Astronomy Final
Our solar system formed from a giant gas and dust cloud we call the ______ ______.
solar nebulae
Light takes about 8 minutes to travel from the sun to Earth and about 40 minutes to travel from the sun to Jupiter. Jupiter is about ______ AU from the sun.
5
What angle does the Moon subtend as seen from Earth?
0.5 degrees
What angle does the sun subtend as seen from Earth?
0.5 degrees
On average, how far away is the Moon from the sun?
1 AU
What angle is subtended by your finger held at arms length?
1 degree
How much time does it take for light to travel from the moon to the Earth?
1 light second
What is the average distance between Earth and the Moon?
1 light second
As of this writing, the most massive extrasolar planets detected are about ______ times the mass of Jupiter.
100
Atmospheric pressure at the surface of Venus is about _____ times that on Earth.
100
How many astronauts have walked on the surface of the Moon?
12
How many arc seconds are in one degree?
3600
How fast does light travel through the vacuum of space?
3x10^8 meters per second
The lunar crust solidified approximately ______ billion years ago.
4.4
How many known planets are contained in our solar system?
8 (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune)
How much time does it take for light to travel from the sun to the Earth?
8 light seconds
The average distance from Earth to the sun is one ______
AU
______ ______ are objects more massive than Jupiter but not massive enough to start fusing hydrogen in their covers.
Brown dwarfs
The speed light is represented by what letter?
C
The gravitational fore between two objects doubles when the distance between them doubles. (True/false)
False
Which planet in our solar system is the largest?
Jupiter
We see increasing similarity between comets, asteroids, and ______ belt objects.
Kuiper
Which planet in our solar system is closest to the sun?
Mercury
Which planet in our solar system is the smallest?
Mercury
Which planets are never visible near the eastern horizon at sunset?
Mercury and Venus (closer to the sun than the Earth)
Which planet in our solar system is farthest from the sun?
Neptune
The distance between the Jovian planets is much greater than the distance between the Terrestrial planets. (True/false)
True
The present motions of the planets were inherited from the rotation of the solar nebulae. (True/false)
True
The surface of Venus appears to be composed of how many tectonic plates? a. 1 b. 3 c. 12 d. hundreds e. thousands
a. 1
The atmospheric pressure at the surface of Mars is about a. 1 percent that of Earth b. one-eighth that of Earth c. one-fourth that of Earth d. one-half that of Earth e. the same as that of Earth
a. 1 percent that of Earth
4.4x10^6 divided by 8.8x10^10 is equal to a. 5.0x10^-5 b. 5.0x10^-4 c. 5.0x10^4 d. 3.9x10^17 e. 3.9x10^16
a. 5.0x10^-5
The lowest amount of solar energy per square meter is incident upon the surface of Earth in the northern hemisphere on or about a. December 21, the winter solstice b. March 21, the vernal equinox c. September 21, the autumnal equinox d. June 21, the summer soltice
a. December 21, the winter solstice
Which sequence is correct when ordered by increasing size? a. Earth, solar system, Milky Way, galaxy clusters b. solar system, Earth, galaxy clusters, Milky Way c. Earth, Milky Way, solar system, galaxy clusters d. galaxy clusters, solar system, Milky Way, Earth
a. Earth, solar system, Milky Way, galaxy clusters
Which of the following have not been found on Mars? a. Moving tectonic plates b. Wispy clouds c. Dust storms d. Ancient river beds e. Advancing and receding polar icecaps
a. Moving tectonic plates
The structure of Mercury is a. a rocky mantle surrounding a large iron core that is 75% of the planet's diameter. b. a rocky mantle surrounding a small iron core that is much less than half the diameter of the planet. c. a frozen icy mantle surrounding a rocky core. d. a frozen icy mantle surrounding an iron core. e. a rocky core beneath an iron shell.
a. a rocky mantle surrounding a large iron core that is 75% of the planet's diameter.
