Question 1

Miranda,a satellite of Uranus:

Accepted Answer

A)  shows active geysers and resurfacing due to water flows. 
B)  has a thick atmosphere containing methane, nitrogen, and hydrocarbons. 
C)  shows an ancient surface uniformly covered with impact craters. 
D)  appears to have been reassembled from separate parts after being shattered by an impact. 
A)  shows active geysers and resurfacing due to water flows. 
B)  has a thick atmosphere containing methane, nitrogen, and hydrocarbons. 
C)  shows an ancient surface uniformly covered with impact craters. 
D)  appears to have been reassembled from separate parts after being shattered by an impact. D

Question 2

Which planet in the solar system has the LOWEST average density?

Accepted Answer

A)  the smallest terrestrial planet, Mercury 
B)  Saturn 
C)  Uranus 
D)  Jupiter 
A)  the smallest terrestrial planet, Mercury 
B)  Saturn 
C)  Uranus 
D)  Jupiter B

Question 3

The rotation period of Jupiter is:

Accepted Answer

A)  relatively short, on the order of 10 hours. 
B)  very short, on the order of 1 hour. 
C)  very long-several weeks-because of its great size and mass. 
D)  long, on the order of several days. 
A)  relatively short, on the order of 10 hours. 
B)  very short, on the order of 1 hour. 
C)  very long-several weeks-because of its great size and mass. 
D)  long, on the order of several days. A

Question 4

The mass of Jupiter compared with that of Earth is:

Accepted Answer

A)  about 300 times larger. 
B)  about 1/300 because of Jupiter's low density. 
C)  several thousand times larger. 
D)  about 11 times as large. 
A)  about 300 times larger. 
B)  about 1/300 because of Jupiter's low density. 
C)  several thousand times larger. 
D)  about 11 times as large.

Question 5

A manned space mission to Saturn sometime in the future might place an observer in a spacecraft within its ring system.What relationship between the motions of the ring particles and the motion of the spacecraft would the observer see?

Accepted Answer

A)  All particles would be moving with the same orbital speed and would fly in formation with the spacecraft because the motions of particles and spacecraft are governed by gravity. 
B)  Particles closer to the planet would overtake the spacecraft, while particles farther from the planet would be overtaken by the spacecraft, following Kepler's laws. 
C)  The particles would be moving in ellipses and would therefore sometimes move ahead of the spacecraft and at other times fall behind the spacecraft, even colliding with it occasionally. 
D)  Particles orbiting farther from the planet would be traveling faster and would overtake the spacecraft, while particles closer to the planet would be moving slower and would be overtaken by the spacecraft. 
A)  All particles would be moving with the same orbital speed and would fly in formation with the spacecraft because the motions of particles and spacecraft are governed by gravity. 
B)  Particles closer to the planet would overtake the spacecraft, while particles farther from the planet would be overtaken by the spacecraft, following Kepler's laws. 
C)  The particles would be moving in ellipses and would therefore sometimes move ahead of the spacecraft and at other times fall behind the spacecraft, even colliding with it occasionally. 
D)  Particles orbiting farther from the planet would be traveling faster and would overtake the spacecraft, while particles closer to the planet would be moving slower and would be overtaken by the spacecraft.

Question 6

Around which object does Titan orbit?

Accepted Answer

A)  Saturn 
B)  Pluto 
C)  Jupiter 
D)  Neptune 
A)  Saturn 
B)  Pluto 
C)  Jupiter 
D)  Neptune

Question 7

In order of increasing density,the Jovian planets are:

Accepted Answer

A)  Neptune, Uranus, Saturn, and Jupiter. 
B)  Saturn, Uranus, Jupiter, and Neptune. 
C)  Neptune, Saturn, Uranus, and Jupiter. 
D)  Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. 
A)  Neptune, Uranus, Saturn, and Jupiter. 
B)  Saturn, Uranus, Jupiter, and Neptune. 
C)  Neptune, Saturn, Uranus, and Jupiter. 
D)  Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.

Question 8

The atmosphere of Titan appears to include all of the following except significant amounts of:

Accepted Answer

A)  hydrogen. 
B)  nitrogen. 
C)  methane. 
D)  ethane. 
A)  hydrogen. 
B)  nitrogen. 
C)  methane. 
D)  ethane.

Question 9

For how long has it been known that the planet Jupiter has moons?

Accepted Answer

A)  since the first spacecraft flybys by Pioneer I in 1979 
B)  since 1948, when the Mount Palomar telescope was completed 
C)  since Galileo turned his telescope toward the sky in 1610 
D)  since the time of the ancient Greeks 
A)  since the first spacecraft flybys by Pioneer I in 1979 
B)  since 1948, when the Mount Palomar telescope was completed 
C)  since Galileo turned his telescope toward the sky in 1610 
D)  since the time of the ancient Greeks

Question 10

Which chemical in the atmosphere of Titan (a moon of Saturn)plays the same role that water plays on Earth by producing "rain," "snow," and "ice" at the temperature encountered on Titan?

Accepted Answer

A)  nitrogen, N₂ 
B)  ammonia, NH₃ 
C)  ethane, C₂H₆ 
D)  oxygen, O₂ 
A)  nitrogen, N₂ 
B)  ammonia, NH₃ 
C)  ethane, C₂H₆ 
D)  oxygen, O₂

Question 11

Scarps are long lines of cliffs believed to form when the surface of a body cools and shrinks.On which body have scarps NOT been observed?

Accepted Answer

A)  Mercury 
B)  Earth 
C)  the Moon 
D)  Rhea 
A)  Mercury 
B)  Earth 
C)  the Moon 
D)  Rhea

Question 12

Ganymede,the largest Galilean moon of Jupiter,is:

Accepted Answer

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

Question 13

What is perhaps 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 14

How did Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 achieve lasting fame?

