Question 1

Saturn's rings probably formed through

Accepted Answer

A)  asteroid impacts on Saturn's moons during the Late Heavy Bombardment. 
B)  the breakup of a satellite that spiraled too close to the planet. 
C)  stripping of Saturn's atmosphere by the solar wind. 
D)  the capture of many comets within the planet's Roche limit. 
A)  asteroid impacts on Saturn's moons during the Late Heavy Bombardment. 
B)  the breakup of a satellite that spiraled too close to the planet. 
C)  stripping of Saturn's atmosphere by the solar wind. 
D)  the capture of many comets within the planet's Roche limit.

Question 2

The physical mechanism that is thought to control the motion and position of material in the narrow F ring around Saturn is the

Accepted Answer

A)  effect of the planet's intense magnetic field on the material. 
B)  confining gravitational interaction between this material and two shepherd satellites. 
C)  effect of sunlight focused on this material by the planet's atmosphere. 
D)  complex gravitational interaction between the major moons of Saturn and the F ring material. 
A)  effect of the planet's intense magnetic field on the material. 
B)  confining gravitational interaction between this material and two shepherd satellites. 
C)  effect of sunlight focused on this material by the planet's atmosphere. 
D)  complex gravitational interaction between the major moons of Saturn and the F ring material.

Question 3

The composition of the atmosphere of Titan, a satellite of Saturn, is mostly

Accepted Answer

A)  methane with small quantities of other gases. 
B)  nitrogen, methane, and other hydrocarbons. 
C)  carbon dioxide with small quantities of other gases. 
D)  methane, ammonia, and water vapor. 
A)  methane with small quantities of other gases. 
B)  nitrogen, methane, and other hydrocarbons. 
C)  carbon dioxide with small quantities of other gases. 
D)  methane, ammonia, and water vapor.

Question 4

What features characterize the visible surface of Triton, Neptune's largest moon?

Accepted Answer

A)  ice heavily cratered by ancient impacts 
B)  wrinkled surface, frozen lakes, and plumes of nitrogen gas 
C)  dense atmosphere permanently shrouded in clouds 
D)  lava flows, volcanoes, and sulfur dioxide frost 
A)  ice heavily cratered by ancient impacts 
B)  wrinkled surface, frozen lakes, and plumes of nitrogen gas 
C)  dense atmosphere permanently shrouded in clouds 
D)  lava flows, volcanoes, and sulfur dioxide frost

Question 5

The MOST massive planetary satellite in the solar system is

Accepted Answer

A)  Jupiter's satellite Europa. 
B)  Jupiter's satellite Ganymede. 
C)  Earth's Moon. 
D)  Saturn's satellite Titan. 
A)  Jupiter's satellite Europa. 
B)  Jupiter's satellite Ganymede. 
C)  Earth's Moon. 
D)  Saturn's satellite Titan.

Question 6

Triton, the largest satellite of Neptune, has a

Accepted Answer

A)  surface of ice with frozen lakes, plumes of escaping gas, and few craters. 
B)  surface of ice in which ancient, densely cratered regions are surrounded by interconnecting systems of parallel ridges. 
C)  thick atmosphere that hides the surface from view. 
D)  densely cratered surface of ice with at least one very large ringed structure, indicating an ancient asteroid impact. 
A)  surface of ice with frozen lakes, plumes of escaping gas, and few craters. 
B)  surface of ice in which ancient, densely cratered regions are surrounded by interconnecting systems of parallel ridges. 
C)  thick atmosphere that hides the surface from view. 
D)  densely cratered surface of ice with at least one very large ringed structure, indicating an ancient asteroid impact.

Question 7

Saturn's moon Titan is DIFFERENT from all other moons of the planets because

Accepted Answer

A)  continuously erupting volcanoes are observed on it. 
B)  lakes of water with floating icebergs are seen on its surface. 
C)  its orbit carries it directly over both poles of the planet. 
D)  it possesses a thick atmosphere. 
A)  continuously erupting volcanoes are observed on it. 
B)  lakes of water with floating icebergs are seen on its surface. 
C)  its orbit carries it directly over both poles of the planet. 
D)  it possesses a thick atmosphere.

Question 8

What is the source of the particles that compose Jupiter's rings?

