Astronomy Clicker Questions Chapter 7-12

What is the name of the process in which nonliving material combines to transform it into living material (in other words, the creation of life from nonlife)? A) Genesis B) Abiotic synthesis C) Molecular energetics D) Inorganic transmutation

B) Abiotic synthesis

Which of the following statements is true? A) Both apparent magnitude and absolute magnitude are relational properties of a star B) Apparent magnitude is a relational property of a star, and absolute magnitude is an intrinsic property of a star C) Apparent magnitude is an intrinsic property of a star, and absolute magnitude is a relational property of a star D) Both apparent magnitude and absolute magnitude are intrinsic properties of a star

B) Apparent magnitude is a relational property of a star, and absolute magnitude is an intrinsic property of a star

The star Sirius has an absolute magnitude of 1.45, and the star Arcturus has an absolute magnitude of −0.31. Which star appears brighter from a distance of 10pc? A) Sirius B) Arcturus C) They appear equally bright D) The answer can't be determined without knowing their distances

B) Arcturus

The star Sirius has an absolute magnitude of 1.45, and the star Arcturus has an absolute magnitude of −0.31. Which star has a higher luminosity? A) Sirius B) Arcturus C) They have equal luminosities D) The answer can't be determined without knowing their distances

B) Arcturus

All mutations are beneficial for a species. A) True B) False

B) False

CMEs eject only a minor amount of mass and energy into the Solar System. A) True B) False

B) False

Due to the cold environment of the ice giants resulting from their distance from the Sun, there is no weather occurring in their atmospheres. A) True B) False

B) False

Jupiter and Earth both generate energy internally through gravitational contraction. A) True B) False

B) False

Life can only exist if it can use the energy of a star. A) True B) False

B) False

Parallax is an effective way of accurately measuring the distance to a star at the far end of the Milky Way galaxy. (The Milky Way galaxy is about 150,000pc across, or 46,000pc.) A) True B) False

B) False

Splitting a single atom will result in a nuclear explosion. A) True B) False

B) False

Starting at the center of the Sun and going outward all the way to the corona, the temperature of the Sun is always decreasing. A) True B) False

B) False

The Drake equation has been conclusively solved. A) True B) False

B) False

The moons of Mars -Deimos and Phobos -are certainly captured asteroids from the nearby asteroid belt that lies between Mars and Jupiter. A) True B) False

B) False

Unlike the gas giants, the ice giants Uranus and Neptune contain very little hydrogen. A) True B) False

B) False

The wind speeds on Saturn are so high due to the A) Size of Saturn B) Fast rotation rate C) Presence of large moons D) Concentration of light elements in its atmosphere

B) Fast rotation rate

Which moon is the largest in the Solar System? A) Callisto B) Ganymede C) Europa D) Io E) Earth's Moon

B) Ganymede

Triton is special due to its A) Location close to Neptune B) Geological activity, including geysers of nitrogen C) Atmosphere, which is similar to Earth's D) Complete geological inactivity

B) Geological activity, including geysers of nitrogen

The most common atoms found within Jupiter and Saturn are: A) Methane and ammonia B) Hydrogen and helium C) Iron and carbon

B) Hydrogen and helium

The balance between the inward gravitational pull of the Sun and the outward pressure from reactions in the Sun is called A) Thermonuclear stasis B) Hydrostatic equilibrium C) Convective dynamism D) Tidal balancing

B) Hydrostatic equilibrium

Why does Venus not have a strong magnetic field? A) It does not have a large metallic core B) It rotates so slowly C) It cooled so quickly D) The reason is not understood

B) It rotates so slowly

One of the features of living organisms is that they consume energy and produce waste. What is this called? A) Reproduction B) Metabolism C) Mutation D) Sensitivity

B) Metabolism

The zone of the Sun where the energy is transported by radiation from the lower region of the zone to the upper region is the: A) Core B) Radiative zone C) Convective zone D) Photosphere E) Chromosphere

B) Radiative zone

What is the main reason why Mercury does not have a strong magnetic field? A) The planet has a slow rotation rate. B) The planet's metallic core cooled off billions of years ago. C) The planet is too small.

