Earth’s Place in the Universe

Which statement best explains why inner and outer planets ended up with different compositions?

• Temperatures drop with distance from the Sun.

• Big planets can’t keep stable orbits.

• Planets with fewer gases grow larger.

• Metals always melt before nonmetals.

Evidence from the outer planets suggests Earth’s earliest atmosphere was dominated by which two gases?

• Carbon dioxide and oxygen

• Helium and oxygen

• Hydrogen and helium

• Oxygen and water vapor

Which description fits the terrestrial planets?

• Far from the Sun; mostly hydrogen and helium; low density

• Close to the Sun; rocky surfaces; relatively dense

• Have wide ring systems and thick gas envelopes

• Outer region objects with very low densities

Four planets have orbital eccentricities: Mercury 0.206, Venus 0.007, Earth 0.017, Mars 0.093. Which has the most elliptical orbit, and why?

• Mercury, because its eccentricity is the greatest.

• Venus, because its eccentricity is the smallest.

• Earth, because its orbit is balanced between the foci.

• Mars, because a moderate value means more stretch.

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Why do daylight length and the angle of sunlight vary with latitude during the year?

• Equatorial areas get nearly direct sunlight year-round.

• Every latitude receives equal sunlight all year.

• Polar regions have extreme changes due to tilt and season.

• Poles receive more direct sunlight than the equator.

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How does the Earth–Moon barycenter affect Earth’s motion?

• It lies halfway between Earth and Moon, cancelling tides.

• It lies inside Earth, so Earth slightly “wobbles” as both orbit it.

• It lies outside the Moon, forcing a perfectly circular lunar orbit.

• It lies inside the Moon, changing Earth’s path around the Sun.

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What causes the regular alternation of day and night?

• Earth’s rotation on its axis

• Earth’s revolution around the Sun

• The Moon blocking sunlight

• Earth’s axial tilt only

What pattern links Moon phases and tidal ranges?

• Spring tides at new & full moons; neap tides at first & third quarter

• Neap tides at new & full moons; spring tides at first & third quarter

• Tides depend only on Earth–Sun distance

• Tidal range is constant all month

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A planet sweeps out equal areas in equal times along its orbit. What does this imply about the time to cross equal-area sectors A–B, C–D, and E–F?

• A–B takes twice E–F.

• All three sectors take the same time.

• Together they equal half an orbit.

• C–D plus E–F equals A–B.

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How does Earth’s axial tilt influence the seasons?

• It changes how directly sunlight strikes different latitudes.

• It speeds up atmospheric chemical reactions.

• It blocks harmful solar radiation.

• It speeds up Earth’s rotation.

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