Accepted Answer

A)  These are particles that orbited Jupiter when it was formed but never coalesced into a satellite. 
B)  These particles were once a satellite, but it moved too close to Jupiter and was torn apart by the strong gravitational field. 
C)  Particles blasted by impacts off the four innermost moons of Jupiter form the rings. 
D)  The ring particles are captured from the asteroid belt by Jupiter's strong magnetic field. 
A)  These are particles that orbited Jupiter when it was formed but never coalesced into a satellite. 
B)  These particles were once a satellite, but it moved too close to Jupiter and was torn apart by the strong gravitational field. 
C)  Particles blasted by impacts off the four innermost moons of Jupiter form the rings. 
D)  The ring particles are captured from the asteroid belt by Jupiter's strong magnetic field.

Question 9

Jupiter's Great Red Spot is a(n)

Accepted Answer

A)  continent. 
B)  storm. 
C)  optical illusion. 
D)  hole in the clouds. 
A)  continent. 
B)  storm. 
C)  optical illusion. 
D)  hole in the clouds.

Question 10

One distinct difference between the two otherwise similar planets, Uranus and Neptune, is

Accepted Answer

A)  the almost featureless visible image of Uranus, compared to distinctly seen storms and clouds on Neptune. 
B)  the absence of an internal magnetic field and surrounding magnetosphere at Neptune. 
C)  belts and zones on Uranus, visible through haze, compared to the totally cloud-enshrouded Neptune. 
D)  the absence of moons around Neptune. 
A)  the almost featureless visible image of Uranus, compared to distinctly seen storms and clouds on Neptune. 
B)  the absence of an internal magnetic field and surrounding magnetosphere at Neptune. 
C)  belts and zones on Uranus, visible through haze, compared to the totally cloud-enshrouded Neptune. 
D)  the absence of moons around Neptune.

Question 11

Which of these is NOT a reason that planetary scientists suspect that liquid water exists under the surface of Europa?

Accepted Answer

A)  existence of cracks and fractures on the moon's surface 
B)  existence of smooth areas apparently formed by fluid erupting onto the surface 
C)  lack of a magnetic field around Europa 
D)  discovery of lenticulae of rising, warmed ice 
A)  existence of cracks and fractures on the moon's surface 
B)  existence of smooth areas apparently formed by fluid erupting onto the surface 
C)  lack of a magnetic field around Europa 
D)  discovery of lenticulae of rising, warmed ice

Question 12

The high-speed winds observed on Jupiter occur mainly

Accepted Answer

A)  in a northwest-southeast direction from the light zones toward the dark belts. 
B)  in a northeast-southwest direction from the dark belts toward the light zones. 
C)  from the poles toward the equator. 
D)  in the directions parallel to the equator. 
A)  in a northwest-southeast direction from the light zones toward the dark belts. 
B)  in a northeast-southwest direction from the dark belts toward the light zones. 
C)  from the poles toward the equator. 
D)  in the directions parallel to the equator.

Question 13

Which of these was NOT a result of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 impacting Jupiter?

Accepted Answer

A)  The observable effects were delayed by several months after impact, because the resulting heat had to be convected through Jupiter's atmosphere. 
B)  Friction with the atmosphere created enormous fireballs. 
C)  Carbon from the comet vaporized, leaving dark plumes. 
D)  Ripples created by the impact disturbed Jupiter's atmosphere for months. 
A)  The observable effects were delayed by several months after impact, because the resulting heat had to be convected through Jupiter's atmosphere. 
B)  Friction with the atmosphere created enormous fireballs. 
C)  Carbon from the comet vaporized, leaving dark plumes. 
D)  Ripples created by the impact disturbed Jupiter's atmosphere for months.

Question 14

Which characteristic of Jupiter's satellite Io makes it different from any other known satellite in the solar system?

Accepted Answer

A)  Io has a permanent, dense atmosphere. 
B)  Io is volcanically active, with gas plumes and lava flows. 
C)  Io has geyserlike plumes of nitrogen gas. 
D)  Io's surface is broken into heavily cratered and lightly cratered regions in a pattern similar to plate tectonics. 
A)  Io has a permanent, dense atmosphere. 
B)  Io is volcanically active, with gas plumes and lava flows. 
C)  Io has geyserlike plumes of nitrogen gas. 
D)  Io's surface is broken into heavily cratered and lightly cratered regions in a pattern similar to plate tectonics.

