SIO Final

A planet 1 AU from a star more massive than the Sun would have A. an orbital period less than Earth's B. an orbital period more than Earth's C. the same orbital period as Earth's

A. an orbital period less than Earth's

Waves from objects moving away from us: A. are shifted to lower frequencies B. arrive at lower velocity C. are shifted to higher frequencies D. arrive at higher velocity E. are shifted to shorter wavelengths

A. are shifted to lower frequencies

Earth has seasons because: A. its spin axis is tipped with respect to its orbital plane around the Sun B. it has a highly elliptical orbit around the Sun C. it is cloudier in the winter D. it orbits the Sun every 6 months E. the days are longer in the summer

A. its spin axis is tipped with respect to its orbital plane around the Sun

A planet is 2 AU from the Sun and has the same mass as Earth. Its angular momentum is: A. less than Earth's B. the same as Earth's C. more than Earth's D. zero (planets don't have angular momentum) E. none of the above (not enough information given)

A. less than Earth's

50. If Earth were moved to a circular orbit CLOSER to the Sun than 1 AU, it would A. move more rapidly and have more angular momentum B. move more slowly and have less angular momentum C. move more slowly and have more angular momentum D. move more rapidly and have less angular momentum

A. move more rapidly and have more angular momentum

We know that most meteorites are about 4.5 billion years old from A. radiometric dating B. their impact velocity C. power law analysis D. heat flow data E. crater counts

A. radiometric dating

Carbon in our bodies originated from A. supernova explosions of other stars B. isotope reactions C. our Sun D. radioactive decay E. the Big Bang

A. supernova explosions of other stars

The source region for long-period comets is: A. the Oort cloud B. the asteroid belt C. the Magellanic cloud D. the Kuiper belt E. the moons of the outer solar system

A. the Oort cloud

75. The oldest of these lunar features is A. the highlands B. the maria C. the crater Tycho

A. the highlands

James Maxwell determined that Saturn's rings are made of small particles because A. tidal forces would rip apart solid rings B. they are outside the Roche limit C. they are partially transparent D. they are in orbital resonance with Saturn's moons E. they are observed to be very thin

A. tidal forces would rip apart solid rings

The dissociation of methane at high pressures and temperatures leads to: A. Raining diamonds inside of Saturn B. Raining diamonds inside of Uranus C. Metallic Hydrogen inside of Jupiter D. Helium rain inside of Saturn E. Helium rain inside of Uranus

B. Raining diamonds inside of Uranus

Caltech's Mike Brown discovered Eris, now termed A. an asteroid B. a dwarf planet C. a comet D. a planet E. an exoplanet

B. a dwarf planet

Jupiter's magnetic field originates from: A. its turbulent atmosphere B. a dynamo in a deep layer of metallic hydrogen C. the solar wind D. charged particle from its moon Io E. its magnetosphere

B. a dynamo in a deep layer of metallic hydrogen

The most important measure of a telescope is its: A. f/ratio B. aperture C. focal length D. power E. mounting system

B. aperture

Weightlessness for astronauts in orbit feels like: A. a 1-g acceleration B. falling C. spinning rapidly D. being underwater E. floating in a balloon

B. falling

Which of the following is NOT in the IAU definition of a planet in our solar system? A. orbits the Sun B. has a roughly circular orbit C. has cleared out the neighborhood around its orbit D. is spherical in shape

B. has a roughly circular orbit

Shield volcanoes result from A. high-viscosity magma B. low-viscosity magma

B. low-viscosity magma

Earth's atmosphere is mostly A. hydrogen B. nitrogen C. oxygen D. methane E. carbon dioxide

B. nitrogen

The rotation rate of Mercury on its spin axis was first established from A. Crater counts B. Visiting spacecraft C. Doppler radar measurements from Earth D. Repeated telescopic observations of surface features E. Star occultations

C. Doppler radar measurements from Earth

Many of the small and medium sized moons of Saturn are geologically dead except for A. Iapetus B. Dione C. Enceladus D. Tethys E. Rhea

C. Enceladus

The moon thought very likely to have a subsurface liquid water ocean is A. Titan B. Io C. Europa D. Ganymede E. Triton

C. Europa

Jupiter and Saturn are mostly composed of A. Helium B. Carbon Dioxide C. Hydrogen D. Methane E. Ammonia

C. Hydrogen

Which moon has lakes of liquid methane on its surface? A. Europa B. Ganymede C. Titan D. Triton E. Io

