Astronomy current events question: proposed mission to asteroid Psyche

Astronomy 210L, fall semester 2019
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

Students are assigned to read online articles on current astronomy events, and take a short current events quiz during the first 10 minutes of lab. (This motivates students to show up promptly to lab, as the time cut-off for the quiz is strictly enforced!)

Emil Venere, "Rare Metallic Asteroids Might Have Erupted Molten Iron" (September 16, 2019)
purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2019/Q3/rare-metallic-asteroids-might-have-erupted-molten-iron.html

A proposed mission to study the asteroid Psyche could gather evidence of how __________ may explain its low density and metallic surface.
(A) core heat.
(B) solar storms.
(C) iron volcanoes.
(D) weak magnetism.
(E) close passes near the sun.

Correct answer: (C)

Student responses
Sections 70178, 70186
(A) : 10 students
(B) : 2 students
(C) : 22 students
(D) : 5 students
(E) : 2 students