Question 1

The reason that the Moon takes on a crescent shape each month has to do with the

Accepted Answer

A)  Earth's shadow.
B)  Sun's position.
C)  both of these
D)  neither of theseE) None of the above
F) C) and D)

Question 2

What constitutes over half of Jupiter's volume?

Accepted Answer

A)  Oceans of liquid hydrogen
B)  Oceans of liquid methane
C)  Its rocky solid core
D)  The massive Mons Majora RangeE) B) and D)
F) A) and C)

Question 3

Where did Saturn's rings likely come from?

Accepted Answer

A)  Either a moon that never formed, or a moon destroyed by tidal forces
B)  The decay of radioactive particles in the outer fringes of Saturn's upper atmosphere
C)  Volcanic activity on its surface ejecting matter into space
D)  The gravitational capture of micro-asteroidsE) None of the above
F) B) and D)

Question 4

Distinguish between a solar eclipse and a lunar eclipse, and the reasons for each.

Accepted Answer

Eclipses occur with alignment of the Sun...

Question 5

Why do the tails of comets point away from the Sun?

Accepted Answer

The gases ejected by a comet are pushed ...

Question 6

Why should one not stare at the Sun during a partial eclipse?

Accepted Answer

A)  Because, whether there is an eclipse or not, the Sun's intense radiation can easily damage our eyes.
B)  Because the eclipse event itself creates a lensing effect, which greatly magnifies and intensifies the Suns rays.
C)  Because Sunspots, which are excited by the eclipse event, can easily erupt during the eclipse.
D)  Because Ultraviolet radiation is intensified during the event.
E)  Because coronas and corneas are always a bad mix.F) B) and E)
G) A) and E)

Question 7

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 8

Why is the Kuiper belt considered to be a zone of failed planet formation?

Accepted Answer

A)  The dwarf planets found therein have yet to fully accrete all of the material in their orbital paths.
B)  There is simply not enough material within the dwarf planet's orbital paths for any of them to ever add up to full planetary status.
C)  Because none of the dwarf planets are massive enough to maintain an atmosphere.
D)  Both A and B are reasonable.E) A) and C)
F) A) and B)

Question 9

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) A) and B)
G) B) and E)

Question 10

The predominant gas in the atmosphere of Mars is

Accepted Answer

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

Question 11

Most meteors seen as shooting stars are about the size of

Accepted Answer

A)  grains of sand.
B)  baseballs.
C)  small buildings.
D)  very large buildings.
E)  small continents.F) B) and D)
G) A) and C)

Question 12

Distinguish between a star and a planet. Which glows, or do they both glow?

Accepted Answer

A star is a luminous astronomical body f...

Question 13

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) C) and D)
F) All of the above

Question 14

Which explanation best describes why Earth observers always see the same face of the moon?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Moon's rate of spin matches the rate at which the Moon revolves around Earth.
B)  The Moon does not rotate as it circles Earth.
C)  We tend only to observe the Moon at night, not during the day.
D)  Earth and Moon are partially gravity locked.E) B) and C)
F) C) and D)

Question 15

For what reason was Pluto demoted from full planetary status in 2006?

Accepted Answer

A)  Because of objects as large or larger than Pluto in the Kuiper belt
B)  Because Pluto resides outside of the zone that can truly be described as the solar system
C)  Because Pluto was discovered to be a twin planet system
D)  Because according to the standard definition, no planet can be smaller than the Earth's moonE) C) and D)
F) All of the above

Question 16

Saturn's rings are composed of?

Accepted Answer

A)  chunks of ice and rock.
B)  methane gas.
C)  hydrogen.
D)  old satellites and other space junk lost from Earth's orbit and other space missions.E) C) and D)
F) B) and D)

Question 17

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 18

Why is Mars' greenhouse effect negligible compared to that of Earth's?

Accepted Answer

A)  Its mass is only one-ninth of Earth's.
B)  Greenhouse gas emissions were greatly curtailed according to the International Mars Greenhouse Gas Reduction Treaty of 2003.
C)  The Martian atmosphere is much thinner and retains little heat.
D)  Martian carbon dioxide contains a rare isotope with little ability to trap heat.E) A) and B)
F) All of the above

Question 19

Temperature differences between nighttime and daytime on Earth are relatively small due to

Accepted Answer

A)  polar regions absorbing most solar energy.
B)  Earth being 70% water.
C)  Earth's relatively high daily spin rate and shortness of nighttime.
D)  seasonal fluctuations and Earths magnetic field.E) C) and D)
F) A) and B)

Question 20

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 C)

Exam 26: The Solar System

Why should one not stare at the Sun during a partial eclipse?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The predominant gas in the atmosphere of Mars is

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Temperature differences between nighttime and daytime on Earth are relatively small due to

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

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What constitutes over half of Jupiter's volume?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which explanation best describes why Earth observers always see the same face of the moon?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Distinguish between a star and a planet. Which glows, or do they both glow?

Correct AnswerverifiedA star is a luminous astronomical body f...View AnswerShow Answer

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

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

For what reason was Pluto demoted from full planetary status in 2006?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Most meteors seen as shooting stars are about the size of

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Why is Mars' greenhouse effect negligible compared to that of Earth's?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Distinguish between a solar eclipse and a lunar eclipse, and the reasons for each.

Correct AnswerverifiedEclipses occur with alignment of the Sun...View AnswerShow Answer

Why is the Kuiper belt considered to be a zone of failed planet formation?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The reason that the Moon takes on a crescent shape each month has to do with the

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

No greenhouse effect occurs on Mercury because of no

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Saturn's rings are composed of?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Why do the tails of comets point away from the Sun?

Correct AnswerverifiedThe gases ejected by a comet are pushed ...View AnswerShow 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

Where did Saturn's rings likely come from?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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The Moon does indeed spin about its axis...
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A star is a luminous astronomical body f...
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Correct Answer
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Eclipses occur with alignment of the Sun...
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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The gases ejected by a comet are pushed ...
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Correct Answer
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