Question 1

Auroras are caused by

Accepted Answer

A)   gases fluorescing in the atmosphere because of collisions with solar wind particles.
B)   the magnetosphere of Earth touching its atmosphere.
C)   the ozone layer being destroyed by UV light.
D)   the atmospheric greenhouse effect.
E)   the scattering of sunlight from particles in Earth's stratosphere.F) C) and D)
G) All of the above

Question 2

The nitrogen in Earth's atmosphere primarily came from

Accepted Answer

A)   ammonia delivered by comet impacts.
B)   photosynthesis done by algae and plants.
C)   oxidation of silicate-rich minerals.
D)   rock delivered by asteroid impacts.
E)   its primary atmosphere.F) A) and D)
G) A) and C)

Question 3

Describe at least three of the factors influencing the climate on Earth.

Accepted Answer

The most important factors are the follo...

Question 4

Like Mars and Venus, Earth originally had a significant amount of carbon dioxide in its atmosphere.Where is the majority of the carbon now?

Accepted Answer

A)   It has escaped into outer space.
B)   It is bound up in the plant life on Earth.
C)   It is bound up in rocks.
D)   It is dissolved into the oceans.
E)   It is still in the atmosphere in the form of complex molecules.F) B) and C)
G) A) and E)

Question 5

According to the way the layers of Earth's atmosphere are defined in the left figure below, the atmosphere of Venus has only ________ distinct layer(s) .

Accepted Answer

A)   one
B)   two
C)   three
D)   four
E)   fiveF) C) and D)
G) C) and E)

Question 6

Large-scale winds are generated on Earth primarily because of

Accepted Answer

A)   strong updrafts from the equator and air sinking near the poles.
B)   uneven heating of the surface and rotation of the planet.
C)   water condensation onto mountains.
D)   hot air rising and cool air sinking.
E)   charged particles interacting with the magnetosphere.F) A) and B)
G) A) and C)

Question 7

Although Earth is known to exhibit long-term natural variations in temperature, scientists are nearly unanimous in believing that the recent rise in temperature is due to human industrial activity.Why?

Accepted Answer

Based on studies of ice cores and tree r...

Question 8

Why are auroras produced only near the northern and southern magnetic poles of a planet?

Accepted Answer

A)   Those are the locations where the atmosphere is thinner, letting particles penetrate.
B)   The poles are pointing toward the Sun, so they receive more solar wind particles.
C)   The oxygen atoms responsible for auroral emission only exist near the poles.
D)   Charged particles are forced to flow along Earth's magnetic field lines, which come out of Earth's poles.
E)   Auroras require large amounts of reflective ice or snow in order to be visible.F) A) and B)
G) A) and C)

Question 9

In the absence of a greenhouse effect, what would happen to Earth's oceans?

Accepted Answer

A)   They would evaporate.
B)   They would freeze over.
C)   They would be rapidly absorbed into the surface rocks.
D)   They would dissociate into ozone and hydrogen.
E)   Nothing would change.F) B) and C)
G) None of the above

Question 10

The primary atmospheres of the terrestrial planets formed from hydrogen and helium.Why? What happened to this gas?

Accepted Answer

The primary atmospheres were composed of...

Question 11

Describe two major factors, for each of Venus and Mars, that make their respective atmospheres inhospitable to life.

Accepted Answer

Venus is closer to the Sun than Earth is...

Question 12

According to the following figure, the different layers of Earth's atmosphere are defined by

Accepted Answer

A)   how the temperature varies with altitude.
B)   how the pressure varies with altitude.
C)   how the density varies with altitude.
D)   different temperature ranges.
E)   different pressure ranges.F) A) and B)
G) D) and E)

Question 13

The shape of Earth's magnetosphere is modified by

Accepted Answer

A)   the Moon's tidal force.
B)   the solar wind.
C)   Earth's own gravity.
D)   asymmetries in the shape of Earth's core.
E)   Earth's elliptical orbit.F) B) and E)
G) A) and C)

Question 14

Describe at least three major atmospheric factors that affect a planet's ability to sustain life.

Accepted Answer

A planet needs to have a temperature ran...

Question 15

When learning about light, we predicted that Venus should have a temperature of 230 K based on its albedo and distance from the Sun.Why is Venus's observed average surface temperature equal to 740 K, which is hot enough to melt lead?

