astronomy exam 3
What actually "controls" Saturn's rings? a. Saturn's magnetic field b. Saturn's tidal heating c. Saturn's moons d. Saturn's rapid rotation e. Saturn's metallic core
c. Saturn's moons
During its formation, Mars cooled quickly because it is a small planet. a. True b. False
a. True
Gaps in the rings of a planet are caused by small moons. a. True b. False
a. True
Io is the most geologically active object in our Solar System. a. True b. False
a. True
One characteristic that makes Uranus unique is that its rotation axis is tilted 98.0° with respect to the ecliptic. a. True b. False
a. True
The Moon's core does not contain much iron, so it cannot produce a dynamo effect. a. True b. False
a. True
The atmosphere of Venus is very dry. a. True b. False
a. True
The discovery of Neptune was fundamentally different from the discovery of Uranus. a. True b. False
a. True
The farther a planet is from the Sun, the more moons it has. a. True b. False
a. True
The outermost planets in our Solar System are Jovian planets. a. True b. False
a. True
There is no air on the Moon to scatter light and soften shadows a. True b. False
a. True
Uranus and Neptune probably formed near Saturn and then migrated to their current positions. a. True b. False
a. True
Which is the coldest planet in the Solar System? a. Uranus b. Jupiter c. Saturn d. Neptune e. Mercury
a. Uranus
What is unique about Pluto's orbit? a. high eccentricity b. its length shifts over time c. the longest orbital period d. eccentricity is zero e. overlaps the orbit of Uranus
a. high eccentricity
All rock samples brought from the Moon by the Apollo astronauts are _________ rocks. a. igneous b. metamorphic c. sedimentary d. limestone e. gneiss
a. igneous
Since Mars's axis is tipped 25.2o to its orbit. Consequently, it experiences _______. a. seasons b. day and night c. extreme temperature fluctuations d. solar eclipses e. auroras
a. seasons
Which statement best describes Phobos and Deimos? a. small satellites, irregular in shape and heavily cratered b. large satellites, spherical in shape with smooth surfaces c. small satellites, spherical in shape with smooth surface. d. one large and one small satellite, irregular in shape with lava flows e. large satellites, irregular in shape and heavily cratered
a. small satellites, irregular in shape and heavily cratered
Which feature of Neptune's atmosphere has disappeared since the Voyager 2 fly-by? a. white methane clouds b. Great Dark Spot c. belt-zone circulation d. Great Red Spot e. its bluish hue
a. white methane clouds
What evidence is there to prove Jupiter has a liquid interior? a. Jupiter is oblate b. Jupiter rotates rapidly c. Jupiter is tilted on its axis d. Jupiter has a thin, hot atmosphere e. Jupiter has a very strong magnetic field
71. a
Which Uranian satellite appears to have been the most geologically active? a. Titania b. Ariel c. Miranda d. Umbriel e. Oberon
c. Miranda
The nights are cold on Mercury because it has a negligible atmosphere. a. True b. False
21. True
Venus is 95 percent the diameter of Earth. a. True b. False
54. True
Which program is expected to take the first woman ever to walk on the surface of the Moon? a. Artemis 3 b. Apollo 18 c. Galileo 3 d. Voyager3 e. Cassini 2
a. Artemis 3
Uranus's rings are made of a. Boulders b. Dust c. Small rocks d. A mix of small rocks and ice e. Giants pieces of a new material
a. Boulders
How is it that Earth has less CO2 in its atmosphere than Venus, even though both planets likely outgassed the about the same amount of CO2 during their development? a. Earth absorbed most of the CO2 into its oceans. b. Venus absorbed most of the CO2 into its oceans. c. Earth lost most of its CO2 because of weak gravity. d. Venus rotates too slowly to lose any of its CO2. e. Venus retained much of its CO2 in polar ice.
a. Earth absorbed most of the CO2 into its oceans.
