which one of the following statements about Mars is correct?
A there has never been any running water on Mars
B space probes have found small amounts of running water in the bottom of so deep canyons
C water ice probably exists below the surface
D the polar caps consist entirely of water ice
the rotation period of Mars is inconvenient because
A it is so short
B it is so long
C it coincides with the Earth's rotation period
D no choice
the oldest regions on the Martian surface are those with
A polar caps.
B volcanoes.
C impact craters.
D arroyos.
the Earth has a strong planetary magnetic field, in contrast to Mars, which has a very weak field, if any at all. in the context of the dynamo model, we can explain this difference by noting that
A Mars rotates very slowly.
B Mars is farther from the sun than the Earth.
C the interior of Mars is very hot.
D the interior of Mars is mostly rocky materials.
the main constituent of the Martian atmosphere is
A carbon dioxide
B oxygen
C methane
D argon
upon the surface of which planet have experiments been carried out to identify life-forms or evidence of life?
A Mars
B Mercury
C Venus
D Jupiter
the density of Mars is:
A about like that of the Earth.
B the lowest of the terrestrial planets.
C the lowest of all planets.
D the greatest of the terrestrial planets.
which one of the following best describes the valles marineris?
A 200 miles long, 20 miles across, 2 miles deep
B 3,000 miles long, 400 miles across, 4 miles deep
C 10,000 miles long, 1,200 miles across, 10 miles deep
D a trench going completely around the planet
the atmosphere of Mars is:
A nearly opaque.
B nearly transparent to visible light.
C cloudy most of the time.
D in extreme turbulence most of the time.
a major feature of the atmosphere of Mars is
A very dense clouds shrouding most of the planet
B strong winds and dust storms
C very high temperatures and pressures
D chemical mixture very similar to that of Earth
the magnetic field on Mars is
A about the same strength as the magnetic field on Earth
B significantly stronger than the magnetic field on Earth
C the strongest magnetic field we know in the solar system
D very very weak
which of the following did not, directly or indirectly, result from large-scale volcanic eruptions on Mars in the past?
A large shield volcanoes.
B water vapor in the atmosphere.
C polar icecaps.
D impact craters, mostly in the southern hemisphere.
E carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
the major constituent of the Martian atmosphere is
A water
B carbon dioxide
C nitrogen
D oxygen
which of the following planets appears red in a telescope?
A Jupiter
B Venus
C Mars
D no choice
the tharsis bulge is
A the largest Martian volcano
B a bulge on which 3 of Mars' volcanos sit
C the Martian equatorial bulge
D the highest Martian mountain
Mars is orange because
A dust in the atmosphere reflects orange light the most effectively.
B the surface is littered with orange peels from an ancient (and stupid) civilization.
C the soil is radioactive and therefore glows orange.
D the soil is rusty because of the presence of ferrous oxide.
tectonic activity on Mars has resulted in:
A shield volcanoes, canyons, lava flows.
B crater, arroyos, polar caps.
C wind erosion, sand dunes, river beds.
D all of the above.
olympus mons is
A the widest canal discovered on Mars
B a Martian sea, although it no longer has water in it
C a Martian volcano, twice the height of mt. everest
D the largest impact crater on Mars
the Viking spacecraft landed on which planet or moon?
A Europa
B the Earth's moon
C Mars
D Venus
the main source of erosion on Mars today is
A flowing liquids in the channels.
B ice flows that cover the entire planet in winter.
C microscopic organisms in a layer just below the surface.
D giant dust storms.
E the statement is false; there is no erosion on Mars.
which of the following best describes olympus mons?
A 400 mile diameter base, 90,000 feet high
B 40 mile diameter base, 15,000 feet high
C 10 mile diameter base, 5,000 feet high
D 1,000 mile diameter base, 100,000 feet high
valles marineris
A is a medium sized volcano
B is a Martian ocean
C is a valley on Mars about the size of the Earth's grand canyon
D may be evidence of an early stage of plate tectonics
Mars does not have liquid water on its surface at the present time because:
A it is always too cold for water to be in the liquid state.
B its atmospheric pressure is so low its liquid water has all boiled away.
C its surface temperature is above 212xf so all of its water has boiled away.
D ... no answer because the premise of the question is incorrect. Mars does have liquid
water on its surface now.
the surface pressure of the atmospheric carbon dioxide (co2) at the surface of Mars, compared to the atmospheric pressure at the Earth's surface, is
A less than 1/100
B extremely small (less than 1 millionth)
C about the same
D about 90 times greater
the main source of erosion on Mars is
A flowing liquids in the channels
B ice flows that cover the entire planet in winter
C giant dust storms
D you can't fool me; there is no erosion on Mars
Mars has seasons that are:
A about like those on Earth but longer because of its longer year and cooler because of its greater distance from the sun.
B much more extreme than those on Earth.
C much milder than those on the Earth.
D almost non-existent because of Mars' orientation.
if you were to be on Mars, which of the following planets would never be s as a crescent?