The fraction of light falling on a body that is reflected is the body's a. albedo b. density c. phase d. color index e. refraction
a. albedo
The names of stars usually come from a. ancient Arabic b. ancient English c. Latin d. Russian e. Chinese
a. ancient Arabic
If we say that an object is 1,000 light years away we see it a. as it looked 1,000 years ago b. as it would appear to our ancestors 1,000 years ago c. as it looked 1,000 light years ago d. as it is right now, but it appears 1,000 times dimmer
a. as it looked 1,000 years ago
Among the many bodies that resulted from the aggregation of planetesimals when the solar system was formed were minor planets, less than 1000 km across, called a. asteroids b. meteoroids c. meteorites d. planetoids e. plutoids
a. asteroids
The first quarter moon rises a. at about noon b. at sunset c. at sunrise d. at about midnight e. during the second week if each calendar month
a. at about noon
Charged particles trapped in Earth's magnetic field may collide with molecules in the upper atmosphere and produce the glowing lights called a. aurorae b. ionosphere c. ozone layer d. magnetic field e. Van Allen belts
a. aurorae
The process of forming layers within a body because of differences in thermal characteristics and density between materials is called a. differentiation b. geothermal energy c. internal heat d. isotopes e. revolution around the Earth
a. differentiation
High-resolution images from Mars global Surveyor show layered features and gullies that appear to be a. due to water flow b. igneous c. metamorphic d. carbonaceous e. blue
a. due to water flow
The known Kuiper belt objects have orbital semimajor axes in the approximate range a. 5 to 10 AU b. 10 to 20 AU c. 20 to 30 AU d. 30 to 80 AU e. 1 to 2 light years
d. 30 to 80 AU
At the time of the winter solstice (the start of winter) the sun is a. farthest south of the celestial equator b. farthest north of the celestial equator c. on the celestial equator moving north d. on the celestial equator moving south
a. farthest south of the celestial equator
Mars is more heavily cratered than the Earth. This is because a. for a long time Mars has had little geologic activity. b. meteors are much more plentiful very close to the Sun where Earth is located. c. long ago Mars was very hot and its surface formed blisters. d. Mars is close to Jupiter, and Jupiter's gravity causes more meteors to strike Mars than Earth. e. erosion from running water has caused the Martian craters.
a. for a long time Mars has had little geologic activity.
Planets are thought to be forming today in ______ around stars a. hot disks b. cold disks c. spherical clouds d. none of the above
a. hot disks
Which of the following is not a characteristic of the terrestrial planets? a. low average density b. orbits inside the asteroids c. craters in old surfaces d. small diameters e. very few satellites
a. low average density
The extremely thin atmosphere of Mercury is mainly a. sodium b. oxygen c. helium d. methane e. argon
a. sodium
If Earth's period of rotation doubled, but the period of revolution stayed the same a. the night would be twice as long b. the night would be half as long c. the year would be half as long d. the year would be twice as long e. the length of the day would be unchanged
a. the night would be twice as long
Venus and Earth differ significantly in several ways. Earth has broken cloud cover and an atmosphere consisting mostly of nitrogen, whereas Venus has a. unbroken cloud cover with a much denser carbon dioxide atmosphere. b. broken cloud cover with a much denser carbon dioxide atmosphere. c. unbroken cloud cover with a much denser nitrogen atmosphere. d. broken cloud cover with a much denser nitrogen atmosphere. e. unbroken cloud cover with little atmospheric nitrogen and a great deal of oxygen.
a. unbroken cloud cover with a much denser carbon dioxide atmosphere.
The ______ moon is visible above the western horizon a couple hours before sunrise. a. waning gibbous b. waxing gibbous c. waxing crescent d. waning crescent e. new
a. waning gibbous
The Clementine spacecraft's imaging of crater floors near the lunar poles revealed indirect evidence for he presence (near the lunar poles) of a. water ice b. active volcanism c. mascons d. recent moonquakes e. prior visitations
a. water ice
If you point toward the zenith right now and then point there again 6 hours later, you will have pointed twice in the same direction relative to a. your horizon b. the sun c. the Moon d. the fixed stars
a. your horizon
When the Giotto spacecraft measured a larger than expected size for the nucleus of Comet Halley, scientists realized that its ______ must be lower than previously believed.
albedo
Revolving or rotating objects have ______ momentum.
angular
A ______ eclipse occurs when the moon is at its greatest distance from Earth, and the moon is new.
annular
The ______ of the moon's orbit is the place where it is farthest from Earth.
apogee
Most of the known asteroids orbit in the ______ ______, a region between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.
asteroid belt
If the Earth were represented as a basketball (~10 in.) and the Moon as a baseball (~3 in.) then, to order of magnitude, what size would best represent the diameter of the sun? a. 10 ft. b. 100 ft. c. 1000 ft. d. 10,000 ft.
b. 100 ft.
