Question 1

The existence of the Great Red Spot of Jupiter has been known since:

Accepted Answer

A)  the arrival at Jupiter of Voyager 1, with its imaging cameras, in 1979. 
B)  the time of Hooke and Cassini in the 1600s. 
C)  first light at the 200-inch telescope on Mount Palomar, in 1948. 
D)  the first fly-by of a spacecraft, Pioneer 10, in December 1973. 
A)  the arrival at Jupiter of Voyager 1, with its imaging cameras, in 1979. 
B)  the time of Hooke and Cassini in the 1600s. 
C)  first light at the 200-inch telescope on Mount Palomar, in 1948. 
D)  the first fly-by of a spacecraft, Pioneer 10, in December 1973.

Question 2

The structure of Callisto,the outer Galilean satellite of Jupiter,is thought to be:

Accepted Answer

A)  a mixed ice-rock interior surrounded by a liquid ocean and then a solid icy crust. 
B)  mostly or entirely rock, with no firm evidence of an iron core, and active volcanoes on its surface. 
C)  an iron core surrounded by a rocky mantle and an ice mantle and crust. 
D)  almost all water ice, in view of its low average density. 
A)  a mixed ice-rock interior surrounded by a liquid ocean and then a solid icy crust. 
B)  mostly or entirely rock, with no firm evidence of an iron core, and active volcanoes on its surface. 
C)  an iron core surrounded by a rocky mantle and an ice mantle and crust. 
D)  almost all water ice, in view of its low average density.

Question 3

The electrically charged particles that produce electric currents and therefore magnetic fields when they move inside Uranus and Neptune are:

Accepted Answer

A)  electrons flowing through metallic iron in the planet's cores. 
B)  molecules such as ammonia (NH₃), which become ionized when in solution in water. 
C)  liquid metallic hydrogen under immense pressure. 
D)  electrically conducting iron atoms in the molten cores. 
A)  electrons flowing through metallic iron in the planet's cores. 
B)  molecules such as ammonia (NH₃), which become ionized when in solution in water. 
C)  liquid metallic hydrogen under immense pressure. 
D)  electrically conducting iron atoms in the molten cores.

Question 4

At the time of the Voyager flybys of Neptune,the patterns and motions of its atmosphere most closely resembled those of which other planet?

Accepted Answer

A)  Venus, with rapidly moving clouds of sulfuric acid droplets and a thick carbon dioxide atmosphere 
B)  Jupiter, with clouds and rotating spots 
C)  Saturn, with indistinct cloud bands and no large spots 
D)  Uranus, with no very distinct features seen through a deep high-altitude haze 
A)  Venus, with rapidly moving clouds of sulfuric acid droplets and a thick carbon dioxide atmosphere 
B)  Jupiter, with clouds and rotating spots 
C)  Saturn, with indistinct cloud bands and no large spots 
D)  Uranus, with no very distinct features seen through a deep high-altitude haze

Question 5

Kepler's third law relates the period P and the semimajor axis a of an orbit.For a circular orbit,P = 2a/v,so it is possible also to relate the speed v to a.The result is,as a increases:

Accepted Answer

A)  both P and v increase. 
B)  P increases but v decreases. 
C)  P decreases but v increases. 
D)  both P and v decrease. 
A)  both P and v increase. 
B)  P increases but v decreases. 
C)  P decreases but v increases. 
D)  both P and v decrease.

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

If we could see the full extent of the magnetosphere of Jupiter from Earth,how big would it appear in the sky?

Accepted Answer

A)  about 16 times larger than Jupiter itself 
B)  about as large as the full Moon 
C)  sbout twice as large as Jupiter itself 
D)  16 times larger than the full Moon 
A)  about 16 times larger than Jupiter itself 
B)  about as large as the full Moon 
C)  sbout twice as large as Jupiter itself 
D)  16 times larger than the full Moon

Question 8

The rotation axis of which planet is tilted at 98° from the vertical to its orbit?

