CAPA SET #7

Which internal heat source still generates heat within the terrestrial worlds today? A) Heat of accretion. B) Heat from differentiation. C) Heat from convection. D) Heat from radioactive decay. E) Heat from fusion.

d, heat from radioactive decay

Which feature in this photo of the full moon is one of the lunar maria? A) 1 B) 2 C) 4 D) 3

a, 1

What are the basic requirements for a terrestrial world to have a global magnetic field? A) A core layer of molten, convecting material and sufficiently rapid rotation. B) A metal core, a rocky mantle, and sufficiently rapid rotation. C) Well aligned ferromagnetic material in the core D) A core that has a molten layer and a mantle that has convection. E) A metal core and rapid rotation.

a, a core layer of molten, convecting material and sufficiently rapid rotation

Olympus Mons is _______. A) a huge shield volcano on Mars B) a huge stratovolcano on Venus C) a great canyon on Mars D) a large lava plain on the Moon E) a Moon orbiting Mars

a, a huge shield volcano on mars

The reason that small planets tend to lose interior heat faster than larger planets is essentially the same as the reason that _______. A) a large baked potato takes longer to cool than a small baked potato B) gas bubbles form and rise upward in boiling water C) Earth contains more metal than the Moon D) thunderstorms tend to form on hot summer days E) it is hotter in the summer and cooler in the winter

a, a large baked potato takes longer to cool than a small baked potato

Which of the following best describes the geological histories of the Moon and Mercury? A) Early in their histories, they suffered many impacts and experienced some volcanism and tectonics, but they now have little geological activity at all. B) Impact cratering shaped these worlds early in their histories. Then, during the past few million years, they were reshaped by episodes of volcanism and tectonics. C) All four geological processes were important in their early histories, but only impact cratering still reshapes their surfaces today. D) Impact cratering is the only major geological process that has affected their surfaces.

a, early in their histories, they suffered many impacts and experienced some volcanism and tectonics, but they now have little geological activity at all

Take a look at a picture of the southern highlands (Fig. 9.30a in textbook). Which geologic processes are most clearly evident? A) impact cratering and erosion B) volcanism and tectonics C) impact cratering and volcanism D) volcanism and erosion E) tectonics and erosion

a, impact cratering and erosion

Which of the following is the underlying reason why Venus has so little wind erosion? A) its slow rotation B) its thick atmosphere C) its cloud cover D) its small size E) its relatively close distance to the Sun

a, it's slow rotation

Recent evidence suggests that Mars once had a global magnetic field. Assuming this is true, which of the following could explain why Mars today lacks a global magnetic field like that of Earth? A) Mars's interior has cooled so much that its molten core layer no longer undergoes convection. B) The Martian core is made of rock, while Earth's core is made of metal. C) Mars is too far from the Sun to have a global magnetic field. D) Mars rotates much slower than the Earth. E) Mars lost of its water, which is essential to generate a magnetic field.

a, mars' interior has cooled so much that it's molten core layer no longer undergoes convection

Which of the following does NOT provide evidence that Mars once had abundant liquid water on its surface? A) the presence of 'blueberries' made of the mineral hematite B) the presence of very old craters that appear to have been eroded by rain C) the presence of features that look like dried-up riverbeds D) the presence of green-yellow moss in rare and remote northern locations

a, the presence of "blueberries" made of the mineral hematite

On average, how fast do the plates move on the Earth? A) a few kilometers per year B) a few centimeters per year C) a few millimeters per century D) about 1 mile per hour

b, a few centimeters a year

Based on all we know about the terrestrial worlds, what single factor appears to play the most important role in a terrestrial planet's geological destiny? A) its initial surface temperature B) its size C) whether or not it has liquid water D) its distance from the Sun E) its composition

b, it's size

Which of the following Mars surface features provides dramatic evidence that volcanism has played a role in shaping the surface of Mars? A) the southern highlands B) Olympus Mons C) Hellas Basin D) the polar caps E) Valles Marineris

b, olympus mons

Why are there fewer large impact craters on the Earth's seafloor than on the continents? A) Most impacts occur on the land. B) Seafloor crust is younger than continental crust, so it has had less time in which to suffer impacts. C) Marine life creates natural debris that covers up the craters. D) The oceans slow large impactors and prevent them from making craters. E) Erosion erases impact craters much faster on the ocean bottom than on land.

b, seafloor crust is younger than continental crust, so it has had less time in which to suffer impacts