Mars revolves around the sun in about a. 24 hours b. 23 Earth months c. 25 astronomical years d. 23 1/2 Earth years e. 24 AU
b. 23 Earth months
3.0x10^5 times 1.5x10^9 is equal to a. 4.5x10^45 b. 4.5x10^14 c. 2.0x10^4 d. 2.0x10^14 e. 2.0x10^45
b. 4.5x10^14
If light takes 8 minutes to reach Earth from the sun and 5.3 hours to reach Pluto, what is the approximate distance from the sun to Pluto? a. 5.3 AU b. 40 AU c. 40 light year d. 5.3 light years e. 0.6 light years
b. 40 AU
The moons of Mars, shown in this photo, are similar to what other objects in our solar system? a. Comets b. Asteroids c. The Earth's Moon d. Small planets like Mercury e. Large planets like Uranus
b. Asteroids
A lunar eclipse occurs when a. the sun passes between Earth and Earth's moon b. Earth passes between the Earth's moon and the sun c. the Earth's moon phases between Earth and sun
b. Earth passes between the Earth's moon and the sun
What energy source leads to mountain building on Earth? a. the Sun b. Earth's internal heat c. Tidal interactions with the Moon d. The solar wind e. None of the above
b. Earth's internal heat
The oldest rocks found on Earth are about ______ years old. a. 10 billion b. 5.3 billion c. 4.6 billion d. 4.2 billion e. 6.2 million
d. 4.2 billion
Why is the surface of Mercury cooler than the surface of Venus? a. Mercury moves too rapidly around the Sun to be heated up significantly. b. Mercury, unlike Venus, does not have an atmosphere and there is no greenhouse effect. c. Mercury is a very reflective body, so most of the electromagnetic radiation incident on it is not absorbed. d. Mercury is much smaller than Venus. e. Mercury's magnetic field deflects some solar radiation.
b. Mercury, unlike Venus, does not have an atmosphere and there is no greenhouse effect.
About 4 billion years ago Martian volcanoes were active. How did these active volcanoes affect the atmosphere of Mars? a. They supplied large amounts of oxygen to the atmosphere. b. They supplied large amounts of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, to the atmosphere. c. Their heat kept the surface of Mars warm so that water could exist in vapor form. d. They supplied large amounts of nitrogen, a greenhouse gas, to the atmosphere. e. They supplied large amounts of methane, a greenhouse gas, to the atmosphere.
b. They supplied large amounts of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, to the atmosphere.
If the early atmosphere of the Earth was composed of carbon dioxide, why does the present atmosphere contain oxygen molecules? a. Volcanoes slowly enriched the Earth's atmosphere with oxygen. b. When life first developed on the Earth, this life produced oxygen from carbon dioxide by photosynthesis. c. Rainwater slowly broke down carbon dioxide into its components. d. Oxygen was captured from space over many millions of years. e. Solar radiation breaks down CO2.
b. When life first developed on the Earth, this life produced oxygen from carbon dioxide by photosynthesis.
The central peak seen in this crater is the result of a plate tectonics. b. a high-speed impact. c. volcanic activity. d. another meteor impact. e. either A or C above.
b. a high-speed impact.
The Moon and Mercury are similar in that they both a. are about the same size and are heavily cratered. b. are heavily cratered and lack an atmosphere. c. lack an atmosphere and have large flat maria. d. have a weak magnetic field and a tenuous atmosphere. e. have a weak magnetic field and numerous mountains.
b. are heavily cratered and lack an atmosphere.
The magnitude scale a. originated just after the telescope was invented b. can be used to indicate the apparent intensity of a celestial object c. is used to measure the temperature of a star d. was used to determine the rate of precession
b. can be used to indicate the apparent intensity of a celestial object
Compared with Earth's atmosphere, Venus's has a very high concentration of a. oxygen b. carbon dioxide c. nitrogen d. water vapor e. greenhouse gas
b. carbon dioxide
The most abundant component of the atmosphere of Mars is a. argon b. carbon dioxide c. carbon monoxide d. nitrogen e. sulfur dioxide
b. carbon dioxide
Total lunar eclipses always occur a. during the time of new moon b. during the time of full moon c. on either the vernal or autumnal equinox d. on either the summer or winter solstice e. when the moon is near one of the solstice points
b. during the time of full moon
Color changes on Mars, once thought to be cause by vegetation, are actually due to a. dry ice b. dust storms c. orbital speed changes d. tilt of its axis e. water ice
b. dust storms
The matter at the center of the head of a comet is the a. coma b. dust tail c. gas tail d. hydrogen cloud e. nucleus
b. dust tail
Which of the following statements correctly describes the relationship between stars and constellations? a. only stars close to the ecliptic (the Earth's orbital plane) are located in the constellations b. every star is located in a constellation c. only the brighter stars are in constellations d. only those stars that were visible to the ancient Greeks are located in constellations
b. every star is located in a constellation
The surface of Venus a. exhibits plate tectonic activity similar to that seen on Earth. b. exhibits a crust that has not broken up into moving plates but does exhibit hotspot volcanism. c. is relatively smooth and featureless. d. exhibits no tectonic activity as far as we can tell. e. has not yet been studied due to the dense cloud cover, so we do not know if there is any tectonic activity.
b. exhibits a crust that has not broken up into moving plates but does exhibit hotspot volcanism.
