EAPS-106 Test 3

What kind of plane was the first air tanker used to fight a wildfire? (a) A crop-duster (b) A WWI fighter (c) A seaplane (d) A blimp

(a) A crop-duster

What is regolith that covers most asteroids? (a) A layer of loose dust and small particles left over from many impacts. (b) Small craters. (c) A collection of craters that coves an entire surface. (d) A layer of small boulders and rounded rocks.

(a) A layer of loose dust and small particles left over from many impacts.

Where is the easiest place to find meteorites (if you can get there)? (a) Antarctica (b) Australia (c) Sahara Desert (d) Northern Canada

(a) Antarctica

When gas comes off of a comet, which direction does it head to form the gas tail? (a) Away from the Sun (b) Away from the direction the comet is traveling (c) Away from Sun and away from the direction that the comet is traveling (d) Toward the Sun and toward the direction that the comet is traveling

(a) Away from the Sun

Why are impact craters almost always round? (a) Because asteroids explode on impact creating a shock wave that spreads uniformly. (b) Because asteroids always hit from nearly straight over head. (c) Because the impact melts rock that flows outwards evenly in all directions. (d) Because the collapse of the walls of the transient crater causes rounding.

(a) Because asteroids explode on impact creating a shock wave that spreads uniformly.

Which statement best characterizes water on the surface of Mars? (a) Billions of years ago there were lakes and rivers on the surface of Mars, but none exist today. (b) There is no evidence that water ever existed on the surface of Mars. (c) There have been lakes and rivers on Mars throughout its history, including today. (d) There are lakes on Mars today, but they are filled with methane, not water.

(a) Billions of years ago there were lakes and rivers on the surface of Mars, but none exist today.

How do we infer the origin of comets? (a) By tracking their trajectory through the inner solar system (b) By observing the location of the most distant part of their orbit (c) By measuring their speed (d) By measuring their mass

(a) By tracking their trajectory through the inner solar system

What causes comets to have tails? (a) Ice sublimates due to heat from the sun, enabling dust and gas to be released. (b) Cryovolcanoes erupt on the surface of a comet, leading to ice particles being ejected. (c) Comets are rubble piles that the Sun's gravity causes to spread out as the comet approaches. (d) Solar winds react with a comet's magnetic field to create a light show.

(a) Ice sublimates due to heat from the sun, enabling dust and gas to be released.

Why is Haley's comet the most famous of all comets? (a) It is the only comet visible to the naked eye that comes around about once in a lifetime. (b) It is the only comet to orbit the Sun inside of Jupiter's orbit. (c) It has the longest tail of any comet viewed from Earth. (d) All of the above

(a) It is the only comet visible to the naked eye that comes around about once in a lifetime.

On average, which is the closest planet to Earth? (a) Mercury (b) Venus (c) Mars (d) Jupiter

(a) Mercury

What type of impact crater is bowl shaped? (a) Simple crater (b) Complex Crater (c) Multi-ring basin (d) None of the above

(a) Simple crater

What is an advantage that helitankers have over air tankers? (a) They can refill locally in small bodies of water. (b) They have a longer range. (c) They carry more water or fire retardant. (d) All of the above

(a) They can refill locally in small bodies of water.

True or False. Ancient hunters set fires to maintain grasslands and prevent trees and shrubs from taking over. (a) True (b) False

(a) True

True or False: There is so much debris (junk) in Earth's orbit that it is a danger to orbiting satellites, the space station, and astronauts. (a) True (b) False

(a) True

Where does most impact ejecta land (consider the ejecta blanket, not the crater rays)? (a) Within 1 crater diameter from the crater rim. (b) Within 2 crater diameters from the crater rim. (c) Within 5 crater diameters from the crater rim. (d) Within 10 crater diameters from the crater rim.

(a) Within 1 crater diameter from the crater rim.

Where do air tankers usually drop their loads? (a) On the fire (b) Ahead or to the sides of the fire (c) Behind the fire (d) It does not matter

(b) Ahead or to the sides of the fire

Why does the Kentland Crater in Indiana not look like an impact crater? (a) Because it is overlain by corn fields. (b) Because the top of the crater was removed by glaciation. (c) Because it was destroyed by mining. (d) Because its topography is covered by a lake.

(b) Because the top of the crater was removed by glaciation.