C. Titan

Comets have two tails, one of which is: A. a gas tail that is curved toward the Sun B. a dust tail that is curved away from the Sun C. a gas tail that points straight away from the Sun D. a dust tail that follows behind them E. a gas tail that points straight towards the Sun

C. a gas tail that points straight away from the Sun

The total mass of the asteroid belt is dominated by A. neither, each size range of asteroids contributes equally to the total mass B. a large number of small asteroids C. a small number of large asteroids

C. a small number of large asteroids

The surface temperature of a star may be most readily estimated from its A. corona B. distance C. color D. diameter E. brightness

C. color

The density of a planet is most useful for A. estimating its diameter B. estimating its mass C. estimating its bulk composition D. determining how much atmosphere it has

C. estimating its bulk composition

Which is NOT one of Kepler's laws: A. planets sweep out equal areas in equal times B. planetary orbits are ellipses C. gravitational force is inversely proportional to distance squared D. planetary distance cubed is proportional to period squared

C. gravitational force is inversely proportional to distance squared

Which has the lowest freezing temperature: A. carbon dioxide B. water C. nitrogen

C. nitrogen

The largest gap (Cassini's division) in Saturn's rings is caused by A. the clearing effect of the embedded moon Pan B. tidal friction C. orbital resonance with its moon Mimas D. the interaction of two shepherd moons E. its strong magnetic field

C. orbital resonance with its moon Mimas

The geocentric model of the solar system has trouble explaining: A. the apparent fixed motion of the stars B. the difference in brightness among the planets C. retrograde planetary motion D. the different apparent speeds of planetary motion E. the difference in color among the planets

C. retrograde planetary motion

The "Habitable Zone" is A. the distance range from a star shielded from harmful radiation B. the depth range of Earth's biosphere C. the distance range from a star in which liquid water could exist D. the depth range in planetary atmospheres that could support life E. the distance between 0.8 and 1.8 AU from a star

C. the distance range from a star in which liquid water could exist

The moon formed A. together with the Earth B. by ejection from the Pacific basin C. when a Mars-sized object hit Earth D. elsewhere in the solar system and was then captured E. when a large comet broke apart

C. when a Mars-sized object hit Earth

True or false: Large dust storms on Mars are common. A. True B. False

A. True

True or false: Mercury currently has a planet-wide dipole magnetic field. A. True B. False

A. True

True or false: There are many more small asteroids than large asteroids A. True B. False

A. True

Two moons are locked in a 2:1 orbital resonance around Jupiter. If the outer moon orbits every 8 days, then the inner moon orbits every: A. 2 days B. 4 days C. 8 days D. 16 days E. 32 days

A. 2 days

Mars was formed about A. 4.5 billion years ago B. 500 million years ago C. 160 million years ago D. 1 billion years ago E. 14 billion years ago

A. 4.5 billion years ago

22. Which of these is NOT a true statement about Venus: A. It has a magnetic field B. It has the Warmest surface temperature of any planet C. it has a retrograde (or backwards) rotation about its spin axis D. It has the slowest rotation of any planet E. It has the densest atmosphere of all terrestrial planets

A. It has a magnetic field

The following planets have rings orbiting them: A. Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune B. Only Saturn C. Only Jupiter and Saturn D. Only Saturn and Uranus E. Only Saturn and Pluto

A. Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune

The ages of planetary surfaces from oldest to youngest is: A. Mercury, Moon, Venus, Earth B. Venus, Mars, Moon, Earth C. Earth, Venus, Mars, Moon D. Mercury, Venus, Moon, Earth

A. Mercury, Moon, Venus, Earth

Who first described a mathematical theory of gravity? A. Newton B. Halley C. Galileo D. Maxwell E. Kepler

A. Newton

Who invented the reflecting telescope? A. Newton B. Copernicus C. Galileo D. Kepler E. Maxwell

A. Newton

On Earth, new crust is formed at: A. Oceanic spreading centers B. Subduction zones C. Continental collision zones D. The lithosphere E. Transform plate boundaries

A. Oceanic spreading centers

Laws derived from observations alone without any underlying theoretical basis are termed A. Semantic B. Hypothetical C. Physical D. Fundamental E. Empirical

A. Semantic

River drainage patterns have been observed on which moon? A. Titan B. Io C. Triton D. Ganymede E. Europa

A. Titan

Which planet or moon has an atmospheric composition more similar to Earth's? A. Titan B. Mars C. Europa D. Triton E. Venus

A. Titan

The strength of gravity varies with distance r as: (r^2 means r squared) A. r^2 B. 1/r^2 C. r D. 1/r