The Mars Pathfinder mission carried a robotic vehicle, Sojourner, to Mars. Sojourner discovered rocks that appeared to be layered like sedimentary rock. This is evidence that a. standing water once existed on Mars. b. flowing water was once present on Mars. c. atmospheric winds operating for millions of years deposited many layers of rock. d. volcanoes caused the layering. e. meteors brought sedimentary rocks to Mars.
b. flowing water was once present on Mars.
Controversial evidence that seemed to indicate that Mars may have once harbored living organisms was found in 1996 a. in soil samples from the Viking landers b. in a meteorite found in Antarctica c. in images from the Pathfinder missio d. through spectroscopic analysis of the Martian atmosphere e. through television observations of UfO's
b. in a meteorite found in Antarctica
At greatest eastern elongation Mercury is visible a. just before sunrise. b. just after sunset. c. at midnight directly overhead. d. at midnight toward the south. e. at midnight in the west.
b. just after sunset.
Venus and Earth have similar a. mass, density, and magnetic field. b. mass and density. c. rotation rate, density, and atmosphere. d. magnetic field, surface temperature, and atmosphere. e. mass, density, and surface temperature.
b. mass and density.
The condensation sequence suggests that ______ should condense closest to the sun. a. Jovian planets b. metals and metal oxides c. silicates d. ices of water, methane, and ammonia e. low density materials
b. metal and metal oxides
The elliptical shape of the Earth's orbit varies with time and takes ______ to complete a cycle. a. 24 hours b. one year c. 260 years d. 26,000 years e. 100,000 years
b. one year
Modern theories of solar system formation posit that planets formed through aggregation of many smaller bodies, each perhaps only hundreds of kilometers in size, called a. planetoids b. planetesimals c. protoplanets d. nebulae e. Venusians
b. planetesimals
How is a planet different than a star? a. planets are larger than stars b. planets reflect light while stars produce their own light c. stars move faster in the sky than planets d. planets are brighter than stars
b. planets reflect light while stars produce their own light
The surface of Venus is best observes using a. ultraviolet satellites b. radar c. large optical telescopes d. large radio telescopes e. infrared telescopes
b. radar
Most meteorites found after observing their fall are made primarily of a. iron b. stone c. carbon d. ices e. an iron-nickel alloy
b. stone
The largest component of a comet is its a. coma b. tail c. head d. hydrogen cloud e. nucleus
b. tail
If the nearest star is 4.2 billion light years away, then a. the star is 4.2 million AU away b. the light we see left the star 4.2 years ago c. the star must have formed 4.2 billion years ago d. the star must be very young e. the star must be very old
b. the light we see left the star 4.2 years ago
The large planetesimals would have grown faster than the smaller planetesimals because a. they were moving faster in their orbits than the smaller planetesimals b. their stronger gravity would pull in more material c. there was more material located near them that could be accreted d. the smaller planetesimals were covered by a later of material that was lost during collisions e. all of the above
b. their stronger gravity would pull in more material
Mars's residual north polar cap, seen during northern summer on Mars, is made of a. dry ice b. water ice c. the mineral gypsum d. methane ice e. plaster of Paris
b. water ice
Too much ______ ______ in the atmosphere can lead to an increase in the average temperature at the Earth's surface.
c carbon dioxide
The moon moves about ______ eastward in the sky each night. a. 1 degree b. 5 degrees c. 13 degrees d. 27.3 degrees e. 29.5 degrees
c. 13 degrees
64,200,000,000 is equal to a. 6.42x10^7 b. 6.42x10^-7 c. 6.42x10^10 d. 6.42x10^-10 e. 1.0x10^64.2
c. 6.42x10^10
Of the inner planets, which has the strongest magnetic field? a. Mercury b. Venus c. Earth d. Mars e. None of the above
c. Earth
In one way of naming stars, a ______ letter indicates its brightness relative to the other stars in the constellation. a. English b. Arabic c. Greek d. Cyrillic
c. Greek
A few meteorites found in Antarctica seem to have come from the Moon and even a. Mercury b. Venus c. Mars d. Jupiter e. Halley's Comet
c. Mars
On Mars the greenhouse effect is weaker than it is on Earth and far weaker than it is on Venus. Which of the following explains this? a. The Martian atmosphere contains large amounts of nitrogen, which is not a greenhouse gas. b. Mars is too far from the Sun for the greenhouse effect to be important. c. The Martian atmosphere is very thin and traps less infrared radiation from the surface. d. There is no plant life on Mars. e. Mars once had water.
c. The Martian atmosphere is very thin and traps less infrared radiation from the surface.
