Mercury
1.
Mercury is difficult to see from Earth primarily because
a.
is such a small planet
b.
it is very faint
c.
it rotates slowly
d.
it always appears near the Sun
e.
the orbit is highly elliptical.
2.
Which of the following statements is true?
a.
Mercury is larger and more massive than
the Moon, but its density is less than the Moon’s density.
b.
Mercury is larger and more massive than
the Moon, but its density is the same as the Moon’s density.
c.
Mercury is larger, more massive and
denser than the Moon.
d.
None of the statements is true.
3.
Based on our knowledge of the average density of Mercury,
which of the following is probably the best description of Mercury’s core?
a.
hot, molten, made of rock-like material
b.
hot, molten, made of metallic material
c.
cool, made of rock-like material
d.
cool, made of metallic material
e.
none of these
4.
Mercury has a high surface temperature because of its
a.
strong greenhouse effect
b.
proximity to the Sun
c.
eccentric orbit
d.
spin-orbit coupling
e.
rapid rotation.
5.
Mercury's rotation period was determined from Earth-base
observations by
a.
visual observations of the motion of
surface features across the planet
b.
Doppler shift observations of radar
signals
c.
Doppler shift observations of
ultraviolet light
d.
theoretical calculations of the
spin-orbit coupling
e.
using Kepler's Harmonic Law with its
satellite.
6.
That Mercury has a
large iron core is evidenced by
a.
the
large lobate scarps.
b.
the
large mean density of Mercury.
c.
the
lava flows near Caloris Basin.
d.
all of
the above.
e.
none
of the above.
7.
Mercury’s surface
a.
is the hottest in the solar system
b.
is shaped by erosion
c.
contains large amounts of iron oxide
(rust)
d.
looks much like the Moon’s surface
e.
none of these
8.
Weird terrain is found
a.
opposite the largest impact basins
b.
within large impact basins
c.
surrounding scarps
d.
only within Caloris Planitia.
9.
Below are numbered statements concerning the evolution of
Mercury. Choose the lettered statement
that best orders the numbered choices chronologically.
I hardening
of crust and lava flows
II accretion
III melting
of surface
IV cratering
V cooling
a.
I, II, III, IV, V
b.
II, V, III, I, IV
c.
III, V, IV, I, II
d.
V, IV, III, II, I
e.
II, III, V, I, IV.
10.
Which of the following statements about Mercury's rotation
is true?
a.
rotation period = revolution period
b.
planet does not rotate
c.
planet rotates 3 times for every 2 revolutions
d.
planet revolves 3 times for every 2
rotations.
11.
The lobate scarps on Mercury likely were caused by
a.
volcanic activity
b.
continental drift
c.
expansion of the surface due to intense
solar heating
d.
shrinking of the surface after cooling
of the interior
e.
water erosion.
12.
Explain why a day on Mercury is 176 Earth days long.
a.
It takes 1 full orbit of Mercury for
the Sun to return to the same point in the sky over Mercury.
b.
It takes 2 full orbits of Mercury for
the Sun to return to the same point in the sky over Mercury.
c.
Mercury's period of rotation is 3 times
longer than its orbital period.
d.
Mercury's period of rotation is 3/2
times longer than its orbital period.
e.
None of the above.
13.
If ice has an albedo of 70-80 percent, and basalt has an
albedo of 5-20 percent, what can you say about the surface of Mercury?
a.
Mercury has an albedo of 6% and is,
therefore, more likely to have a surface of basaltic composition and not one of
ice.
b.
Mercury has an albedo of 76% and is,
therefore, more likely to have a surface of ice and not one of basalt.
c.
Mercury has an albedo of 52% and is,
therefore, likely to have a surface which is a mixture of basalt and ice.
d.
Ice will melt on the surface of
Mercury.
e.
None of the above.
14.
Which of the following properties of Mercury was discovered
by the Mariner 10 spacecraft?
a.
orbital period.
b.
rotational period.
c.
surface temperature.
d.
magnetic field.
e.
all of the above.
15.
What evidence is there for erosion on Mercury?
a.
The degraded appearance of crater rims.
b.
Sinuous channels that look as if they
carried water at one time.
c.
Wind storms that have been seen to
occur on the surface.
d.
Scoured channels that appear to have
been formed by the movement of glaciers.
e.
None of the above.
16.
Judging from the appearances of the Moon, Earth, and
Mercury, plus knowledge of the interiors of these objects, we might conclude
that
a.
Mercury and the Moon have changed
little since their formation, while the Earth is still evolving.
b.
both Mercury and the Earth are now
actively evolving, but the Moon is dead
c.
all three objects are in a state of constant
evolutionary change
d.
the present surface features on all
three objects may be considered permanent