Question 1

What are some observed variations between different planets in the Solar System?

Accepted Answer

A)   every planet contains some amount of ice
B)   each planet has a thick atmosphere
C)   impact craters are the dominant feature on some planets and moons
D)   the Earth is the only planet that shows evidence of tectonics
E)   the Earth is the only planet that shows features carved by running water

Question 2

These craters on the moon formed when:

Accepted Answer

A)   meteoroids and other objects impacted on the surface
B)   caves formed in a widespread limestone layer collapsed
C)   when numerous volcanoes erupted at nearly the same time
D)   groundwater dissolved an underground layer of salt

Question 3

What is the dominant character of the four outer planets?

Accepted Answer

A)   all are blue-green
B)   they are large and gas rich
C)   all are cold and icy world
D)   they lack associated moons
E)   each has a form of plate tectonics

Question 4

This planet has bedrock, reddish dust, and ice caps. What planetary body is it?

Accepted Answer

A)   Mars
B)   Venus
C)   Earth's moon
D)   Mercury
E)   Neptune

Question 5

Earth is very different from its neighbors because it:

Accepted Answer

A)   contains water
B)   can support life
C)   generates heat
D)   it tectonically active
E)   all of these

Question 6

Why do comets have a tail?

Accepted Answer

A)   they are balls of fire and the tail are flames that trail behind the comet
B)   they are balls of fire and the tail is smoke trailing from the burning comet
C)   solar wind strips off gas and dust, forming a tail pointing away from the Sun
D)   comets do not have a tail, but most dogs do

Question 7

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of Jupiter?

Accepted Answer

A)   it is farther from the Sun than Mars
B)   it is the largest planet in the Solar System
C)   the atmosphere is nitrogen and oxygen, like the atmosphere of the Earth
D)   it has a wide variety of geologically interesting moons
E)   most of its outer parts are gas

Question 8

The presence of dunes in the middle Victoria Crater on Mars indicates that:

Accepted Answer

A)   Mars has an atmosphere
B)   volcanic eruptions produced abundant sand
C)   glaciers once covered most of Mars
D)   seas once covered this area, leaving behind the dunes

Question 9

This type of crater, which is very abundant on most moons and solid planets, is formed by:

Accepted Answer

A)   the collapse of a limestone cave
B)   an explosive volcanic eruption
C)   a nonexplosive volcanic eruption
D)   impact from a meteoroid or other object from space D

Question 10

What types of surfaces appear dark on a radar image taken by a satellite?

Accepted Answer

A)   a surface that is rough
B)   a surface that slopes toward the satellite
C)   a surface that is smooth or slopes away from the satellite
D)   a surface that contains quartz and feldspar

Question 11

The colors in this thermal infrared image indicate:

Accepted Answer

A)   temperatures of the rocks
B)   the presence of ice in the crater
C)   the presence of water in the crater
D)   the presence of methane in the crater

Question 12

The Valles Marineris canyon system on Mars is:

Accepted Answer

A)   4,000 km long
B)   the result of a rift
C)   wider due to erosion
D)   all of these

Question 13

Which of the following have NOT been discovered on Mars?

Accepted Answer

A)   a huge canyon system that began as a large rift
B)   the largest volcano in the Solar System
C)   channels cut by running water
D)   examples of slope failure
E)   Mars contains all of these features

Question 14

Which of the following is a characteristic of Saturn?

Accepted Answer

A)   it is closer to the Sun than Jupiter
B)   it is the largest planet in the Solar System
C)   the atmosphere is hydrogen and helium
D)   the feature for which it is best know is a large red spot on the surface
E)   the appearance of the planet is dominated by large impact craters

Question 15

After an impact occurs on the Moon, the walls of the crater often are too steep and:

Accepted Answer

A)   slope failure occurs
B)   channels are created
C)   rivers are formed A

Question 16

Based on the image from the Investigation, which terrain is composed of basalt with a few impact craters?

Accepted Answer

A)   Western Terrain W) 
B)   Dark Terrain 
D)  
C)   Sedimentary Terrain S) 
D)   Polar Ice P) 
E)   none of these B

Question 17

What is the current theory for the formation of our Solar System?

Accepted Answer

A)   the Sun and planets condensed from a cloud of gas and dust
B)   the Sun exploded during the Big Bang
C)   the four outer planets were all captured from another solar system
D)   none of these

Question 18

Based on the image from the Investigation, which of the terrains or features is the youngest of the ones listed?

Accepted Answer

A)   Western Terrain W) 
B)   Dark Terrain 
D)  
C)   Chasm 
C)  
D)   Sedimentary Terrain S)

Question 19

Saturn is often referred to as a mini solar-system orbited by:

Accepted Answer

A)   large and small moons
B)   planets
C)   moons and planets
D)   asteroids

Question 20

Which of the four Galilean moons is the most volcanically active object in the Solar System, erupting sulfur-rich lava?

Accepted Answer

A)   Io
B)   Europa
C)   Ganymede
D)   Callisto

Exam 19: Geology of the Solar System

What are some observed variations between different planets in the Solar System?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

These craters on the moon formed when:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What is the dominant character of the four outer planets?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

This planet has bedrock, reddish dust, and ice caps. What planetary body is it?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Earth is very different from its neighbors because it:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Why do comets have a tail?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of Jupiter?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The presence of dunes in the middle Victoria Crater on Mars indicates that:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

This type of crater, which is very abundant on most moons and solid planets, is formed by:

Correct AnswerverifiedD

What types of surfaces appear dark on a radar image taken by a satellite?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The colors in this thermal infrared image indicate:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The Valles Marineris canyon system on Mars is:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following have NOT been discovered on Mars?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following is a characteristic of Saturn?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

After an impact occurs on the Moon, the walls of the crater often are too steep and:

Correct AnswerverifiedA

Based on the image from the Investigation, which terrain is composed of basalt with a few impact craters?

Correct AnswerverifiedB

What is the current theory for the formation of our Solar System?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Based on the image from the Investigation, which of the terrains or features is the youngest of the ones listed?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Saturn is often referred to as a mini solar-system orbited by:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the four Galilean moons is the most volcanically active object in the Solar System, erupting sulfur-rich lava?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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A

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