Compared to Earth, Venus has a very weak magnetic field. The most likely reason for this is that a. there is no liquid in the core. b. the intense solar radiation destroys the magnetic field before it can form. c. Venus rotates so slowly that no electric currents are set up in its core. d. the magnetic field is in the process of reversing. e. Venus is closer to the Sun.
c. Venus rotates so slowly that no electric currents are set up in its core.
A solar eclipse that occurs when the moon's umbra does not reach Earth's surface is called a. a total solar eclipse b. a partial solar eclipse c. an annular solar eclipse d. a penumbral solar eclipse e. an umbral solar eclipse
c. an annular solar eclipse
Which of the following correctly identifies the characteristics of a terrestrial planet? a. dense (> 3000 kg/m3), made mostly of H and He, many rings and moons, no solid surface b. less dense (< 3000 kg/m3), made mostly of H and He, many rings and moons, no solid surface c. dense (> 3000 kg/m3), contains very little H and He, no rings and few moons, solid surface d. dense (> 3000 kg/m3), contains very little H and He, many rings and moons, no solid surface e. less dense (< 3000 kg/m3), made mostly of H and He, no rings and few moons, no solid surface
c. dense (> 3000 kg/m3), contains very little H and He, no rings and few moons, solid surface
When heating is caused by the trapping of infrared radiation under (or behind) a layer of material, the process is called the a. conduction effect b. convection effect c. greenhouse effect d. reflection effect e. Doppler effect
c. greenhouse effect
If an observer walks north toward increasing latitude, the number of circumpolar stars would a. remain constant b. decrease c. increase d. unknown unless you also state the longitude of the observer
c. increase
The Milky Way Galaxy a. contains about 100 stars b. is the largest unknown object in the universe c. is about 75,000 light years in diameter d. is located about 2.2 million light years from the sun e. only a and c are correct
c. is about 75,000 light years in diameter
Seen from the northern latitudes, the star Polaris a. is never above the horizon in the day b. always sets directly in the West c. it's always above the northern horizon d. is never visible during the winter e. is the brightest star in the sky
c. it's always above the northern horizon
A galaxy contains a. primarily planets b. large amounts of gas and dust but very few stars c. large amounts of gas, dust, and stars d. a single star and planets e. thousands of super clusters
c. large amounts of gas, dust, and stars
Astronomers believe the internal structure of Mars must be fundamentally different from earth;s because Mars has a a. lower albedo b. thicker crust c. lower density d. larger orbit e. more massive atmosphere
c. lower density
The streak of light produced in the sky by the vaporization of a chunk of matter entering Earth's atmosphere is a "shooting star", or a. meteroid b. helium flash c. meteor d. green flash e. occulation
c. meteor
Nearly all extra-solar planets actually found thus far are a. less massive than Earth b. equal to Earth's mass c. much more massive than Earth
c. much more massive than Earth
Which is heavier, a ton of feathers or a ton of lead? a. feathers by a little b. lead c. neither d. feathers by a lot e. half the feathers plus half the lead
c. neither
Areas of the moon or planet with the greatest number of craters usually have the a. heaviest rocks b. lightest rocks c. oldest rocks d. youngest rocks e. hollowest rocks
c. oldest rocks
If the moon enters Earth's shadow but does not reach the umbra, the eclipse is termed a. partial b. umbral c. penumbral d. total e. annular
c. penumbral
Which arrangement is in order of increasing size, left to right? a. planet, galaxy, star, solar system b. planet, star, galaxy, solar system c. planet, star, solar system, galaxy d. solar system, galaxy, star, planet
c. planet, star, solar system, galaxy
Compared with the near side of the Moon, the far side is a. cooler b. a darker color c. rougher d. smoother e. volcanically active
c. rougher
A solar eclipse occurs when a. the sun passes between Earth and Earth's moon b. Earth passes between the Earth's moon and the sun c. the Earth's moon passes between Earth and the sun
c. the Earth's moon passes between Earth and the sun
The mass of all the asteroids together is less than that of a. Ceres b. Halley's Comet c. the Moon d. Phobos e. Mt. Everest
c. the Moon
The composition of the dust in Comet Halley, as measured by the Giotto spacecraft in 1986, is most likely that of a. Venus b. a giant planet moon c. the early solar system d. planetary material ejected by meteorite impacts e. Saturn's moon Titan
c. the early solar system
The density of Mercury is similar to that of a. Jupiter b. water c. the Earth d. lead e. feathers
c. the earth