B) The planet's metallic core cooled off billions of years ago.

Solar granulation is evidence of which process taking place within the Sun? A) Hydrogen fusion by the P-P chain B) Transport of solar energy through convection C) Transport of solar energy through radiation D) Emission of blackbody radiation E) Differential rotation

B) Transport of solar energy through convection

Which of the terrestrial planets has a crust broken up into many plates? A) Mercury B) Venus C) Mars D) All three of the above E) None of the above

B) Venus

Which of the terrestrial planets has an internal structure most like the Earth's? A) Mercury B) Venus C) Mars D) All three of the above E) None of the above

B) Venus

Which of the terrestrial planets may be currently volcanically active? A) Mercury B) Venus C) Mars D) All three of the above E) None of the above

B) Venus

A particular organic molecule is 8 nucleotides long. Suppose there are only 3 different kinds of nucleotides to choose from. Approximately how much time would be required to assemble the organic molecule randomly from nucleotides, assuming it takes 2 seconds to assemble one combination of 8 nucleotides? A) 48 seconds B) 43,046,721 seconds C) 13,122 seconds D) 576 seconds E) 1024 seconds

C) 13,122 seconds

Every second, the Sun fuses about 1011푘푔of hydrogen into helium. How much energy is produced by the Sun every second from these reactions? (푐=3×108푚/푠) A) 2.1×1017x10^17 B) 9.0×1027x10^27 C) 6.3×1025x10^25 D)3.0×1019x10^19

C) 6.3×1025x10^25

The Great Red Spot is: A) A simple coloration of the atmosphere B) An artifact of the formation of Jupiter C) A long-lasting storm of gigantic proportions and strength

C) A long-lasting storm of gigantic proportions and strength

Which of the phases of terrestrial planet evolution features significant impacts from planetesimals? i. Cratering ii. Magma flooding iii. Weathering A) Only i. B) Only ii. C) Both i. and ii. D) Both i. and iii. E) i., ii., and iii.

C) Both i. and ii.

The layer inside the Sun where energy is transported by the movement of hot material is the: A) Core B) Radiative zone C) Convective zone D) Chromosphere E) Corona

C) Convective zone

The importance of the Miller-Urey experiment was that scientists were able to A) Develop self-replicating molecules in the laboratory B) Develop small microorganisms in the laboratory C) Develop prebiotic molecules from simpler molecules

C) Develop prebiotic molecules from simpler molecules

Which moon has new ice on its surface, making it very reflective? A) Callisto B) Ganymede C) Europa D) Io

C) Europa

What term best explains this process: a group of rare yellowish ants are destroyed accidentally when their home was plowed over at a farm, while a group of brown ants are not disturbed by the farm worker. This then leads to a greater ratio of brown ants to yellow ants in the next generation. A) Mutation B) Migration C) Genetic drift D) Natural selection

C) Genetic drift

Earth lies within the Sun's habitable zone. A) True B) False C) It Depends

C) It Depends

In which way is Titan similar to Earth? A) It is close to the size of Earth B) It has a large amount of liquid water on its surface C) It has a large amount of nitrogen in its atmosphere D) Plant life has been observed on its surface

C) It has a large amount of nitrogen in its atmosphere

The Sun has a mass equal to about 333,000 Earths, and a volume equal to about 1.3 million Earths. This means that the average density of the Sun is _____ the density of Earth. A) Greater than B) Equal to C) Less than

C) Less than

What is the correct order of the layers of the Sun's interior, going from the outside toward the center? A) Radiative zone, convective zone, core, photosphere B) Radiative zone, photosphere, convective zone, core C) Photosphere, convective zone, radiative zone, core D) Convective zone, radiative zone, photosphere, core E) Photosphere, radiative zone, convective zone, core

C) Photosphere, convective zone, radiative zone, core

Which of the following is not true about the presence of water on Mars? A) There are runoff channels and outflow channels that indicate water may have flowed across the surface of Mars in the past B) Mars has a northern polar ice cap that contains water ice C) Ponds and lakes of water are present on Mars's surface D) Water ice has been found beneath the surface of Mars in some regions E) Martian rocks contain minerals that only form in the presence of water

