Multiple Choice 10 points  
 
Question In the basalt sample depicted below, the former vesicles (small spherical cavities) which are now filled with minerals were most likely formed by ________.
Inline image basalt_vesicles.jpg
Answer
  a) Air bubbles entrained in the flow during the eruption
  b) Vaporizing of sea water during an underwater eruption
  c) The weathering and erosion of olivine crystals after the eruption
d) The escape of gas bubbles dissolved in the lava during the eruption
 
Multiple Choice 10 points  
 
Question Using the figure below, what type of lava is most likely to erupt at tectonic setting “C”?
Inline image volcanoesNplates.jpg
Answer
  a) basalt
  b) obsidian
c) andesite
  d) all of the above
 
Multiple Choice 10 points  
 
Question Using the image below of the Yellowstone hot spot, determine in what relative direction the North American Plate has been moving since ~ 16.1 MA.
Inline image hot_spot.jpg
Answer
a) To the Southwest
  b) To the Northwest
  c) To the Southeast
  d) To the Northeast
 
Multiple Choice 10 points  
 
Question Which of the following statements about lava is true?
Answer
a) High temperature lavas are less viscous than low temperature lavas
  b) The more gas a lava contains, the less violent the eruption
  c) The viscosity of a lava increases as the silica content decreases
  d) All of the above
 
Multiple Choice 10 points  
 
Question 2. Which of the following volcanic flows move at the greatest velocity?
Answer
  a) basaltic lava flows
  b) rhyolitic lava flows
  c) lahars
d) pyroclastic flows
 
Multiple Choice 10 points  
 
Question Rocks formed from large, angular pyroclastic fragments are called volcanic_______.
Answer
  a) conglomerates
  b) domes
c) breccia
  d) tuff
 
Multiple Choice 10 points  
 
Question The largest and most violent volcanic eruptions are associated with _______.
Answer
  a) fissure eruptions
  b) cinder cones
c) felsic-composition dome-shaped voclanoes
  d) shield volcanoes
 
Multiple Choice 10 points  
 
Question What caused dust and condensing material to accrete into planetesimals?
Answer
  a) nuclear fusion
  b) rotation of the proto-sun
c) gravitational attraction and collisions
  d) heating of gases
 
Multiple Choice 10 points  
 
Question You are a planetary scientist hired by NASA to search other galaxies for planets that may be suitable for humans to survive on the surface. Which of the following principles or ideas would you use in your task?
Answer
  a) Look for a planet that is the same relative size as the earth
  b) Look for a planet that is orbiting a star at the same distance that the Earth orbits the sun.
  c) Look for a solar system containing a very large outer planet protecting the inner planets of that solar system from frequent meteor impacts.
d) All of the above
  e) None of the above
 
True/False 10 points  
 
Question One of the theories suggesting why Mars does not have as thick of an atmosphere as Earth is due to its relatively small size and consequent smaller gravitational force potential.
Answer
Selected True
  False