Question 1

The interior rotation of Uranus is considerably slower than the rotation rate of the clouds on its surface. How have astronomers measured the interior rotation rate?

Accepted Answer

A)  by measuring the differential rotation between the poles and the equator 
B)  The moons have locked into synchronous rotation at the same rate. 
C)  by measuring the wobble of the magnetosphere 
D)  by measuring the speeds of the cloud layers at different depths and extrapolating to the surface 
A)  by measuring the differential rotation between the poles and the equator 
B)  The moons have locked into synchronous rotation at the same rate. 
C)  by measuring the wobble of the magnetosphere 
D)  by measuring the speeds of the cloud layers at different depths and extrapolating to the surface

Question 2

The lifetime of the Great Red Spot of Jupiter appears to be

Accepted Answer

A)  well over 2000 years, from ancient Greek records. 
B)  about 2 to 4 weeks between successive appearances, similar to sunspots. 
C)  about one Jupiter orbital period between successive appearances because the spot is produced by tidal effects. 
D)  at least 300 years, from visual records. 
A)  well over 2000 years, from ancient Greek records. 
B)  about 2 to 4 weeks between successive appearances, similar to sunspots. 
C)  about one Jupiter orbital period between successive appearances because the spot is produced by tidal effects. 
D)  at least 300 years, from visual records.

Question 3

Saturn's atmosphere does NOT show the same colorful contrast seen in Jupiter's atmosphere because

Accepted Answer

A)  Saturn has a similar circulation pattern to Jupiter's, but it is obscured by a thick hazy atmosphere. 
B)  Saturn has counter-flowing eastward and westward winds, as does Jupiter, but it lacks the three differently colored cloud levels. 
C)  Saturn's clouds and circulation pattern resemble those of Earth (individual cyclones and anticyclones) rather than the elongated cloud forms of Jupiter. 
D)  Saturn's features are obscured by an upper cloud deck of methane ice crystals, whose distinctive absorption of red light results in Saturn's blue color. Jupiter is too hot to have a methane atmosphere. 
A)  Saturn has a similar circulation pattern to Jupiter's, but it is obscured by a thick hazy atmosphere. 
B)  Saturn has counter-flowing eastward and westward winds, as does Jupiter, but it lacks the three differently colored cloud levels. 
C)  Saturn's clouds and circulation pattern resemble those of Earth (individual cyclones and anticyclones) rather than the elongated cloud forms of Jupiter. 
D)  Saturn's features are obscured by an upper cloud deck of methane ice crystals, whose distinctive absorption of red light results in Saturn's blue color. Jupiter is too hot to have a methane atmosphere.

Question 4

What is the mechanism that generates the variable component of Ganymede's magnetic field?

Accepted Answer

A)  variable electric currents in the conducting upper atmosphere of this moon 
B)  electric currents induced in the conducting ocean by Ganymede's motion through Jupiter's powerful magnetic field 
C)  spinning of the moon whose surface is electrically charged, which is equivalent to an electric current 
D)  spinning and permanently magnetized iron core within the liquid ocean 
A)  variable electric currents in the conducting upper atmosphere of this moon 
B)  electric currents induced in the conducting ocean by Ganymede's motion through Jupiter's powerful magnetic field 
C)  spinning of the moon whose surface is electrically charged, which is equivalent to an electric current 
D)  spinning and permanently magnetized iron core within the liquid ocean

Question 5

What is the mass of Saturn compared with the mass of Jupiter?

Accepted Answer

A)  about $1 / 3$ the mass of Jupiter 
B)  about 1 $1 / 2$ times the mass of Jupiter 
C)  about $1 / 10$ the mass of Jupiter 
D)  almost the same mass 
A)  about $1 / 3$ the mass of Jupiter 
B)  about 1 $1 / 2$ times the mass of Jupiter 
C)  about $1 / 10$ the mass of Jupiter 
D)  almost the same mass

Question 6

Evidence of lava flow, either recent or ancient, is NOT found on

Accepted Answer

A)  Jupiter. 
B)  Earth. 
C)  Earth's Moon. 
D)  Mars. 
A)  Jupiter. 
B)  Earth. 
C)  Earth's Moon. 
D)  Mars.

