SCIN 138 WEEK 6 EXAM PART 1 GRADED A+ (LATEST
2023/2024)
The phases of the Moon are caused by the Earth's shadow falling on the surface of
the Moon. - ANSWER: False
Earth would rotate at a much slower rate if the Moon did not exist. - ANSWER: False
The force of gravity between two objects is attractive and depends only on the mass
of the larger object, not of the smaller object. - ANSWER: False
An astronomical unit (AU) is the distance between the Earth and the Moon. -
ANSWER: False
An ice skater increases her momentum when she pulls her arms inward during a
spin. - ANSWER: False
About 10 Earths would fit across Jupiter. - ANSWER: True
If the radius of the Earth were to double, the force of gravity at the Earth's surface
would be half as strong as it is currently. - ANSWER: False
A more massive object requires a larger force to accelerate to the same speed as a
less massive object. - ANSWER: True
Every day, an observer experiences _____ high tides and __ low tides. - ANSWER:
Two; Two
Why was adaptive optics developed? - ANSWER: To compensate for image distortion
caused by Earth's atmosphere.
Why do solar eclipses not occur every month? - ANSWER: The Moon's orbit is tilted
with respect to the plane of the Earth's orbit.
The main reason for placing astronomical telescopes and detectors on satellites is to:
- ANSWER: get above the absorption in Earth's atmosphere
If you were to be sent to the Moon, which of your physical properties would be
altered noticeably? - ANSWER: Weight
Every day, the stars rise: - ANSWER: four minutes earlier than they rose the previous
day
According to Kepler's second law, an object in an elliptical orbit around the Sun is
traveling fastest when it is at what position? - ANSWER: perihelion, closest point to
the Sun, because it has to move farther per day at that position.
,The striking light and dark colored bands on Jupiter's surface are: - ANSWER:
convection zones where material is rising and falling from deeper in the atmosphere.
The correct sequence of planets in our solar system from the Sun outward is: -
ANSWER: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
Earth's magnetic field is caused by: - ANSWER: electric currents flowing in the liquid
core
There are very few craters on Earth's surface compared to the surface of the Moon.
The primary reason for this is: - ANSWER: The Earth's surface is continually renewed
by geological activity.
The polar caps on Mars are most likely made up of: - ANSWER: water and CO2 ices.
The Venusian atmospheric pressure is: - ANSWER: about 90 times greater than that
of Earth's atmospheric pressure
Where is ice believed to have been discovered on the Moon? - ANSWER: in the floors
of craters at the north and south poles, which are permanently shaded from the Sun
Lunar surfaces with higher cratering surface densities are ________ compared to
lunar surfaces with lower cratering surface densities. - ANSWER: older
Sunspots are _________ because they have __________ temperatures compared to
the solar gas surrounding them. - ANSWER: darker; lower
Which of the following surface features is NOT an indication that there may have
been liquid water on the surface of Mars in the past? - ANSWER: impact craters
Space weather can cause all of the following except: - ANSWER: hurricanes and
thunderstorms on Earth
Which of the following has placed Martian rocks in the hands of scientists on Earth? -
ANSWER: Meteorites collected from Antarctica, the gases within them indicating
that they were blasted from Mars by an impact
Which is the thickest interior layer of the Earth? - ANSWER: Mantle
Which is the thinnest interior layer of the Earth? - ANSWER: Crust
According to the theory of plate tectonics, which type of boundary commonly results
in earthquakes? - ANSWER: Convergent
According to the theory of plate tectonics, which type of boundary produced the
Mid-Atlantic Ridge? - ANSWER: Divergent
, In which atmospheric layer are almost all water-based clouds formed? - ANSWER:
troposphere
What is the most abundant component of Earth's atmosphere? - ANSWER: nitrogen
Naturally occurring greenhouse gases raise Earth's temperature by about how
much? - ANSWER: 25 degrees C
In the greenhouse effect, incoming sunlight is absorbed by Earth and re-radiated in
the form of: - ANSWER: infra-red light
What are the gases in Earth's atmosphere that are primarily responsible for the
greenhouse effect on Earth? - ANSWER: Water vapor; Carbon dioxide
What is the approximate drift rate of the Pacific plate over the Hawaiian hot spot? -
ANSWER: 7cm/year
What is the approximate size of the object that formed Meteor Crater in Arizona? -
ANSWER: 50m
What are the main reasons there are so few impact craters on Earth compared to
the Moon? - ANSWER: Wind and water continually erode the surface; Plate tectonics
keep the surface of the Earth young; Earth's atmosphere causes small meteors to
burn up before reaching the ground.
