Question 1

How long does it take for Earth to revolve around the sun?

Accepted Answer

A)  one day
B)  one week
C)  one month
D)  one yearE) B) and D)
F) C) and D)

Question 2

When the alignment of the Sun, the Moon, and Earth produce a lunar eclipse, the body that is in between the other two is the

Accepted Answer

A)  Sun.
B)  Moon.
C)  Earth.D) All of the above
E) A) and B)

Question 3

Consider a huge rotating cloud of particles in space that gravitate together to form an increasingly dense ball. As the cloud shrinks in size, it

Accepted Answer

A)  rotates slower.
B)  rotates faster.
C)  rotates at the same rate.D) All of the above
E) A) and B)

Question 4

In a museum collection you can likely see a

Accepted Answer

A)  meteoroid but not a meteorite.
B)  meteor but not a meteoroid.
C)  meteorite but not a meteoroid.D) A) and B)
E) A) and C)

Question 5

Nebular theory pertains to the formation of

Accepted Answer

A)  the solar system.
B)  a galaxy.
C)  the asteroid belt.
D)  the Earth.E) A) and B)
F) A) and C)

Question 6

The predominant gas in the atmosphere of Earth is

Accepted Answer

A)  oxygen.
B)  nitrogen.
C)  water vapor.
D)  carbon dioxide.
E)  methane.F) A) and B)
G) A) and C)

Question 7

The parts of Saturn's rings with the greatest rotational speed are the

Accepted Answer

A)  inner parts.
B)  outer parts.
C)  Neither, for all parts of Saturn's rings rotate equally.D) None of the above
E) All of the above

Question 8

Only one side of the Moon faces Earth. Is this because the Moon spins about its axis, or doesn't spin about its axis? Defend your answer.

Accepted Answer

The Moon does indeed spin about its axis...

Question 9

Describe two kinds of regularities exhibited by the solar system that the Nebular Theory accounts for.

Accepted Answer

One of the major regularities in the sol...

Question 10

Pretend you are on a morning time mission on the surface of Venus. When looking out the spacepod window you are likely to see

Accepted Answer

A)  the Sun rising in the West.
B)  the Sun rising in the East.
C)  fierce windstorms everywhere you look.
D)  thick, smog-like cloudcover.E) None of the above
F) B) and D)

Question 11

What element do astrobiologists consider to be the most essential for the evolution of life?

Accepted Answer

A)  carbon
B)  silicon
C)  oxygen
D)  hydrogenE) None of the above
F) C) and D)

Question 12

The carbon dioxide cycle is important to Earth because it

Accepted Answer

A)  helps sustain the planet's plant base.
B)  has been recognized by the Nobel Prize award committee.
C)  and the oceans are critical in moderating and regulating the Earth's temperatures.
D)  prevents the gradual buildup of oxygen, which would eventually lead to a combustible atmosphere.E) A) and B)
F) A) and C)

Question 13

The predominant gas in the atmosphere of Venus is

Accepted Answer

A)  oxygen.
B)  nitrogen.
C)  water vapor.
D)  carbon dioxide.
E)  methane.F) D) and E)
G) A) and D)

Question 14

The materials that compose most of Titan are completely different than those that compose Earth. Therefore, what were scientist surprised to see from space-probe images in a 2005 landing?

Accepted Answer

A)  some indications that an ancient civilization may have inhabited Titan approximately 500,000 years ago
B)  a landscape similar to Earth's
C)  an utterly alien landscape, unlike anything seen on Earth
D)  the image of Martha StewartE) C) and D)
F) All of the above

Question 15

The reason we don't have eclipses monthly is because of the

Accepted Answer

A)  relatively close distance of the Moon and Earth.
B)  relatively long distance to the Sun.
C)  tapering of the Sun's rays.
D)  different orbital planes for Earth and the Moon.
E)  23° tilt of the Earth's axis.F) D) and E)
G) C) and E)

Question 16

With daytime temperatures that can reach 430°C, why is nighttime on Mercury so cold?

Accepted Answer

A)  Because the year is so short, there isn't enough time for the heat to build up in the equatorial regions.
B)  With very little atmosphere, heat is quickly lost back into space.
C)  The weak gravitational field doesn't retain the daytime's heat.
D)  The solar winds quickly dissipate all heat on the planet's dark side.E) All of the above
F) C) and D)

Question 17

The fact that one side of the Moon always faces Earth is evidence that while revolving about the Earth, it

Accepted Answer

A)  does not rotate about its axis.
B)  rotates about its axis.C) A) and B)
D) undefined

Question 18

When the Moon assumes its characteristic thin crescent shape, the position of the Sun is

Accepted Answer

A)  almost directly behind the Earth, so Earth is between the Sun and the Moon.
B)  almost directly in back of the Moon.
C)  at right angles to the line between the Moon and Earth.D) B) and C)
E) None of the above

Question 19

What is the likely source of methane in Mars atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

A)  Mars landings of exploration vehicles such as Spirit
B)  ongoing volcanic activity
C)  the decomposition of the residue deposits left from Mars oceans
D)  the absorption of Phobos' (Mars' larger, inner moon) methane atmosphere through gravitationE) A) and D)
F) A) and C)

Question 20

In what region of Mars is microscopic life most likely to exist?

Accepted Answer

A)  at the poles, where ice caps may harbor microorganisms
B)  at the equator, where temperatures are most moderate
C)  deep within the planet's core
D)  beneath the planet's surface, where melting water may poolE) B) and C)
F) A) and B)

Exam 28: The Solar System

Pretend you are on a morning time mission on the surface of Venus. When looking out the spacepod window you are likely to see

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When the Moon assumes its characteristic thin crescent shape, the position of the Sun is

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The fact that one side of the Moon always faces Earth is evidence that while revolving about the Earth, it

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Only one side of the Moon faces Earth. Is this because the Moon spins about its axis, or doesn't spin about its axis? Defend your answer.

Correct AnswerverifiedThe Moon does indeed spin about its axis...View AnswerShow Answer

The reason we don't have eclipses monthly is because of the

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The predominant gas in the atmosphere of Venus is

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With daytime temperatures that can reach 430°C, why is nighttime on Mercury so cold?

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The predominant gas in the atmosphere of Earth is

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The carbon dioxide cycle is important to Earth because it

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What is the likely source of methane in Mars atmosphere?

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In a museum collection you can likely see a

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The parts of Saturn's rings with the greatest rotational speed are the

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When the alignment of the Sun, the Moon, and Earth produce a lunar eclipse, the body that is in between the other two is the

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Nebular theory pertains to the formation of

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Describe two kinds of regularities exhibited by the solar system that the Nebular Theory accounts for.

Correct AnswerverifiedOne of the major regularities in the sol...View AnswerShow Answer

The materials that compose most of Titan are completely different than those that compose Earth. Therefore, what were scientist surprised to see from space-probe images in a 2005 landing?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Consider a huge rotating cloud of particles in space that gravitate together to form an increasingly dense ball. As the cloud shrinks in size, it

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

How long does it take for Earth to revolve around the sun?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In what region of Mars is microscopic life most likely to exist?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What element do astrobiologists consider to be the most essential for the evolution of life?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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The Moon does indeed spin about its axis...
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One of the major regularities in the sol...
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