B. 1/r^2

23. Spectacular naked eye comets occur about every A. 50 years B. 10 years C. year D. week E. month

B. 10 years

The atmospheric pressure at the surface of Venus is about A. 1% of Earth's atmospheric pressure B. 100 times Earth's atmospheric pressure C. the same as Earth's atmospheric pressure D. half of Earth's atmospheric pressure E. five times Earth's atmospheric pressure

B. 100 times Earth's atmospheric pressure

You have 60 grams of a substance with a half-life of 10 years. How much time has past when you have 15 grams left? A. 50 years B. 20 years C. 6 years D. 60 years E. 40 years

B. 20 years

How much brighter is a light at 10 feet compared to 20 feet? A. 2.5 times as bright B. 4 times as bright C. 2 times as bright D. same brightness E. 10 times as bright

B. 4 times as bright

True or false: Mars currently has a planet-wide dipole magnetic field. A. True B. False

B. False

True or false: The superheated water of seafloor hydrothermal vents kills all life in their vicinity. A. True B. False

B. False

True or false: tidal forces exist in the Earth but not in the Moon A. True B. False

B. False

Which Galilean moon has active volcanoes? A. Ganymede B. Io C. Triton D. Callisto E. Europa

B. Io

Which of these planets does not have seasons: A. Earth B. Mercury C. Mars D. Pluto E. Saturn

B. Mercury

Which planet is not visible to the naked eye? A. Mercury B. Neptune C. Saturn D. Venus E. Mars

B. Neptune

Planetary rings are not expected: A. on planets with retrograde rotation B. on planets smaller than Neptune C. outside the Roche limit D. for planets with large moons E. on planets smaller than Saturn

B. on planets smaller than Neptune

The Kepler satellite detects planets using A. direct imaging B. the Doppler method C. gravitational lensing D. interferometry E. the transit method

B. the Doppler method

Pluto is now thought to be just one of a large class of objects in A. the Oort cloud B. the Kuiper belt C. the asteroid belt D. the Kirkwood gap E. the magnetosphere

B. the Kuiper belt

When planets are closer to the Sun in their orbits, they A. travel faster than when they are further away B. travel slower than when they are further away C. travel at the same speed at all times

B. travel slower than when they are further away

the peak in our Sun's radiation spectrum is in A. gamma rays B. visible light C. infrared D. radio waves E. ultraviolet

B. visible light

Geostationary satellites have an orbital period of: A. 1 hour B. 90 minutes C. 1 day D. 29 days E. 1 year

C. 1 day

A small moon consisting about 50% water ice and 50% rock will have an average density of about A. 2.2 g/cc B. 3 g/cc C. 1 g /cc D. 0.5 g/cc E. 5.6 g/cc

C. 1 g /cc

The oldest seafloor on Earth is about A. 700,000 years old B. 2.3 million years old C. 64 million years old D. 160 million years old E. 3.2 billion years old

D. 160 million years old

71. San Diego usually has how many high tides per day? A. 5 B. 3 C. 2 D. 4 E. 1

D. 4

Which Galilean moon is most dead geologically? A. Triton B. Io C. Europa D. Callisto E. Ganymede

D. Callisto

Which of the following geologic events is explained by uniformitarianism? A. Giant impact of an asteroid B. Capture of a moon C. Melting of all of Earth's polar caps D. Carving of the Grand Canyon E. Flood basalt eruption

D. Carving of the Grand Canyon

Mars hemispherical dichotomy is described by: A. Differences in crater count (including buried craters) B. Differences in amount of volcanism C. Differences in rock types D. Differences in elevation E. Differences in temperature

D. Differences in elevation

Which object has a very large moon relative to its size? A. Venus B. Mars C. Jupiter D. Pluto E. Uranus

D. Pluto

The Earth's outer core was determined to be fluid based on the fact that A. The Earth's rotation is slowing down B. The Earth's magnetic field undergoes polarity reversals C. There are shadow zones for P-waves D. S-waves are not observed to propogate through it E. Earth has a tidal bulge

D. S-waves are not observed to propogate through it

Saturn's F ring is a feature that is maintained by: A. The icy particles ejected from Enceladus' south pole B. Being just outside of the Roche limit C. A 2:1 orbital resonance with Mimas D. The shepherd moons, Promotheus and Pan, guiding ring particles E. Interactions with Saturn's magnetic field

D. The shepherd moons, Promotheus and Pan, guiding ring particles

Which object has no moons? A. Saturn B. Neptune C. Mars D. Venus E. Pluto

D. Venus

You discover an object orbiting the Sun in a circular orbit with a period of 11 months. The object must be between the orbits of A. Earth and its Moon B. Mercury and Venus C. Earth and Mars D. Venus and Earth E. Mars and Jupiter

