Question 1

Suppose we use a baseball to represent Earth.On this scale,the other terrestrial worlds (Mercury,Venus,the Moon,and Mars) would range in size approximately from that of

Accepted Answer

A)  a dust speck to a golf ball.
B)  a golf ball to a baseball.
C)  a dust speck to a basketball.
D)  a golf ball to a beach ball.E) A) and D)
F) All of the above

Question 2

Which of the following is the underlying reason why Venus has so little wind erosion?

Accepted Answer

A)  its small size
B)  its thick atmosphere
C)  its slow rotation
D)  its relatively close distance to the SunE) A) and D)
F) All of the above

Question 3

Which of the following describes tectonics?

Accepted Answer

A)  the excavation of bowl-shaped depressions by asteroids or comets striking a planet's surface
B)  the eruption of molten rock from a planet's interior to its surface
C)  the disruption of a planet's surface by internal stresses
D)  the wearing down or building up of geological features by wind,water,ice,and other phenomena of planetary weatherE) None of the above
F) A) and D)

Question 4

The relatively few craters that we see within the lunar maria

Accepted Answer

A)  were formed by impacts that occurred before those that formed most of the craters in the lunar highlands.
B)  were formed by impacts that occurred after those that formed most of the craters in the lunar highlands.
C)  were created by the same large impactor that led to the formation of the maria.
D)  are volcanic in origin,rather than from impacts.
E)  are sinkholes that formed when sections of the maria collapsed.F) C) and D)
G) B) and E)

Question 5

Which of the following is not evidence for plate tectonics on Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  some continental boundaries fit together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle
B)  similar rocks and fossils are found in different continents
C)  high ocean ridges between the continents
D)  existence of volcanoes
E)  earthquakesF) B) and E)
G) A) and B)

Question 6

All the following statements about Venus are true.Which one offers evidence of a global repaving about a billion years ago?

Accepted Answer

A)  Venus has relatively few impact craters and these craters are distributed fairly evenly over the entire planet.
B)  Venus has many circular features,called coronae,which appear to be tectonic in origin.
C)  Venus's largest features are three elevated regions that look somewhat like continents.
D)  Venus appears to lack any water that could lubricate the flow of rock in its crust and mantle.E) A) and B)
F) A) and C)

Question 7

The lithosphere of a planet is the layer that consists of

Accepted Answer

A)  material above the crust.
B)  material between the crust and the mantle.
C)  the rigid rocky material of the crust and uppermost portion of the mantle.
D)  the softer rocky material of the mantle.
E)  the lava that comes out of volcanoes.F) A) and B)
G) A) and C)

Question 8

What is the importance of "blueberries" found on Mars?

Accepted Answer

These tiny spheres are composed of miner...

Question 9

Which two properties are most important in determining the surface temperature of a planet?

Accepted Answer

A)  composition and distance from the Sun
B)  size and chemical composition
C)  size and atmosphere
D)  internal temperature and atmosphere
E)  distance from the Sun and atmosphereF) A) and C)
G) A) and B)

Question 10

When we say that a liquid has a high viscosity,we mean that it

Accepted Answer

A)  is runny like water.
B)  flows slowly like honey.
C)  is very dark in color.
D)  is very light in color.
E)  conducts electricity.F) A) and B)
G) A) and C)

Question 11

Why is Earth's continental crust lower in density than seafloor crust?

Accepted Answer

A)  Continental crust is made from a low-density volcanic rock called basalt.
B)  Continental crust comes from volcanoes while seafloor crust comes from geysers.
C)  Continental crust is made as the lowest-density seafloor crust melts and erupts to the surface near subduction zones.
D)  Continental crust comes from Earth's inner core while seafloor crust comes from the outer core.E) C) and D)
F) A) and D)

Question 12

What do we mean when we say that the terrestrial worlds underwent differentiation?

Accepted Answer

A)  When their interiors were molten,denser materials sank toward their centers and lighter materials rose toward their surfaces.
B)  The five terrestrial worlds all started similarly but ended up looking quite different.
C)  Their surfaces show a variety of different geological features resulting from different geological processes.
D)  They lost interior heat to outer space.E) A) and D)
F) B) and C)

Question 13

What is the main visual difference between the lunar highlands and the lunar maria? What are the implications of this observation?

Accepted Answer

The lunar highlands are very heavily cra...

