, and spreading center. d. Spreading center, transform, and divergent. e. All of the above

b. Convergent, divergent, and transform.

Why does Mercury have so many craters and the Earth so few? a)Mercury is far more volcanically active than the Earth. B)..Mercury is much more massive than the Earth and therefore attracted more impacting bodies. C).. The Sun has heated Mercury's surface to the boiling point of rock and the resulting bubbles left craters D).. Erosion and plate tectonic activity have destroyed most of the craters on the Earth. E)..Mercury's iron core and its resulting strong magnetic field have attracted impacting bodies.

D).. Erosion and plate tectonic activity have destroyed most of the craters on the Earth

Suppose the planet Jupiter had never formed. How do you think the distribution of asteroids and comets in our solar system would be different? Explain.

If Jupiter had never existed, its gravity would not have prevented asteroidal material from accreting into a single planet outside of Mars. Comets would not have been flung into the Oort cloud or completely out of the solar system to as great a degree (though the outer jovian planets may have performed this function).

Where did the heavy elements that make up the bulk of the earth originate? a In a supernova b In meteorites c In the Big Bang d In the earth itself e In the sun

a In a supernova

What are the lunar maria made of? a Basalt b reccia c Granite d Salt e Water

a bassalt

What is Io? A comet A moon of Jupiter A protoplanet An asteroid The nearest star

a moon of jupiter

17. How is Earth organized? a. Earth has an inner and outer core, a mantle, and a crust. b. Earth has an inner mantle and an outer lithosphere, with a liquid inner core. c. Earth's crust rests atop the liquid mantle and the solid outer core. d. The inner core is solid, the mantle is solid, and the crust is solid under the continents and they are all liquid under the oceans. e. None of the above

a. Earth has an inner and outer core, a mantle, and a crust.

13. The primary source of Earths heat is a combination of a. Extraterrestrial impacts, gravitational energy, radioactivity b. Nuclear fusion, volcanism, compression c. Compression, volcanism, solar wind d. Solar wind, radioactivity, gravitational energy e. None of the above

a. Extraterrestrial impacts, gravitational energy, radioactivity

What method do geologists and geophysicists use to probe the structure of the Earth's core and mantle? a. Studying the deflection of seismic waves from earthquakes. b. Direct sampling of interior rock by deep drilling through the ocean floor. c. X-ray analysis from satellites. d. Extrapolation of surface features (e.g., mountain chains) into the deep interior.

a. Studying the deflection of seismic waves from earthquakes.

16. What are the principal differences between the average chemistry of the crust and the average chemistry of Earth as a whole? a. The crust is relatively enriched in less dense compounds and relatively depleted in iron. b. The crust is relatively enriched in magnesium and relatively depleted in oxygen. c. Earth as a whole has a greater abundance of silicon than does the crust. d. The crust contains a greater abundance of heavier elements than does Earth as a whole. e. None of the above

a. The crust is relatively enriched in less dense compounds and relatively depleted in iron.

6. Why do the outer planets and their moons consist mostly of ice and gas while the inner planets are made up mostly of rock and metal? a. The solar wind stripped the inner planets of volatile compounds. b. The outer gas giants had greater volcanism, which produced large quantities of gases. c. Gravity sucked the gases from the inner planets into the Sun. d. Solar heat is so limited in the outer portion of the Solar System that solids turn into gas. e. All of the above.

a. The solar wind stripped the inner planets of volatile compounds.

15. How does the chemical differentiation of Earth today reflect the influence of the "iron catastrophe"? a. There is more iron in the core than in the crust. b. The lower lithosphere stores most of Earth's iron. c. Much of Earth's iron has escaped as a result of extraterrestrial impacts. d. Iron is largely rare on Earth e. None of the above

a. There is more iron in the core than in the crust.

where does nuclear fusion occur in the sun a. in its core b.just above the visible surface in the hot corona c c.on the surface d.everywhere below the surface e. all of the above

a. in its core

Earth's magnetic field is generated by the dynamo effect in the a. molten metallic core. b. solid central core. c. plastic mantle. d. the crust. e. aurora.

a. molten metallic core.

8. What is planetesimal accretion? a. The collapse of the Kuiper Belt into the core region. b. Collisions of bits of ice, gas, and dust grew into planetesimals, and planetary embryos, and eventually planets. c. Jupiter, with its huge mass, broke into pieces that eventually became the major planets. d. The solar wind tore the young planets into smaller pieces called planetesimals, and these later grew together to form the present planets. e. All of the above.

b. Collisions of bits of ice, gas, and dust grew into planetesimals, and planetary embryos, and eventually planets.

11. Comets are made of: a. Molten rock b. Ice and mineral grains c. Gas and ice d. Rock and a thin atmosphere of water e. None of the above

b. Ice and mineral grains