Question 1

Which property of Triton, the largest moon of Neptune, makes it significantly different from all other major moons in the solar system?

Accepted Answer

A)  atmosphere of nitrogen and oxygen and water clouds 
B)  orbit at right angles to the equator of the mother planet 
C)  extremely dark, smooth surface; consequently, it was not discovered until very recently 
D)  orbit direction opposite to the rotation and revolution of the mother planet 
A)  atmosphere of nitrogen and oxygen and water clouds 
B)  orbit at right angles to the equator of the mother planet 
C)  extremely dark, smooth surface; consequently, it was not discovered until very recently 
D)  orbit direction opposite to the rotation and revolution of the mother planet

Question 2

Miranda is a satellite of

Accepted Answer

A)  Pluto. 
B)  Neptune. 
C)  Uranus. 
D)  Jupiter. 
A)  Pluto. 
B)  Neptune. 
C)  Uranus. 
D)  Jupiter.

Question 3

The Jovian planets have high masses and hence generate powerful gravitational fields, and yet they have low average densities. What does this fact indicate about their interiors?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Jovian planets are composed almost entirely of ice crystals and dust. 
B)  The Jovian planets are composed almost entirely of water. 
C)  The interiors of the Jovian planets are hot and gaseous, like those of cool stars. 
D)  The Jovian planets are composed almost entirely of hydrogen and helium. 
A)  The Jovian planets are composed almost entirely of ice crystals and dust. 
B)  The Jovian planets are composed almost entirely of water. 
C)  The interiors of the Jovian planets are hot and gaseous, like those of cool stars. 
D)  The Jovian planets are composed almost entirely of hydrogen and helium.

Question 4

The surface of Europa, one of the Galilean moons of Jupiter, appears to be covered with

Accepted Answer

A)  dark areas of older crust separated by lighter, grooved terrain. 
B)  a smooth layer of ice crossed by many cracks. 
C)  rugged mountain ranges and ancient volcanoes. 
D)  many ancient craters and maria. 
A)  dark areas of older crust separated by lighter, grooved terrain. 
B)  a smooth layer of ice crossed by many cracks. 
C)  rugged mountain ranges and ancient volcanoes. 
D)  many ancient craters and maria.

Question 5

How is the mass of Jupiter determined?

Accepted Answer

A)  by observing Jupiter's interaction with the Sun and using Kepler's third law 
B)  by observing Jupiter's interaction with its satellites and using Kepler's third law 
C)  by multiplying Jupiter's density by its volume 
D)  by observing Jupiter's effect on the perihelion of Mercury 
A)  by observing Jupiter's interaction with the Sun and using Kepler's third law 
B)  by observing Jupiter's interaction with its satellites and using Kepler's third law 
C)  by multiplying Jupiter's density by its volume 
D)  by observing Jupiter's effect on the perihelion of Mercury

Question 6

Rings of dust and icy particles are found around which planets?

Accepted Answer

A)  only Saturn 
B)  all four of the terrestrial planets 
C)  all four of the Jovian planets 
D)  only planets that do not have moons 
A)  only Saturn 
B)  all four of the terrestrial planets 
C)  all four of the Jovian planets 
D)  only planets that do not have moons

Question 7

Tidal flexing from Saturn appears to be responsible for interior heating of Enceladus. Some consequences of this internal heating include all of these EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

A)  ice water jets. 
B)  a large area of smooth terrain. 
C)  a magnetic field. 
D)  the absence of seasons on Enceladus. 
A)  ice water jets. 
B)  a large area of smooth terrain. 
C)  a magnetic field. 
D)  the absence of seasons on Enceladus.