Question 7

Which planets rotate about their axes in a retrograde direction?

Accepted Answer

A)  Venus and Uranus 
B)  Uranus and Neptune 
C)  Mercury and Uranus 
D)  Venus and Neptune 
A)  Venus and Uranus 
B)  Uranus and Neptune 
C)  Mercury and Uranus 
D)  Venus and Neptune

Question 8

How are the relative ages of the different types of terrain on Ganymede estimated?

Accepted Answer

A)  The smoother the surface, the older is the terrain. 
B)  The colder the surface, the older is the terrain. 
C)  The darker the coloration, the older is the terrain. 
D)  The denser the cratering, the older is the terrain. 
A)  The smoother the surface, the older is the terrain. 
B)  The colder the surface, the older is the terrain. 
C)  The darker the coloration, the older is the terrain. 
D)  The denser the cratering, the older is the terrain.

Question 9

Jupiter's satellite Europa is believed to be made up of

Accepted Answer

A)  a metallic core and a rocky mantle covered with a liquid water ocean whose surface is frozen. 
B)  a small, rocky core overlaid by a very thick layer of water ice. 
C)  ice and rock mixed throughout in roughly equal proportions. 
D)  solid rock throughout, the surface of which shows ancient craters. 
A)  a metallic core and a rocky mantle covered with a liquid water ocean whose surface is frozen. 
B)  a small, rocky core overlaid by a very thick layer of water ice. 
C)  ice and rock mixed throughout in roughly equal proportions. 
D)  solid rock throughout, the surface of which shows ancient craters.

Question 10

The ring system around Uranus was originally discovered by what observation technique?

Accepted Answer

A)  infrared observation from the IRAS spacecraft in Earth orbit 
B)  observation by the cameras aboard the Voyager 1 spacecraft 
C)  occultation of light from a star as Uranus (and the rings) passed in front of it 
D)  radar reflection from the particles in the rings 
A)  infrared observation from the IRAS spacecraft in Earth orbit 
B)  observation by the cameras aboard the Voyager 1 spacecraft 
C)  occultation of light from a star as Uranus (and the rings) passed in front of it 
D)  radar reflection from the particles in the rings

Question 11

What are the physical characteristics of the "other" (non-Galilean) moons of Jupiter?

Accepted Answer

A)  only 10 to 20 km in diameter and spherical in shape 
B)  500 to 1000 km in diameter and spherical in shape 
C)  less than 300 km in diameter and irregular in shape 
D)  all sizes up to 1500 km in diameter, the smaller ones irregular and the larger ones spherical 
A)  only 10 to 20 km in diameter and spherical in shape 
B)  500 to 1000 km in diameter and spherical in shape 
C)  less than 300 km in diameter and irregular in shape 
D)  all sizes up to 1500 km in diameter, the smaller ones irregular and the larger ones spherical

Question 12

Other than the rings, how does the appearance of Saturn differ from that of Jupiter?

Accepted Answer

A)  Saturn's visible surface is basically featureless, with no hint of the belts and zones of Jupiter. 
B)  Saturn shows an ever-changing system of dark storms and light eddies, without the belts and zones of Jupiter. 
C)  There are belts and zones on Saturn, but they are very faint and hazy compared to Jupiter. 
D)  Saturn has many more belts and zones than Jupiter, with large storms distorting their shapes. 
A)  Saturn's visible surface is basically featureless, with no hint of the belts and zones of Jupiter. 
B)  Saturn shows an ever-changing system of dark storms and light eddies, without the belts and zones of Jupiter. 
C)  There are belts and zones on Saturn, but they are very faint and hazy compared to Jupiter. 
D)  Saturn has many more belts and zones than Jupiter, with large storms distorting their shapes.