A Earth
B Earth's moon
C Venus
D Jupiter
today, water exists on Mars in the form of
A liquid, ice and gas.
B liquid and gas only.
C ice and gas only.
D liquid only.
the southern polar cap on Mars melts almost entirely during its summer, bu the northern one only shrinks during summer there. this is because
A the northern cap is much larger
B Mars is closer to the sun during the southern summer
C the souther cap is almost entirely co2 ice
D the winds are stronger in the north
we would expect Mars to undergo seasonal changes much like those on Earth because
A Mars is about the same distance from the sun as Earth
B Mars' equator is inclined to its orbital plane about the same as Earth's
C the same calendar is used on Mars as on Earth
D Mars rotates about as fast as the Earth does
the surface of Mars shows which of the following?
A extensive erosion, active volcanism, and tectonic activity.
B erosion limited to certain areas, dormant volcanism, and a lack of tectonic activity.
C erosion limited to certain areas, active volcanism, and tectonic activity.
D extensive erosion, active volcanism, and a lack of tectonic activity.
the _____ atmosphere on Mars means that wind velocities must be _____ in order to raise dust off the surface
A dense, high
B dense, low
C thin, low
D thin, high
according to the Viking orbiter results, the central parts of the Martian pole caps consist mostly of
A water ice.
B carbon dioxide ice.
C methane ice.
D ammonia ice.
comparing the interiors of the Earth and Mars, we can infer that
A the Earth has a larger core of rocky materials.
B Mars has a larger core of rocky materials.
C the Earth has a larger core of metallic materials.
D Mars has a larger core of metallic materials.
comparing Mars and Venus to the Earth, which of the following statements is correct?
A Venus has a greater bulk density than Mars and the Earth.
B Mars has a greater bulk density than the Earth and Venus.
C the Earth has a greater bulk density than Venus and Mars.
D Mars and Venus have similar bulk densities.
E all three planets have about the same bulk density.
evidence that Mars has no crustal movement (plate tectonics) comes from
A seasonal changes in the polar caps
B large shield volcanos
C its lack of a magnetic field
D more than one of the above
in order for people to survive on Mars, which of the following would pose the most difficult problem?
A low surface pressure.
B lack of surface water in liquid form.
C low surface gravity.
D rusted iron in the soil.
the probable reason why Mars has no continental drift is that
A Mars has no large moon
B it is smaller than Earth, and thus its internal heat escapes more rapidly
C its spins more slowly and is smaller than Earth
D its interior is not differentiated
on Mars, the highland regions have many ______, whereas the lowland regions have many ______.
A impact craters, volcanoes.
B volcanoes, impact craters.
C mountain chains, lava-filled basins.
D plateaus, canals.
distinct evidence of the flow of water at an earlier time from photographs of the planetary surface is seen upon which planetary body?
A Venus
B Mars
C the Earth's moon
D titan
liquid water on Mars
A cannot exist at present because the temperature never gets above freezing
B cannot exist at present because of the low atmospheric pressure
C was detected only twice by the Viking landers
D originates when the polar caps melt
all of the Viking experiments could be interpreted to show that life exist or at least once existed, on Mars. this statement is
A correct
B wrong: organic molecules were not found, and other experiments were ambiguous
C wrong: all biological experiments were strongly negative
D wrong: only one experiment positively detected life
Mars has ice caps on its poles that apparently are composed:
A of a combination of water ice and co2 ice.
B entirely of water ice.
C entirely of co2 ice.
D of frozen methane (natural gas).
during the summer season for Mars's north pole, the polar cap
A shrinks because its frozen carbon dioxide evaporates.
B expands because its carbon dioxide condenses.
C shrinks because its ice melts.
D both (a) and (c) above.
E none of the above.
the polar caps on Mars are most likely made up of
A light-colored dust, blown there by intense dust storms
B sulfur dioxide, and sulfur compounds
C water and co2 ices
D volcanic outflow of light-colored lava and dust, similar to that produced by Earth-based
volcanoes (such as mt. stars. helens)
the largest shield volcanos known are found on
A Mercury
B Earth
C Mars
D the moon
water cannot flow on Mars because
A of the thin atmosphere
B its all in the ice-caps
C its gravity is too weak
D there isn't any
water is thought to be present on Mars
A in its polar caps.
B in permafrost below its surface.
C in liquid form on its surface.
D both (a) and (b) above.
E all of the above.
what is the main reason that no liquid water exists on the surface of Mars now?
A the surface pressure is too low.
B the surface pressure is too high.
C no water in any form exists on Mars now.
D the temperature never gets high enough for water to melt.
E the polar caps contain carbon dioxide ice and no water.
the red color of Mars is due to:
A a form of iron rust.
B microscopic vegetation with a red color.
C absorption and scattering of blue light by the Martian atmosphere.