Question 8

The rings of Saturn are seen by

Accepted Answer

A)  emitted light from the molecules of the material of the rings, such as methane, ammonia, and water vapor. 
B)  reflected and scattered sunlight. 
C)  reflected light from Saturn because they can be seen at night. 
D)  fluorescence, a glow produced by photochemistry when material is irradiated by solar UV light and/or high-speed cosmic particles. 
A)  emitted light from the molecules of the material of the rings, such as methane, ammonia, and water vapor. 
B)  reflected and scattered sunlight. 
C)  reflected light from Saturn because they can be seen at night. 
D)  fluorescence, a glow produced by photochemistry when material is irradiated by solar UV light and/or high-speed cosmic particles.

Question 9

Ganymede, the largest Galilean moon of Jupiter, has

Accepted Answer

A)  a larger radius than either the Moon or Earth. 
B)  a smaller radius than the Moon. 
C)  a larger radius than Mercury but smaller than Mars. 
D)  a larger radius than Mars but smaller than Earth. 
A)  a larger radius than either the Moon or Earth. 
B)  a smaller radius than the Moon. 
C)  a larger radius than Mercury but smaller than Mars. 
D)  a larger radius than Mars but smaller than Earth.

Question 10

Which of these is NOT a valid reason to believe that the outer satellites of Jupiter are captured planetesimals?

Accepted Answer

A)  There was not enough material in the primordial nebula around Jupiter to form the large Galilean satellites as well as the 60 or so outer satellites. So, they must have been captured. 
B)  The outer satellites are irregular in shape. 
C)  The outer satellites are all less than 275 km in diameter. 
D)  The outer satellites are mostly in retrograde orbits. 
A)  There was not enough material in the primordial nebula around Jupiter to form the large Galilean satellites as well as the 60 or so outer satellites. So, they must have been captured. 
B)  The outer satellites are irregular in shape. 
C)  The outer satellites are all less than 275 km in diameter. 
D)  The outer satellites are mostly in retrograde orbits.

Question 11

How is the Cassini division created and maintained in Saturn's rings?

Accepted Answer

A)  A small moon orbits within the division, clearing particles from the gap. 
B)  An intense region of high-energy electrons in Saturn's magnetosphere at that distance has eroded the particles from the gap. 
C)  The rings simply formed that way in the ancient past. 
D)  One of Saturn's satellites exerts a resonant pull on particles in the division, clearing a gap. 
A)  A small moon orbits within the division, clearing particles from the gap. 
B)  An intense region of high-energy electrons in Saturn's magnetosphere at that distance has eroded the particles from the gap. 
C)  The rings simply formed that way in the ancient past. 
D)  One of Saturn's satellites exerts a resonant pull on particles in the division, clearing a gap.

Question 12

What gives Uranus its blue-green coloration?

Accepted Answer

A)  impurities of phosphorus and sulfur in the otherwise white ice crystals of water, methane, and ammonia 
B)  emission by blue and green spectral lines of ethane and propane 
C)  absorption of red light by methane gas 
D)  absorption of blue and green light by ammonia gas 
A)  impurities of phosphorus and sulfur in the otherwise white ice crystals of water, methane, and ammonia 
B)  emission by blue and green spectral lines of ethane and propane 
C)  absorption of red light by methane gas 
D)  absorption of blue and green light by ammonia gas

Question 13

The magnetosphere of Jupiter is

Accepted Answer

A)  a narrow layer in which intense electric currents flow, just above the cloud tops in the planet's atmosphere, generating the planet's magnetic field. 
B)  the inner regions of Jupiter, just beyond the solid core, that contain liquid metallic hydrogen, where electric currents flow to produce the planet's magnetic field. 
C)  a doughnut-shaped region similar to the Van Allen belts around Earth containing high-speed protons and electrons, whose motions produce the planet's magnetic field. 
D)  a large cavity created and maintained within the solar wind stream by the planet's magnetic field, filled with extremely hot, ionized plasma. 
A)  a narrow layer in which intense electric currents flow, just above the cloud tops in the planet's atmosphere, generating the planet's magnetic field. 
B)  the inner regions of Jupiter, just beyond the solid core, that contain liquid metallic hydrogen, where electric currents flow to produce the planet's magnetic field. 
C)  a doughnut-shaped region similar to the Van Allen belts around Earth containing high-speed protons and electrons, whose motions produce the planet's magnetic field. 
D)  a large cavity created and maintained within the solar wind stream by the planet's magnetic field, filled with extremely hot, ionized plasma.