True or False. It is possible for a large solar flare to completely burn the surface of the Earth. (a) True (b) False

(b) False

True or False. Most meteorites are made of iron. (a) True (b) False

(b) False

True or False: All asteroids reside in a belt that lies between Mars and Jupiter. (a) True (b) False

(b) False

True or False: Any liquid water found in the surface of Mars today is almost certainly very fresh without a trace of salt. (a) True (b) False

(b) False

True or False: Comet dust jets turn on and off with sunrise and sunset on the comet's surface. (a) True (b) False

(b) False

True or False: If you combined all of the mass of the asteroid belt, it would add up to a body bigger than the Moon. (a) True (b) False

(b) False

True or False: If you rotate a space craft you can generate an artificial gravity such that floating objects will fall. (a) True (b) False

(b) False

True or False: In the United States, each year lightning starts more wildfires than people do. (a) True (b) False

(b) False

Which is NOT evidence that a large impact killed off the dinosaurs? (a) An abundance of Iridium found at the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary. (b) Fossilized dinosaur bones showing burns. (c) Shocked quartz found at the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary. (d) The Chicxulub Crater is the right size and age.

(b) Fossilized dinosaur bones showing burns.

Why do iron meteorites exist? (a) Because stony asteroids burn up in the Earth's atmosphere, but iron asteroids do not. (b) From impacts that break up big asteroids that have differentiated into an iron core and a stony mantle. (c) Because the stony parts of meteorites erode, leaving only iron behind. (d) Because most asteroids are mostly made of iron.

(b) From impacts that break up big asteroids that have differentiated into an iron core and a stony mantle.

Which of the following are fire shelters not designed to do? (a) Reflect radiant heat (b) Protect against direct, sustained contact with flames (c) Trap breathable air (d) Serve as a last resort if trapped by an approaching fire

(b) Protect against direct, sustained contact with flames

What are meteorites? (a) Large rocks meters to 100s of km that orbit the sun primarily between Mars and Jupiter. (b) Small pieces of space rock that survive passage through the atmosphere to the ground. (c) Small rocks from space that light up in the night sky as they burn up the Earth's atmosphere. (d) Small rocks (less than a few meters across) travelling through space.

(b) Small pieces of space rock that survive passage through the atmosphere to the ground.

Why is the surface of some of the largest lunar impact craters (basins) black and smooth? (a) They are in shadow. (b) They are covered with mare (lava). (c) They are covered with impact melts. (d) The impact exposed the darker colored lunar mantle.

(b) They are covered with mare (lava).

How do we know there used to be a lot of liquid water on the surface of Mars? (a) There remains a lot of ice on the poles of Mars. (b) We observe many dry river channels and lake beds. (c) There is a lot of ice buried beneath the surface. (d) Mars' atmosphere contains a lot of water vapor.

(b) We observe many dry river channels and lake beds.

What observation sometimes leads to farmers finding meteorites? (a) Unusual rocks sitting on top of the soil. (b) Radiation from Geiger counters. (c) Barren spots in their fields where nothing grows. (d) The use of metal detectors.

(c) Barren spots in their fields where nothing grows.

How do we know the Oort Cloud is a sphere as opposed to a flat disc like the asteroid belt? (a) From the shape of the elliptical orbits of long-period comets. (b) We can view it with powerful telescopes. (c) Because long-period comets come at us from all directions. (d) All the above

(c) Because long-period comets come at us from all directions.

What is an impact shatter cone? (a) Cone shape impact craters that result from impacts into prestressed rock assemblages. (b) Asteroids that take on a cone shape during passage through the atmosphere. (c) Cone-shaped rocks that result from the way the shock waves shatter rock. (d) Cone-shaped central peaks of complex craters.

(c) Cone-shaped rocks that result from the way the shock waves shatter rock.

What is the lesson of The Legend of Coyote in terms of wildfires? (a) Fire is the Devils only friend (b) Only you can fight forest fires (c) Fire renews (d) Fire is destructive to all life

(c) Fire renews

What is the most common cause of death by wildland firefighters? (a) Airtanker crashes (b) Parachute accidents (c) Heart attacks (d) Getting overrun by a fire

(c) Heart attacks

Why is Mars the most explored planet? (a) It is the closest planet to the Earth. (b) It is the only other planet with lakes on its surface. (c) It holds the greatest chance of finding evidence of past extraterrestrial life. (d) It has an atmosphere similar to that of Earth.

(c) It holds the greatest chance of finding evidence of past extraterrestrial life.

What are crater rays? (a) Lines of impact craters caused when a comet breaks up into many pieces before impact. (b) The flash of light that is produced when large impacts hit the moon. (c) Lines of impact ejecta that extend very far from the ejecta blanket. (d) The trail of dust and ash left behind as a meteor travels through the atmosphere.

(c) Lines of impact ejecta that extend very far from the ejecta blanket.

