Question 1

While Saturn's rings are very thin, some particles escape away from the ring's orbital plane. Why?

Accepted Answer

A)  interactions with Saturn's magnetic field 
B)  collisions with nearby comets 
C)  interactions with the solar wind 
D)  volcanic activity on Saturn's moons 
A)  interactions with Saturn's magnetic field 
B)  collisions with nearby comets 
C)  interactions with the solar wind 
D)  volcanic activity on Saturn's moons

Question 2

The particles in the Uranus ring system differ from those in the Saturn ring system in which important way?

Accepted Answer

A)  The particles of the Uranus ring system move as a solid ring held together by static electricity, not in Keplerian orbits, as do the Saturnian ring particles. 
B)  The particles of the Uranus ring system reflect much more sunlight than do the particles of the Saturnian ring material. 
C)  The average sizes of the particles of the Uranus ring system are larger; the particles of the Saturnian system are only snowflake or dust-grain size. 
D)  The particles of the Uranus ring system reflect much less sunlight than do the particles in Saturn's rings. 
A)  The particles of the Uranus ring system move as a solid ring held together by static electricity, not in Keplerian orbits, as do the Saturnian ring particles. 
B)  The particles of the Uranus ring system reflect much more sunlight than do the particles of the Saturnian ring material. 
C)  The average sizes of the particles of the Uranus ring system are larger; the particles of the Saturnian system are only snowflake or dust-grain size. 
D)  The particles of the Uranus ring system reflect much less sunlight than do the particles in Saturn's rings.

Question 3

Which observational fact leads scientists to the conclusion that the particles making up Saturn's rings are ice or ice-covered rocks?

Accepted Answer

A)  high albedo, or reflectivity, of the ring material 
B)  distribution of their sizes; water ice is only strong enough to form the objects of the sizes detected in the rings 
C)  spectrum of the reflected light, which shows features unique to water ice 
D)  thin layer of haze above and below the rings originating from evaporated water vapor 
A)  high albedo, or reflectivity, of the ring material 
B)  distribution of their sizes; water ice is only strong enough to form the objects of the sizes detected in the rings 
C)  spectrum of the reflected light, which shows features unique to water ice 
D)  thin layer of haze above and below the rings originating from evaporated water vapor

Question 4

Jupiter's mass makes up what fraction of the total mass of the planets in the solar system?

Accepted Answer

A)  70 percent 
B)  10 percent 
C)  98 percent 
D)  50 percent 
A)  70 percent 
B)  10 percent 
C)  98 percent 
D)  50 percent

Question 5

The surface of Ganymede, a Galilean satellite of Jupiter, is characterized by

Accepted Answer

A)  bright, eroded, ancient terrain broken by darker, younger areas that show signs of tectonic activity in the past, such as water or slush volcanoes and faulting along subduction zones. 
B)  dark areas of ancient terrain and bright areas with almost no craters and many signs of recent tectonic activity, such as fracturing, ice raft creation, and eruptions of icy lava. 
C)  dark areas of ancient terrain and bright, younger areas with many-folded ridges that indicate tectonic activity on Ganymede in the distant past. 
D)  multicolored deposits of sulfur and sulfur compounds, with several lava lakes and active volcanic plumes. 
A)  bright, eroded, ancient terrain broken by darker, younger areas that show signs of tectonic activity in the past, such as water or slush volcanoes and faulting along subduction zones. 
B)  dark areas of ancient terrain and bright areas with almost no craters and many signs of recent tectonic activity, such as fracturing, ice raft creation, and eruptions of icy lava. 
C)  dark areas of ancient terrain and bright, younger areas with many-folded ridges that indicate tectonic activity on Ganymede in the distant past. 
D)  multicolored deposits of sulfur and sulfur compounds, with several lava lakes and active volcanic plumes.

Question 6

Brightness variations of Jupiter's moons as they orbit the planet indicate that the relation between the spin around their axes and their orbital motions is that these moons

Accepted Answer

A)  do not rotate at all while orbiting the planet. 
B)  rotate exactly once per orbital period. 
C)  rotate in a way that is controlled by the gravitational influence of the Sun, keeping one face toward the Sun to produce the observed brightness variations. 
D)  rotate on their axes independently of their orbital motion. 
A)  do not rotate at all while orbiting the planet. 
B)  rotate exactly once per orbital period. 
C)  rotate in a way that is controlled by the gravitational influence of the Sun, keeping one face toward the Sun to produce the observed brightness variations. 
D)  rotate on their axes independently of their orbital motion.