Question 14

The MOST geologically active object in the planetary system at the present time is

Accepted Answer

A)  Io, a moon of Jupiter. 
B)  Earth's Moon. 
C)  Triton, a moon of Neptune. 
D)  Mars. 
A)  Io, a moon of Jupiter. 
B)  Earth's Moon. 
C)  Triton, a moon of Neptune. 
D)  Mars.

Question 15

What is the Great Red Spot on Jupiter?

Accepted Answer

A)  summit of a large mountain that rises above the upper cloud level 
B)  region over the south pole of Jupiter where ammonia compounds that absorb blue light have condensed in the colder atmosphere 
C)  area where charged particles from the satellite Io collide with Jupiter's cloud tops 
D)  large, long-lived hurricanelike storm that is maintained by the differential rotation of Jupiter's atmosphere 
A)  summit of a large mountain that rises above the upper cloud level 
B)  region over the south pole of Jupiter where ammonia compounds that absorb blue light have condensed in the colder atmosphere 
C)  area where charged particles from the satellite Io collide with Jupiter's cloud tops 
D)  large, long-lived hurricanelike storm that is maintained by the differential rotation of Jupiter's atmosphere

Question 16

What can be said about tectonic activity on Ganymede?

Accepted Answer

A)  Active volcanoes give evidence of current tectonic activity. 
B)  Young, lightly cratered terrain separating older more heavily cratered regions suggests tectonic activity in the past. 
C)  An intrinsic magnetic field suggests current tectonic activity. 
D)  Ganymede has a subsurface liquid ocean. This requires tectonic activity to provide the heat to keep the ocean from freezing. 
A)  Active volcanoes give evidence of current tectonic activity. 
B)  Young, lightly cratered terrain separating older more heavily cratered regions suggests tectonic activity in the past. 
C)  An intrinsic magnetic field suggests current tectonic activity. 
D)  Ganymede has a subsurface liquid ocean. This requires tectonic activity to provide the heat to keep the ocean from freezing.

Question 17

What are the MOST common molecules in Jupiter's clouds?

Accepted Answer

A)  ice crystals of water and carbon dioxide 
B)  liquid droplets of water and ammonia 
C)  ice crystals of methane, ammonia, and water vapor 
D)  water ice crystals 
A)  ice crystals of water and carbon dioxide 
B)  liquid droplets of water and ammonia 
C)  ice crystals of methane, ammonia, and water vapor 
D)  water ice crystals

Question 18

Which of these likely plays an important role in the banded structure on Jupiter's visible "surface" as seen from Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  "sweeping" of Jupiter's clouds through magnetic field lines from Jupiter's magnetosphere 
B)  underlying rising and falling convection pattern stretched into bands by Jupiter's rapid rotation 
C)  underlying north-south flow pattern stretched into bands by Jupiter's rapid rotation 
D)  breaking up by underlying mountain ranges of the strong eastward flow caused by Jupiter's rapid rotation 
A)  "sweeping" of Jupiter's clouds through magnetic field lines from Jupiter's magnetosphere 
B)  underlying rising and falling convection pattern stretched into bands by Jupiter's rapid rotation 
C)  underlying north-south flow pattern stretched into bands by Jupiter's rapid rotation 
D)  breaking up by underlying mountain ranges of the strong eastward flow caused by Jupiter's rapid rotation

Question 19

What is the dominant circulation pattern in Jupiter's atmosphere (i.e., at the visible "surface")?

