Life in the Solar System

Europa is one of the moons that revolve around Jupiter. A thick sheet of ice covers its entire surface. Many scientists believe that the ice is covering an ocean of water, and that it is possible for life to exist on Europa under the thick ice sheet. Recently, using the Hubble Space Telescope, astronomers spotted water vapor clouds breaking out through Europa's surface. This provided the scientists with a sign that an ocean exists under the ice sheet. Which of the following would best support the theory that life exists on Europa?

• direct evidence of liquid water just below Europa’s surface

• presence of water vapor in Europa's atmosphere

• presence of thick ice sheets on Europa's surface

• revolution of Europa around Jupiter

Which of the following planetary characteristics prevents Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune from supporting life as known on Earth?

• their composition

• their number of moons

• their orbital speeds

• their axial tilts

Europa is one of Jupiter's moons. Its surface is covered with frozen water. It is far from the sun and has only a very thin atmosphere, so its surface is considered to be too cold to support life. Beneath the ice, there are probably liquid oceans rich in oxygen, kept warm by heat that escapes from Europa's core. Which of the following facts supports the idea that life could exist on Europa?

• On Earth, whole ecosystems exist deep in the ocean that use volcanic vents, not sunlight, as a source of energy.

• On Earth, penguins live and breed in the coldest part of the Earth—Antarctica, on the southern polar ice cap.

• On Earth, deep sea fish attract prey with light that is given off by their bodies.

• On Earth, most producers get their energy from sunlight and form the base of entire food webs.

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All life on Earth requires liquid water, in which all of life's essential chemical reactions take place. What gives planet Earth enough energy to maintain liquid water?

• the Sun

• oxygen

• plate tectonics

• the Moon

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Mercury is the planet closest to the Sun. It has frozen water on its poles, and it has an extremely thin atmosphere. During the day, the temperature reaches 850°F. At night, its temperature can drop to -275°F. Could life from Earth survive on Mercury? Why or why not?

• No, because the temperatures are too extreme.

• Yes, because Mercury has water and sunlight.

• No, because life can only exist in the place where it first evolved.

• Yes, because Mercury has an atmosphere

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The Earth is surrounded by a magnetic field, called a magnetosphere, that protects organisms on Earth from some types of solar radiation. Since Mars and Venus do not have magnetospheres, which of the following statements is most likely true?

• Mars and Venus are unable to support life.

• Mars and Venus are too cold to support life.

• Mars and Venus are able to support life.

• Mars and Venus will support life in the future.

How many objects in the solar system have been confirmed to currently support life?

• one

• two

• three

• four

On which body in the Solar system would some life forms from Earth be most likely to survive?

• Mars, because its environment is most similar to Earth's

• the moon, because it is the closest to Earth

• Venus, because its size is most similar to that of Earth

• Saturn, because its surface gravity is most similar to Earth's

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Temperatures on Mars are generally cooler than on Earth, but they are warm enough to potentially support life. The atmosphere of Mars is much thinner than Earth's and is composed mainly of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and argon. Which of the following is a reason that Mars' atmosphere cannot support human life?

• The atmosphere on Mars cannot support human life because it does not contain abundant oxygen.

• The atmosphere on Mars cannot support human life because it does not contain abundant carbon monoxide.

• The atmosphere on Mars cannot support human life because it contains carbon dioxide.

• The atmosphere on Mars cannot support human life because it contains argon.

Which of the following reasons for the absence of life on the gas giants is a direct result of their distances from the Sun?

• They are too cold to support life.

• Their atmospheres have too little oxygen.

• They have no solid surfaces.

• Their gravities are too strong.