Question 13

Two bodies in the solar system known to have atmospheres primarily of nitrogen are

Accepted Answer

A)  Saturn and Titan. 
B)  Saturn and Ganymede. 
C)  Earth and Titan. 
D)  Earth and Ganymede. 
A)  Saturn and Titan. 
B)  Saturn and Ganymede. 
C)  Earth and Titan. 
D)  Earth and Ganymede.

Question 14

The size distribution of particles in the rings of the Jovian planets is

Accepted Answer

A)  from pebble-sized fragments to objects a few meters in diameter, with significant amounts of fine dust in and above some rings. 
B)  from 10 m to 1 km across, with no smaller components. 
C)  a mixture of gas (mostly hydrogen) and dust grains, none larger than about 1 mm across. 
D)  only dust and smokelike particles. 
A)  from pebble-sized fragments to objects a few meters in diameter, with significant amounts of fine dust in and above some rings. 
B)  from 10 m to 1 km across, with no smaller components. 
C)  a mixture of gas (mostly hydrogen) and dust grains, none larger than about 1 mm across. 
D)  only dust and smokelike particles.

Question 15

The rings of Saturn alternately appear very distinct and then almost disappear when viewed from Earth over a period of a few years because

Accepted Answer

A)  Earth is very much closer to Saturn at opposition than at conjunction, so the rings are more easily seen at this time. 
B)  the solar wind occasionally blows away the ring particles when the Sun is particularly active. 
C)  the ice crystals from which they are made melt and refreeze as the planet approaches and recedes from the Sun. 
D)  the plane of the rings is tilted with respect to the ecliptic plane and thus appears edge-on at times. 
A)  Earth is very much closer to Saturn at opposition than at conjunction, so the rings are more easily seen at this time. 
B)  the solar wind occasionally blows away the ring particles when the Sun is particularly active. 
C)  the ice crystals from which they are made melt and refreeze as the planet approaches and recedes from the Sun. 
D)  the plane of the rings is tilted with respect to the ecliptic plane and thus appears edge-on at times.

Question 16

Approximately how thick (top to bottom) are Saturn's rings compared with the total width from inside to outside?

Accepted Answer

A)  about 10-7 of the width 
B)  about 10-6 of the width 
C)  about 10-3 of the width 
D)  about 1/10 of the width 
A)  about 10-7 of the width 
B)  about 10-6 of the width 
C)  about 10-3 of the width 
D)  about 1/10 of the width

Question 17

What kind of ring or rings does Jupiter have?

Accepted Answer

A)  a main ring made up of very fine dust particles as well as ringlets made up of larger debris 
B)  three wide, bright rings, composed of icy particles about 1 cm to 1 m in size 
C)  one narrow, dark ring composed of icy particles less than 1 mm in size 
D)  only a ring of glowing ions at Io's orbital distance, no rings of solid particles 
A)  a main ring made up of very fine dust particles as well as ringlets made up of larger debris 
B)  three wide, bright rings, composed of icy particles about 1 cm to 1 m in size 
C)  one narrow, dark ring composed of icy particles less than 1 mm in size 
D)  only a ring of glowing ions at Io's orbital distance, no rings of solid particles

Question 18

Why are the rings of Neptune dark?

Accepted Answer

A)  Although the particles have highly reflective surfaces, there are very few particles in the rings. 
B)  The rings are composed of small, dark rock particles. 
C)  The particles are composed of methane ice that has been darkened by radiation damage. 
D)  The particles have highly reflective surfaces, but the rings are far from the Sun, where there is little light. 
A)  Although the particles have highly reflective surfaces, there are very few particles in the rings. 
B)  The rings are composed of small, dark rock particles. 
C)  The particles are composed of methane ice that has been darkened by radiation damage. 
D)  The particles have highly reflective surfaces, but the rings are far from the Sun, where there is little light.

