Astronomy & Earth Science Trivia - ESC Meeting #1

Question 1

How are the rings of Saturn generally accepted to be formed?

Accepted Answer

Disintegrated remains of meteorites and Saturn's moons

Question 2

What is one of the reasons why is the Earth's outer core assumed to be liquid?

Accepted Answer

P-waves can pass through the outer core.

Question 3

What is the chemical formula of gypsum?

Accepted Answer

CaSO₄·2H₂O

Question 4

Final question: Which of these regions on Earth is most likely to contain a hyper-arid (>100mm rain /year) climate?

Accepted Answer

Saudi Arabia

Question 5

The curvature of major ocean currents in the Northern Hemisphere is leftward.

Accepted Answer

False

Question 6

Which of these 4 marked points are closest to a major zone of earthquakes and volcanoes?

Accepted Answer

A

Question 7

In which layer of the atmosphere is the Karman line located?

Accepted Answer

Thermosphere

Question 8

A mineral's crystal shape is determined by the hardness of the mineral.

Accepted Answer

False

Question 9

What is the difference between a syncline and anticline fold? (Multiple answers are correct!)

Accepted Answer

Anticlines have older rocks at the bottom while synclines are the opposite., Anticlines are concaving down, while synclines are concaving up.

Question 10

Which of these planets has the strongest magnetic field? (Hint: ferromagnetism!!)

Accepted Answer

Earth

Question 11

Which of these listed planets has the shortest orbit?

Accepted Answer

Neptune

Question 12

True or false: Venus has the most circular orbit.

Accepted Answer

True

Question 13

What is one of the differences between S-waves and P-waves? (Multiple answers are correct)

Accepted Answer

The P-wave shadow zone is smaller than the S-wave shadow zone., P-waves can travel through solids and liquids while S-waves cannot.

Question 14

The density of seawater increases as:

Accepted Answer

Salinity and pressure increase while temperature decreases

Question 15

Gravity is stronger at the poles compared to the Equator. What does this say about Earth's shape?

Accepted Answer

Slightly oblate

Question 16

True or false: Light colored surfaces reflect more sunlight than dark colored surfaces.

Accepted Answer

True

Question 17

Why are impacts more prominent on the Moon than on Earth? (Multiple answers are correct)

Accepted Answer

The Moon has no atmosphere to reduce the size of meteors, while Earth does., The Earth has water which erodes at craters, and the moon does not.

Question 18

If the Earth's axis tilt were to increase from 23.5° to 33.5° and become more slanted, what can you infer would happen?

Accepted Answer

The seasons would become more extreme with a greater temperature difference

Question 19

Fun question: Which of these rocks are safe to eat?

Accepted Answer

Calcite, Limestone, Gypsum, Halite

Question 20

If a star had a mass of 90 solar masses and a radius of 60 solar radii (radiuses), what would it collapse into?

Accepted Answer

Black hole

Question 21

What is the length of time the Moon takes to travel from position A to position C, based on the diagram? (~28 day orbit)

Accepted Answer

14 days

Question 22

What is the atmosphere of Europa mainly composed of?

Accepted Answer

Mainly oxygen

Question 23

Is this fold syncline or anticline, based on the shape and fossil samples?

Accepted Answer

Syncline fold

Question 24

What are the two most abundant transition metals in the Earth's core?

Accepted Answer

Iron and nickel

Question 25

Which of these is NOT an igneous rock?

Accepted Answer

Slate

Astronomy & Earth Science Trivia - ESC Meeting #1

Questions 25

Astronomy & Earth Science Trivia - ESC Meeting #1

Questions 25