Lesson 7 Multiple Choice Flashcards
(28 cards)
Earth’s core is denser than its crust because
denser material sinks to center
density of material in crust is less than overall density of Earth
any material would become denser as it is compressed
What object is most likely to contain basically the same material that was present in the solar nebula when the solar system was formed?
carbonaceous chondrites
What is NOT a chemical feature of the solar system that a theory of origin must explain?
the amount of iron in the planets’ cores increases with increasing distance from the sun
What is the source of free oxygen gas in the Earth’s atmosphere?
plants
In the course of history of the moon… (lands)
Highlands formed after lowlands
The Earth’s surface has few impact craters in comparison to other terrestrial planets because
the Earth’s surface is young
Differentiation did NOT cause the Earth to
form
separate into layers
split the moon off of itself
How is Jupiter like the sun?
about the same chemical composition
about the same mass
gives off more energy than it receives from space
about the same density
The absence of what gas would lower the Earth’s atmospheric temperature?
Carbon dioxide
Which lunar feature was formed by upwelling magma flows?
maria
If a smaller crater on the moon overlaid a larger one, what can we conclude?
The smaller crater is younger than the larger one
Earth’s magnetic field is thought to be the result of the dynamo effect, which is…
motion in the liquid core that generates electric currents (affects magnetism)
Formation by condensation refers to what process?
Matter building one atom at a time
If the amount of CO2 on the Earth’s surface decreased, what would happen to the Earth’s environment?
The surface temperature would increase.
Materials that would begin to condense at the highest temperature in the solar nebula are what?
Iron and nickel
A mars-sized object colliding with Earth to form the moon is know as what theory?
the giant impact theory
The Nebular Theory states that the solar system formed when…
a large cloud of interstellar gas and dust collapsed due to its own weight
What is NOT a general dynamic property of the solar system that a model of origin must explain?
All the planets and the sun revolve around the galaxy
What is the order of the nebular scenario for the formation of the solar system?
nebular collapse reformation of grains and formation of planetesimals formation of protoplanets dissipation of the nebula transfer of angular momentum
The craters on the lunar surface were produced by
impacts by asteroids and meteorites
What is the method used to estimate the age of the Earth?
Radioactive dating of rocks using elements with long half-lives
Most of the angular momentum of the solar system is contained now in what objects?
Jovian planets
How are the Earth and the moon different?
Moon has little atmosphere
Earth’s primeval atmosphere probably consisted of what?
CO2, water vapor, nitrogen
not oxygen