Question 19

What is the typical thickness of Saturn's rings?

Accepted Answer

A)  15 km 
B)  1.5 km 
C)  300 m 
D)  10 m 
A)  15 km 
B)  1.5 km 
C)  300 m 
D)  10 m

Question 20

The requirement(s) for the generation of a powerful magnetic field in a Jovian planet (e.g., Jupiter, Saturn) appear(s) to be a

Accepted Answer

A)  liquid "metal" core and interior, and very slow rotation. 
B)  solid iron core forming a permanent magnet. 
C)  liquid "metal" interior and relatively rapid rotation. 
D)  solid interior throughout the planet and slow rotation. 
A)  liquid "metal" core and interior, and very slow rotation. 
B)  solid iron core forming a permanent magnet. 
C)  liquid "metal" interior and relatively rapid rotation. 
D)  solid interior throughout the planet and slow rotation.

The interior rotation of Uranus is considerably slower than the rotation rate of the clouds on its surface. How have astronomers measured the interior rotation rate?

The lifetime of the Great Red Spot of Jupiter appears to be

Saturn's atmosphere does NOT show the same colorful contrast seen in Jupiter's atmosphere because

What is the mechanism that generates the variable component of Ganymede's magnetic field?

What is the mass of Saturn compared with the mass of Jupiter?

Evidence of lava flow, either recent or ancient, is NOT found on

Which planets rotate about their axes in a retrograde direction?

How are the relative ages of the different types of terrain on Ganymede estimated?

Jupiter's satellite Europa is believed to be made up of

The ring system around Uranus was originally discovered by what observation technique?

What are the physical characteristics of the "other" (non-Galilean) moons of Jupiter?

Other than the rings, how does the appearance of Saturn differ from that of Jupiter?

Two bodies in the solar system known to have atmospheres primarily of nitrogen are

The size distribution of particles in the rings of the Jovian planets is

The rings of Saturn alternately appear very distinct and then almost disappear when viewed from Earth over a period of a few years because

Approximately how thick (top to bottom) are Saturn's rings compared with the total width from inside to outside?

What kind of ring or rings does Jupiter have?

Why are the rings of Neptune dark?

What is the typical thickness of Saturn's rings?

The requirement(s) for the generation of a powerful magnetic field in a Jovian planet (e.g., Jupiter, Saturn) appear(s) to be a

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

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Cosmology

Astrobiology

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Exam 9: The Outer Planets

The interior rotation of Uranus is considerably slower than the rotation rate of the clouds on its surface. How have astronomers measured the interior rotation rate?

The lifetime of the Great Red Spot of Jupiter appears to be

Saturn's atmosphere does NOT show the same colorful contrast seen in Jupiter's atmosphere because

What is the mechanism that generates the variable component of Ganymede's magnetic field?

What is the mass of Saturn compared with the mass of Jupiter?

Evidence of lava flow, either recent or ancient, is NOT found on

Which planets rotate about their axes in a retrograde direction?

How are the relative ages of the different types of terrain on Ganymede estimated?

Jupiter's satellite Europa is believed to be made up of

The ring system around Uranus was originally discovered by what observation technique?

What are the physical characteristics of the "other" (non-Galilean) moons of Jupiter?

Other than the rings, how does the appearance of Saturn differ from that of Jupiter?

Two bodies in the solar system known to have atmospheres primarily of nitrogen are

The size distribution of particles in the rings of the Jovian planets is

The rings of Saturn alternately appear very distinct and then almost disappear when viewed from Earth over a period of a few years because

Approximately how thick (top to bottom) are Saturn's rings compared with the total width from inside to outside?

What kind of ring or rings does Jupiter have?

Why are the rings of Neptune dark?

What is the typical thickness of Saturn's rings?

The requirement(s) for the generation of a powerful magnetic field in a Jovian planet (e.g., Jupiter, Saturn) appear(s) to be a

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