SMT 314 - Introduction to Cosmology » Fall 2020 » HW 6

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Question #1
Astronomers have observed that the Moon is more heavily cratered than the Earth. This is primarily because:
A.   the Moon is much more deficient in iron relative to the Earth, causing craters to form more easily.
B.   the Moon experiences frequent volcanic eruptions that cause craters.
C.   the Moon is more distant than the Earth, causing incoming rocks to hit it first.
D.   the Moon experiences almost no erosion compared to the Earth, causing craters to remain much longer.
E.   the Moon has been around longer than the Earth and has been exposed to more periods of meteor bombardment.
Question #2
Earth's Moon is _____________ Earth.
A.   younger than
B.   the same age as
C.   older than
Question #3
Which one of the following statements about the Earth-Moon system is true?
A.   The orbital period of the Moon around the Earth and the rotation period of the Moon around its axis are equal.
B.   At any given location on Earth, there are two high tides each day - one caused by the gravitational pull of the Sun, and the other by the gravitational pull of the Moon.
C.   High tide occurs on the side of the Earth nearest to the Moon, while low tide occurs on the opposite side of the Earth.
D.   By observing the Moon long enough from Earth, night after night, we are able to draw a map of its entire surface.
E.   The same half of the Moon's surface is perpetually dark (craters on that side never see sunlight), leading us to call it the "dark side of the Moon."
Question #4
Which one of the following statements about the terrestrial planets is false?
A.   Earth's atmosphere allows the Sun's infrared radiation in but doesn't allow much visible light to escape, resulting in the greenhouse effect.
B.   Earth's atmosphere plays a central role in keeping the planet from freezing cold temperatures.
C.   Long ago, Mars probably had a thicker atmosphere than it does now, with sufficiently high temperatures and pressure to allow liquid water to exist on its surface.
D.   Venus is the hottest planet in our Solar System, mainly due to a greatly elevated greenhouse effect.
E.   Despite being the closest planet to the Sun, some parts of Mercury have a surface temperatures far below the freezing point of water.
Question #5
Which terrestrial planet(s) has(have) substantial magnetic field(s).
A.   Mercury
B.   Venus
C.   Earth
D.   Mars
Question #6
The planet with the largest proportion of metal in its interior is ________________.
A.   Uranus
B.   Mercury
C.   Mars
D.   Venus
Question #7
Venus has a thick, dense atmosphere of mostly __________ gas.
A.   Magnesium
B.   carbon dioxide
C.   carbon monoxide
D.   Helium
Question #8
Which planet has the least circular orbit? (Answer is case sensitive.)
A.   Mercury
B.   Uranus
C.   Neptune
D.   Saturn
Question #9
Which planet has a longer day, than its year
A.   Mercury
B.   Venus
C.   Saturn
D.   Mars
Question #10
___________ is often seen as the brightest evening or morning "star" in the sky, in part because it is shrouded in highly reflective clouds. (Answer is case sensitive.)
A.   Venus
B.   Jupiter
C.   Mercury
D.   Earth

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