Astronomy Final Exam
A gas particle will escape a planet's atmosphere if it moves faster than the... A) "escape speed" B) "capture speed" C)"retention speed" D) "speed of light"
"escape speed"
On Mercury and the Moon, we notice that larger craters ____ smaller craters. A) are on top of B) are rounder than C) came after D) came before
came before
You are most likely to find a landslide on Mars near which of the following? A) volcano B) canyon wall C) eroded crater D) dark region of the surface
canyon wall
The atmosphere of Venus is composed almost entirely of... A) oxygen B) sulfur C) carbon dioxide D) nitrogen
carbon dioxide
If the peak wavelength of a star at rest is 830 nm, but astronomers on earth observer that is has been shifted by 3.2 nm. Then how fast is the star moving relative to the earth?
1156627
If the peak wavelength of a star at rest is 1375 nm, then what peak wavelength is observed when the star is traveling 975,000 m/s away from the Earth.
1379.469
How many asteroids (that we know of) are on a potential collision course with Earth? A) 10,000+ B) 25-50 C) 0-5 D) 300-500
300-500
Based on the simulation, approximately how much longer will Earth be in the CHZ? A) 5.4 billion years B) 820 million years C) 12 billion years D) 250 million years
5.4 billion years
What molecule dominated the Earth's primordial atmosphere? A) oxygen and carbon dioxide B) oxygen and nitrogen C) nitrogen and carbon dioxide D) carbon dioxide ad water vapor
carbon dioxide ad water vapor
Which of the following planets in our solar system have rings? (Select all that apply) A) Jupiter B) Uranus C) Neptune D) Saturn
all answers are correct
Which of the following would be considered life? (Select all that apply). A) grass B) cats C) mushrooms D) bacteria
all choices are correct
Which of the following provides observational evidence that Mars has weather and an atmosphere? A) eroded craters B) wind streaks C) dust devils D) all of the above
all of the above
Orange soil on the Moon is believed to be caused by A) ancient volcanic activity B) organic molecules C) meteor impacts D) radiation from the Sun
ancient volcanic activity
If we could capture the spectrum of an exoplanet, we may find evidence for life on that planet in the form of... A) earthshine B) ozone C) water vapor D) biosignatures
biosignatures
If a star is traveling toward you, its observed spectrum will be... A) brighter B) fainter C) blue-shifted D) red-shifted
blue-shifted
Which of the following are you most likely to find near a volcano? A) eroded crater B) collapsed lava tube C) streamlined island D) landslide
collapsed lava tube
A respected scientist and mathematician, Carl Gauss, recommended that we build a large right triangle on the surface of the Earth in order to... A) test theories about the formation of Martian canals B) obtain more accurate measurements of the movement of Mars C) verify the Pythagorean Theorem D) communicate with Martians
communicate with Martians
The best time to observe the moon to see its crater is during a... A) harvest moon B) crescent moon C) full moon D) super moon
crescent moon
The Jovian planets are composed mostly of ______ and __________. A) hydrogen / helium B) water / ice C) methane / ammonia D) oxygen / nitrogen
hydrogen / helium
A scientist hoping to find active life on Mars can only reasonably hope to find it... A) floating in the atmosphere of Mars B) in water that exists under the Martian surface C) on the polar ice caps D) inside of hydrothermal vents
in water that exists under the Martian surface
A scientist hoping to find active life on Mars can only reasonably hope to find it... A) inside of hydrothermal vents B) in water that exists under the Martian surface C) on the polar ice caps D) floating in the atmosphere of Mars
in water that exists under the Martian surface
The surface of the moon contains geologic evidence for ______ on the moon in the past. A) liquid water B) life C) volcanoes D) weather
volcanoes
T or F: In the early 1900's, it was considered common knowledge that there was intelligent life on Mars.
True
T or F: The epsilon field includes an asteroid that is headed toward the very center of the field.
True
The presence of _______ on the surface of Mars provides additional evidence for a wet Martian past. A) blueberries B) life C) craters D) lava flows
blueberries
As the solar nebula cooled, which compounds were the first to condense from a gas to a solid? A) ices B) rocks C) metals D) water
metals
A lunar rille is most likely formed from A) two craters overlapping B) two tectonic plates merging together C) the collapse of a lava tube D) a sudden flow of liquid water on the surface
the collapse of a lava tube
The largest mountain in the solar system is... A) Olympus Mons B) Mauna Kea C) Mount Everest D) The Caloris Basin
Olympus Mons
A bright line emanating outward from craters
Ray
The first US missions to land on Mars were the _________ missions. A) Pathfinder B) Viking C) Voyager D) Mariner
Viking
These missions were the first to successfully land on Mars
Viking
What features must an object in the pictures have in order to confidently say it is an asteroid? (Select all that apply) A) you can see it in every picture B) moves in a straight line C) looks like a star D) looks a little blury
you can see it in every picture moves in a straight line looks like a star
According to National Geographic, the process of terraforming Mars would take ______ years. A) 10,000 B) 100,000 C) 100 D) 1,000
1,000
A very large impact crater on Mercury
Caloris Basin
This was the largest rover ever sent to Mars
Curiosity
Astronomers exploring Kepler Space Telescope data encountered a very unusual lightcurve, which some speculated may be caused by a partially-completed ________ created by an advanced civilization. A) Teleportation Device B) Dyson Sphere C) Space Weapon D) Interstellar Spacecraft
Dyson Sphere
Astronomers exploring Kepler Space Telescope data encountered a very unusual lightcurve, which some speculated may be caused by a partially-completed ____________ created by an advanced civilization. A) Teleportation Device B) Dyson Sphere C) Interstellar Spacecraft D) Space Weapon
Dyson Sphere
T or F: Galileo was able to observe polar caps on Mars with his first telescope observations.