Accepted Answer

A)  alternating bands of eastward and westward flow parallel to the equator 
B)  air rising at the equator, flowing north and south toward the poles, then sinking and returning to the equator at a lower level 
C)  uniform eastward flow of the entire atmosphere, with occasional dark storms and turbulent swirls 
D)  isolated storms and turbulent swirls, with little overall flow pattern in any particular direction 
A)  alternating bands of eastward and westward flow parallel to the equator 
B)  air rising at the equator, flowing north and south toward the poles, then sinking and returning to the equator at a lower level 
C)  uniform eastward flow of the entire atmosphere, with occasional dark storms and turbulent swirls 
D)  isolated storms and turbulent swirls, with little overall flow pattern in any particular direction

Question 20

The shape and dimensions of the magnetosphere surrounding Jupiter are controlled by

Accepted Answer

A)  the atoms of Jupiter's outer atmosphere moving outward because of the rapid rotation of the planet, pressing against the solar wind. 
B)  the pressure of the solar wind against the outer atmosphere of Jupiter. 
C)  solar radiation pressure pushing against the planet's outer atmosphere. 
D)  the opposing pressures of the ionized gas of the solar wind and the planet's magnetic field. 
A)  the atoms of Jupiter's outer atmosphere moving outward because of the rapid rotation of the planet, pressing against the solar wind. 
B)  the pressure of the solar wind against the outer atmosphere of Jupiter. 
C)  solar radiation pressure pushing against the planet's outer atmosphere. 
D)  the opposing pressures of the ionized gas of the solar wind and the planet's magnetic field.

Which property of Triton, the largest moon of Neptune, makes it significantly different from all other major moons in the solar system?

Miranda is a satellite of

The Jovian planets have high masses and hence generate powerful gravitational fields, and yet they have low average densities. What does this fact indicate about their interiors?

The surface of Europa, one of the Galilean moons of Jupiter, appears to be covered with

How is the mass of Jupiter determined?

Rings of dust and icy particles are found around which planets?

Tidal flexing from Saturn appears to be responsible for interior heating of Enceladus. Some consequences of this internal heating include all of these EXCEPT

The rings of Saturn are seen by

Ganymede, the largest Galilean moon of Jupiter, has

Which of these is NOT a valid reason to believe that the outer satellites of Jupiter are captured planetesimals?

How is the Cassini division created and maintained in Saturn's rings?

What gives Uranus its blue-green coloration?

The magnetosphere of Jupiter is

The MOST geologically active object in the planetary system at the present time is

What is the Great Red Spot on Jupiter?

What can be said about tectonic activity on Ganymede?

What are the MOST common molecules in Jupiter's clouds?

Which of these likely plays an important role in the banded structure on Jupiter's visible "surface" as seen from Earth?

What is the dominant circulation pattern in Jupiter's atmosphere (i.e., at the visible "surface")?

The shape and dimensions of the magnetosphere surrounding Jupiter are controlled by

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

Which property of Triton, the largest moon of Neptune, makes it significantly different from all other major moons in the solar system?

Miranda is a satellite of

The Jovian planets have high masses and hence generate powerful gravitational fields, and yet they have low average densities. What does this fact indicate about their interiors?

The surface of Europa, one of the Galilean moons of Jupiter, appears to be covered with

How is the mass of Jupiter determined?

Rings of dust and icy particles are found around which planets?

Tidal flexing from Saturn appears to be responsible for interior heating of Enceladus. Some consequences of this internal heating include all of these EXCEPT

The rings of Saturn are seen by

Ganymede, the largest Galilean moon of Jupiter, has

Which of these is NOT a valid reason to believe that the outer satellites of Jupiter are captured planetesimals?

How is the Cassini division created and maintained in Saturn's rings?

What gives Uranus its blue-green coloration?

The magnetosphere of Jupiter is

The MOST geologically active object in the planetary system at the present time is

What is the Great Red Spot on Jupiter?

What can be said about tectonic activity on Ganymede?

What are the MOST common molecules in Jupiter's clouds?

Which of these likely plays an important role in the banded structure on Jupiter's visible "surface" as seen from Earth?

What is the dominant circulation pattern in Jupiter's atmosphere (i.e., at the visible "surface")?

The shape and dimensions of the magnetosphere surrounding Jupiter are controlled by

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