What is the visible surface of the Sun called?
a. Photosphere b. Atmosphere c. Stratosphere d. Glowing sphere
A. Photosphere
Six trillion miles is equivalent in distance to one_________
Light-year
The closest star to the sun is called_______
Proxima centari
The creation of elements inside a star is called________
nucleosythesis
the greater the mass of the star, the ________ it moves through its life cycle.
faster
the cataclysmic explosion of a star that throws most of its matter into space is called a
supernova
An extremely large collection of stars bound together by gravitational attraction and occupying a huge volume of space is called a _______________.
a. planetary nebula b. solar system c. universe d. galaxy
d. Galaxy
The Sun's photosphere is, by mass, about 75%
a. helium. b. carbon. c. hydrogen. d. oxygen.
C. Hydrogen
Patches of cooler material on the Sun's surface are called
a. flares. b. prominences. c. cool spots. d. sunspots.
D. Sunspots
The Sun's energy is generated from the fusion of
a. uranium to form lead, Pb.
b. helium nuclei to form carbon nuclei.
c. hydrogen nuclei to form helium nuclei.
d. carbon nuclei to form magnesium nuclei.
C. hydrogen nuclei to form helium nuclei
The earliest evidence of ancient life, blue-green algae, are
a. cyanobacteria. b. amber. c. foraminifera. d. coal.
C. Cyanobacteria
Which of the following is not a feature of a good index fossil?
a. Numerous specimens found
b. Occurrence limited to a few localities
c. Easily identified species
d. Limited time span of existence
B. Occurrence limited to a few localities
Starting with a sample of pure parent radionuclide, what would be the ratio of the parent radionuclide to its daughter after two half-lives have elapsed?
1 to 3
Geologists have principally used which class of rocks to establish the relative time scale?
a. Igneous b. Foliated c. Metamorphic d. Sedimentary
D. sedimentary
The Holocene epoch began when
a. the glaciers last retreated from North America.
b. a period of intense volcanic activity ended
c. an asteroid hit Chicxulub
d. Pangaea began breaking up
a. the glaciers last retreated from North America
. The oldest known fossils of the genus Homo date from about how long ago?
a. 6000 years b. 2 million years c. 10,000 years d. 65,000 years
B. 2 million years
What event led to the demise of the dinosaurs.
The K-T event
The Triassic Period is part of which era
Mesozoic
Wood from an ancient stump has a ratio of carbon-14 to carbon-12 that is one-eighth that of new wood. About how old is the stump? (Carbon-14's half-life is 5730 years.)
a. 17,190 years b. 11,460 years c. 5730 years d. 2865 years
A. 17,190 years
Potassium-40 is one of the six major radionuclides used for radiometric dating, decays to:
a. nitrogen. b. strontium. c. lead. d. argon
D. argon