astro midterm 3

The two parts of Earth's core are the ________ ________ core and ________ ________ core

Solid inner and molten outer

The ________ surrounds the Earth's core

mantle

the mantle is mostly made of ________ ________

solid rock

the ________ is mostly made of solid rock

mantle

________ drives geological activity within the Earth from accretion and radioactive materials

internal heat

internal heat drives ________ ________ within the Earth from accretion and radioactive materials

geological activity

internal heat drives geological activity within the Earth from ________ and ________ ________

accretion and radioactive materials

The ________ of a planet affects its geological activity

size

________ ________ cool faster

Smaller planets

the three main processes by which planets cool are ________, ________, and ________

Convection, conduction, and radiation

Convection means ________ ________ expands and rises, while ________ ________ contracts and falls

hot material, cooler material

Convection means hot material ________ and ________, while cooler material ________ and ________

expands and rises, contracts and falls

________ means hot material expands and rises, while cooler material contracts and falls

Convection

The rate of convection on Earth is a few ________ ___ ________

centimeters per year

________ is where molten rock finds a path through the lithosphere to the surface

Volcanism

Volcanism is where ________ _______ finds a path through the lithosphere to the surface

molten rock

Volcanism is where molten rock finds a path through the ________ to the surface

lithosphere

Once molten rock reaches the surface, it is called ________

lava

Tectonic forces are stresses in the crust created by ________ of the ________

convection of the mantle

Tectonic forces are ________ in the ________ created by convection of the mantle

stresses in the crust

________ ________ are stresses in the crust created by convection of the mantle

Tectonic forces

Mountain ranges are formed by ________ ________

Compression forces

________ ________ are formed by compression forces

mountain ranges

Earth's magnetic field protects Earth from ________ ________ ________

harmful solar radiation

________ ________ ________ protects Earth from harmful solar radiation

Earth's magnetic field

The greenhouse effect is a process where gas molecules absorb and re-emit infrared light, slowing ________ ________ and ________ the ________.

energy release and warming the planet

The greenhouse effect is a process where ________ ________absorb and re-emit infrared light, slowing energy release and warming the planet.

gas molecules

The greenhouse effect is a process where gas molecules ________ and ________ ________ ________, slowing energy release and warming the planet.

absorb and reemit infrared light

The ________ ________ is a process where gas molecules absorb and re-emit infrared light, slowing energy release and warming the planet.

greenhouse effect

Venus's surface temperature is significantly higher than Earth's due to its ________ to the ________ and a thick atmosphere rich in CO2.

proximity to the Sun

Venus's surface temperature is significantly higher than Earth's due to its proximity to the Sun and a ________ ________ rich in ________.

thick atmosphere rich in CO2

The Carbon Dioxide Cycle is when atmospheric CO2 dissolves in ________, erodes ________, and combines with ________ to form rocks on the ocean floor.

rainwater, minerals, carbon

The Carbon Dioxide Cycle is when atmospheric CO2 ________ in rainwater, ________ minerals, and ________ with carbon to form rocks on the ocean floor.

dissolves, erodes, combines

The geological evidence that suggests Mars once had liquid water are features like ________ ________ and ________ ________, along with hydrated minerals found by rovers.

Olympus Mons and Valles Marineris

The geological evidence that suggests Mars once had liquid water are features like Olympus Mons and Valles Marineris, along with ________ ________ ________ by ________.

hydrated minerals found by rivers

Water vapor in Mars's atmospheres is ________ by _____ ________ due to lack of a protective magnetic field.

destroyed by UV light

Water vapor in Mars's atmospheres is destroyed by UV light due to ________ of a ________ ________ ________.

lack of a protective magnetic field

What unique features does Earth have that support life? (4)

Surface water, atmospheric oxygen, plate tectonics, stable CO2 cycle

The density of giant planets relates to their formation as planets forming in ________ ________ of the ________ can capture more material quickly.

denser parts of the nebula

The density of giant planets relates to their formation as planets forming in denser parts of the nebula can ________ more ________ ________.

capture more material quickly

Jupiter is denser than Saturn because Jupiter's ________ ________ ________ its ________ more, increasing density.

greater mass compresses its gas

Earth's magnetic field ________ the ________ from ________ ________ and allows for the existence of liquid water.

protects the atmosphere from solar wind

Earth's magnetic field protects the atmosphere from solar wind and allows for the ________ of ________ ________.

existence of liquid water

________ releases gases that can create and sustain atmospheres

Outgassing

Outgassing releases gases that can ________ and ________ ________

create and sustain atmospheres

UV light on Earth's atmosphere can ________ ________ and ________, stripping electrons away

ionize atoms and molecules

What geological activity is associated with the movement of tectonic plates? (3)

Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and mountain formation

Earth's surface temperature ________ due to the greenhouse effect, which allows for a habitable climate

increases

Earth's surface temperature increases due to the greenhouse effect, which allows for a ________ ________

habitable climate

The primary component of Venus's atmosphere is ________ ________, which is present at 200,000x the level found on Earth

Carbon dioxide

Earth's size contributes to its geological activity because a ________ ________ retains ________ ________, allowing for continued geological processes.

larger planet retains heat longer

In the greenhouse effect, ________ ________ absorbs infrared light, contributing to the warming of the atmosphere

water vapor

In the greenhouse effect, water vapor absorbs ________ ________, contributing to the warming of the atmosphere

infrared light

When mass is added to a jovian planet, it ________ the ________ _____ ________

compresses the underlying gas layers

Why is Jupiter not much larger than Saturn despite being three times more massive?