Which hazard is the main reason why colonizing the Moon or Mars will be extremely difficult? (a) Lack of water (b) Freezing temperatures (c) Radiation (d) Lack of oxygen

(c) Radiation

Which of the following will a spacesuit not protect an astronaut from? (a) Heat (b) Cold (c) Radiation (d) Micrometeoroids

(c) Radiation

Who was the mascot used by the U.S. Forest Service to promote fighting all forest fires that then led to a generation of massively destructive fires? (a) Bullwinkle the Moose (b) Mickey Mouse (c) Smokey the Bear (d) Rocky the Flying Squirrel

(c) Smokey the Bear

How did the astronauts move around on the surface of the Moon to compensate for its low gravity? (a) They ran (b) They walked very slowly (c) They hopped and skipped (d) They only moved around the surface in a vehicle

(c) They hopped and skipped

How do backburns help fight wildfires? (a) They remove heat (b) They remove oxygen (c) They remove fuel (d) All the above

(c) They remove fuel

What is the main purpose of a smoke jumper? (a) To rescue people from remote cabins during a wildfire. (b) To jump over fires. (c) To get to and fight remote wildfires before they become too destructive. (d) To catch dangerous criminals who escape from Hot Shot chain gangs.

(c) To get to and fight remote wildfires before they become too destructive.

Which best describes the state water on Mars in its past? (a) Lots of water for hundreds of millions of years (b) Scarce water for only a few million years at a time (c) We are not sure

(c) We are not sure

How did the Philae lander attempt to land on the surface of Comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko? (a) With a glider (b) With a parachute (c) With harpoons (d) With airbags

(c) With harpoons

What is a fusion crust on a meteorite? (a) A crust that results from the fusion of carbon atoms upon impact with the ground. (b) A crust that has two different minerals fused together. (c) A crust that glows due to heating while passing through the atmosphere. (d) A crust that melted due to heating while passing through the atmosphere.

(d) A crust that melted due to heating while passing through the atmosphere.

What killed the Apollo 13 astronauts? (a) An oxygen tank blew up destroying their capsule in route to the Moon. (b) A fire broke out in their capsule during testing. (c) They crash landed on the Moon. (d) Actually, they survived an oxygen tank explosion and made it back to Earth.

(d) Actually, they survived an oxygen tank explosion and made it back to Earth.

Which of the following is true about smoke jumpers? (a) Smoke jumpers do not free-fall from airplanes. (b) Smoke jumpers do not land within a fire. (c) Smoke jumpers do not jump to rescue people. (d) All the above.

(d) All the above.

Which statement about the Lafayette Meteorite is true? (a) It came from Mars. (b) It landed on Earth 2900 years ago. (c) It came from a lava flow submerged in salty water. (d) All the above.

(d) All the above.

How was the Chicxulub Crater discovered? (a) It is easily observed from space. (b) Noticed changes in Earth's magnetic field. (c) From ground-penetrating radar images that revealed a buried crater. (d) Based on small observed changes in the Earth's gravity field.

(d) Based on small observed changes in the Earth's gravity field.

What is the present policy of the U.S. Forest Service toward fighting wildfires? (a) Aggressively fight all wildfires. (b) Only fight small wildfires. (c) Not to fight any wildfires. (d) Permit wildfires to burn in primitive areas where people and structures are not in danger.

(d) Permit wildfires to burn in primitive areas where people and structures are not in danger.

What are meteoroids? (a) Large rocks meters to 100s of km that orbit the sun primarily between Mars and Jupiter. (b) Small pieces of space rock that survive passage through the atmosphere to the ground. (c) Small rocks from space that light up in the night sky as they burn up the Earth's atmosphere. (d) Small rocks (less than a few meters across) travelling through space.

(d) Small rocks (less than a few meters across) travelling through space.

What killed the Space Shuttle Columbia astronauts? (a) The shuttle's main engines blew up during launch. (b) A fire broke out in the orbiter during testing. (c) The shuttle plunged into the sea after an explosion involving the solid rocket booster and external tank shortly after launch. (d) The orbiter burned up upon re-entry due to damage to one of its wings.

(d) The orbiter burned up upon re-entry due to damage to one of its wings.

What is a fireline? (a) The front of a wildfire (b) A narrow, but long wildfire (c) The line in which an air tanker is directed to drop its load (d) The removal of fuels in front of a fire by cutting or scraping

(d) The removal of fuels in front of a fire by cutting or scraping

Which was NOT a contributing factor to the deaths of the Granite Mountain Hotshot crew? (a) A change in the weather. (b) The airtanker above did not know their location. (c) They did not have GPS receivers. (d) They were improperly trained.

(d) They were improperly trained.

What is fate of all comets? (a) To orbit the Sun until it becomes a red giant. (b) To be flung out of the solar system. (c) To crash into a planet. (d) To break up and fall into the Sun.

(d) To break up and fall into the Sun.

Where did all the water that used to be on the surface of Mars disappear to? (a) It is locked in the polar ice caps. (b) It is buried beneath the surface as permafrost. (c) It combined with Martian rocks to form clays. (d) Water vapor in the upper atmosphere split into hydrogen and oxygen, and the hydrogen escaped. (e) All the above.

(e) All the above.