In comparison to the planets in the solar system Mercury is:
Answer
the smallest
the largest of the terrestrial planets
the largest
the smallest of the gas giants
Question 2
Question
Mercury is roughly the size of the Moon, though, slightly larger.
Answer
True
False
Question 3
Question
Mercury has not yet been explored by any space probes.
Answer
True
False
Question 4
Question
Describe Mercury's interior.
Answer
Mercury has a large, semi-molten, iron-nickel core, a silicate mantle, and a thin, rocky crust.
Mercury has a small, solid iron-nickel core, a larger liquid outer core, a silicate mantle, and a rocky crust.
Mercury has a large, solid, iron-nickel core, a rocky mantle, and a rocky crust.
Mercury has a small, semi-molten, iron-nickel core, a large silicate mantle, and a thin rocky crust.
Question 5
Question
What is unique about Mercury's rotation?
Answer
Mercury rotates backwards on its axis (clockwise) whereas all the other planets rotate counterclockwise.
Mercury "wobbles" as it rotates on its axis.
Mercury's axis is at a 90 degree angle, so it rotates on its side.
Mercury's rotation is experiencing tidal lock, which causing the same side of Mercury to face the Sun at all times.
Question 6
Question
1 year (the amount of time it takes Mercury to orbit the sun) on Mercury is shorter than 1 day (the time it takes to rotate once on Mercury's axis) on Mercury.
Answer
True
False
Question 7
Question
Mercury has no magnetic field.
Answer
True
False
Question 8
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What is unique about Mercury's orbit?
Answer
It is the most elliptical orbit of any planet in our solar system.
It is the most circular orbit of any planet in our solar system.
It is perpendicular in comparison to other planets' orbits.
Mercury orbits backwards around the Sun, so it moves in a clockwise path.
Question 9
Question
Why does Mercury experience extreme temperature changes?
Answer
Because it has no atmosphere to retain heat.
Because of Mercury's closeness to the Sun.
Because of Mercury's slow rotation causing long days and nights.
All of the above
Question 10
Question
Why does Mercury lack an atmosphere?
Answer
Mercury lacks an atmosphere due to its small gravitational force.
Mercury lacks an atmosphere because the Sun burns off all gas before it can create an atmosphere.
Mercury lacks an atmosphere because it does not have a magnetic field to protect its atmosphere from the Sun.
Mercury lacks an atmosphere because it never developed one.
Question 11
Question
What evidence suggest that Mercury may have a partially molten, or molten interior?
Answer
The presence of a magnetic field.
The odd "wobbling" of Mercury's rotation on its axis.
The high surface temperature indicates that there must be a partially-molten interior.
A and B are both correct.
A, B, and C are all correct.
A and C are correct.
Question 12
Question
While Mercury currently has a slow rotation, it probably rotated much faster in the past.