Accepted Answer

A)  Neptune 
B)  Earth 
C)  Venus 
D)  Uranus 
A)  Neptune 
B)  Earth 
C)  Venus 
D)  Uranus

Question 9

By what angle is the rotation axis of Uranus tilted from the vertical to its orbit?

Accepted Answer

A)  98° 
B)  almost 180° 
C)  less than 2° 
D)  25° (almost the same as Earth's tilt) 
A)  98° 
B)  almost 180° 
C)  less than 2° 
D)  25° (almost the same as Earth's tilt)

Question 10

What is the location of the smaller moons of Jupiter compared with the orbits of the Galilean moons?

Accepted Answer

A)  The smaller moons all orbit beyond Callisto. 
B)  The smaller moons occupy orbits over the full range, inside Io's orbit, between the Galilean moons and outside Callisto's orbit. 
C)  The orbital distances from Jupiter of the smaller moons are all less than that of Io. 
D)  Several of the smaller moons are inside Io's orbit, none orbit within the orbits of the Galilean moons, and the rest are beyond Callisto. 
A)  The smaller moons all orbit beyond Callisto. 
B)  The smaller moons occupy orbits over the full range, inside Io's orbit, between the Galilean moons and outside Callisto's orbit. 
C)  The orbital distances from Jupiter of the smaller moons are all less than that of Io. 
D)  Several of the smaller moons are inside Io's orbit, none orbit within the orbits of the Galilean moons, and the rest are beyond Callisto.

Question 11

"Markings" on the surface of Saturn are:

Accepted Answer

A)  of a completely different pattern from those on Jupiter and more distinct. 
B)  similar in appearance to those on Jupiter but much less distinct. 
C)  similar to those on Jupiter but much more pronounced. 
D)  nonexistent because Saturn shows completely uniform cloud tops. 
A)  of a completely different pattern from those on Jupiter and more distinct. 
B)  similar in appearance to those on Jupiter but much less distinct. 
C)  similar to those on Jupiter but much more pronounced. 
D)  nonexistent because Saturn shows completely uniform cloud tops.

Question 12

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 13

Does Neptune have rings orbiting the planet?

Accepted Answer

A)  yes, three very thin rings composed of fine dust particles 
B)  yes, three very wide, bright rings and several faint, thin ones made up of dark rocky material 
C)  no 
D)  yes, a system of dark rings of particles coated in chemically modified methane ice 
A)  yes, three very thin rings composed of fine dust particles 
B)  yes, three very wide, bright rings and several faint, thin ones made up of dark rocky material 
C)  no 
D)  yes, a system of dark rings of particles coated in chemically modified methane ice

Question 14

Which feature has NOT been found on Enceladus?

Accepted Answer

A)  jets of icewater shooting into the atmosphere 
B)  a uniformly and heavily cratered surface 
C)  stripes of recently formed material 
D)  a magnetic field 
A)  jets of icewater shooting into the atmosphere 
B)  a uniformly and heavily cratered surface 
C)  stripes of recently formed material 
D)  a magnetic field

Question 15

Because of the large angle between the magnetic axis of Uranus and its rotation axis,the magnetosphere wobbles considerably as the planet rotates.Astronomers use this wobble to determine the:

Accepted Answer

A)  strength of the magnetic field. 
B)  interior rotation speed of the planet. 
C)  rotation speed of the atmosphere. 
D)  density of the planet. 
A)  strength of the magnetic field. 
B)  interior rotation speed of the planet. 
C)  rotation speed of the atmosphere. 
D)  density of the planet.

Question 16

What is the Kelvin-Helmholtz mechanism?

Accepted Answer

A)  the tidal flexing which causes Io to be geologically active 
B)  a satellite in a non-equatorial orbit will have its orbit gradually shifted toward the equatorial plane 
C)  the release of gravitational potential energy as heat when a body contracts 
D)  the shift of the spectral peak to longer wavelengths as a body cools off 
A)  the tidal flexing which causes Io to be geologically active 
B)  a satellite in a non-equatorial orbit will have its orbit gradually shifted toward the equatorial plane 
C)  the release of gravitational potential energy as heat when a body contracts 
D)  the shift of the spectral peak to longer wavelengths as a body cools off

Question 17

Large-scale geologic activity apparently never occurred on:

Accepted Answer

A)  Europa 
B)  Io 
C)  Callisto 
D)  Ganymede 
A)  Europa 
B)  Io 
C)  Callisto 
D)  Ganymede

Question 18

Which feature has NOT been found on Titan?