D a substance of the Martian soil that was unknown before the Vikings.
which of the planets of the sun fits the following description? "a solid cool surface with occasional dust clouds and a thin co2 atmosphere"
A Jupiter
B Venus
C Mercury
D Mars
the Martian atmosphere
A is mostly carbon dioxide
B is quite similar to that of Earth
C is quite similar to that of Venus
D has been blown away by the solar wind
Mars has no liquid water on its surface because
A it is too far from the sun.
B its atmospheric pressure is too low
C its surface is too hot.
D all the water has been used up by an ancient (and stupid)civilization.
the reddish color of Mars is due to
A dust particles in the air
B silicon dioxide
C iron oxide
D carbon monoxide
which of the following planets has white polar caps?
A Venus
B Mars
C Jupiter
D no choice
why do Venus and Mars have larger volcanoes than Earth?
A the differences in atmospheres result in volcanoes being larger.
B movements of the Earth's crust has prevented ours from growing as large as those on the other planets.
C erosion on Earth is more prominent than on either of the other planets.
D the statement is false; Earth's volcanoes are larger.
most of the terrain of the southern hemisphere of Mars is:
A very much like that of the northern hemisphere.
B covered with enormous volcanos.
C rolling plains with little variation in altitude.
D relatively high plains that are heavily cratered.
the flow patterns found on the surface of Mars suggest
A that Mars is a water rich world.
B that the climate on Mars was different in the past.
C that volcanism is common on Mars.
D that the polar caps are made of water.
what is the major constituent of the atmosphere of Mars?
A hydrogen
B ch4, methane
C h20, water vapor
D co2, carbon dioxide
the "canals" seen on Mars by early observers
A were an optical illusion
B turned out to be chains of craters
C faded during heavy dust storms in recent years
D were confirmed by the mariner 9 photographs
the consensus among researchers concerning the Viking life-search results is that
A Martian life is entirely microbial; no large life forms can exist
B chemical reactions in Mars' soil mimic biological activity
C the experiments were badly designed and should be done over with another spacecraft
D life of unknown forms exists on Mars, and should be investigated with more sophisticated
spacecraft
in general, impact craters on the surface of Mars are shallower than those on our moon, deimos, and phobos (its moons)this fact implies that
A smaller objects hit the surface of Mars.
B the Martian surface is harder than the others.
C more erosion has occurred on Mars than the moons.
D Mars quakes have made the crater walls collapse.
E objects hit Mars with a lower velocity.
a major reason for the size of volcanos on Mars is
A the lack of continental drift on Mars
B the rapid motion of continental plates on Mars
C the large number of strong eruptions present on Mars
D flowing water (in the past) eroded them away
the origin of the carbon dioxide in the Martian atmosphere was probably
A frozen carbon dioxide on the planet's surface.
B the burning or oxidation of carbon on the Martian surface.
C life processes early in the Martian history.
D volcanic out gassing.
atmospheric pressure at the surface of Mars is:
A about like that on Earth.
B about like that on Venus.
C much greater than on Earth or Venus.
D much less than on Earth or Venus.
surface features resembling dry river beds on Mars were probably created b
A rain and flowing water in the past
B lava flows
C underground water melted by volcanic heating
D melting polar caps
what is the main reason that no liquid water is on the surface of Mars now?
A Mars' atmosphere exerts too little pressure for water to exist in liquid form.
B Mars has no water in any form -- gaseous, liquid, or solid.
C Mars' surface temperature now never rises high enough for ice to melt.
D Mars' polar caps consist of frozen carbon dioxide, not of frozen water.
E none of the above.
why does the atmospheric pressure in the co2 atmosphere on Mars drop rapid in the northern hemisphere during winter periods?
A because the co2 dissociates into carbon and oxygen
B because the co2 migrates to the summer hemisphere
C because the co2 freezes out onto the cold Martian surface at this time
D because the co2 has become warm enough during the preceding summer to escape from
the planet
the atmosphere of Mars has a composition similar to that of:
A Earth
B Venus
C Jupiter
D Neptune
which one of the following statements about the Martian satellites is true
A both are large satellites (nearly the size of the Earth's moon)
B both are small satellites
C one is large, while the other is small
D Mars has only one small satellite
the moons of Mars are
A irregular shaped, cratered
B spherical, with active volcanoes
C flattened spheres, because of rotation, and ice covered
D spherical and smooth-surfaced
Mars's moons are not spherical like Earth's moon because
A of cratering.
B their gravitational force is not strong enough.
C they are much older than our moon.
D they are much younger than our moon.
E the statement is false; they are spherical.
the Martian satellites phobos and deimos
A are large and spherical like the moon
B are small and irregularly shaped
C are in synchronous orbits
D show evidence of volcanic activity on their surface
the Martian satellites probably formed
A out of the same material from which Mars formed
B in the asteroid belt, and were later captured
C about a billion years after Mars was formed
D about a billion years before Mars was formed
the moons of Mars are:
A spherical and nearly smooth.
B spherical and are heavily crater covered.
C shaped like bricks and nearly smooth.
D shaped like potatoes and are heavily cratered.
which of the following planets has a satellite which rises in the west?
A Mars
B Venus
C Jupiter
D no choice
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