False
T or F: If the terraforming of Mars was successful, its new thicker atmosphere would remain permanently allowing generations of new societies to survive on the red planet.
False
T or F: Using the Drake Equation is complete guesswork. There is no scientific basis for estimating any of the variables in the equation.
False
According to the Kardashev Scale, what "type" of civilization does humanity represent? A) Between Type 2 and Type 3 B) Greater than Type 3 C) Between Type 1 and Type 2 D) Less than Type 1
Less than Type 1
Which of the following has the hottest surface temperatures? A) Earth B) the Moon C) Venus D) Mercury
Venus
Smooth dark regions on the Moon where lave once flowed
Maria
The ________ missions were the first to fly-by Mars. A) Voyager B) Pathfinder C) Mariner D) Venera
Mariner
These were the first fly-by missions to Mars
Mariner
The largest mountain on Earth (as measured from the sea floor)
Mauna Kea
Which cities would be covered with water if the Greenland Ice Sheet melted completely? A) New York and London B) Miami and Amsterdam C) Miami and London D) New Orleans and London
Miami and Amsterdam
This was the first rover to explore the surface of Mars
Pathfinder
This was the first Mars mission to dig beneath the surface
Phoenix
Pulverized rock that covers the Moon as a fine dust
Regolith
A raised ridge on the surface of Mercury
Scarp
Sufficient warming of Mars could be achieved by point a mirror the size of __________ at the Martian south pole. A) Chicago B) North America C) The Earth D) Texas
Texas
What initiated the runaway greenhouse effect on Venus? A) The gradual warming of the Sun B) Venus slowly got closer to the Sun C) The lack of plant life on Venus D) The lack of water vapor on Venus
The gradual warming of the Sun
The _______ for discovering exoplanets looks for tiny dips in light as a planet passes in front of its star. A) Transit Method B) Doppler Effect C) Nebular Theory D) Doppler Method
Transit Method
T or F: The first landers on the surface of Mars found the Martian soil to be sterile.
True
T or F: We have not yet seen strong scientific evidence for even the simplest life anywhere in the universe except the Earth.
True
Orson Well's famous radio broadcast of ____________ caused a minor panic among listeners that a real alien invasion was underway. A) Mars Attacks B) The First Men in the Moon C) War of the Worlds D) From the Earth to the Moon
War of the Worlds
One of the most promising pieces of evidence supporting ancient life on Mars came from... A) the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter B) a Martian meteorite found on Earth C) the Mars Science Laboratory rover D) the Viking landers
a Martian meteorite found on Earth
Prior to plant life, a biosphere consisting of _________ would need to be established on the red planet to raise atmospheric pressure. A) cyanobacteria B) insects C) pre-cambrian animals D) briny plankton
cyanobacteria
The most clear evidence for the presence of water on ancient Mars is... A) the oxygen-rich soil B) the red appearance of the dirt C) dry riverbeds D) white clouds in the atmosphere
dry riverbeds
The bright circles around impact craters are called... A) maria B) rays C) ejecta D) scarps
ejecta
The white material around an impact crater is called A) ejecta B) maria C) anorthosite D) rille
ejecta
Which of the following geological features suggest that Mars has an atmosphere. (Select all that apply) A) eroded craters B) preserved craters C)collapsed lava tube D) wind streaks
eroded craters and wind streaks
Living creatures that thrive in environments thought to be deadly to any lifeform are known as... A) microbes B) extremophiles C) immortal D) planeria
extremophiles
Living creatures that thrive in environments thought to be deadly to any lifeform are known as... A) planeria B) extremophiles C) immortal D) microbes
extremophiles
Almost the entirety of Jupiter's size is made up of... A) gas B) water C) solid D) liquid
gas
What two factors influence whether gas particles stay or leave a planet's atmosphere? A) temperature and rotational speed B) gravity and particle size C) heat and temperature D) gravity and heat
gravity and heat
What factor most helps the Earth maintain a relatively constant temperature? A) a large moon B) greenhouse gases C) liquid oceans D) plate tectonics
greenhouse gases
Compared to the Earth, Mars is about... A) half the size B) the same size C) twice as large D) one quarter the size
half the size
An advocate for terraforming Mars suggests that just __________ would be a powerful symbol of humanity's potential for expansion. A) raising the temperature of Mars by 5 degrees B) having a single seed grow into a plant on Mars C) returning a sample of Martian soil to Earth D) melting a small portion of the Martian polar ice caps
having a single seed grow into a plant on Mars
Mercury gets incredibly hot and incredibly cold because... A) it has permanent shadows at the poles B) it does not have an atmosphere C) its distance from the sun changes so dramatically during its orbit D) it is so close to the sun