During Apollo 15 mission, astronaut David Scott performed an experiment to prove that objects speed up at the same rate in free fall, proving that _________ was right. a. Galileo Galilei b. Nicolaus Copernicus c. Tycho Brahe d. Johannes Kepler e. Aristotle
a. Galileo Galilei
Which is the largest satellite in the Solar System? a. Ganymede b. Enceladus c. Phoebe d. Titan e. Callisto
a. Ganymede
What evidence is there that Titania underwent an active geological phase? a. It has no large craters on its surface and a network of faults. b. It currently has active volcanoes on its surface. c. It is covered in methane ice. d. It has a very smooth and highly reflective surface. e. It has a large rocky core surrounded by an icy mantle.
a. It has no large craters on its surface and a network of faults.
One unique feature of Saturn's magnetic field is that a. It is perfectly aligned with its rotation axis. b. It produces beautiful auroras. c. It is particularly intense. d. It is locked with that of the Sun and Jupiter. e. It is the only one that slows down its planet's rotation.
a. It is perfectly aligned with its rotation axis.
Which is a characteristic of Jovian planets when compared to Terrestrial planets? a. Jovian planets are much larger than Terrestrial planets b. Jovian planets have rocky surfaces c. Jovian planets have went through differentiation like Terrestrial planets d. Jovian planets have moons, unlike the Terrestrial planets e. Jovian planets have warmer atmospheres than Terrestrial planets.
a. Jovian planets are much larger than Terrestrial planets
How did Mars get its two moons? a. Mars captured asteroids from the asteroid belt. b. Mars suffered a catastrophic meteor impact, breaking a piece off the planet. c. Mars had planetary bodies near it when the solar wind blew out the nebula. d. Mars collided and fused with another planet leaving two remnants behind. e. Mars captured comets from the Kuiper belt.
a. Mars captured asteroids from the asteroid belt.
Which of the following is not a dwarf planet? a. Oberon b. Haumea c. Eris d. Ceres e. Pluto
a. Oberon
Which statement describes a unique characteristic of Saturn? a. The density is so low it could float on water. b. The core temperature is hotter than the interior of the Sun. c. The rings are made up of ice from broken up comets d. The largest planet within the Solar System. e. The atmosphere is mostly made up of helium and methane.
a. The density is so low it could float on water.
Why are there no small craters on the surface of Venus? a. The thick atmosphere protects the surface from small meteorites. b. Old surfaces have been subducted by convection currents. c. Venus formed after the heavy bombardment period. d. Weathering and erosion removed all craters. e. Shield volcanoes prevent small craters to remain on exist on the surface.
a. The thick atmosphere protects the surface from small meteorites.
Calculate the Roche radius (in km) for Neptune. The diameter of Neptune is 4.95 ✕ 104 km. Assume that the densities of Neptune and the second body are the same. Hint: a. 71,000 b. 60,400 c. 55,100 d. 68,200 e. 63,300
b. 60,400
Charon is a moon with an extreme elliptical orbit. a. True b. False
b. False
Jupiter has only four moons. a. True b. False
b. False
Mercury completes one orbit around the Sun in 8 days. a. True b. False
b. False
Only Jupiter and Saturn have rings. a. True b. False
b. False
Saturn is the largest and most massive of the Jovian planets. a. True b. False
b. False
The air on Mars is 95% nitrogen and argon a. True b. False
b. False
The interior of Jupiter is mostly liquid helium. a. True b. False
b. False
Titan is Neptune's largest satellite. a. True b. False
b. False
Which of the following is not a moon of Jupiter? a. Callisto b. Galileo c. Io d. Europa e. Ganymede
b. Galileo
The discovery of Neptune is important because a. It provides stability to the rest of the planets b. It is yet another proof of Newton's laws c. It proved that Galileo was right. d. It proved Einstein's equations e. It proved Copernicus was right.
b. It is yet another proof of Newton's laws
What feature makes most people think of Saturn as a wonder of the Solar System? a. Its planet-wide auroras. b. Its ring system. c. Its particular density. d. Its liquid interior. e. Its hot interior.
b. Its ring system.