D. Venus and Earth

Mars' atmosphere is mainly A. hydrogen B. methane C. nitrogen D. carbon dioxide E. water vapor

D. carbon dioxide

Planetary magnetic fields originate mainly from: A. solid iron planetary cores B. magnetized rocks C. the solar wind D. dynamo action in fluid planetary cores E. hydrogen atmospheres

D. dynamo action in fluid planetary cores

Despite high temperatures at depth, rocks remain solid in Earth's mantle because A. their basaltic composition B. their low iron content C. their silicate composition D. of high pressures at depth E. their low intrinsic density

D. of high pressures at depth

The recent increase in Earth's atmospheric carbon dioxide is primarily caused by: A. the ending of the ice age B. increased photosynthesis C. increased solar activity D. the burning of fossil fuels E. global warming

D. the burning of fossil fuels

The Roche limit is: A. the maximum speed that a chemically powered spacecraft can achieve B. the maximum number of moons that a planet can have C. the maximum amount of CO2 before starting a runaway greenhouse effect D. the maximum distance from a planet that rings tend to form E. the maximum solar distance at which liquid water can exist

D. the maximum distance from a planet that rings tend to form

The comet nucleus is mostly A. silicate rock B. hydrogen ions C. iron D. water ice with embedded dust E. plasma

D. water ice with embedded dust

The heavy bombardment period ended about A. 4.5 billion years ago B. 80 million years ago C. 1.7 billion years ago D. 800 million years ago E. 3.9 billion years ago

E. 3.9 billion years ago

An asteroid orbits the Sun every 8 years. Its distance from the Sun is A. 1/2 AU B. 2 AU C. 8 AU D. 1/8 AU E. 4 AU

E. 4 AU

A problem with the Mars ancient ocean hypothesis is: A. The northern lowlands have few craters B. There are no carbonate deposits C. There is no water on Mars today D. Mars would have been too hot early in its history to sustain liquid water E. Apparent shoreline features are at very different elevations

E. Apparent shoreline features are at very different elevations

The planet closest in size to Uranus is: A. Earth B. Saturn C. Venus D. Jupiter E. Neptune

E. Neptune

The largest volcano in the solar system is: A. Maxwell Montes B. Mauna Kea C. Imbrium Maximum D. Tharsis E. Olympus Mons

E. Olympus Mons

Subduction is currently occurring in A. the Mid-Atlantic Ridge B. the eastern United States C. Hawaii D. Southern California E. Oregon and Washington

E. Oregon and Washington

Which is the fastest seismic wave? A. S wave B. Solid earth tide C. surface wave D. Radio wave E. P wave

E. P wave

The mass of Pluto was first reliably determined from A. Its apparent brightness and distance B. Radar measurements C. Spacecraft observations D. Infrared observations E. The orbital parameters of its moon

E. The orbital parameters of its moon

The 7th planet from the Sun is: A. Neptune B. Saturn C. Pluto D. Jupiter E. Uranus

E. Uranus

The San Andres Fault is an example of A. a compressional fault B. a subduction zone fault C. a normal fault D. an extensional plate boundary E. a transform plate boundary

E. a transform plate boundary

The seasonal frost on the Martian polar ice caps is mainly A. peroxide B. water C. nitrogen D. methane E. carbon dioxide

E. carbon dioxide

Which of these is NOT considered circumstantial evidence for Triton having been captured by Neptune: A. it has a young surface of a few hundred million years B. its orbit is tilted 30 degrees from Neptune's orbit C. it has a retrograde orbit D. its orbit is highly elliptical E. it has active geysers that erupt nitrogen

E. it has active geysers that erupt nitrogen

Pluto is no longer considered a planet because A. it is mostly composed of water ice, not rock B. it is just one of many asteroids C. it has a highly elliptical orbit D. it is not spherical in shape E. it has not "cleared" its neighborhood

E. it has not "cleared" its neighborhood

27. Small asteroids are often irregular in shape because A. they are rapidly spinning B. they have strong magnetic fields C. they are internally heated D. they accreted in the presence of irregularities in the solar nebula E. they lack sufficient gravity to pull them into a sphere

E. they lack sufficient gravity to pull them into a sphere

Retrograde planetary rotation is often hypothesized A. be a consequence of strong tidal forces B. to result from orbital resonances C. to result from the capture of a large moon D. to explain the solar angular momentum problem E. to have resulted from a large impact

E. to have resulted from a large impact