it does not have an atmosphere
Which of the following parts of the formal definition of a planet does Pluto fail to meet? A) it is in orbit around the Sun B) it is found in a roughly round shape C) it has cleared the neighborhood around its orbit D) it is a celestial body
it has cleared the neighborhood around its orbit
Observing Mars is difficult because... A) it is too bright for most telescopes B) it moves so quickly across the sky C) it rotates so quickly that it is hard to see detailed features D) it is so small on our night sky
it is so small on our night sky
The moon Titan is special because... A) its surface is wet B) it has extreme volcanoes C) it is the largest moon in the solar system D) the surface is covered in water ice
its surface is wet
Streamlined islands on Mars were most likely formed by the flow of... A) lava B) liquid water C) ice D) wind
liquid water
Which of the following is NOT a variable in the Drake Equation? A) percent of stars with planets B) number of radio antennas per planet C) percent change that life develops intelligence D) number of new stars born each year
number of radio antennas per planet
Anorthosite was believed to be some of the ________ material on the surface of the moon. A) heaviest B) oldest C) lightest D) newest
oldest
Where did the oxygen in our atmosphere come from? A) photosynthesis of living organisms B) volcanic eruptions C) it slowly leaked out of the oceans D) separation of water vapor into hydrogen and oxygen
photosynthesis of living organisms
A crater with a sharp, crisp rim would be considered a(n) A) eroded crater B) secured crater C) shield crater D) preserved crater
preserved crater
If you are attempting to communicate with intelligent civilizations elsewhere in the galaxy, then the __________ part of the EM spectrum is the best to use. A) visible B) infrared C) x-ray D) radio
radio
Where did Earth's oceans come from? A) rain from water vapor in the early atmosphere B) ancient water volcanoes that brought up from deep within the Earth's interior C) ice beneath the surface melting D) a primordial collision with an icy moon
rain from water vapor in the early atmosphere
The surface of the moon is covered with a fine powder of pulverized rock called... A) basalts B) regolith C) feldspar D) maria
regolith
The US Space Program seems to currently prefer pursuing _________ instead of launching expensive and dangerous manned missions to Mars. A) a new space station B) robotic Martian missions C) lunar missions D) new rocket technology
robotic Martian missiosn
Mercury has a network of strange wrinkles across its surface called... A) basins B) scarps C) Caloris D) weird terrain
scarps
Astronomers conjecture that advanced alien civilization could rapidly spread through the galaxy through the use of... A) worm holes B) hyperdrive engines C) mass relays D) self-replicating machines
self-replicating machines
The best source of evidence that our solar system was once full of much larger rocks and meteors is that the moon shows A) most craters to be near the poles B) a large flat region near the equator C) smaller craters on top of larger ones D) larger craters on top of smaller ones
smaller craters on top of larger ones
The planets closest to the Sun are known as the... A) terrestrial planets B) small bodies C) gas giants D) Kuiper belt
terrestrial planets
One example of a "Great Filter" that humanity has (so far) managed to pass through is... A) the development of nuclear weapons B) the creation of the internet C) interplanetary space travel D) the discovery of electricity
the development of nuclear weapons
In many ancient cultures, the "red planet" was named after... A) the god of love B) the god of war C) the native word for "blood" D) the native word for "red)
the god of war
Why does liquid water boil away when exposed to the Martian atmosphere? A) the low air pressure lowers the boiling point B) the surface of Mars is much hotter than the surface of Earth C) it is quickly absorbed into the dry soil D) radiation from the Sun passes through Mars' atmosphere and boils the water
the low air pressure lowers the boiling point
The Drake Equation is a tool for estimating... A) the number of habitable planets in the Milky Way where life has developed B) the number of planets in the Milky Way that contain civilizations intelligent enough to communicate through space C) the number of alien civilizations that have visited the Earth in the past D) the number of intelligent civilizations capable of traveling through interstellar space
the number of planets in the Milky Way that contain civilizations intelligent enough to communicate through space
Why doesn't Mars have active volcanoes today? A) the volcanoes are just dominant and will erupt again B) the planet lost its internal heat to cold space C) the volcanoes are blocked by collapsed lava tubes D) all of the lava already escaped
the planet lost its internal heat to cold space
