Download PTYS/ASTR 206 – Section 2 - Lunar and Planetary Laboratory

PTYS/ASTR 206 – Section 2 – Spring 2007
Quiz #1: 3/22/07
Mark the appropriate answer in the appropriate place (i.e. in numbers 1-15) on the scantron
sheet. Use a number 2 pencil. Be sure to write your name and fill in the ovals, in the upper left.
#1. Which of the following is NOT a source of Earth’s own internal heat?
A) Radioactive decay of elements within the interior
B) Accretion of material during Earth’s formation
C) Chemical differentiation as heavy material sank to core during its formation
D) Incoming Solar radiation
#2. The process by which heavier materials sank into the centers of terrestrial planets while lighter
material rose to the surfaces early in the history of these planets is known as
A) seafloor spreading.
B) plate tectonics
C) chemical differentiation
D) subduction.
#3. What is the most dominate form of geological activity on planetary bodies in the solar system?
A) plate tectonics
B) volcanism
C) impact cratering
D) erosion
#4. The large amount of free oxygen in Earth’s present atmosphere is primarily a result of
A) splitting of CO2 into carbon and oxygen by solar ultraviolet light.
B) a biological process such as photosynthesis.
C) the outgassing by volcanoes and other geological processes.
D) CO2 becoming dissolved in the oceans, releasing O2.
#5. You’re investigating a new gas molecule that you have invented, but you would like to figure out
whether or not it is a greenhouse gas before you manufacture a lot of it and possibly contribute to global
warming. How would you determine if this gas you have invented is a greenhouse gas?
A) Investigate how this gas reacts with oxygen, argon, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide; the
principal components of our atmosphere
B) Investigate how this gas interacts with the ocean, since the ocean is nearly 70% of the Earth’s
surface
C) Investigate how this gas absorbs and interacts with different wavelengths of light
(electromagnetic radiation)
D) Investigate how this gas interacts with plants.
#6. What is the relationship between the mantle and the crust of Earth?
A) The crust sits motionless on top of the mantle and does not interact with it.
B) Convection in the mantle moves the continents around, but there is no transfer of material
from the mantle to the crust or vice-versa.
C) New crust is formed by magma rising from the mantle in some places, and old crust is
pushed back down into the mantle in other places.
D) New layers of crust are formed when magma from the mantle flows out over old crust and
old crust is pushed back down into the mantle by the weight of the magma on top of it.
#7. The region of the Sun’s interior where energy created in the core is transported via diffusion is called
A) The convection zone
B) The radiative zone
C) The chromosphere
D) The asthenosphere
Continued on the back!
#8. Which is the hottest part of the Sun’s atmosphere?
A) The photosphere
B) The chromosphere
C) The corona
D) The thermosphere
#9. Which recently discovered fact about the Sun might have some bearing on climate changes and the
overall weather on Earth?
A) The Sun has seismic activity similar earthquakes on Earth.
B) There are far fewer neutrinos emitted from the Sun than are predicted.
C) The Sun's surface is oscillating up and down every 5 minutes.
D) The Sun's overall energy output depends upon the 11-year sunspot cycle.
#10. Which of the following is NOT a consequence of a coronal mass ejection event from the Sun, if the
mass ejection is aimed toward the Earth?
A) disruption to radio transmission and electrical power systems on Earth
B) damage to and even destruction of satellite electronics and power systems
C) major health hazard for astronauts in orbit around Earth and particularly on the Moon
D) dramatic changes in weather patterns on Earth (increased temperatures, formation of tropical
depressions, etc.)
#11. Compared to the lunar maria, the lunar highlands are
A) more heavily cratered, younger
B) more heavily cratered, older
C) less heavily cratered, younger
D) less heavily cratered, older
#12. Mercury is unique among the terrestrial planets in having
A)
an iron core that takes up almost half its volume.
B)
extensive volcanic activity and crustal deformation over most of its history but no evidence
of plate tectonics.
C)
one hemisphere with many craters and few volcanoes, the other hemisphere with few
craters and many volcanoes.
D) no evidence of an iron core.
#13. In its orbit around Earth, the Moon
A) always keeps the sunlit side toward Earth.
B) does not rotate on its axis
C) always keeps the same side toward Earth.
D) rotates once every 24 hours to keep in step with Earth.
#14. What evidence do we have of volcanic activity on Venus?
A) none
B) We have only the evidence of lava flows, which suggests active volcanoes as
recently as 10 million years ago.
C) In addition to old lava flows we have measured variability of sulfur compounds
during the past half century. This suggests active volcanoes now.
D) One of the Venera landers photographed a volcano in the act of erupting.
#15. In what way is the atmosphere of Venus and Mars the same?
A) each has very little atmospheric turbulence and few clouds making these planets a
good spot to place a telescope
B) they each are composed mostly of CO2
C) while the temperature is considerably different, the pressure at the planet’s surface is
about the same
D) they each produce a very strong greenhouse effect