Question 7

Jupiter is significantly thicker through the equator than it is through the poles. The word used to describe such a planetary shape is

Accepted Answer

A)  oblate. 
B)  obtuse. 
C)  oblique. 
D)  obese. 
A)  oblate. 
B)  obtuse. 
C)  oblique. 
D)  obese.

Question 8

The very thin but measurable atmosphere of molecular oxygen around Jupiter's moon Europa probably originates from

Accepted Answer

A)  dissociation of water vapor by solar UV radiation. 
B)  the remnant gases from Jupiter that reside within its magnetosphere. 
C)  primitive plant life living in the extensive oceans underneath the icy surface, which has transformed carbon dioxide into oxygen. 
D)  volcanoes that have ejected this gas during recent eruptions. 
A)  dissociation of water vapor by solar UV radiation. 
B)  the remnant gases from Jupiter that reside within its magnetosphere. 
C)  primitive plant life living in the extensive oceans underneath the icy surface, which has transformed carbon dioxide into oxygen. 
D)  volcanoes that have ejected this gas during recent eruptions.

Question 9

Europa, one of the Galilean satellites of Jupiter, has a surface consisting of

Accepted Answer

A)  a relatively young, icy crust covered with a network of streaks and cracks and only a few impact craters. 
B)  an icy crust showing two interlocking types of terrain, one ancient and heavily cratered, the other younger with systems of parallel grooves. 
C)  rock, heavily cratered like the highlands of the Moon. 
D)  an ancient, icy crust covered with numerous craters and no surface cracks or groove belts that would indicate internal activity. 
A)  a relatively young, icy crust covered with a network of streaks and cracks and only a few impact craters. 
B)  an icy crust showing two interlocking types of terrain, one ancient and heavily cratered, the other younger with systems of parallel grooves. 
C)  rock, heavily cratered like the highlands of the Moon. 
D)  an ancient, icy crust covered with numerous craters and no surface cracks or groove belts that would indicate internal activity.

Question 10

What features dominate the surface of Callisto, one of Jupiter's satellites?

Accepted Answer

A)  volcanoes, lava lakes, and sulfur dioxide frost 
B)  old, dark, highly cratered polygons separated by younger, lighter, grooved terrain 
C)  many cracks and streaks and very few craters in an otherwise smooth, icy surface 
D)  large craters, densely spread over the entire surface 
A)  volcanoes, lava lakes, and sulfur dioxide frost 
B)  old, dark, highly cratered polygons separated by younger, lighter, grooved terrain 
C)  many cracks and streaks and very few craters in an otherwise smooth, icy surface 
D)  large craters, densely spread over the entire surface

Question 11

What characteristic features are seen on the visible surface of Jupiter?

Accepted Answer

A)  light and dark bands parallel to the equator 
B)  large volcanoes and a long, deep rift valley 
C)  bluish-green, almost featureless cloud layer 
D)  almost featureless white cloud surface 
A)  light and dark bands parallel to the equator 
B)  large volcanoes and a long, deep rift valley 
C)  bluish-green, almost featureless cloud layer 
D)  almost featureless white cloud surface

Question 12

How would Interplanetary Travel Holidays, Inc., advertise a holiday on Jupiter's satellite Io?

Accepted Answer

A)  Greatest deep-sea diving beneath thick ice layers! 
B)  Glaciers galore for your hiking pleasure under star-studded skies! 
C)  Exquisite ethane lakes, hydrocarbons beyond your wildest dreams! 
D)  The largest number of volcanoes for your travel dollar anywhere in the solar system! 
A)  Greatest deep-sea diving beneath thick ice layers! 
B)  Glaciers galore for your hiking pleasure under star-studded skies! 
C)  Exquisite ethane lakes, hydrocarbons beyond your wildest dreams! 
D)  The largest number of volcanoes for your travel dollar anywhere in the solar system!

Question 13

Which of these is NOT a reason that planetary scientists suspect Ganymede has a subsurface ocean?