C) Ponds and lakes of water are present on Mars's surface

Which of the following is not one of the processes in living systems that leads to changes in genes and their distribution? A) Natural selection B) Genetic drift C) Replication D) Mutation E) Migration

C) Replication

Which of the following is not one of the stages of evolution of the terrestrial planets? A) Magma flooding B) Differentiation C) Solar irradiation D) Cooling E) Cratering

C) Solar irradiation

The slight amount of helium and hydrogen found on Mercury comes from: A) Earth B) The internal structure of Mercury C) The Sun D) Nearby space

C) The Sun

What layer of Jupiter is responsible for the production of its magnetic field? A) The atmosphere B) The upper ocean of molecular hydrogen C) The layer of metallic hydrogen D) The rocky and metallic core

C) The layer of metallic hydrogen

What is a problem with the development of life on planets that orbit hot, bright stars? A) The size of the habitable zone is too small, giving planets too small a chance to have liquid water B) There is no habitable zone C) The lifespan of these stars is likely to be too short to support the development of life D) There is no problem with developing life around such stars

C) The lifespan of these stars is likely to be too short to support the development of life

What causes the haze in the upper atmosphere of Saturn? A) The helium rain in the lower layers of Saturn B) The fast rotation rate of Saturn C) The lower temperatures due to its distance from the Sun D) It is not understood at all

C) The lower temperatures due to its distance from the Sun

The mass of a positron is equal to which of the following? A) The mass of a photon B) The mass of a neutron C) The mass of an electron D) The mass of a proton E) Zero -it has no mass

C) The mass of an electron

Which is the best conclusion about two organisms that are biologically similar? A) No conclusion about them can be reached without more information B) They originated at the same time on Earth C) They have a recent common ancestor D) They originated during the Cambrian explosion

C) They have a recent common ancestor

Which of the following is not one of the nucleobases of DNA? A) Thymine B) Cytosine C) Uracil D) Guanine E) Adenine

C) Uracil

Which terrestrial planets have similar compositions of their atmospheres? A) Mercury and Mars B) Mercury and Venus C) Venus and Mars D) Earth and Mars E) Venus and Earth

C) Venus and Mars

Using Kepler's third law, p2=p3, and Jupiter's orbital radius of 5AU, approximately how long is Jupiter's orbital period? A) 7.5 years B) 62.5 years C)11.2 years D) 3.9 years

C)11.2 years

Earth is about twice the size of Mars, meaning the diameter of Earth is about twice the diameter of Mars. What is the ratio of Mars's cooling time over Earth's cooling time? A) 2 B) 4 C) 1 D) 1/2 E) 1/4

D) 1/2

A history of volcanic activity on Mars is supported by which of the following pieces of evidence? A) Mars has the largest volcano in the solar system B) The atmosphere of Mars is almost entirely carbon dioxide C) Mars's surface has large fields of volcanic rocks called basalts D) All of the above

D) All of the above

Why do we use radio telescopes to search for extraterrestrial life? A) Radio waves are not easily absorbed or scattered B) Radio waves allow us to search over vast distances C) Examining radio waves with a 21cm wavelength allows us to look for signals associated with the presence of hydrogen, which is a part of water. D) All of the above E) None of the above

D) All of the above

Why is water important to planetary geologists? A) It is the basis of life as we know it. B) It can provide evidence for geologic history. C) It can help explain planetary evolution. D) All of the above. E) None of the above.

D) All of the above.