During a total lunar eclipse a. the moon must be new b. the observer must be in the path of totality c. the moon will glow a coppery red d. the moon must be at its greatest distance from Earth e. the date must be near the date of one of the equinoxes
c. the moon will glow a coppery red
Earth doesn't experience a solar eclipse every month because a. of unpredictable weather patterns b. the moon always keeps its same side toward the Earth c. the moon's position is not aligned with the Earth's orbit d. its sometimes nighttime when the eclipse occurs e. sometimes the moon is too far away
c. the moon's position is not aligned with the Earth's orbit
The phase of the moon on a particular night is determined by a. the season of the year b. the speed of the moon in its orbit c. the relative positions of the sun, Earth, and Moon d. how the Earth's shadow hits the Moon e. the distance from the Earth to the Moon
c. the relative positions of the sun, Earth, and Moon
The first extra-solar planets detected are not likely candidates for life because a. the planets are too small b. their surface temperatures are probably too low for liquid water c. they orbit pulsars, which emit too much powerful radiation d. they are too distant from the star they orbit e. they are invisible
c. they orbit pulsars, which emit too much powerful radiation
Most planets thus far discovered around other stars were found by a. seeing the planet next to the star b. traveling to the star c. varying Doppler shifts to the stars d. the planet blotting out the light of the star
c. varying Doppler shifts to the stars
A total lunar eclipse a. visible only from the path of totality b. visible only during a new moon c. visible to all observers on the side of Earth from which the moon would be visible at that time d. an opportunity to study the corona of the sun e. none of the above
c. visible to all observers on the side of Earth from which the moon would be visible at that time
A constellation must consist of a number of stars, all a. at the same distance from the Earth b. at various different distances from the Earth c. within a boundary in the same general angular area of the sky d. Wrong, constellations are made of planets only
c. within a boundary in the same general angular area of the sky
The ______ is the point on the celestial sphere directly above any observer. a. north celestial pole b. south celestial pole c. zenith d. celestial equator e. asterism
c. zenith
______ is the brightest star in the constellation of Ursa Majoris. a. β Ursa Majoris b. γ Ursa Majoris c. α Ursa Majoris d. Wrong, Ursa Majoris is the name of the brightest star
c. α Ursa Majoris
Ishtar Terra and Aphrodite Terra are ______ on the surface of Venus.
continents
It is now generally accepted that extremely large numbers of incipient comets surround the solar system in a spherical shell nearly one light year in radius is called the a. Hubble limit b. Halley sphere c. Bode cloud d. Oort cloud e. Kuiper belt
d. Oort cloud
Why do volcanoes on Venus tend to be fewer and larger than those on Earth? a. Venus has a much more tectonically active surface than the Earth. b. Erosion quickly reduces the size of any volcanoes on the Earth. c. Lava is much hotter on Venus than on Earth. d. Volcanoes on Venus grow in one spot only because the crustal plates do not move, whereas on Earth the movement of the crustal plates forms a chain of volcanoes. e. Venus is closer to the sun.
d. Volcanoes on Venus grow in one spot only because the crustal plates do not move, whereas on Earth the movement of the crustal plates forms a chain of volcanoes.
The celestial equator is a. a line around the sky directly above Earth's equator b. the dividing line between the north and south celestial hemispheres c. the path that the sun appears to follow on the celestial sphere as Earth orbits the sun d. a and b e. a and c
d. a and b
A solar system contains a. primarily planets b. large amounts of gas and dust but very few stars c. large amounts of gas dust and stars d. a single star and planets e. thousands of super clusters
d. a single star and planets
The age of the solar system is believed to be approximately 4.6 billion years old based on data from a. samples of lunar rocks b. samples of Earth rocks c. samples of meteorites d. all of the above e. none of the above
d. all of the above
The sun is a. a star b. 1 AU form Earth c. more than 100 times the diameter of Earth d. all of the above e. none of the above
d. all of the above
Which of the following is not an important greenhouse gas? a. Carbon dioxide b. Methane c. Water d. Ammonia e. All of these are important greenhouse gases.
d. ammonia
The Magnetic Field of a Planet is Produced by a. magnetized iron inside the planet, which mimics a bar magnet. b. the solar wind captured by the planet. c. electric currents in a solid conducting region inside the planet. d. electric currents in a liquid conducting region inside the planet. e. electric currents in a solid non-conducting region inside the planet.
d. electric currents in a liquid conducting region inside the planet.