Greater compression occurs in Jupiter

What is the core of Jupiter thought to be made of? (3)

Rock, metals, and hydrogen compounds

________ behaves at great depths in Jupiter because it acts like a metal due to freely moving electrons

Hydrogen

Hydrogen behaves at great depths in Jupiter because it acts like a ________ due to freely moving electrons

metal

Jupiter's core is about the same size as Earth but ________ ________ more massive.

ten times

Jupiter's core is about the ________ ________ as Earth but ten times more massive.

same size

Models suggest the cores of giant planets have ________ ________

similar compositions

The interior structure of Uranus and Neptune is unique because they have ________ ________ and no liquid of metallic hydrogen

lower pressures

The interior structure of Uranus and Neptune is unique because they have lower pressures and _____ ________ or ________ ________

no liquid or metallic hydrogen

Clouds on Jupiter are formed from ________ ________

Hydrogen compounds

The different colors of clouds on jovian planets are caused by different ________ ________ corresponding to varying freezing points

hydrogen compounds

The ________ ________ ________ is a hurricane-like storm on Jupiter that is twice as wide as Earth

great red spot

The phenomenon that contributes to the storms on Io is ________ ________ due to its elliptical orbit around Jupiter

tidal heating

The phenomenon that contributes to the storms on Io is tidal heating due to its ________ ________ around Jupiter

elliptical orbit

Jupiter's main moons

Io, Europa, Ganymede, Callisto

Saturn's main moons

Enceladus and Titan

Neptune's main moons

Triton and Nereid

What is the most volcanically active body in the solar system?

Io

Europa's surface has ________ ________ that ________ its ________ ________

tidal stresses that crack its surface ice

What does Titan's atmosphere consist of? (4)

nitrogen argon methane ethane

Extremophiles are ________ that can survive in extreme conditions

microbes

What are the three requirements for a habitable world?

A nutrient source, energy, and liquid water

The role of tidal heating in the geological activity of moons is it provides the ________ ________ for geological activity

necessary heat

________ ________ is a process where a moon or planet's interior is heated by extreme stretching and squeezing caused by the varying gravitational pull of a nearby, larger body.

Tidal heating

Tidal heating is a process where a moon or planet's interior is heated by ________ ________ and ________ caused by the varying gravitational pull of a nearby, larger body.

extreme stretching or squeezing

Tidal heating is a process where a moon or planet's interior is heated by extreme stretching and squeezing caused by the varying ________ ________ of a ________, ________ ________.

gravitational pull of a nearby, larger body

The Huygens probe provided the ________ ________ at ________ ________

first look at Titan's surface

The Perseverance rover on Mars seeks signs of ________ ________ and collects samples for return to Earth

ancient life

Exobiology is the study of the ________, ________, ________, and ________ of life in the universe

origin, evolution, distribution, and future

________ is the study of the origin, evolution, distribution, and future of life in the universe

Exobiology

The jovian planets acquired their rings from ________ ________ in ________ on moons orbiting those planets

dust created in impacts

The effect of ________ ________ on ring gaps is some small moons can create gaps within rings through orbital resonance.

gravitational resonance

The effect of gravitational resonance on ring gaps is some small moons can create gaps within rings through ________ ________.

orbital resonance

Saturn's rings are composed of numerous ________ ________ ________ that orbit around Saturn's equator

tiny individual particles

The implications of finding sub-surface oceans on moons like Europa are that they may ________ ________ ________ for ________

harbor conditions suitable for life

The implications of finding ________ ________ on ________ like Europa are that they may harbor conditions suitable for life

subsurface oceans on moons

Cassini spacecraft's findings revealed the ________ ________ and ________ of Saturn's rings

varied density and structure

Cassini spacecraft's findings revealed the vared density and structure of ________ ________

Saturn's rings

A habitable world is a world on which at least some type of ________ ________ ________ could ________

earth like life could survive

A ________ ________ is a world on which at least some type of Earth-like life could survive

habitable world

________ ________ are worlds that could host life on their surface

Habitable worlds

The ________ ________ is the range of distances from a star where a planet may be cool enough for water vapor to condense as rain and form oceans.

habitable zone

The habitable zone is the range of ________ from a ________ where a planet may be cool enough for water vapor to condense as rain and form oceans.

distances from a star

The habitable zone is the range of distances from a star where a planet may be cool enough for ________ ________ to ________ as ________ and form oceans.

water vapor to condense as rain

The habitable zone is the range of distances from a star where a planet may be ________ ________ for water vapor to condense as rain and form oceans.

cool enough

________ ________ can reveal the presence of atmospheric gases like CO2, ozone, methane, and water vapor, which are biosignatures.

Infrared spectra