Which statement is true when comparing Saturn to Jupiter? a. Saturn has rings and Jupiter does not. b. Saturn has stronger winds than Jupiter. c. Saturn is closer to the Sun than Jupiter. d. Saturn is composed of more hydrogen and helium than Jupiter. e. Saturn has a more distinct belt-zones than Jupiter.
b. Saturn has stronger winds than Jupiter.
________ moons of a Jovian planet are responsible for giving shape and maintaining their rings. a. Galilean b. Shepherd c. Plutonic d. Giant e. Larger
b. Shepherd
What keeps water frozen on Mars? a. The constant subzero surface temperatures b. The low atmospheric pressure of the planet c. The distance between Mars and the Sun d. The relatively quick rotation period e. The negligible axis tilt of the planet
b. The low atmospheric pressure of the planet
What is the effect when the pressure and temperature are higher than the critical point of an element? a. There is a rapid boiling of the element that dissipates quickly into a gas. b. There is no difference between the gaseous and liquid state of that element. c. There is no difference between the solid and gaseous state of that element. d. There is an instant freezing of that element into a solid. e. There is a conversion of that element into a metal.
b. There is no difference between the gaseous and liquid state of that element.
Which characteristic of Venus has led many to call it the "sister planet" to Earth? a. Venus and Earth have very similar atmospheres. b. Venus is almost the same size as Earth. c. Venus and Earth have liquid water on the surface. d. Venus is the same distance from the Sun as Earth. e. Venus and Earth have composite volcanoes.
b. Venus is almost the same size as Earth
What makes up the bulk of the atmosphere of Venus? a. hydrogen b. carbon dioxide c. argon d. water vapor e. sulfuric acid
b. carbon dioxide
What solid evidence do we have of the Moon's age? a. deep core samples of the Moon b. igneous rock samples brought back by Apollo astronauts c. meteorites that have impacted Earth d. laser altimetry readings from the LCROSS mission e. sedimentary rock samples brought back by Apollo astronauts
b. igneous rock samples brought back by Apollo astronauts
What is a unique geologic feature of Miranda? a. faults b. ovoids c. lava flows d. sinuous rilles e. sulfur-based volcanoes
b. ovoids
Any celestial body caught in a 3:2 resonance with Neptune is classified as a(n) ____. a. neptunite b. plutino c. Plutonian satellite d. asteroid e. Kuiper belt objects
b. plutino
What characteristic of Uranus makes it stand out from all the other Jovian planets? a. the farthest planet from the Sun b. rotates on its side c. has the longest orbital period d. Its moon is the same size as the planet e. atmosphere contains methane
b. rotates on its side
How often does Venus rotate on its axis? a. 24 h b. 182 Earth days c. 243 Earth days d. 1 Earth year e. 3 Earth years
c. 243 Earth days
Which moon orbits Pluto? a. Ceres b. Eris c. Charon d. Oberon e. Triton
c. Charon
Which is a distinguishing characteristic of the Jovian planets? a. Jovian planets are rocky. b. Jovian planets are geologically inactive. c. Jovian planets have rings. d. Jovian planets have only one or two moons. e. Jovian planets have high albedos.
c. Jovian planets have rings.
Where did the Apollo 11 lunar module land and sample? a. Taurus-Littrow region b. Taurus-Littrow region c. Mare Tranquillitatis d. Hadley Rille e. Descartes region
c. Mare Tranquillitatis
The perseverance mission landed on _________ to look for more evidence of the past presence of water. a. Neptune b. Saturn c. Mars d. Venus e. The Moon
c. Mars
What evidence is there to prove that there has been no tectonic movement on Mars? a. The meteorites that have landed on Earth b. The "blueberries" found by rover Opportunity c. The huge size of the Martian volcanoes d. The presence of ice beneath the surface e. The large number of polygonal cracks on the surface
c. The huge size of the Martian volcanoes
Uranus and Neptune look green/blue because a. Their atmospheres are mostly made of Helium (He). b. Their atmospheres are mostly made of water (H2O). c. Their atmospheres are mostly made of methane (CH4 ). d. Their atmospheres are mostly made of carbon dioxide (CO2 ). e. Their atmospheres are mostly made of ozone (O3 ).
c. Their atmospheres are mostly made of methane (CH4 ).