Accepted Answer

A)  lakes and rivers of liquid methane 
B)  evidence of plate tectonics 
C)  sand dunes 
D)  significant atmospheric oxygen 
A)  lakes and rivers of liquid methane 
B)  evidence of plate tectonics 
C)  sand dunes 
D)  significant atmospheric oxygen

Question 19

What is the composition of 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 
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 
D)  water-ice crystals

Question 20

The rings of Uranus were:

Accepted Answer

A)  predicted theoretically because of the planet's similarity to Saturn. 
B)  first discovered while observing the occultation of a star by the Uranian system. 
C)  first discovered by Voyager 2 on its flyby in 1986. 
D)  first observed by Galileo. 
A)  predicted theoretically because of the planet's similarity to Saturn. 
B)  first discovered while observing the occultation of a star by the Uranian system. 
C)  first discovered by Voyager 2 on its flyby in 1986. 
D)  first observed by Galileo.

The existence of the Great Red Spot of Jupiter has been known since:

The structure of Callisto,the outer Galilean satellite of Jupiter,is thought to be:

The electrically charged particles that produce electric currents and therefore magnetic fields when they move inside Uranus and Neptune are:

At the time of the Voyager flybys of Neptune,the patterns and motions of its atmosphere most closely resembled those of which other planet?

Kepler's third law relates the period P and the semimajor axis a of an orbit.For a circular orbit,P = 2a/v,so it is possible also to relate the speed v to a.The result is,as a increases:

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:

If we could see the full extent of the magnetosphere of Jupiter from Earth,how big would it appear in the sky?

The rotation axis of which planet is tilted at 98° from the vertical to its orbit?

By what angle is the rotation axis of Uranus tilted from the vertical to its orbit?

What is the location of the smaller moons of Jupiter compared with the orbits of the Galilean moons?

"Markings" on the surface of Saturn are:

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

Does Neptune have rings orbiting the planet?

Which feature has NOT been found on Enceladus?

Because of the large angle between the magnetic axis of Uranus and its rotation axis,the magnetosphere wobbles considerably as the planet rotates.Astronomers use this wobble to determine the:

What is the Kelvin-Helmholtz mechanism?

Large-scale geologic activity apparently never occurred on:

Which feature has NOT been found on Titan?

What is the composition of Jupiter's clouds?

The rings of Uranus were:

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

The existence of the Great Red Spot of Jupiter has been known since:

The structure of Callisto,the outer Galilean satellite of Jupiter,is thought to be:

The electrically charged particles that produce electric currents and therefore magnetic fields when they move inside Uranus and Neptune are:

At the time of the Voyager flybys of Neptune,the patterns and motions of its atmosphere most closely resembled those of which other planet?

Kepler's third law relates the period P and the semimajor axis a of an orbit.For a circular orbit,P = 2a/v,so it is possible also to relate the speed v to a.The result is,as a increases:

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:

If we could see the full extent of the magnetosphere of Jupiter from Earth,how big would it appear in the sky?

The rotation axis of which planet is tilted at 98° from the vertical to its orbit?

By what angle is the rotation axis of Uranus tilted from the vertical to its orbit?

What is the location of the smaller moons of Jupiter compared with the orbits of the Galilean moons?

"Markings" on the surface of Saturn are:

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

Does Neptune have rings orbiting the planet?

Which feature has NOT been found on Enceladus?

Because of the large angle between the magnetic axis of Uranus and its rotation axis,the magnetosphere wobbles considerably as the planet rotates.Astronomers use this wobble to determine the:

What is the Kelvin-Helmholtz mechanism?

Large-scale geologic activity apparently never occurred on:

Which feature has NOT been found on Titan?

What is the composition of Jupiter's clouds?

The rings of Uranus were:

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