Accepted Answer

A)  The comet became the first comet to be visited by spacecraft. 
B)  The comet crashed into Jupiter. 
C)  The comet exploded after passing too close to the Sun. 
D)  The comet just missed Earth, passing between the Moon and Earth. 
A)  The comet became the first comet to be visited by spacecraft. 
B)  The comet crashed into Jupiter. 
C)  The comet exploded after passing too close to the Sun. 
D)  The comet just missed Earth, passing between the Moon and Earth.

Question 15

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 16

The interior of Uranus has three layers.These do NOT include:

Accepted Answer

A)  liquid hydrogen and helium. 
B)  liquid metallic hydrogen. 
C)  compressed liquid water. 
D)  rocks and metals. 
A)  liquid hydrogen and helium. 
B)  liquid metallic hydrogen. 
C)  compressed liquid water. 
D)  rocks and metals.

Question 17

The major chemical constituent of the layers of material continuously being deposited on the surface of Io,the innermost moon of Jupiter,by "volcanic" action is:

Accepted Answer

A)  hydrogen. 
B)  sulfur. 
C)  silicate dust and rock. 
D)  water. 
A)  hydrogen. 
B)  sulfur. 
C)  silicate dust and rock. 
D)  water.

Question 18

Saturn's atmosphere does not show the same colorful contrast that we see 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 counterflowing 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 counterflowing 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 19

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 20

Which technique is NOT used to determine the size of the particles which make up the rings of Saturn?

Accepted Answer

A)  studying the fraction of visible light reflected from the rings 
B)  studying the fraction of radio waves reflected from the rings 
C)  studying the colors of the rings 
D)  measuring the orbital periods of the particles in the rings 
A)  studying the fraction of visible light reflected from the rings 
B)  studying the fraction of radio waves reflected from the rings 
C)  studying the colors of the rings 
D)  measuring the orbital periods of the particles in the rings

Miranda,a satellite of Uranus:

Which planet in the solar system has the LOWEST average density?

The rotation period of Jupiter is:

The mass of Jupiter compared with that of Earth is:

A manned space mission to Saturn sometime in the future might place an observer in a spacecraft within its ring system.What relationship between the motions of the ring particles and the motion of the spacecraft would the observer see?

Around which object does Titan orbit?

In order of increasing density,the Jovian planets are:

The atmosphere of Titan appears to include all of the following except significant amounts of:

For how long has it been known that the planet Jupiter has moons?

Which chemical in the atmosphere of Titan (a moon of Saturn)plays the same role that water plays on Earth by producing "rain," "snow," and "ice" at the temperature encountered on Titan?

Scarps are long lines of cliffs believed to form when the surface of a body cools and shrinks.On which body have scarps NOT been observed?

Ganymede,the largest Galilean moon of Jupiter,is:

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

How did Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 achieve lasting fame?

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

The interior of Uranus has three layers.These do NOT include:

The major chemical constituent of the layers of material continuously being deposited on the surface of Io,the innermost moon of Jupiter,by "volcanic" action is:

Saturn's atmosphere does not show the same colorful contrast that we see in Jupiter's atmosphere because:

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

Which technique is NOT used to determine the size of the particles which make up the rings of Saturn?

Discovering the Night Sky

Gravitation and the Waltz of the Planets

Light and Telescopes

Formation of the Solar System and Other Planetary Systems

Exoplanets

The Terrestrial Planets and Their Moons

Vagabonds of the Solar System

The Sun: Our Extraordinary Ordinary Star

Characterizing Stars

The Lives of the Stars From Birth Through Middle Age

The Deaths and Remnants of Stars

The Galaxies

Cosmology

Astrobiology

Filters

Exam 7: The Outer Planets and Their Moons

Miranda,a satellite of Uranus:

Which planet in the solar system has the LOWEST average density?

The rotation period of Jupiter is:

The mass of Jupiter compared with that of Earth is:

A manned space mission to Saturn sometime in the future might place an observer in a spacecraft within its ring system.What relationship between the motions of the ring particles and the motion of the spacecraft would the observer see?

Around which object does Titan orbit?

In order of increasing density,the Jovian planets are:

The atmosphere of Titan appears to include all of the following except significant amounts of:

For how long has it been known that the planet Jupiter has moons?

Which chemical in the atmosphere of Titan (a moon of Saturn)plays the same role that water plays on Earth by producing "rain," "snow," and "ice" at the temperature encountered on Titan?

Scarps are long lines of cliffs believed to form when the surface of a body cools and shrinks.On which body have scarps NOT been observed?

Ganymede,the largest Galilean moon of Jupiter,is:

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

How did Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 achieve lasting fame?

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

The interior of Uranus has three layers.These do NOT include:

The major chemical constituent of the layers of material continuously being deposited on the surface of Io,the innermost moon of Jupiter,by "volcanic" action is:

Saturn's atmosphere does not show the same colorful contrast that we see in Jupiter's atmosphere because:

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

Which technique is NOT used to determine the size of the particles which make up the rings of Saturn?

Discovering the Night Sky

Gravitation and the Waltz of the Planets

Light and Telescopes

Formation of the Solar System and Other Planetary Systems

Exoplanets

The Terrestrial Planets and Their Moons

Vagabonds of the Solar System

The Sun: Our Extraordinary Ordinary Star

Characterizing Stars

The Lives of the Stars From Birth Through Middle Age

The Deaths and Remnants of Stars

The Galaxies

Cosmology

Astrobiology

Filters