Astronomy quiz question: comparative surface dating of Mercury's surface

Astronomy 210 Quiz 4, spring semester 2015
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

Compared to the oldest surfaces on Mercury, the more recently developed surfaces have __________ craters.
(A) fewer.
(B) volcanic.
(C) darker.
(D) collapsed.

Correct answer (highlight to unhide): (A)

Because of the rate of bombardment in the solar system has decreased over time, the density of impact craters indicates the surface age of a terrestrial planet, where a heavily cratered region is relatively older than a region with fewer craters, which would have experienced more recent geological activity that would remove/cover craters.

Section 36074
Exam code: quiz04NoR3
(A) : 26 students
(B) : 5 students
(C) : 4 students
(D) : 3 students

Success level: 71% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.60

Section 30676
Exam code: quiz04s0U7
(A) : 37 students
(B) : 1 student
(C) : 3 students
(D) : 5 students

Success level: 80% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.54

Astronomy quiz question: comparative surface dating of terrestrial planets

Astronomy 210 Quiz 7, spring semester 2013
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

__________ are used to compare the age of different regions on terrestrial planets.
(A) Impact crater densities.
(B) Infrared measurements.
(C) Volcano heat maps.
(D) Polar ice caps.

Correct answer (highlight to unhide): (A)

Because of the rate of bombardment in the solar system has decreased over time, the density of impact craters indicates the surface age of a terrestrial planet, where a heavily cratered region is relatively older than a smoother region, which would have experience more recent geological activity.

Section 36074
Exam code: quiz07n0iC
(A) : 20 students
(B) : 3 students
(C) : 2 students
(D) : 1 student

Success level: 79% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.57

Section 30676
Exam code: quiz07sEcn
(A) : 27 students
(B) : 9 students
(C) : 2 students
(D) : 4 students
(No response) : 1 student

Success level: 66% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.54

Astronomy quiz question: Venus versus Earth's moon

Astronomy 210 Quiz 7, Fall Semester 2010
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

The small number of impact craters on Venus, compared to Earth's moon, is evidence of Venus':
(A) past oceans.
(B) lack of shield volcanoes.
(C) lack of tidal heating.
(D) younger surface.

Correct answer: (D)

The surfaces of all terrestrial planets (and Earth's moon) accumulated impact craters during the heavy bombardment phase of planetary formation. Geological activity is responsible for removing these impact craters (filling in with lava, folding down into the mantle from tectonic plate motion), such that a lack of impact craters corresponds to a greater amount of geological activity, and a newer (more recently solidified) surface.

Section 70160
(A) : 14 students
(B) : 3 students
(C) : 1 student
(D) : 21 students

"Success level": 58% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.39