Which of the following is responsible for the magnetic fields of Uranus and Neptune? A) A magnetic dynamo effect in a core of molten iron B) Oceans of liquid metallic hydrogen C) Solar radiation D) Currents of ammonia ions in a "slush" of ices and liquid hydrogen

D) Currents of ammonia ions in a "slush" of ices and liquid hydrogen

Which of the following is not an intrinsic property of a star? A) Temperature B) Composition C) Mass D) Distance E) Luminosity

D) Distance

In the fusion reactions in the Sun, what percent of the mass of the fused hydrogen nuclei is converted into energy? A) 100% B) 50% C) 7% D) 1% E) 0.7%

E) 0.7%

About how much sunlight does Jupiter receive compared to Earth? (Earth orbits the Sun at 1AU, while Jupiter orbits at a distance of 5AU.) A) 1/2 B) 1/4 C) 1/5 D) 1/10 E) 1/25

E) 1/25

A thymine nucleobase in a DNA molecule will pair with which other nucleobase? A) Another thymine B) Cytosine C) Uracil D) Guanine E) Adenine

E) Adenine

Which of the following is not produced in the P-P chain fusion reaction that takes place in the Sun? A) Helium-4 B) Positrons C) Gamma rays D) Neutrinos E) Electrons

E) Electrons

Most of the energy released in hydrogen fusion in the Sun is carried away by what? A)Protons B)Helium nuclei C)Positrons D)Neutrinos E) Gamma rays

E) Gamma rays

Sunspots provide information about what feature of the Sun? A) The percentages of its composition that are hydrogen and helium B) The temperature of the Sun's surface C) The temperature of the Sun's core D) The type of nuclear fusion occurring in the Sun's core E) The magnetic field of the Sun

E) The magnetic field of the Sun

Which has the highest pressure on Jupiter? A) Belts B) Zones

A) Belts

Organic molecules are defined as molecules that include the element: A) Carbon B) Nitrogen C) Oxygen D) Hydrogen E) Uranium

A) Carbon

The place where all a star's energy is produced is the: A) Core B) Radiative zone C) Convective zone D) Photosphere E) Corona

A) Core

In comparative planetology, which planet is the one all are compared to? A) Earth B) Mars C) Jupiter D) Neptune

A) Earth

Deuterium is a form of which element? A) Hydrogen B) Helium C) Oxygen D) Carbon E) Nitrogen

A) Hydrogen

There is evidence that past volcanic activity has shaped the surfaces of all of the terrestrial planets except for: A) Mercury B) Venus C) Mars D) None of the above -there is evidence for past volcanic activity on all of these terrestrial planets

A) Mercury

Which of the terrestrial planets has the oldest, most unchanged surface? A) Mercury B) Venus C) Earth D) Mars E) They are all about the same

A) Mercury

The period that might have been the most conducive for the presence of microbial life on Mars is the A) Noachian period B) Hesperian period C) Amazonian period

A) Noachian period

The star Sirius has an apparent magnitude of −1.44, and the star Arcturus has an apparent magnitude of −0.05. Which star appears brighter from Earth? A) Sirius B) Arcturus C) They appear equally bright D) The answer can't be determined without knowing their distances

A) Sirius

The rain on Venus consists of A) Sulfuric acid B) Water rain C) Salt water D) Lava

A) Sulfuric acid

Why does the pattern of granulation of the Sun's surface have darker edges? A) There are temperature differences between the center of granules and their edges. B) The matter is denser at the edges, so light cannot exit there.

A) There are temperature differences between the center of granules and their edges

E=MC2is a statement that matter and energy, once thought to be two separate phenomena of nature, are actually the same phenomenon in two different forms. A) True B) False

A) True

Flares are caused by very twisted magnetic field lines that break and then reconnect, releasing large amounts of radiation. A) True B) False

A) True

In order for thermonuclear fusion to occur, there must be extremely high temperatures, high densities, and immense pressure. A) True B) False

A) True

Starting at the center of the Sun and going outward all the way to the corona, the density of the Sun is always decreasing. A) True B) False

A) True

There are lakes and rain on Titan. A) True B) False

A) True

The layers of Jupiter's atmosphere display many colors. These colors result from: A)Complex compounds interacting with the Sun's energy B) Refraction and dispersion of light through Jupiter's very thick and dense atmosphere C)Black body radiation from Jupiter's hot, dense interior

