Questions
Now that we've reviewed some of the fundamentals of planetary exploration, here are some review questions. Perhaps you'll find them interesting to think about or maybe teachers can use them to quiz students.
Do you understand geodetic coordinates (latitude/longitude)?
Yes.
What is the prime meridian and how is it selected? What is the intersection of the prime meridian and the equator called?
The prime meridian is the line at 0 degrees longitude. It doesn't define which direction positive longitude is measured in or if negative numbers are used to describe longitude. These social conventions vary.
To the best of my knowledge, the intersection of the prime meridian and the equator has no name. I think this is very interesting. The familiar Cartesian coordinate system is all about "the origin", the point where the X and Y axis intersect. We usually scale data just to get the origin on the graph. But in a geodetic coordinate system, the origin goes unmentioned.
Can you name the three most basic kinds or types of rock?
Igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic.
Can you name several kinds of geological features?
Mountains, volcanoes, rivers, craters.
Can you list the four most important geological processes?
Volcanic, tectonic, impact cratering, erosion.