Accepted Answer

A)   Venus has slow retrograde rotation, and its seasons are very long.
B)   Venus has many active volcanoes that release heat into its atmosphere.
C)   Venus has a very thin atmosphere, and so more sunlight falls onto its surface.
D)   Venus has a strong greenhouse effect.
E)   Venus has a highly eccentric orbit and is sometimes much closer to the Sun than other times.F) B) and C)
G) A) and C)

Question 16

Humans cannot survive on the surface of Mars for long periods of time because

Accepted Answer

A)   there is not enough oxygen in the atmosphere.
B)   the range in temperature between day and night is too large.
C)   the flux of UV radiation reaching the surface is too high.
D)   the atmospheric pressure would be too low.
E)   all of these reasonsF) C) and E)
G) A) and E)

Question 17

Given the thickness and chemical composition of Venus's atmosphere, by how much would you expect its average surface temperature to change between day and night?

Accepted Answer

A)   There should be almost no change in temperature.
B)   by tens of K (like Earth) 
C)   by hundreds of K (like Mercury) 
D)   The answer depends on where Venus is in its orbit around the Sun.
E)   The answer depends on how many volcanoes are currently active.F) A) and E)
G) A) and D)

Question 18

Why does Mercury have so little gas in its atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

A)   Its mass is small.
B)   It has a high maximum temperature.
C)   It is close to the Sun.
D)   Its escape velocity is low.
E)   all of theseF) A) and B)
G) A) and E)

Question 19

Global temperature variations on Earth driven by the Milankovitch cycle differ from those driven by the anthropogenic greenhouse effect in that

Accepted Answer

A)   they are very small in magnitude, less than 1°C.
B)   they occur at irregular time intervals.
C)   they are driven by volcanic activity.
D)   they occur over much longer timescales (thousands of years) .
E)   they are driven by emissions of methane gas rather than carbon dioxide.F) A) and B)
G) A) and C)

Question 20

The global winds on Earth are the result of a combination of what three things?

Accepted Answer

Global winds result from an un...

Exam 9: Atmospheres of the Terrestrial Planets

The nitrogen in Earth's atmosphere primarily came from

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Describe at least three of the factors influencing the climate on Earth.

Correct AnswerverifiedThe most important factors are the follo...View AnswerShow Answer

Although Earth is known to exhibit long-term natural variations in temperature, scientists are nearly unanimous in believing that the recent rise in temperature is due to human industrial activity.Why?

Correct AnswerverifiedBased on studies of ice cores and tree r...View AnswerShow Answer

The primary atmospheres of the terrestrial planets formed from hydrogen and helium.Why? What happened to this gas?

Correct AnswerverifiedThe primary atmospheres were composed of...View AnswerShow Answer

Auroras are caused by

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The shape of Earth's magnetosphere is modified by

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

According to the way the layers of Earth's atmosphere are defined in the left figure below, the atmosphere of Venus has only ________ distinct layer(s) .

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Describe at least three major atmospheric factors that affect a planet's ability to sustain life.

Correct AnswerverifiedA planet needs to have a temperature ran...View AnswerShow Answer

Describe two major factors, for each of Venus and Mars, that make their respective atmospheres inhospitable to life.

Correct AnswerverifiedVenus is closer to the Sun than Earth is...View AnswerShow Answer

Like Mars and Venus, Earth originally had a significant amount of carbon dioxide in its atmosphere.Where is the majority of the carbon now?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Humans cannot survive on the surface of Mars for long periods of time because

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The global winds on Earth are the result of a combination of what three things?

Correct AnswerverifiedGlobal winds result from an un...View AnswerShow Answer

When learning about light, we predicted that Venus should have a temperature of 230 K based on its albedo and distance from the Sun.Why is Venus's observed average surface temperature equal to 740 K, which is hot enough to melt lead?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In the absence of a greenhouse effect, what would happen to Earth's oceans?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Why does Mercury have so little gas in its atmosphere?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Global temperature variations on Earth driven by the Milankovitch cycle differ from those driven by the anthropogenic greenhouse effect in that

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Given the thickness and chemical composition of Venus's atmosphere, by how much would you expect its average surface temperature to change between day and night?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Large-scale winds are generated on Earth primarily because of

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Why are auroras produced only near the northern and southern magnetic poles of a planet?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

According to the following figure, the different layers of Earth's atmosphere are defined by

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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The most important factors are the follo...
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Based on studies of ice cores and tree r...
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The primary atmospheres were composed of...
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A planet needs to have a temperature ran...
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Venus is closer to the Sun than Earth is...
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Correct Answer
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Global winds result from an un...
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