Question 15

Uranus is tilted on its side with its rotation axis almost in the plane of its orbital motion around the Sun. As a result, seasonal variations in temperature on Uranus are

Accepted Answer

A)  nonexistent. 
B)  much less extreme than seasonal variations in temperature on Earth. 
C)  about the same as on Earth. 
D)  much more extreme than seasonal variations in temperature on Earth. 
A)  nonexistent. 
B)  much less extreme than seasonal variations in temperature on Earth. 
C)  about the same as on Earth. 
D)  much more extreme than seasonal variations in temperature on Earth.

Question 16

How would Interplanetary Travel, Inc., advertise a holiday to Neptune's satellite Triton?

Accepted Answer

A)  The largest number of volcanoes for your travel dollar anywhere in the solar system! 
B)  Skate on frozen nitrogen lakes all morning, bask beside nitrogen geysers in the afternoon! 
C)  Hot and dry-never rains-beautiful sulfurous skies! 
D)  Exquisite ethane lakes, hydrocarbons beyond your wildest dreams, no shortage of fuel! 
A)  The largest number of volcanoes for your travel dollar anywhere in the solar system! 
B)  Skate on frozen nitrogen lakes all morning, bask beside nitrogen geysers in the afternoon! 
C)  Hot and dry-never rains-beautiful sulfurous skies! 
D)  Exquisite ethane lakes, hydrocarbons beyond your wildest dreams, no shortage of fuel!

Question 17

The material in the interior of Jupiter that is thought to be responsible for its powerful magnetic field is

Accepted Answer

A)  solid magnetic and magnetized iron. 
B)  liquid metallic hydrogen. 
C)  "ices" of NH3 (ammonia), CH4 (methane), and H2O (water) that contain frozen-in magnetic fields. 
D)  molten iron and nickel. 
A)  solid magnetic and magnetized iron. 
B)  liquid metallic hydrogen. 
C)  "ices" of NH3 (ammonia), CH4 (methane), and H2O (water) that contain frozen-in magnetic fields. 
D)  molten iron and nickel.

Question 18

What is the internal structure of Io?

Accepted Answer

A)  iron core overlaid by a molten mantle and rocky crust 
B)  core of rock overlaid by a thick mantle of water ice 
C)  entirely or almost entirely rock, with no evidence of ice or a differentiated metallic core 
D)  iron core overlaid by a rocky mantle and a deep ocean of liquid water 
A)  iron core overlaid by a molten mantle and rocky crust 
B)  core of rock overlaid by a thick mantle of water ice 
C)  entirely or almost entirely rock, with no evidence of ice or a differentiated metallic core 
D)  iron core overlaid by a rocky mantle and a deep ocean of liquid water

Question 19

One of the characteristics of the magnetic field of Uranus is that its axis

Accepted Answer

A)  is tilted almost 60° to the axis of planetary rotation and is offset from the planet's center. 
B)  is aligned almost parallel to the planet's axis of rotation but is offset from the planet's center. 
C)  is aligned almost exactly along the planet's axis of rotation, through the center of Uranus. 
D)  passes through the center of Uranus but is tilted almost 60° from the axis of rotation. 
A)  is tilted almost 60° to the axis of planetary rotation and is offset from the planet's center. 
B)  is aligned almost parallel to the planet's axis of rotation but is offset from the planet's center. 
C)  is aligned almost exactly along the planet's axis of rotation, through the center of Uranus. 
D)  passes through the center of Uranus but is tilted almost 60° from the axis of rotation.

Question 20

Earth, which is mostly rock and iron, has a density of 5515 kg/m3. Ganymede, Jupiter's largest satellite, contains much water and water ice and has a density of 1940 kg/m3. Io has a density of 3570 kg/m3. What conclusions have astronomers drawn from this?

Accepted Answer

A)  Io must be composed of some new material other than rocks, iron, water, or ice. 
B)  Io is composed of compressed water and water ice. 
C)  Io is mostly rock and iron, but because of its smaller mass it cannot compress the material as much as Earth can. 
D)  Since Io is smaller than Earth, it is expected to have a smaller density regardless of composition. 
A)  Io must be composed of some new material other than rocks, iron, water, or ice. 
B)  Io is composed of compressed water and water ice. 
C)  Io is mostly rock and iron, but because of its smaller mass it cannot compress the material as much as Earth can. 
D)  Since Io is smaller than Earth, it is expected to have a smaller density regardless of composition.

Saturn's rings probably formed through

The physical mechanism that is thought to control the motion and position of material in the narrow F ring around Saturn is the

The composition of the atmosphere of Titan, a satellite of Saturn, is mostly

What features characterize the visible surface of Triton, Neptune's largest moon?