Most of the rocks found on the Moon are a. metamorphic b. limestone c. shales d. igneous e. sedimentary
d. igneous
In the greenhouse effect, a. some infrared radiation emitted by the Earth's surface is absorbed by the atmosphere. b. some ultraviolet radiation emitted by the Earth's surface is absorbed by the atmosphere. c. vegetation traps thermal energy near the surface. d. infrared radiation from the Sun is captured as it enters the Earth's atmosphere. e. infrared radiation from the Sun is reflected by the Earth's atmosphere into space.
d. infrared radiation from the Sun is captured as it enters the Earth's atmosphere.
The rotation of Mercury on its axis is unusual in that a. it has the slowest rotation of all the planets. b. it rotates extremely rapidly. c. it rotates retrograde. d. it rotates three times on its axis in the time it takes to make two orbits around the Sun. e. it rotates two times on its axis in the time it takes to make three orbits around the Sun.
d. it rotates three times on its axis in the time it takes to make two orbits around the Sun.
So far, it appears that one way extra-solar planetary systems differ from our solar systems in that a. stars in the centers of these systems are all much more massive than the sun b. the planetary systems are typically larger than our solar system c. these planetary systems never have more than one planet d. many have giant planets are located closer to the central star than Jupiter in our system e. they are found around B stars
d. many have giant planets are located closer to the central star than Jupiter in our system
For stars in the same constellation they a. probably formed at the same time b. must be part of the same cluster of stars in space c. must have been discovered at about the same time d. may actually be very far away from each other
d. may actually be very far away from each other
A waxing crescent moon is visible a. near the eastern horizon just before sunrise b. near the eastern horizon just after sunset c. near the western horizon just before sunrise d. near the western horizon just after sunset e. from sunset until sunrise
d. near the western horizon just after sunset
The surface of Venus shows many familiar features, but no a. continents b. craters c. mountains d. oceans e. volcanoes
d. oceans
A few meteorites contain a. iron b. stone c. liquid water d. organic compounds e. methane
d. organic compounds (building blocks of life)
A totally eclipsed moon glows coppery red because a. the moon's surface is made of iron ore which is red in color b. red light is cooler than blue light c. during a lunar eclipse the sun is cooler than normal, and its light is more red d. red light is better able to pass completely through Earth's atmosphere and reach the moon e. the moon appears red during a total solar eclipse , not a total lunar eclipse
d. red light is better able to pass completely through Earth's atmosphere and reach the moon
The gas tail of a comet is created by the effects of the a. nucleus b. coma c. reaction force d. solar wind e. gas jets
d. solar wind
The phases of the moon are caused by its a. spherical shape; orbital motion around the sun b. cubical shape; orbital motion around the sun c. cubical shape; orbital motion around Earth d. spherical shape; orbital motion around the Earth e. spherical shape; orbital motion around the sun
d. spherical shape; orbital motion around the Earth
Volcanic activity on the surface of Venus may be indicated by changes in the amount of atmospheric a. carbon dioxide b. water vapor c. sulfuric acid d. sulfur dioxide e. helium
d. sulfur dioxide
The clouds of Venus are made up of droplets of a. ammonia b. carbon dioxide c. nitrogen d. sulfuric acid e. hydrochloric acid
d. sulfuric acid
When a fragment of interplanetary matter survives its trip through an atmosphere to reach the surface of an astronomical body it is called a a. bolide b. foreball c. meteor d. meteoroid e. meteorite
e. meteorite
An observer on Earth's equator would find a. Polaris directly overhead b. Polaris 40 degrees above the northern horizon c. that the celestial equator coincides with the horizon d. the celestial equator passing directly overhead e. that the ecliptic coincides with the horizon
d. the celestial equator passing directly overhead
Venus has a high surface temperature because a. of continual volcanic eruptions. b. radioactive elements heat its surface. c. of heating from the solar wind. d. the dense carbon dioxide atmosphere produces a very strong greenhouse effect. e. the dense nitrogen atmosphere produces a very strong greenhouse effect.
d. the dense carbon dioxide atmosphere produces a very strong greenhouse effect.
