NASA Glenn Videoconference: Exploring Mars
Post-Conference Assessment: Answers

1. Which of the following are important considerations when building a model?
   

   X	Be aware of scale
   X	Be aware of it limitations
   __	Avoid using mathematical equations
   __	Keep it very complicated
   X	Utilize existing knowledge
   X	Revise it when new information becomes available

2. Match the following terms to the most correct description:
   
   

   B Model	A) Observations and data
   A Evidence	B) Scheme or structure that is used to explain real objects, events, or classes of events
   C Scientific Explanation	C) Hypothesis that utilizes existing and new knowledge, observations or experiments

    
3.  Which "crater" was formed first?
   
   

   a) A b) B

   
   
4. What does the depth of a crater hint about the impactor that formed it?
   

   a) The composition of the impactor

   b) The relative velocity of the impactor

   c) The diameter of the impactor

   d) The mass of the impactor

   e) Both b and d

5. What does the diameter of a crater hint about the impactor that formed it?
   

   a) The relative velocity of the impactor

   b) The diameter of the impactor

   c) The mass of the impactor

   d) The color of the impactor

6. Where would scientists most likely find water on Mars?
   

   e) Underground

   f) In surface lakes and rivers

   g) In the clouds

   h) All of the above

7. Identify the following terms as examples of evidence (E), a model (M), or a scientific explanation (S).
   

   E	A photograph of the surface of Mars
   M	A globe
   S	The force of gravity causes objects to fall towards the Earth
   S	Based on years of telescope observations, it is thought that Mars is smaller than the Earth
   M	A computer simulation showing the formation of a volcano on Earth

Please send any comments to:
Web site related: Curator
Content related: Joe Kolecki (Joseph.C.Kolecki@grc.nasa.gov)