The MOST massive planetary satellite in the solar system is

Triton, the largest satellite of Neptune, has a

Saturn's moon Titan is DIFFERENT from all other moons of the planets because

What is the source of the particles that compose Jupiter's rings?

Jupiter's Great Red Spot is a(n)

One distinct difference between the two otherwise similar planets, Uranus and Neptune, is

Which of these is NOT a reason that planetary scientists suspect that liquid water exists under the surface of Europa?

The high-speed winds observed on Jupiter occur mainly

Which of these was NOT a result of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 impacting Jupiter?

Which characteristic of Jupiter's satellite Io makes it different from any other known satellite in the solar system?

Uranus is tilted on its side with its rotation axis almost in the plane of its orbital motion around the Sun. As a result, seasonal variations in temperature on Uranus are

How would Interplanetary Travel, Inc., advertise a holiday to Neptune's satellite Triton?

The material in the interior of Jupiter that is thought to be responsible for its powerful magnetic field is

What is the internal structure of Io?

One of the characteristics of the magnetic field of Uranus is that its axis

Earth, which is mostly rock and iron, has a density of 5515 kg/m³. Ganymede, Jupiter's largest satellite, contains much water and water ice and has a density of 1940 kg/m³. Io has a density of 3570 kg/m³. What conclusions have astronomers drawn from this?

Discovering the Night Sky

Gravitation and the Motion of the Planets

Light and Telescopes

Atomic Physics and Spectra

Exoplanets and the Formation of Planetary Systems

Formation of the Solar System

Earth and the Moon

The Other Terrestrial Planets

Vagabonds of the Solar System

The Sun: Our Extraordinary Star

Characterizing Stars

The Lives of Stars From Birth Through Middle Age

The Death of Stars

Black Holes: Matters of Gravity

The Milky Way Galaxy

Galaxies

Quasars and Other Active Galaxies

Cosmology

Astrobiology

Filters

Exam 9: The Outer Planets

Saturn's rings probably formed through

The physical mechanism that is thought to control the motion and position of material in the narrow F ring around Saturn is the

The composition of the atmosphere of Titan, a satellite of Saturn, is mostly

What features characterize the visible surface of Triton, Neptune's largest moon?

The MOST massive planetary satellite in the solar system is

Triton, the largest satellite of Neptune, has a

Saturn's moon Titan is DIFFERENT from all other moons of the planets because

What is the source of the particles that compose Jupiter's rings?

Jupiter's Great Red Spot is a(n)

One distinct difference between the two otherwise similar planets, Uranus and Neptune, is

Which of these is NOT a reason that planetary scientists suspect that liquid water exists under the surface of Europa?

The high-speed winds observed on Jupiter occur mainly

Which of these was NOT a result of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 impacting Jupiter?

Which characteristic of Jupiter's satellite Io makes it different from any other known satellite in the solar system?

Uranus is tilted on its side with its rotation axis almost in the plane of its orbital motion around the Sun. As a result, seasonal variations in temperature on Uranus are

How would Interplanetary Travel, Inc., advertise a holiday to Neptune's satellite Triton?

The material in the interior of Jupiter that is thought to be responsible for its powerful magnetic field is

What is the internal structure of Io?

One of the characteristics of the magnetic field of Uranus is that its axis

Earth, which is mostly rock and iron, has a density of 5515 kg/m3. Ganymede, Jupiter's largest satellite, contains much water and water ice and has a density of 1940 kg/m3. Io has a density of 3570 kg/m3. What conclusions have astronomers drawn from this?

Discovering the Night Sky

Gravitation and the Motion of the Planets

Light and Telescopes

Atomic Physics and Spectra

Exoplanets and the Formation of Planetary Systems

Formation of the Solar System

Earth and the Moon

The Other Terrestrial Planets

Vagabonds of the Solar System

The Sun: Our Extraordinary Star

Characterizing Stars

The Lives of Stars From Birth Through Middle Age

The Death of Stars

Black Holes: Matters of Gravity

The Milky Way Galaxy

Galaxies

Quasars and Other Active Galaxies

Cosmology

Astrobiology

Filters

Earth, which is mostly rock and iron, has a density of 5515 kg/m³. Ganymede, Jupiter's largest satellite, contains much water and water ice and has a density of 1940 kg/m³. Io has a density of 3570 kg/m³. What conclusions have astronomers drawn from this?