AST 220 Chapter 6 Exam Questions With
Verified Answers
Venus' rotation period is longer than its period of revolution around the Sun. - ANSWER
True
Mercury, Venus, and Earth have similar densities. - ANSWER True
The density of Mars is very similar to that of the other terrestrial planets. - ANSWER
False
Venus can appear as a crescent through the telescope. - ANSWER True
Mercury's rotation and revolution are an example of a 3:2 resonance. - ANSWER True
Although it has no liquid water, Mercury has a tidal bulge. - ANSWER True
Compared to Earth, Venus spins very rapidly on its axis. - ANSWER False
Atmospheric pressure on Mars is roughly half that of Earth's at sea level. - ANSWER
False
Venus' surface temperature cools off at night, much like Mercury's does. - ANSWER
False
Mercury has the widest variation in surface temperatures between night and day of any
planet in the solar system. - ANSWER True
The scarps on Mercury are extremely similar to the cratered lunar highlands in
appearance. - ANSWER True
We now know of polar caps on Mercury, the Moon, Earth, and Mars. - ANSWER True
The surface temperature of Venus is 730K, even hotter than Mercury. - ANSWER True
The polar caps and dust storms of Mars can be seen with Earth-based telescopes. -
ANSWER True
The Moon's far side is more ancient and heavily cratered; on Mars, the same is true of its
southern hemisphere. - ANSWER True
Mars appears red in color because of refraction of light by its atmosphere, much like the
color of the totally eclipsed Moon. - ANSWER False
There is new evidence that water has flowed as mud on Mars in recent times. - ANSWER
True
, Because of its axial tilt and more elliptical orbit, Mars' polar caps change size even more
than the Earth's do. - ANSWER True
The seasonal polar caps on Mars, which grow and shrink over the year, are primarily
carbon dioxide. - ANSWER True
Winds on Mars give rise to planet-wide dust storms. - ANSWER True
The low surface gravity helps Martian volcanoes grow to great heights. - ANSWER True
Mercury has an unusually small core. - ANSWER False
Mars has a weak magnetic field. - ANSWER True
The Mars Rover found undisputed microfossils, proving life once existed on Mars. -
ANSWER False
Venus and Mercury both have magnetic fields similar to Earth's. - ANSWER False
Carbon dioxide is the predominant atmospheric gas on Venus. - ANSWER True
Running water continues to be the major erosive factor of Mars today. - ANSWER False
Running water played a major role in shaping Mars in ancient times. - ANSWER True
Which of these gets so bright as to be seen in daylight at times? - ANSWER Venus
Which three worlds have almost identical densities? - ANSWER Mercury, Venus, and
Earth
Which planet shows the widest range of surface temperatures between day and night? -
ANSWER Mercury
How does Mercury's rotation relate to the Sun? - ANSWER Its rotation rate is 2/3 as long
as its year, due to tidal resonances.
Venus' rotation on its axis - ANSWER Is clockwise, unlike most other solar system
objects
Verified Answers
Venus' rotation period is longer than its period of revolution around the Sun. - ANSWER
True
Mercury, Venus, and Earth have similar densities. - ANSWER True
The density of Mars is very similar to that of the other terrestrial planets. - ANSWER
False
Venus can appear as a crescent through the telescope. - ANSWER True
Mercury's rotation and revolution are an example of a 3:2 resonance. - ANSWER True
Although it has no liquid water, Mercury has a tidal bulge. - ANSWER True
Compared to Earth, Venus spins very rapidly on its axis. - ANSWER False
Atmospheric pressure on Mars is roughly half that of Earth's at sea level. - ANSWER
False
Venus' surface temperature cools off at night, much like Mercury's does. - ANSWER
False
Mercury has the widest variation in surface temperatures between night and day of any
planet in the solar system. - ANSWER True
The scarps on Mercury are extremely similar to the cratered lunar highlands in
appearance. - ANSWER True
We now know of polar caps on Mercury, the Moon, Earth, and Mars. - ANSWER True
The surface temperature of Venus is 730K, even hotter than Mercury. - ANSWER True
The polar caps and dust storms of Mars can be seen with Earth-based telescopes. -
ANSWER True
The Moon's far side is more ancient and heavily cratered; on Mars, the same is true of its
southern hemisphere. - ANSWER True
Mars appears red in color because of refraction of light by its atmosphere, much like the
color of the totally eclipsed Moon. - ANSWER False
There is new evidence that water has flowed as mud on Mars in recent times. - ANSWER
True
, Because of its axial tilt and more elliptical orbit, Mars' polar caps change size even more
than the Earth's do. - ANSWER True
The seasonal polar caps on Mars, which grow and shrink over the year, are primarily
carbon dioxide. - ANSWER True
Winds on Mars give rise to planet-wide dust storms. - ANSWER True
The low surface gravity helps Martian volcanoes grow to great heights. - ANSWER True
Mercury has an unusually small core. - ANSWER False
Mars has a weak magnetic field. - ANSWER True
The Mars Rover found undisputed microfossils, proving life once existed on Mars. -
ANSWER False
Venus and Mercury both have magnetic fields similar to Earth's. - ANSWER False
Carbon dioxide is the predominant atmospheric gas on Venus. - ANSWER True
Running water continues to be the major erosive factor of Mars today. - ANSWER False
Running water played a major role in shaping Mars in ancient times. - ANSWER True
Which of these gets so bright as to be seen in daylight at times? - ANSWER Venus
Which three worlds have almost identical densities? - ANSWER Mercury, Venus, and
Earth
Which planet shows the widest range of surface temperatures between day and night? -
ANSWER Mercury
How does Mercury's rotation relate to the Sun? - ANSWER Its rotation rate is 2/3 as long
as its year, due to tidal resonances.
Venus' rotation on its axis - ANSWER Is clockwise, unlike most other solar system
objects