Accepted Answer

A)  It has a variable magnetic field. 
B)  Ganymede's surface has evidence of past tectonic activity. 
C)  There is evidence of salts on the surface. 
D)  Ganymede is in synchronous rotation about Jupiter. 
A)  It has a variable magnetic field. 
B)  Ganymede's surface has evidence of past tectonic activity. 
C)  There is evidence of salts on the surface. 
D)  Ganymede is in synchronous rotation about Jupiter.

Question 14

What is the MOST striking feature of the dimensions of the rings of Saturn?

Accepted Answer

A)  The cross-section of the rings in a latitudinal direction appears to be circular. 
B)  The thickness of the rings means that the shadow they cast on the planet extends over 10° in latitude. 
C)  The radius of the rings is such that the rings extend out beyond the orbits of all of the planet's moons. 
D)  The rings are extremely thin compared to their lateral extent. 
A)  The cross-section of the rings in a latitudinal direction appears to be circular. 
B)  The thickness of the rings means that the shadow they cast on the planet extends over 10° in latitude. 
C)  The radius of the rings is such that the rings extend out beyond the orbits of all of the planet's moons. 
D)  The rings are extremely thin compared to their lateral extent.

Question 15

Which of these was NOT detected by the Huygens-Cassini mission on the surface of Titan?

Accepted Answer

A)  a heavily cratered surface 
B)  numerous lakes of liquid hydrocarbons 
C)  evidence of methane rainfall 
D)  running streams of hydrocarbons 
A)  a heavily cratered surface 
B)  numerous lakes of liquid hydrocarbons 
C)  evidence of methane rainfall 
D)  running streams of hydrocarbons

Question 16

Aurorae are formed when charged particles, spiraling along magnetic field lines, collide with atoms in an atmosphere. Where are the charged particles that produce Jupiter's aurorae believed to originate?

Accepted Answer

A)  from the Sun, just like the particles that produce Earth's aurora 
B)  from particles ejected from Io's geysers 
C)  from debris knocked off the inner moons Adrastea and Metis 
D)  from Jupiter's rings 
A)  from the Sun, just like the particles that produce Earth's aurora 
B)  from particles ejected from Io's geysers 
C)  from debris knocked off the inner moons Adrastea and Metis 
D)  from Jupiter's rings

Question 17

In 2004 the bottoms of Saturn's ring were visible from Earth. In 2019, what will an Earth-based observer see? (Saturn's orbital period is 29 years.)

Accepted Answer

A)  The rings will be edge-on and thus not visible. 
B)  The bottoms will again be visible. 
C)  The tops of the rings will be visible. 
D)  It is not possible to predict this so far in advance. 
A)  The rings will be edge-on and thus not visible. 
B)  The bottoms will again be visible. 
C)  The tops of the rings will be visible. 
D)  It is not possible to predict this so far in advance.

Question 18

How does the amount of radiation radiated from Jupiter compare with the amount of radiation it receives from the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A)  Jupiter receives more radiation than it radiates because of the external energy required to maintain its powerful magnetic field. 
B)  These two are in balance, as they must be. 
C)  Jupiter radiates about twice as much energy as it receives from the Sun. 
D)  Jupiter radiates almost 75 times as much energy as it receives from the Sun. 
A)  Jupiter receives more radiation than it radiates because of the external energy required to maintain its powerful magnetic field. 
B)  These two are in balance, as they must be. 
C)  Jupiter radiates about twice as much energy as it receives from the Sun. 
D)  Jupiter radiates almost 75 times as much energy as it receives from the Sun.

Question 19

The rings of Uranus are

Accepted Answer

A)  intrinsically very bright, with 70 percent reflectivity, but they are hard to detect because they are very narrow. 
B)  wide, dense, and very bright, with 70 percent reflectivity. 
C)  broad, diffuse, and almost transparent, made up of almost nothing bigger than dust particles. 
D)  narrow and very dark. 
A)  intrinsically very bright, with 70 percent reflectivity, but they are hard to detect because they are very narrow. 
B)  wide, dense, and very bright, with 70 percent reflectivity. 
C)  broad, diffuse, and almost transparent, made up of almost nothing bigger than dust particles. 
D)  narrow and very dark.

Question 20

If one could see Jupiter's magnetosphere visually, how big would it appear?

