Astronomy Quiz 11

How does a magnetosphere affect a terrestrial planet atmosphere? A) It protects the upper atmosphere from the solar wind. B) It protects the upper atmosphere from X-rays. C) It redistributes energy from the poles to the equator. D) all of the above E) It has no effect on the atmosphere. Question 15 1 / 1 point

A

How does the Coriolis effect affect the circulation of a hurricane (low pressure system) in the northern hemisphere? A) It causes inflowing air to deviate to the right, resulting in counterclockwise rotation. B) It causes inflowing air to deviate to the right, resulting in clockwise rotation. C) It causes inflowing air to deviate to the left, resulting in counterclockwise rotation. D) The Coriolis effect has no effect on the circulation of a hurricane. E) It causes inflowing air to deviate to the left, resulting in clockwise rotation.

A

How does the greenhouse effect work? A) Greenhouse gases absorb thermal radiation that is emitted by the surface. B) Greenhouse gases reflect thermal radiation that is emitted by the surface. C) Greenhouse gases reflect light that reflects off the surface back toward the surface. D) Greenhouse gases absorb light that reflects off the surface.

A

What heats the stratosphere? A) ultraviolet light B) X-rays C) thermal radiation (infrared light) D) convection from the troposphere E) A & B

A

Which of the following did not contribute to Venus's runaway greenhouse effect? A) Due to its slow rotation, its magnetic field failed to prevent heating of the atmosphere by the solar wind. B)High temperatures and the absence of water caused carbon dioxide to out gas from rocks and enter the atmosphere, leading to higher temperatures. C) Water evaporates leading to higher temperatures and more evaporation. D) Venus is closer to the Sun leading to higher temperatures.

A

How do computer models demonstrate that human activity is affecting the global climate? A) Models that include increases in greenhouse gas due to human activity match observed changes in Arctic sea ice. B) Models that include increases in greenhouse gases due to human activity match observed global temperature changes. C)Models of CO2 production by burning of fossil fuels match observed changes in CO2dissolved in the ocean. D) Models of CO2 production by burning of fossil fuels match the observed increases of atmospheric CO2.

B

How does the current level of atmospheric CO2 compare to historic levels? A) It is 30% higher than it has been anytime in the last 4 billion years. B) It is 30% higher than it has been anytime in the last million years. C) It is 30% higher than it has been anytime in the last 100 years. D) It is 30% higher than it has been anytime in the last 10,000 years.

B

Which lists planets in order of increasing atmospheric surface pressure? A) Mars, Venus, Earth B) Mars, Earth, Venus C) Earth, Venus, Mars D) Earth, Mars, Venus E) none of these

B

Which of the following increases atmospheric loss by thermal escape? A) increasing mass of the gas particles B) increasing the temperature of the atmosphere C) increasing the escape velocity of the planet D) all of these

B

Why does atmospheric pressure decrease with altitude? A) The molecules in the upper atmosphere are lighter. B) The weight of the atmosphere above decreases as altitude increases. C) The temperature of the atmosphere increases. D) The temperature of the atmosphere decreases

B

How do seasons on Mars differ from seasons on Earth? A) Seasons on Mars and Earth are about the same. B) They are more extreme because of Mars's greater axis tilt. C) They are more extreme because of Mars's larger orbital eccentricity. D) They are less extreme because of Mars's larger orbit. E) They are less extreme because of Mars's smaller axis tilt.

C

If all the ice in Mars's polar caps were melted, how deep an ocean would it make? A) about 1 m B) about 10 cm C) about 10 m D) about 100 m E) about 1 cm

C

What is the primary constituent of Venus's atmosphere? A) carbon monoxide (CO) B) water (H2O) C) carbon dioxide (CO2) D) oxygen (O2) E) nitrogen (N2)

C

What is the primary source of gas for thick terrestrial planet atmospheres? A) meteoroid impacts on the surface B) evaporation and sublimation from surface ices and liquids C) volcanic outgassing D) impacts on the surface by the solar wind

C

Where is most of Earth's carbon dioxide? A) in the oceans B) in the atmosphere C) in rocks D) in the rainforests

C

Which of the following is not a greenhouse gas? A) carbon dioxide (CO2) B) methane (CH4) C) ozone (O3) D) water vapor (H2O)

C

What happens to CO2 in the Earth's atmosphere during "snowball Earth" periods A) The amount of CO2 decreases because there is less volcanic activity during the cold "snowball Earth" periods. B) The amount of CO2 decreases because the cold temperatures cause CO2 to condense out into the ice. C) The amount of CO2 increases because of the large amount of CO2 present in the global ice sheets. D) The amount of CO2 increases because outgassed CO2 cannot be dissolved in the frozen oceans.

D

Which of the following is not a factor in producing long-term climate change? A) The abundance of greenhouse gas in the atmosphere changes. B) The brightness of the Sun slowly changes. C) The reflectivity of a planet may change. D) The distances of the planets from the Sun slowly change. E) The axis tilts of planets slowly change. Question

D

Why is the sky blue? A) The atmosphere is reflecting the blue- color of the oceans. B) Air molecules absorb red light and reflect blue light. C) Air molecules absorb all wavelengths of light and emit blue light. D) Air molecules scatter blue light more than they scatter red light.

D

What is the source of the exospheres of the Moon and Mercury? A) evaporation and sublimation from surface ices and liquids B) impacts on the surface by solar wind particles C) meteoroid impacts on the surface D) volcanic outgassing E) B & C

E

Why did Mars lose most of its atmosphere? A) Its atmosphere condensed onto the poles and froze into the soil because Mars is farther from the Sun B) It lost its atmosphere to space after losing its magnetic field. C) Its small size prevented it from holding on to its atmosphere. D) Its interior cooled so volcanic outgassing stopped. E) all of the above

E