In the context of planetary geology, what do we mean by outgassing? A) another name for a volcanic eruption B) the release by volcanism of gasses that had been trapped in a planetary interior C) The release of methane trapped in pockets under the surface of the Earth D) the evaporation of water that adds water vapor (a gas) to an atmosphere E) the loss of atmospheric gas to outer space

b, the release by volcanism of gasses that had been trapped in a planetary interior

Which of the following is an example of convection? A) Rocks sinking in water. B) Warm air expanding and rising while cooler air contracts and fall. C) Gas bubbling upward through a liquid. D) Different kinds of material separating by density, like oil and water. E) The rising and setting of the Sun.

b, warm air expanding and rising while cooler air contracts and falls

Based on its surface features, the most important event on Venus in the past billion years or so was _______. A) the onset of mantle convection, which caused Venus's lithosphere to split into plates like those on Earth B) the impact of an unusually large asteroid that left a deep scar on one side of the planet C) a global 'repaving' that erased essentially all the surface features that had existed earlier D) the eruption of a giant volcano that formed one of Venus's continents E) Cyclic major floods that smoothed its surface dramatically

c, a global 'repaving' that erased essentially all the surface features that had existed earlier

The geological feature in this photo taken from a plane is _______. A) a dried up lake basin B) a volcano C) an impact crater D) This cannot be on Earth E) the unusual cloud formation in the background

c, an impact crater

What's the fundamental reason that Mars, unlike the Earth, has become virtually geologically dead? A) its closer distance than Earth to the Sun B) its rapid rotation compared to the Earth C) its small size compared to Earth D) its large size compared to the Earth E) its farther distance than Earth to the Sun F) its slow rotation compared to the Earth

c, it's small size compared to earth

Which of the following best describes the lunar maria? A) mountainous regions on the Moon B) frozen oceans of liquid water on the Moon C) relatively smooth, flat plains on the Moon D) densely cratered regions on the Moon

c, relatively smooth, flat plains on the moon

Assuming that features you see on Mars are similar to features found on Earth, what would a casual inspection of the photo of Mars lead you to suspect about water on Mars? A) We cannot say anything about water on Mars based on pictures. B) There are numerous small streams flowing with water. C) Surface water only exists as frozen ice. D) Abundant surface water is found in large, brownish pools inside craters. E) No surface water currently exists in any form.

c, surface water only exists as frozen ice

The earthquakes that occur in Southern California generally occur above a [blank].

fault

Old Faithful Geyser at Yellowstone National Park in the United States acquires its energy from a [blank].

hot spot

Has a surface gravity the same as Mercury.

mars

Has a volcano as large as Michigan's lower peninsula.

mars

The only known planet other than Earth with water clouds.

mars

Has a day which is about two months long.

mercury

Has a heavily cratered surface indicating little volcanic activity.

mercury

The most heavily cratered planet.

mercury

The slowly increasing distance between South America and Africa is due to [blank].

seafloor spreading

Layered [blank] rock exposed by erosion can be seen when looking at the Grand Canyon in the United States.

sedimentary rock

The extremely deep ocean Marianas Trench is a result of [blank].

subduction

This image shows two tall volcanoes on Venus. Why is it yellow? A) The camera used to take this photograph had a yellow filter on it. B) Lava from volcanoes on Venus is yellow rather than the red of lava on Earth because it's hotter on Venus C) The yellow color is arbitrary, since this image was created with radar data rather than visible light. D) Venus is yellow all over, due to some sort of sulfurous dust from volcanos that coats its surface.

c, the yellow color is arbitrary, since this image was created with radar data rather than visible light

All the following statements about Venus are true. Which one offers evidence of a global repaving about a billion years ago? A) Venus has many circular features, called coronae, which appear to be tectonic in origin. B) Venus's largest features are three elevated regions that look somewhat like continents. C) Venus has relatively few impact craters and these craters are distributed fairly evenly over the entire planet. D) Venus appears to lack any water that could lubricate the flow of rock in its crust and mantle.

c, venus has relatively few impact craters and these craters are distributed fairly evenly over the entire planet

Australia is composed of relatively old and thick [blank].

continental crust

Why does the Moon have a layer of "powdery soil" on its surface? A) Recent, large impacts shattered lunar rock to make this soil. B) It exists because the Moon accreted from powdery material after a giant impact blasted the Earth. C) It is coming from the space debris left in orbit around Earth and that reached out the orbit of the Moon. D) It is the result of countless tiny impacts by small particles striking the Moon. E) It is made by the same processes that make powdery sand on Earth.

d, it is the result of countless tiny impacts by small particles striking the moon

You discover an impact crater that is 10 kilometers across. Which of the following can you conclude? A) It was created by the impact of an object about 10 kilometers across. B) It was created within the past 10 million years. C) It was created by a comet, not an asteroid. D) It was created by the impact of an object about 1 kilometer across. E) It was created within the past 1 billion years.