A)Complex compounds interacting with the Sun's energy

The nucleus of an atom is made of A)Protons and neutrons B) Protons and electrons C)Only protons D) Protons and neutrinos

A)Protons and neutrons

What large feature of the Sun's surface is shown in the picture here? A)Sunspots B) Solar flares C)Granulation D) Coronal mass ejections E)Magnetic flux tubes

A)Sunspots

The sunspot cycle lasts for a period of A) 4 years B) 11 years C) 22 years D) Forever

B) 11 years

How is a summer solstice in the northern hemisphere on Uranus different than Earth? A) During the summer solstice, Uranus's northern hemisphere is actually tilted away from the Sun B) Uranus doesn't experience a solstice because it is tidally locked and the same side of the planet is always facing the Sun C) Because Uranus's rotation axis wobbles in a regular way, Uranus's northern hemisphere experiences two summer solstices during one of its "years" D) During the summer solstice on Uranus, the Sun doesn't set for a full half of the planet instead of just a small region near the north pole

D) During the summer solstice on Uranus, the Sun doesn't set for a full half of the planet instead of just a small region near the north pole

Which of the four Galilean moons doesn't have a subsurface ocean? A) Callisto B) Ganymede C) Europa D) Io

D) Io

Super-Earths are exoplanets that have a rocky structure like Earth but are several times larger and more massive than Earth. If one of these exoplanets is found orbiting a star at about the same distance as Earth orbits the Sun, which of the following features would we expect to be the least likely? A) A strong magnetic field B) Ongoing volcanic activity•C) A dense atmosphere composed mainly of carbon dioxide D) Large bodies of liquid water on the surface E) High surface temperatures

D) Large bodies of liquid water on the surface

Which of the following is the most important process for tuning an organism to its environment? A) Mutation B) Migration C) Genetic drift D) Natural selection

D) Natural selection

The layer of the Sun responsible for emitting the blackbody radiation that we observe from Earth is the: A) Chromosphere B) Radiative zone C) Convective zone D) Photosphere E) Corona

D) Photosphere

Which of the following is not considered a basic feature of living things? A) Mutation B) Sensitivity C) Organic molecules D) Respiration E) Reproduction

D) Respiration

One of the features of living organisms is that they notice and respond to changes in their environment to enhance their survival. What is this called? A) Reproduction B) Metabolism C) Mutation D) Sensitivity

D) Sensitivity

Which of the following is not an important type of organic molecule? A) DNA B) RNA C) Proteins D) Silicates

D) Silicates

The star Sirius has an apparent magnitude of −1.44, and the star Arcturus has an apparent magnitude of −0.05. Which star has a higher luminosity? A) Sirius B) Arcturus C) They have equal luminosities D) The answer can't be determined without knowing their distances

D) The answer can't be determined without knowing their distances

Which of the following is not a part of the Drake equation? A) The number of stars in the galaxy B) The number of planets orbiting each star C) The fraction of planets in a star's habitable zone D) The fraction of planets with liquid water on the surface E) The fraction of planets on which life evolves

D) The fraction of planets with liquid water on the surface

What is a star's luminosity? A) The apparent brightness of the star B) The surface temperature of the star C) The total lifetime of the star D) The total amount of light the star radiates each second

D) The total amount of light the star radiates each second

How can the formation of the rings around the ice giants be explained? A) They were formed at the same time as the planets formed B) They were formed by captured rings C) They were formed by material ejected from nearby moons D) They were formed from ripped-apart asteroids or comets that passed the Roche limits of the planets

D) They were formed from ripped-apart asteroids or comets that passed the Roche limits of the planets

Many of the differences in the Galilean moons of Jupiter arise naturally from differences in their internal energy generated by:•A) Radioactive decays•B) Energy from the Sun•C) Gravitational contraction D) Tidal forces from Jupiter

D) Tidal forces from Jupiter

A sunspot's darkest region is called the A) Eclipse B) Night C) Penumbra D) Umbra

D) Umbra

All of the following are notable features about Saturn except A)Its low average density B)Its very high rotation rate C) Its ring system D)Its high methane content

D)Its high methane content