Accepted Answer

A)  Jupiter's magnetosphere would be too small to be visible without a telescope. 
B)  Jupiter's magnetosphere would be easily visible, many times larger than the full Moon. 
C)  Jupiter's magnetosphere would cover essentially the entire sky whenever Jupiter was above the horizon. 
D)  Jupiter's magnetosphere would be just big enough to see, almost at the limit of unaided-eye visibility. 
A)  Jupiter's magnetosphere would be too small to be visible without a telescope. 
B)  Jupiter's magnetosphere would be easily visible, many times larger than the full Moon. 
C)  Jupiter's magnetosphere would cover essentially the entire sky whenever Jupiter was above the horizon. 
D)  Jupiter's magnetosphere would be just big enough to see, almost at the limit of unaided-eye visibility.

While Saturn's rings are very thin, some particles escape away from the ring's orbital plane. Why?

The particles in the Uranus ring system differ from those in the Saturn ring system in which important way?

Which observational fact leads scientists to the conclusion that the particles making up Saturn's rings are ice or ice-covered rocks?

Jupiter's mass makes up what fraction of the total mass of the planets in the solar system?

The surface of Ganymede, a Galilean satellite of Jupiter, is characterized by

Brightness variations of Jupiter's moons as they orbit the planet indicate that the relation between the spin around their axes and their orbital motions is that these moons

Jupiter is significantly thicker through the equator than it is through the poles. The word used to describe such a planetary shape is

The very thin but measurable atmosphere of molecular oxygen around Jupiter's moon Europa probably originates from

Europa, one of the Galilean satellites of Jupiter, has a surface consisting of

What features dominate the surface of Callisto, one of Jupiter's satellites?

What characteristic features are seen on the visible surface of Jupiter?

How would Interplanetary Travel Holidays, Inc., advertise a holiday on Jupiter's satellite Io?

Which of these is NOT a reason that planetary scientists suspect Ganymede has a subsurface ocean?

What is the MOST striking feature of the dimensions of the rings of Saturn?

Which of these was NOT detected by the Huygens-Cassini mission on the surface of Titan?

Aurorae are formed when charged particles, spiraling along magnetic field lines, collide with atoms in an atmosphere. Where are the charged particles that produce Jupiter's aurorae believed to originate?

In 2004 the bottoms of Saturn's ring were visible from Earth. In 2019, what will an Earth-based observer see? (Saturn's orbital period is 29 years.)

How does the amount of radiation radiated from Jupiter compare with the amount of radiation it receives from the Sun?

The rings of Uranus are

If one could see Jupiter's magnetosphere visually, how big would it appear?

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

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Exam 9: The Outer Planets

While Saturn's rings are very thin, some particles escape away from the ring's orbital plane. Why?

The particles in the Uranus ring system differ from those in the Saturn ring system in which important way?

Which observational fact leads scientists to the conclusion that the particles making up Saturn's rings are ice or ice-covered rocks?

Jupiter's mass makes up what fraction of the total mass of the planets in the solar system?

The surface of Ganymede, a Galilean satellite of Jupiter, is characterized by

Brightness variations of Jupiter's moons as they orbit the planet indicate that the relation between the spin around their axes and their orbital motions is that these moons

Jupiter is significantly thicker through the equator than it is through the poles. The word used to describe such a planetary shape is

The very thin but measurable atmosphere of molecular oxygen around Jupiter's moon Europa probably originates from

Europa, one of the Galilean satellites of Jupiter, has a surface consisting of

What features dominate the surface of Callisto, one of Jupiter's satellites?

What characteristic features are seen on the visible surface of Jupiter?

How would Interplanetary Travel Holidays, Inc., advertise a holiday on Jupiter's satellite Io?

Which of these is NOT a reason that planetary scientists suspect Ganymede has a subsurface ocean?

What is the MOST striking feature of the dimensions of the rings of Saturn?

Which of these was NOT detected by the Huygens-Cassini mission on the surface of Titan?

Aurorae are formed when charged particles, spiraling along magnetic field lines, collide with atoms in an atmosphere. Where are the charged particles that produce Jupiter's aurorae believed to originate?

In 2004 the bottoms of Saturn's ring were visible from Earth. In 2019, what will an Earth-based observer see? (Saturn's orbital period is 29 years.)

How does the amount of radiation radiated from Jupiter compare with the amount of radiation it receives from the Sun?

The rings of Uranus are

If one could see Jupiter's magnetosphere visually, how big would it appear?

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