Question 1

The predominant gas in the atmosphere of Mars is

Accepted Answer

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

Question 2

The gravity lock of the Moon to Earth is similar to the action of a

Accepted Answer

A)  tidal wave.
B)  giant pendulum.
C)  master key.
D)  magnetic compass.
E)  spinning top.F) C) and D)
G) B) and C)

Question 3

Distinguish between an asteroid,a meteoroid,and a comet.

Accepted Answer

An asteroid is a small,rocky,planetlike ...

Question 4

A cloud of interstellar gas is held together by

Accepted Answer

A)  the gravitational force.
B)  infrared radiation.
C)  electromagnetism.
D)  All of the above.E) B) and C)
F) A) and C)

Question 5

To scale,if Earth were the size of a basketball,then the Moon would be about

Accepted Answer

A)  5 feet away.
B)  10 feet away.
C)  20 feet away.
D)  80 feet away.E) A) and D)
F) None of the above

Question 6

What travels up and down the Sun's magnetic loops extending from the surface?

Accepted Answer

A)  helium atoms
B)  plasma
C)  hyrogen atoms
D)  a blend of helium and hydrogen atomsE) B) and C)
F) All of the above

Question 7

What is the cause of Jupiter's slight flattening,which results in an equatorial diameter 6% greater than its polar diameter?

Accepted Answer

A)  its rapid spin cycle
B)  its massive gravitational pull
C)  nuclear fission within its core
D)  its frequent reversal of its magnetic polesE) None of the above
F) A) and C)

Question 8

During the peak of a total annular eclipse,the image of the Sun cast onto some white paper is

Accepted Answer

A)  a circle.
B)  a crescent.
C)  a large white spot.
D)  not going to be seen.E) All of the above
F) A) and C)

Question 9

The Sun

Accepted Answer

A)  rotates in the same direction as the planets revolve.
B)  rotates in the opposite direction as the planets revolve.
C)  does not rotate relative to the planets.
D)  takes longer to rotate than for the planets to revolve.E) A) and B)
F) None of the above

Question 10

The ecliptic

Accepted Answer

A)  occurs during a solar or lunar eclipse.
B)  is the average distance between the Sun and Earth.
C)  is the plane of Earth's orbit.
D)  refers to the gases from which our solar system formed.E) A) and C)
F) None of the above

Question 11

What is the cause of Jupiter's extremely high-energy radiation belts?

Accepted Answer

A)  an enormous magnetic field that captures high energy particles
B)  the capture of a high number of metallic asteroids
C)  tidal forces due to the interaction between Jupiter and its moons
D)  the remnants of a massive collision between Jupiter and another large bodyE) A) and B)
F) A) and C)

Question 12

Venus and Earth started out with roughly the same amount of water.While Earth still has water in abundance,all of Venus' was lost.Where did it go?

Accepted Answer

A)  It chemically combined with CO2 to form H2CO3.
B)  Ultraviolet rays split the hydrogen from the oxygen components,and the hydrogen escaped into space.
C)  It all evaporated into space due to the intense daytime heat of 470°C.
D)  Scientists are still trying to determine this.E) A) and B)
F) None of the above

Question 13

Like Jupiter and Saturn,Neptune emits about 2.5 times as much heat energy as it receives from the Sun,although calculations show it should have already lost all of its original heat.What is the most likely explanation?

Accepted Answer

A)  Unlike Uranus,it is still contracting.
B)  Radioactive decay has kicked into overdrive,with runaway reactions taking place.
C)  The basis for these calculations is currently being questioned by a new generation of scientists.
D)  There are gravitational anomalies taking place,which may hold some clue as to where the heat may be coming from.
E)  Uranus' gravity is creating a "slingshot" effect,catapulting solar winds into Neptune's atmosphere in the form of as of yet undetected radiation.F) A) and B)
G) C) and D)

Question 14

No greenhouse effect occurs on Mercury because of no

Accepted Answer

A)  daily spin.
B)  atmosphere.
C)  relatively cool regions.
D)  plant life.
E)  terrestrial radiation.F) B) and D)
G) B) and C)

Question 15

The percentage of the Earth's surface covered by ocean is about

Accepted Answer

A)  50%.
B)  60%.
C)  70%.
D)  80%.
E)  85%.F) B) and E)
G) C) and D)

Question 16

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 17

Why do comet's tails always point away from the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A)  because of solar wind
B)  because the inner planets cause the ice and other volatile materials to be pulled towards their orbits
C)  because of the comet's interaction with dark matter
D)  because when they move away from the Sun they begin to lose inertiaE) B) and C)
F) A) and B)

Question 18

The Trojans,Greeks,and Hildas are in orbit around

Accepted Answer

A)  the Sun.
B)  Jupiter.
C)  Saturn.
D)  Uranus.E) A) and B)
F) None of the above

Question 19

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) A) and B)
F) None of the above

Question 20

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)

Exam 26: The Solar System

What is the cause of Jupiter's extremely high-energy radiation belts?

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

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A cloud of interstellar gas is held together by

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The Sun

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

To scale,if Earth were the size of a basketball,then the Moon would be about

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Distinguish between an asteroid,a meteoroid,and a comet.

Correct AnswerverifiedAn asteroid is a small,rocky,planetlike ...View AnswerShow Answer

The percentage of the Earth's surface covered by ocean is about

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The predominant gas in the atmosphere of Mars is

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

During the peak of a total annular eclipse,the image of the Sun cast onto some white paper is

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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 Trojans,Greeks,and Hildas are in orbit around

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What travels up and down the Sun's magnetic loops extending from the surface?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What is the cause of Jupiter's slight flattening,which results in an equatorial diameter 6% greater than its polar diameter?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Venus and Earth started out with roughly the same amount of water.While Earth still has water in abundance,all of Venus' was lost.Where did it go?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The ecliptic

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Like Jupiter and Saturn,Neptune emits about 2.5 times as much heat energy as it receives from the Sun,although calculations show it should have already lost all of its original heat.What is the most likely explanation?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The gravity lock of the Moon to Earth is similar to the action of a

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

No greenhouse effect occurs on Mercury because of no

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The predominant gas in the atmosphere of Earth is

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Why do comet's tails always point away from the Sun?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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An asteroid is a small,rocky,planetlike ...
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The Moon does indeed spin about its axis...
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