You have to decide which chapter each question comes from and whether that chapter will be on your exam. Be very careful.

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1. (2 points) The Earth’s interior is quite hot because a) the pressure is quite high due to the weight of the rock above the interior pushing down, b) part of the core is liquid and liquid rocks are hot, c) solar energy is from the surface slowly moves to the interior where it is concentrated or d) in the past there was a great deal of radioactivity and that heated the rocks. Pick one.

2. (2 points) Near the mid Atlantic ridge the rocks are a) the same age as those farther from the ridge, b) younger than the rocks farther from the ridge, c) much less dense than rocks farther from the ridge, or d) much denser than rocks found farther from the ridge. Pick one.

3. (2 points) The ozone layer of the Earth’s atmosphere is a) continually being replenished by the action of ultraviolet light, b) important because it absorbs infrared radiation, c) is probably being partially destroyed by chemicals released into the atmosphere by humans, or d) contains ozone, which is a molecule of oxygen. Pick the one which is incorrect. ← NOTE

4. (2 points) Most of the oxygen in the Earth’s atmosphere was produced a) by the action of ultraviolet light breaking apart H2O in the upper atmosphere, b) by the breathing action of animals, c) by photosynthesis, or d) by volcanoes expelling gasses into the atmosphere. Pick one.

5. (2 points) Rising material in the mantle of the Earth a) causes rifts to form, b) produces subduction above the rising material, c) brings liquid rock from the liquid core of the Earth to the surface, or d) produces large volcanoes all along the mid Atlantic ridge. Pick one.

6. (10 points) In a paragraph or two with a fine figure to help you description, what is the greenhouse effect? (In your description be sure to mention the types of electromagnetic waves involved, and the names of the two greenhouses gasses that we have in the Earth’s atmosphere. Do not use the words “bounce” or “trapped” or any related words!)

7. (10 points)

a) What is the approximate diameter of the Earth?

b) Place the following planets in order of increasing size (smallest first, largest last): Mercury, Earth, Mars.

c) Which terrestrial planet does not appear to have large volcanoes?

d) About how old is Mercury?

e) What is the approximate diameter of the Moon? (Give it in miles or as a fraction of the diameter of the Earth – either.)

8. (5 points) Our textbook talks about a theory for the formation of the Moon involving a collision. In a paragraph describe this theory.

9. (10 points) In the process of the formation of the solar system we had gas and two kinds of dust, the rocky dust and the frozen stuff dust.

a) In a paragraph explain why there was not much frozen stuff in the inner part of the solar system.

b) In a paragraph explain why the planetesimals found in the outer part of the solar system had a larger mass than the planetesimals found in the inner part of the solar system.

10. (10 points)

a) List the planets on which spacecraft (from the Earth) have landed.

b) List the planets on which humans have landed.

c) List the planets which have rings.

d) List the planets which have large colored spots in their atmospheres.

e) List the planets which have mostly CO2 atmospheres.

11. (10 points)

a) Which moons (two) have active volcanoes or geysers?

b) Which moon has a very thick atmosphere and cloud cover?

c) Which moon is half the size of the planet it orbits?

d) Which planet has just two potato shaped moons?

e) Which planet has the moons which were discovered by Galileo?

12. (10 points) In a paragraph or two explain why Io is warmer than the other moons of Jupiter? Something is happening to Io which gives it energy and keeps it from cooling off. What is happening?

13. (2 points) The particles in the ring systems of the Jovian planets will gradually slow down and spiral into the planet. The rings will get thinner with age. True or false?

14. (2 points) The polar caps of Mars are just frozen CO2. True or false?

15. (2 points) If you are standing on the Moon holding a rock, and you let it go, it will a) float away, b) float where it is, c) move sideways, d) fall to the ground, or e) none of the above. Pick one.

16. (2 points) The Earth has a liquid core. True or false?

17. (2 points) Mercury probably has a liquid core. True or false?

18. (10 points) Photographs of the Earth taken from satellites in space show mountain ranges formed by plate tectonics, volcanoes, rift valleys, large valleys formed by water erosion, occasional sand dunes, vast oceans, very thick layers of ice in the polar regions. What do photographs of Mars taken from space show? (The credit you receive for your answer will depend upon how correct and complete your list is. “Rocks” is not one of the items I am looking for!)

19. (5 points) What is the Roche limit?

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This page prepared by C. Hartley, Director of the Ernest B. Wright Observatory at the Department of Physics at Hartwick College in the City of Oneonta, NY. More things from C. Hartley at his home.

All text, graphics and photgraphs copyright ©2003 by C. Hartley unless otherwise noted.