d, it was created by the impact of an object about 1 kilometer across

This photo was taken from orbit around some planet. What planet is it, and how do you know? A) Mercury, because we see gigantic cliffs B) Venus, because of its yellowish color C) Earth, it's the Sahara Desert D) Mars, because we see dried up riverbeds E) the Moon, because it has craters

d, mars, because we see dried up riverbeds

What are the two geological features that appear to set Earth apart from all the other terrestrial worlds? A) craters and volcanism B) mantle convection and a thick atmosphere C) significant volcanism and tectonics D) plate tectonics and widespread erosion E) shield volcanoes and plate tectonics

d, plate tectonics and widespread erosion

What do we conclude if a planet has few impact craters of any size? A) Its atmosphere stopped impactors of all sizes. B) The planet was never bombarded by asteroids or comets. C) It's probably been smoothed by an ancient civilization. D) Some geological processes have wiped out craters.

d, some geological processes have wiped out craters

Which of the following is NOT an example of tectonics? A) the formation of a cliff when the lithosphere shrinks B) the stretching of the crust by underlying mantle convection C) the slow movement of Earth's lithospheric plates D) the gradual disappearance of a crater rim as a result of wind and rain

d, the gradual disappearance of a crater rim as a result of wind and rain

Most of the Moon's surface is densely covered with craters, but we find relatively few craters within the lunar maria. What can we conclude? A) Sustained hurricane level winds blow on that part of the Moon. B) The maria formed within the past 1 billion years. C) Erosion affects the maria more than it affects other regions of the Moon. D) The maria formed after the heavy bombardment ended. E) The regions of the maria were hit by fewer impacts than the densely cratered regions.

d, the maria formed after the heavy bombardment ended

What is the significance of the white lines on this map of Earth? A) The white lines represent the locations of deep trenches. B) They follow marine currents. C) They represent boundaries between the plates that make up Earth's lithosphere. D) They lined everywhere by chains of volcanoes. E) They represent borders between continents.

d, they are lined everywhere by chains of volcanoes

The arrow in this photo is pointing at a feature known as _______. A) Lunar Maria B) Hellas Basin C) Olympus Mons D) Valles Marineris E) Ishtar Terra

d, valles marineris

What do we mean when we say that the terrestrial worlds underwent differentiation? A) They lost interior heat to outer space. B) Their surfaces show a variety of different geological features resulting from different geological processes. C) The five terrestrial worlds all started similarly but ended up looking quite different. D) When their interiors were molten, denser materials sank toward their centers and lighter materials rose toward their surfaces E) This is the process that allowed the planets to move onto their current orbits around the Sun.

d, when their interiors were molten, denser materials sank toward their centers and lighter materials rose toward their surfaces

From center to surface, which of the following correctly lists the interior layers of a typical rocky planet? A) mantle, core, crust B) mantle, crust, core C) core,crust,lithosphere D) core, lithosphere, crust E) core, mantle, crust

e, core, mantle, crust

Which of the following most likely explains why Venus does not have a global magnetic field like Earth? A) It does not have a metallic core. B) Unlike Earth, Venus does not have a liquid outer core. C) It does not have the water necessary to generate a magnetic field. D) It has too thick of an atmosphere. E) Its rotation is too slow.

e, it's rotation is too slow

The cores of the terrestrial worlds are made mostly of metal because _______. A) the terrestrial worlds as a whole are made mostly of metal B) over billions of years, convection gradually brought dense metals downward to the core C) because planets started to form from planetesimals that were much richer in metals D) the core contained lots of radioactive elements that decayed into metals E) metals sunk to the centers a long time ago when the interiors were molten throughout

e, metals sunk to the centers a long time ago when the interiors were molten throughout

Suppose we had a device that allowed us to see Earth's interior. If we looked at a typical region of the mantle, what would we see happening? A) dense metals falling downward while low-density rock rises upward B) hot molten rock rising upward throughout the mantle and cool, solid rock falling downward C) a rapid, up and down churning of the material in the mantle D) very, very bright, almost blinding liquid substance E) not much - on human time scales, the mantle looks like solid rock

e, not much, on human time scales, the mantle looks like solid rock

Has an atmosphere made mostly of nitrogen.

earth

Has the highest level of oxygen in its atmosphere.

earth

Has a surface temperature which is nearly constant at 730 Kelvin.

venus

Has clouds made of sulfuric acid.

venus

Is the only other inner planet which may have active volcanism.

venus

Surface temperatures are very high due to the greenhouse effect.

venus