Question 14

When we see a region of a planet that is not as heavily cratered as other regions,we conclude that

Accepted Answer

A)  there is little volcanic activity to create craters.
B)  the planet is rotating very slowly and only one side was hit by impactors.
C)  the planet formed after the age of bombardment and missed out on getting hit by leftover planetesimals.
D)  the surface in the region is older than the surface in more heavily cratered regions.
E)  the surface in the region is younger than the surface in more heavily cratered regions.F) B) and D)
G) A) and C)

Question 15

The choices below describe four hypothetical planets.Which one would you expect to have the hottest interior? (Assume the planets orbit a star just like the Sun and that they are all the same age as the planets in our solar system. )

Accepted Answer

A)  Size: same as the Moon.Distance from Sun: same as Mars.Rotation rate: once every 10 days.
B)  Size: twice as big as Earth.Distance from Sun: same as Mercury.Rotation rate: once every 6 months.
C)  Size: same as Mars.Distance from Sun: same as Earth.Rotation rate: once every 18 hours.
D)  Size: same as Venus.Distance from Sun: same as Mars.Rotation rate: once every 25 hours.E) None of the above
F) B) and C)

Question 16

How do the size and chemical composition of a planet determine its internal temperature?

Accepted Answer

Size is the most important factor in det...

Question 17

You discover an impact crater that is 10 kilometers across.Which of the following can you conclude?

Accepted Answer

A)  It was created by the impact of an object about 10 kilometers across.
B)  It was created within the past 10 million years.
C)  It was created within the past 1 billion years.
D)  It was created by the impact of an object about 1 kilometer across.E) All of the above
F) A) and D)

Question 18

Why do we think Mercury contracted within about a billion years after it formed?

Accepted Answer

The surface of Mercury is marked by long...

Question 19

How long,approximately,do geologists estimate it takes for the entire seafloor to be replaced due to plate tectonics?

Accepted Answer

A)  2 million years
B)  20 million years
C)  200 million years
D)  2 billion years
E)  longer than the age of the solar systemF) C) and D)
G) B) and E)

Question 20

The processes responsible for virtually all surface geology are

Accepted Answer

A)  convection,conduction,and radiation.
B)  impact cratering,volcanisms,tectonics,and erosion.
C)  accretion,differentiation,and radioactive decay.
D)  eruptions,lava flows,and outgassing.E) A) and D)
F) A) and C)

Exam 9: Planetary Geology: Earth and the Other Terrestrial Worlds

Which of the following describes tectonics?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

How do the size and chemical composition of a planet determine its internal temperature?

Correct AnswerverifiedSize is the most important factor in det...View AnswerShow Answer

The lithosphere of a planet is the layer that consists of

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

How long,approximately,do geologists estimate it takes for the entire seafloor to be replaced due to plate tectonics?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Why is Earth's continental crust lower in density than seafloor crust?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What is the importance of "blueberries" found on Mars?

Correct AnswerverifiedThese tiny spheres are composed of miner...View AnswerShow Answer

The processes responsible for virtually all surface geology are

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

You discover an impact crater that is 10 kilometers across.Which of the following can you conclude?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The choices below describe four hypothetical planets.Which one would you expect to have the hottest interior? (Assume the planets orbit a star just like the Sun and that they are all the same age as the planets in our solar system. )

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which two properties are most important in determining the surface temperature of a planet?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What is the main visual difference between the lunar highlands and the lunar maria? What are the implications of this observation?

Correct AnswerverifiedThe lunar highlands are very heavily cra...View AnswerShow Answer

When we see a region of a planet that is not as heavily cratered as other regions,we conclude that

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

When we say that a liquid has a high viscosity,we mean that it

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Suppose we use a baseball to represent Earth.On this scale,the other terrestrial worlds (Mercury,Venus,the Moon,and Mars) would range in size approximately from that of

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The relatively few craters that we see within the lunar maria

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following is the underlying reason why Venus has so little wind erosion?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What do we mean when we say that the terrestrial worlds underwent differentiation?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Why do we think Mercury contracted within about a billion years after it formed?

Correct AnswerverifiedThe surface of Mercury is marked by long...View AnswerShow Answer

All the following statements about Venus are true.Which one offers evidence of a global repaving about a billion years ago?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following is not evidence for plate tectonics on Earth?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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Size is the most important factor in det...
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These tiny spheres are composed of miner...
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Correct Answer
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The lunar highlands are very heavily cra...
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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The surface of Mercury is marked by long...
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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