How does Venus release its interior heat? a. Through solar wind b. Through active plate tectonics c. Through large convective currents of hot magma that rise beneath its crust d. Through periodic outgassing of the atmosphere e. Through CO2 outgassing
c. Through large convective currents of hot magma that rise beneath its crust
When an object is _________ to a bigger body its rotation on its own axis is determined by the latter. a. Geosynchronous b. Simultaneous c. Tidally-locked d. Spherically shaped e. Convectionally-dragged
c. Tidally-locked
How is Titan different from all the other Jovian satellites? a. Titan has frozen water on its surface. b. Titan has a heavily cratered surface. c. Titan has a thick atmosphere. d. Titan is the largest moon in the Solar System. e. Titan has a young, very reflective surface.
c. Titan has a thick atmosphere.
The planet that has very dense and toxic atmosphere, very high surface temperatures, and acid rain is: a. Mercury b. Jupiter c. Venus d. Mars e. Neptune
c. Venus
Which is the oldest geological feature of Mercury? a. smooth plains b. jumbled terrain c. intercrater plains d. lobate scarps e. rilles
c. intercrater plains
Large, smooth, dark plains on the Moon are called ____. a. ejecta blanket b. central peak c. maria d. multiringed basin e. Sinuous rilles
c. maria
Which is a unique characteristic of Neptune's atmosphere? a. a large number of counterclockwise circulating storms b. variety of colors within the belt-zone circulation c. winds blowing against the rotation of the planet d. differential rotation of the atmosphere is slower than the interior e. winds blow perpendicular to the planet, from north to south
c. winds blowing against the rotation of the planet
What is the Moon's gravity? a. There is no gravity on the Moon. b. 1/3 of Earth's gravity c. 1/2 of Earth's gravity d. 1/6 of Earth's gravity e. The Moon's gravity is the same as that of Earth.
d. 1/6 of Earth's gravity
Which is a characteristic Venus shares with Earth? a. Both planets have an ozone layer within their atmospheres. b. Both planets rotate clockwise on their axes. c. Both planets have a uniform circulation within their atmospheres. d. Both planets are still geologically active. e. Both planets have heavily cratered surfaces.
d. Both planets are still geologically active.
Why does Mars look red? a. Sunlight scattered from Erath's atmosphere. b. Mars's atmosphere is made out mostly of oxygen. c. Sunlight reflecting on the surface of limestone rocks. d. Mars is covered with oxides (Rust). e. Mars looks red to us because of the filters used in our telescopes.
d. Mars is covered with oxides (Rust).
Which is the largest volcano in the entire Solar System? a. Calderus Mons b. Maxwell Mons c. Mauna Kea d. Olympus Mons e. Mount Everest
d. Olympus Mons
What does a high albedo indicate with regard to a planetary object? a. The surface is cratered and old. b. The planetary object is still developing. c. The planet is highly active. d. The surface is highly reflective and therefore young. e. The planetary object has a strong magnetic field.
d. The surface is highly reflective and therefore young.
One characteristic that indicates that Jovian planets have liquid interior is: a. Their magnetic fields. b. The inclination of their rotation axis. c. Their albedo. d. Their oblateness. e. Their gravitational field
d. Their oblateness.
Which of the Jovian planets has a giant circulating storm that called the Great Red Spot that has lasted for centuries? a. Pluto b. Uranus c. Neptune d. Saturn e. Jupiter
e. Jupiter
Which is a characteristic of dwarf planets? a. They possess an asymmetrical or irregular shape. b. Their orbit is highly elliptical and far from the Sun. c. They must reside within the Kuiper belt or Oort cloud. d. They have insufficient gravitational pull to clear their neighborhood. e. They cross the orbit of other planets during its own revolution.
d. They have insufficient gravitational pull to clear their neighborhood.
