The Inner Planets

Why are the inner planets called terrestrial planets?
1. because they are very hot
2. because they can support life
3. because most are gas giants
4. because they are very dense and rocky
How is the makeup of the inner planets different from the outer
planets?
1. They are hot, dry, and dense.
2. They are small, dense, and rocky.
3. They are large, light, and gaseous.
4. They are small, light, and solid.
How does weight on Mercury compare with weight on Earth?
1. Things weigh much less.
2. Things weigh much more.
3. Things weigh about the same.
4. Things weigh two-thirds more.
Why does Mercury's day last almost two Earth months?
1. because its period of rotation is fast
2. because its period of rotation is slow
3. because its period of revolution is slow
4. because its period of revolution is fast
How long does it take Mercury to revolve once around the sun?
1. 55 Earth days
2. 150 Earth days
3. 88 Earth days
4. 220 Earth days
Why is the planet Venus sometimes called Earth's twin?
1. Venus was born at about the same time.
2. Venus and Earth have about the same orbit.
3. Venus is about the same size.
4. Venus rotates in about the same direction.
Why does the sun rise in the west and set in the east on Venus?
1. Venus has a retrograde rotation.
2. Venus has a prograde rotation.
3. Venus spins the same way as the sun.
4. Earth has a counterclockwise spin.
Which terrestrial planet has the thickest atmosphere?
1. Earth
2. Mars
3. Mercury
4. Venus
What gases is the atmosphere of Venus made up of?
1. mainly oxygen and nitrogen
2. mainly carbon dioxide and acids
3. mainly hydrogen and helium
4. mainly water vapor and acids
What causes the high temperatures on Venus?
1. the acids in the air
2. the thin atmosphere
3. the carbon dioxide in the air
4. the water in the air
What technology was used to map Venus?
1. survey tools
2. several satellites
3. sonar
4. radar
What physical feature was found on Venus?
1. continents
2. oceans
3. deep valleys
4. volcanoes
What makes life possible on Earth?
1. liquid water
2. carbon dioxide in the air
3. high surface temperature
4. thick atmosphere
Which of the following is NOT part of Earth's global system?
1. the oceans
2. the continents
3. the atmosphere
4. the biosphere
What makes Mars a cold planet?
1. It has a thick atmosphere.
2. It is too close to the sun.
3. It has polar icecaps.
4. Its thin atmosphere does not trap heat.
What is an important effect of Mars's low air pressure?
1. Planes cannot fly on Mars.
2. Mars has oceans of liquid water.
3. Water is found only as ice.
4. The icecaps are made of carbon dioxide.
What suggests that liquid water may have been on Mars in the past?
1. the Martian icecaps
2. dry riverbeds
3. wavelike shapes
4. water vapor in its air
Where may the lost water on Mars be found?
1. in rivers under the soil
2. frozen in the icecaps
3. frozen beneath the Martian soil
4. in oceans under the soil
What is the name of the largest dead volcano on Mars?
1. Mauna Kea
2. Olympus Mons
3. Sojourner
4. Tharsis