Download ASTR1010_Exam3_Sp14

1
NAME________________________________________________________________________________________
ASTR 1010 – THIRD EXAM
Monday, April 21, 2014
Professor Loris Magnani
There are 25 questions on this exam. Write your answer right on this exam either
by circling one of the 5 choices or writing the letter corresponding to your choice
next to the question. If you circle more than one answer, make sure you make clear
to me which answer is your actual choice, because if I have any doubts, I will just
mark the question as being wrong. Each correct answer is worth 4 points for a total
of 100 points. There is only one best answer to each question. There is a sheet at
the end of this exam with formulas and constants that you may need. You may use a
calculator. GOOD LUCK!
1. The Earth’s current atmosphere is composed primarily of
a) nitrogen
b) oxygen
c) carbon dioxide
d) water vapor
e) hydrogen
2. In addition to volcanic and tectonic outgassing, what other mechanism
produced the secondary atmospheres of the terrestrial planets?
a) the solar wind
b) the Sun’s magnetic field
c) the planet’s magnetic field
d) cometary impacts
e) gravitational resonances
3.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
What is the density of the Earth?
2750 kg/m3
3910 kg/m3
4390 kg/m3
5510 kg/m3
6880 kg/m3
4.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
What is the heating mechanism for the stratosphere?
terrestrial infrared radiation
optical light from the Sun
x-rays from the Sun
solar wind particles
ultraviolet radiation from the Sun
2
5. Jupiter’s composition most nearly resembles which of the following
objects?
a) the Sun
b) Venus
c) the Earth
d) a comet
e) an asteroid
6. What are the characteristics of the jovian planets in contrast to those of
the terrestrial planets?
a) large sizes, high density, rings, many satellites
b) small sizes, low density, many satellites
c) large sizes, low density, rings, many satellites
d) small sizes, high density, many satellites
e) large sizes, low density, cryovolcanoes
7. In a magnetic field, fast-moving charged particles produce a type of
radiation know as
a) thermal radiation
b) Compton scattering
c) magnetic resonance radiation
d) Kelvin-Helmholtz radiation
e) synchrotron radiation
8.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
What is the source of color in Jupiter’s atmosphere?
methane
different compounds forming icy layers at different heights
heat from the planet’s interior
different isotopes of oxygen
carbon dioxide
9.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
Mars’ atmosphere is currently composed primarily of
oxygen.
nitrogen.
argon.
carbon dioxide.
carbon monoxide.
10. What is the gas in the Earth’s stratosphere that absorbs ultraviolet
radiation?
a) oxygen
b) water vapor
c) deuterium
3
d) methane
e) ozone
11. The Earth’s naturally occurring greenhouse effect raises the Earth’s
temperature by about
a) 3 degrees
b) 12 degrees
c) 23 degrees
d) 35 degrees
e) 58 degrees
12.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
The primary atmospheres of the terrestrial planets were composed of
hydrogen and helium
water vapor and carbon dioxide
methane and nitrogen
carbon dioxide and water vapor
carbon dioxide and nitrogen
13. Order the following from lowest atmospheric pressure to highest
atmospheric pressure at the surface:
a) Earth, Venus, Mars
b) Mars, Venus, Earth
c) Venus, Earth, Mars
d) Earth, Mars, Venus
e) Mars, Earth, Venus
14. The equilibrium temperature for Jupiter should be 109 K, but instead we
find an average temperature of 124 K. How much more energy is Jupiter
radiating into space than it absorbs from the Sun?
a) 9% more
b) 24% more
c) 67% more
d) 88% more
e) 109% more
15. Why is Jupiter’s atmosphere more colorful than that of Saturn?
a) The composition of Jupiter is substantially different from that of Saturn.
b) Jupiter’s larger gravity compresses the various layers of its atmosphere
so that we can see the layers before the atmosphere becomes opaque.
c) Saturn’s faster rotation forces the colorful layers deeper into its
atmosphere.
d) The magnetosphere of Jupiter produces stronger auroras which, in turn,
produce a more colorful atmosphere.
e) Jupiter’s faster rotation dredges up more colorful compounds from its
interior.
4
16.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
The magnetic field of Jupiter is produced by its interior layer of
liquid molecular hydrogen
liquid ammonia and methane
iron-nickel
metallic hydrogen
anhydrous ammonia
17.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
The marked oblateness of the giant planets is produced by
their large magnetospheres
the angular momentum from their ring systems
their rapid rotation
the angular momentum from their satellites
all of the above
18.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
What is the most common element on Jupiter and Saturn?
hydrogen
helium
nitrogen
oxygen
carbon
19. If Earth’s atmospheric pressure at sea-level is 1 bar, approximately what
is the surface atmospheric pressure on Mars?
a) 0.001 bar
b) 0.01 bar
c) 0.1 bar
d) 1 bar
e) 10 bar
20. If you start with 16 kg of a radioactive element with a half-life of a million
years. After 4 million years, how much of the original radioactive element
do you have left?
a) 8 kg
b) 4 kg
c) 2 kg
d) 1 kg
e) 0.5 kg
21. What is the single most important characteristic that determines what a
planet’s surface is like?
a) distance from the Sun
b) rotation period about its axis
c) the presence of a metal core
d) size
e) No soap….Radio!
5
22. How deep underwater must you go for the pressure to be approximately
the same as on the surface of Venus? Assume an increase of 1 bar every 10
meters.
a) 10 meters
b) 100 meters
c) 1 kilometer
d) 10 kilometers
e) 100 kilometers
23. Why does Mercury have such a large metal core in proportion to the total
size of the planet?
a) Mercury suffered a giant impact that ejected its outer layer.
b) Mercury is close enough to the Sun that only a small mantle could have
formed.
c) Mercury’s core is hollow, so it is not as big as it seems.
d) Mercury’s plate tectonics produced a larger core than usual.
e) Mercury’s volcanic activity caused it to lose most of its mantle.
24. We know that running water must have once been present on the surface
of Mars. What does that say about the atmosphere of the planet at that
time?
a) It must have been thinner back then.
b) It must have been composed primarily of nitrogen.
c) It must have been composed primarily of hydrogen and helium.
d) It must have been thicker back then.
e) It must have been much colder back then
25. What produces the blue color in the atmospheres of Uranus and Neptune?
a) carbon monoxide
b) carbon dioxide
c) methane
d) ammonia
e) sulfur