The planets __________ and ____________ are also known as the "ice-giants". a. Saturn, Uranus b. Jupiter, Saturn c. Venus, Earth d. Uranus, Neptune e. Jupiter, Neptune
d. Uranus, Neptune
Why is Venus so hot? a. It has a constant lava flow. b. Its ozone layer cannot absorb enough radiation. c. Extreme greenhouse effect. d. Very hot winds carrying down heated gas from the atmosphere. e. The atmosphere is plenty of Nitrogen.
d. Very hot winds carrying down heated gas from the atmosphere.
Which statement best describes the surface of Io? a. dark and dirty ice, heavily pocked with craters b. old and dark on some portion, but cratered with a young bright grooved terrain c. icy crust free of craters with a liquid water ocean beneath d. covered in active sulfur-based volcanoes e. mostly water ice mixed with methane
d. covered in active sulfur-based volcanoes
What action is responsible for the heating of Saturn's interior? a. rapid rotation on its axis b. zero inclination to its axis of rotation c. convection currents of liquid hydrogen d. falling droplets of helium releasing energy e. rising magma from hot spots found on its surface
d. falling droplets of helium releasing energy
Which is a characteristic of irregular satellites? a. prograde rotation b. orbit closely to parent planet c. spherical shape d. highly inclined orbit e. relatively large in size
d. highly inclined orbit
Which statement best describes the greenhouse effect? a. infrared radiation escapes into space. b. ultraviolet radiation enters a planet's atmosphere producing a green haze c. visible radiation is trapped by the atmosphere. d. infrared radiation is trapped by the atmosphere. e. oxygen escapes from the atmosphere.
d. infrared radiation is trapped by the atmosphere.
Due to the temperature and atmospheric conditions of Titan, scientists hypothesize that Titan may have rivers, lakes and possibly an ocean of ____. a. liquid water b. metallic hydrogen c. frozen carbon dioxide d. liquid methane e. liquid nitrogen
d. liquid methane
What are the clouds of Uranus composed of? a. hydrogen b. helium c. carbon dioxide d. methane e. sulfur
d. methane
List the Solar System components in order from closest to farthest from Mercury: a. Sun, Saturn, Uranus, Oort cloud, Kuiper Belt b. Venus, Mars, Earth, Uranus, Jupiter c. Earth, Sun, Jupiter, Kuiper Belt, Oort Cloud d. Venus, Earth, Uranus, Saturn, Neptune e. Sun, Mars, Uranus, Kuiper Belt, Oort Cloud
e. Sun, Mars, Uranus, Kuiper Belt, Oort Cloud
Galileo was the probe that let us study in detail Jupiter. Which probe let us study Uranus in detail? a. Messenger b. Artemis c. Apollo d. Cassini e. Voyager 2
e. Voyager 2
The surface rocks on Venus are similar to ____ rocks on Earth. a. oxide-rich b. anorthosite c. sedimentary d. granitic e. basaltic
e. basaltic
The Venusian atmosphere contains which of the following compounds? a. only water vapor b. only sulfuric acid c. only hydrofluoric and sulfuric acids d. only hydrochloric acid e. hydrochloric, surlfuric, and hydrofluoric acids, and water vapor
e. hydrochloric, surlfuric, and hydrofluoric acids, and water vapor
What is the composition of Jupiter? a. mostly carbon dioxide and methane b. mostly methane c. mostly helium and carbon dioxide d. mostly nitrogen e. mostly hydrogen and helium
e. mostly hydrogen and helium
Scientists have confirmed that the particles of Saturn's rings are not ____. a. held by Saturn's moons b. within the Roche limit c. chunks of ice d. ancient e. primordial
e. primordial
The moons of Uranus orbit within the planet's ____. a. belt-zone circulation b. occultation c. elliptic d. ecliptic e. radiation belts
e. radiation belts
What does "maria" mean? a. plateaus b. ponds c. rivers d. rivers e. seas
e. seas
Which was the first non man-made laboratory in space? a. International Space Station. b. Apollo 11 c. Artemis d. The Sun e. The Moon
e. the Moon
What makes Neptune's moon Triton stand out from all the other large satellites in the Solar System? a. originated as a comet b. the most geologically active c. the most reflective satellite d. largest satellite in the Solar System e. the only large satellite with a backward orbit
e. the only large satellite with a backward orbit