If you are standing at the Earth's North pole, which of the following would be located at zenith? a. the nadir b. b. the star Vega c. the celestial equator d. the north celestial pole
d. the north celestial pole
The ecliptic can be defined as a. the plane that is perpendicular to the Earth's axis of rotation b. the projection of the Earth's equator onto the sky c. the path traced out by the Moon in our sky in one month against the background stars d. the path traced out by the sun in our sky over one year against the background stars
d. the path traced out by the sun in our sky over one year against the background stars
Full Moon always occurs a. on teh 5th of every month b. when the Moon is at right angles to the direction of the sun c. when the Moon is closer to sun than the Earth is d. when the Moon is directly opposite the position of the sun
d. when the Moon is directly opposite the position of the sun
Doppler methods are biased toward finding planets a. smaller than Earth b. composed of ices c. with orbital periods greater than 20 years d. with orbital planes along the line of sight e. with large moons
d. with orbital planes along the line of sight
Of all Moon rocks sampled, rocks taken from the lunar maria tend to be the a. heaviest b. lightest c. oldest d. youngest e. hollowest
d. youngest
The interior of the Moon is not uniform but like the Earth's is ______.
differentiated
In 1999 a planet passed in front of its star, ______ the brightness of the star.
dimming
The nucleus of a comet is apparently made up of ices of methane, water, ammonia, and carbon dioxide with ______ mixed in.
dust
The average distance from Earth to the sun is a. 1 light year b. 1 million km c. 1 million miles d. 1 billion km e. 1 AU
e. 1 AU
2.9x10^7 is the same as a. 2.9 thousand b. 29 thousand c. 290 thousand d. 2.9 million e. 29 million
e. 29 million
The Earth shows very little evidence of meteor impacts because a. plate tectonics is continuously recycling the Earth's crust. b. wind and rain have continually eroded the Earth's surface. c. very few meteors struck the Earth in the past. d. vegetation has covered the craters. e. Both A and B are correct.
e. Both A and B are correct.
The theory that the Moon formed from a ring of material ejected from the Earth by a collision is the a. condensation theory b. capture theory c. fission theory d. co-accretion theory e. collision theory
e. collision theory
What is the distance that light travels in one year?
light year
We now know that water exists on Mars. This water is in the form of a. liquid in rivers only. b. atmospheric water vapor only. c. underground reservoirs of liquid water. d. ice in polar icecaps only. e. permafrost, polar icecaps, and a small amount of atmospheric vapor.
e. permafrost, polar icecaps, and a small amount of atmospheric vapor.
The rate of rotation of the Moon on its axis is the same as its rate of a. acceleration b. declination c. libration d. phase changes e. revolution around the Earth
e. revolution around the Earth
During the month of June the north celestial pole points towards Polaris but during the month of December it points a. just north of Polaris b. just south of Polaris c. towards the star Vega d. towards the star Thuban e. still towards Polaris
e. still towards Polaris
Which of the following is the largest? a. the diameter of Earth b. the diameter of the moon c. the diameter of the sun d. the diameter of Jupiter e. the distance from Earth to the sun
e. the distance from Earth to the sun
Most of the extrasolar planets detected since 1995 are unlikely to harbor life as we know it because a. UFO's patrol space to wipe out incipient life in new places b. they are too far from their stars c. their orbits are too inclined relative to the equators of their stars d. they are too small e. they are gas giants, without solid surfaces
e. they are gas giants, without solid surfaces
The length of its semimajor axis indicates that Pluto is, on average, ______ ______ the sun than Neptune.
farther from
A ______ is a collection of billions of stars
galaxy
With its smaller mass and size, ______ at the surface of the Moon is about one-sixth of that at the surface of the Earth.
gravity
The place where the sky meets the ground is called the ______.
horizon
______ rocks are rocks that were formed by the cooling of lava.
igneous
What happens to the angular extent of an object as it approaches you?
increases
The core of Mercury, like that of Earth, is composed mainly of ______.
iron
Space missions detected ______ pulses in Venus's atmosphere.
lightning
A ______ ______ results when Earth passes through the orbit of an existing or defunct comet.
meteor shower
Temperature is measure of the random ______ of particles.
motion
The Earth's crust is divided into dozens of pieces called tectonic ______.
plates
The Moon ________________ at the same rate as it revolves around the Earth.
rotates on its axis
Since a comets ______ can extend a full 1 AU, a comet can be the largest object in the solar system.
tail
What is the name of the path of the sun on the celestial sphere?
the ecliptic
What object is at the center of our solar system?
the sun
A planet is in ______ of the sun when it appears to move across the face of the sun.
transit
Many of the mountains on Venus are ______.
volcanoes
A ______ ______ moon is visible in the southeastern sky just after sunset.
waxing gibbous
The ______ is the point on the celestial sphere directly above an observer, regardless of where the observer is located on Earth.
zenith