Which layer(s) of the Earth is/are largely metallic? - ANSWER: inner and outer core
Name the two spectral windows through which electromagnetic radiation easiyl
reaches the surface of the Earth. - ANSWER: radio; visible
What is the largest-aperture Earth-based telescope currently in use at visible
wavelengths? - ANSWER: GTC (Gran Telescopio Canario)
What is the largest aperture Earth bound radio telescope? - ANSWER: FAST
What is the main difference between reflecting and refracting telescopes? -
ANSWER: Reflecting telescopes use mirrors while refracting telescopes use lenses
Why are the largest visible-light telescopes in the world made with mirrors rather
than lenses? - ANSWER: Mirrors are cheaper to make than lenses; Mirrors can be
supported all along the back side; Mirrors do not suffer from chromatic aberration
Why is it difficult to observe at UV wavelengths? - ANSWER: UV light is largely
absorbed by the Earth's atmosphere
2023/2024)
The phases of the Moon are caused by the Earth's shadow falling on the surface of
the Moon. - ANSWER: False
Earth would rotate at a much slower rate if the Moon did not exist. - ANSWER: False
The force of gravity between two objects is attractive and depends only on the mass
of the larger object, not of the smaller object. - ANSWER: False
An astronomical unit (AU) is the distance between the Earth and the Moon. -
ANSWER: False
An ice skater increases her momentum when she pulls her arms inward during a
spin. - ANSWER: False
About 10 Earths would fit across Jupiter. - ANSWER: True
If the radius of the Earth were to double, the force of gravity at the Earth's surface
would be half as strong as it is currently. - ANSWER: False
A more massive object requires a larger force to accelerate to the same speed as a
less massive object. - ANSWER: True
Every day, an observer experiences _____ high tides and __ low tides. - ANSWER:
Two; Two
Why was adaptive optics developed? - ANSWER: To compensate for image distortion
caused by Earth's atmosphere.
Why do solar eclipses not occur every month? - ANSWER: The Moon's orbit is tilted
with respect to the plane of the Earth's orbit.
The main reason for placing astronomical telescopes and detectors on satellites is to:
- ANSWER: get above the absorption in Earth's atmosphere
If you were to be sent to the Moon, which of your physical properties would be
altered noticeably? - ANSWER: Weight
Every day, the stars rise: - ANSWER: four minutes earlier than they rose the previous
day
According to Kepler's second law, an object in an elliptical orbit around the Sun is
traveling fastest when it is at what position? - ANSWER: perihelion, closest point to
the Sun, because it has to move farther per day at that position.
,The striking light and dark colored bands on Jupiter's surface are: - ANSWER:
convection zones where material is rising and falling from deeper in the atmosphere.
The correct sequence of planets in our solar system from the Sun outward is: -
ANSWER: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
Earth's magnetic field is caused by: - ANSWER: electric currents flowing in the liquid
core
There are very few craters on Earth's surface compared to the surface of the Moon.
The primary reason for this is: - ANSWER: The Earth's surface is continually renewed
by geological activity.
The polar caps on Mars are most likely made up of: - ANSWER: water and CO2 ices.
The Venusian atmospheric pressure is: - ANSWER: about 90 times greater than that
of Earth's atmospheric pressure
Where is ice believed to have been discovered on the Moon? - ANSWER: in the floors
of craters at the north and south poles, which are permanently shaded from the Sun
Lunar surfaces with higher cratering surface densities are ________ compared to
lunar surfaces with lower cratering surface densities. - ANSWER: older
Sunspots are _________ because they have __________ temperatures compared to
the solar gas surrounding them. - ANSWER: darker; lower
Which of the following surface features is NOT an indication that there may have
been liquid water on the surface of Mars in the past? - ANSWER: impact craters
Space weather can cause all of the following except: - ANSWER: hurricanes and
thunderstorms on Earth
Which of the following has placed Martian rocks in the hands of scientists on Earth? -
ANSWER: Meteorites collected from Antarctica, the gases within them indicating
that they were blasted from Mars by an impact
Which is the thickest interior layer of the Earth? - ANSWER: Mantle
Which is the thinnest interior layer of the Earth? - ANSWER: Crust
According to the theory of plate tectonics, which type of boundary commonly results
in earthquakes? - ANSWER: Convergent
According to the theory of plate tectonics, which type of boundary produced the
Mid-Atlantic Ridge? - ANSWER: Divergent
, In which atmospheric layer are almost all water-based clouds formed? - ANSWER:
troposphere
What is the most abundant component of Earth's atmosphere? - ANSWER: nitrogen
Naturally occurring greenhouse gases raise Earth's temperature by about how
much? - ANSWER: 25 degrees C
In the greenhouse effect, incoming sunlight is absorbed by Earth and re-radiated in
the form of: - ANSWER: infra-red light
What are the gases in Earth's atmosphere that are primarily responsible for the
greenhouse effect on Earth? - ANSWER: Water vapor; Carbon dioxide
What is the approximate drift rate of the Pacific plate over the Hawaiian hot spot? -
ANSWER: 7cm/year
What is the approximate size of the object that formed Meteor Crater in Arizona? -
ANSWER: 50m
What are the main reasons there are so few impact craters on Earth compared to
the Moon? - ANSWER: Wind and water continually erode the surface; Plate tectonics
keep the surface of the Earth young; Earth's atmosphere causes small meteors to
burn up before reaching the ground.
Which layer(s) of the Earth is/are largely metallic? - ANSWER: inner and outer core
Name the two spectral windows through which electromagnetic radiation easiyl
reaches the surface of the Earth. - ANSWER: radio; visible
What is the largest-aperture Earth-based telescope currently in use at visible
wavelengths? - ANSWER: GTC (Gran Telescopio Canario)
What is the largest aperture Earth bound radio telescope? - ANSWER: FAST
What is the main difference between reflecting and refracting telescopes? -
ANSWER: Reflecting telescopes use mirrors while refracting telescopes use lenses
Why are the largest visible-light telescopes in the world made with mirrors rather
than lenses? - ANSWER: Mirrors are cheaper to make than lenses; Mirrors can be
supported all along the back side; Mirrors do not suffer from chromatic aberration
Why is it difficult to observe at UV wavelengths? - ANSWER: UV light is largely
absorbed by the Earth's atmosphere
