Chapter 7
Which of the following worlds has the thickest atmosphere? Earth Mars Venus the Moon Mercury
Venus
Approximately how deep is an impact crater compared to its width? 10-20% 50-100% 100-200% 30-40% 1-10%
10-20%
The total CO2 concentration of the atmosphere has increased by about ________ since 1750. Refer to the figure above. 2.5 % 25% 250% None. It has decreased
25%
The greenhouse effect makes Earth warmer than it would be otherwise by about 30 K. 15 K. -16 K. There is no greenhouse effect.
30 K
In what ways is Earth different from the other terrestrial planets? Life can be found almost everywhere on its surface. Most of its surface is covered with liquid water. Its lithosphere is broken into plates that move around. It has a much higher percentage of oxygen in its atmosphere. All of the above are true.
All of the above are true.
Which of the following statements about the greenhouse effect is true? One result of an increased greenhouse effect on Earth may be an increased number of severe storms. Without the naturally occurring greenhouse effect, Earth would be too cold to have liquid oceans. A weak greenhouse effect operates on Mars. The burning of fossil fuels increases the greenhouse effect on Earth because of the release of carbon dioxide. All of the above are true.
All of the above are true.
Which of the terrestrial worlds has the strongest magnetic field? Venus the Moon Mercury Mars Earth
Earth
Mars' atmosphere is mostly carbon dioxide. Why does it not experience a runaway greenhouse effect like Venus? Mars is protected by its magnetic field. Mars' atmosphere is too thin. Mars does not have enough additional water to magnify the warming.
Mars' atmosphere is too thin.
Under what circumstances can differentiation occur in a planet? The planet must have a molten interior. The planet must be geologically active, that is, have volcanoes, planetquakes, and erosion from weather. The planet must have an atmosphere. The planet must be made of both metal and rock. The planet must have a rocky surface.
The planet must have a molten interior.
Why do we think Mercury has so many tremendous cliffs? They probably formed when a series of large impacts hit Mercury. They were probably carved in Mercury's early history by running water. They were probably formed by convection occurring in Mercury's mantle. They are probably volcanic in origin, carved by flowing lava. They were probably formed by tectonic stresses when the entire planet shrank as its interior cooled.
They were probably formed by tectonic stresses when the entire planet shrank as its interior cooled.
What process initially caused the terrestrial planets to be hot enough to be entirely molten? radio activity convection accretion differentiation conduction
accretion
The two principal sources for the internal heating of terrestrial planets are accretion and radioactivity. convection and radioactivity. accretion and eruption. convection and accretion. radiation and convection.
accretion and radioactivity
What kind of surface features may result from tectonics? cliffs mountains volcanos valleys all of the above
all of the above
Why does Mars have more extreme seasons than Earth? because it has more carbon dioxide in its atmosphere because it is farther from the Sun because it has a more eccentric orbit because it has a much larger axial tilt all of the above
because it has a more eccentric orbit
What are the conditions necessary for a terrestrial planet to have a strong magnetic field? fast rotation only a molten metallic core only a rocky mantle only both a molten metallic core and reasonably fast rotation both a molten metallic core and a rocky mantle
both a molten metallic core and reasonably fast rotation
How have we been able to construct detailed maps of surface features on Venus? by studying Venus with powerful telescopes on spacecraft that were sent to orbit Venus by landing spacecraft on the surface for close-up study by making computer models of geological processes on Venus by using radar from spacecraft that were sent to orbit Venus by studying Venus from Earth with powerful telescopes
by using radar from spacecraft that were sent to orbit Venus
What drives the motion of the continental plates on Earth? Earth's magnetic field rotation of the liquid core convection cells in the mantle lava flows in trenches along the sea floor tidal forces
convection cells in the mantle
How is carbon dioxide initially removed from the atmosphere? dissolving carbon dioxide in water photosynthesis in plants formation of carbonate-rich rocks at the seafloor subduction
dissolving carbon dioxide in water
What is the most important factor that determines the thickness of a planet's lithosphere? composition pressure distance of planet from Sun internal temperature
internal temperature
Which of the following has virtually no effect on the internal structure of a planet? its composition its mass its size its magnetic field
its magnetic field
There are no auroras on Venus because it lacks strong winds. lacks a strong magnetic field. lacks atmospheric oxygen. is too hot.
lacks a strong magnetic field.
The footprints left on the moon by the Apollo astronauts will likely last for a few decades. millions of years. the remaining existence of the Moon. no time; they were quickly erased by micrometeorites.
millions of years.
Deep trenches in the ocean mark places where plates pull apart, leaving great rifts in the crust. hot mantle material rises upward and spreads sideways, pushing the plates apart. one plate slides under another, returning older crust to the mantle. plates slip sideways relative to one another. plates push together, creating ocean mountain chains.
one plate slides under another, returning older crust to the mantle.
Sunsets and sunrises often appear red because the cooler atmosphere in the morning and evening absorbs more blue light. the Sun emits more red light when it's rising and setting. sunlight must pass through more atmosphere, which scatters the longer wavelengths more than the shorter wavelengths, allowing more red light to reach your eye. sunlight must pass through more atmosphere, which scatters the shorter wavelengths more than the longer wavelengths, allowing more red light to reach your eye. none of the above
sunlight must pass through more atmosphere, which scatters the shorter wavelengths more than the longer wavelengths, allowing more red light to reach your eye.
What type of stresses broke Earth's lithosphere into plates? volcanism, which produced heavy volcanoes that bent and cracked the lithosphere impacts of asteroids and planetesimals internal temperature changes that caused the crust to expand and stretch the circulation of convection cells in the mantle, which dragged against the lithosphere cooling and contracting of the planet's interior, which caused the mantle and lithosphere to be compressed
the circulation of convection cells in the mantle, which dragged against the lithosphere
Which of the following best describes impact cratering? the excavation of bowl-shaped depressions by asteroids or comets striking a planet's surface the eruption of molten rock from a planet's interior to its surface the disruption of a planet's lithosphere by internal stresses the wearing down or building up of geological features by wind, water, ice, and other phenomena of planetary weather
the excavation of bowl-shaped depressions by asteroids or comets striking a planet's surface
Which of the following best describes erosion? the excavation of bowl-shaped depressions by asteroids or comets striking a planet's surface the eruption of molten rock from a planet's interior to its surface the disruption of a planet's lithosphere by internal stresses the wearing down or building up of geological features by wind, water, ice, and other phenomena of planetary weather
the wearing down or building up of geological features by wind, water, ice, and other phenomena of planetary weather
Suppose Earth's atmosphere had no greenhouse gases. This would cause Earth's average surface temperature to be the same temperature as it is now. at the boiling point of water. at the freezing point of water. well below the freezing point of water. slightly warmer than it is now.
well below the freezing point of water