Question 1

Which statement about all four of the giant planets is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

A)  The giant planets are almost entirely made up of hydrogen and helium; only about 1% of the planets' mass is made up of heavier elements. 
B)  The giant planets are thought to have substantial rocky cores. 
C)  Liquid metallic hydrogen makes up a large part of the interiors of the giant planets. 
D)  The spin axes of the giant planets are all approximately perpendicular to their orbital planes. 
A)  The giant planets are almost entirely made up of hydrogen and helium; only about 1% of the planets' mass is made up of heavier elements. 
B)  The giant planets are thought to have substantial rocky cores. 
C)  Liquid metallic hydrogen makes up a large part of the interiors of the giant planets. 
D)  The spin axes of the giant planets are all approximately perpendicular to their orbital planes.

Question 2

A striking characteristic on Triton,the largest satellite of Neptune,is:

Accepted Answer

A)  a brightness variation: One hemisphere is as bright as ice and the other hemisphere is as dark as asphalt. 
B)  plumes of nitrogen gas rising from the icy surface, possibly as a result of radioactive heating. 
C)  an interconnecting network of parallel grooves, indicating tectonic activity in geologically recent times. 
D)  a crater so large that the impact that created it must have come close to shattering the satellite. 
A)  a brightness variation: One hemisphere is as bright as ice and the other hemisphere is as dark as asphalt. 
B)  plumes of nitrogen gas rising from the icy surface, possibly as a result of radioactive heating. 
C)  an interconnecting network of parallel grooves, indicating tectonic activity in geologically recent times. 
D)  a crater so large that the impact that created it must have come close to shattering the satellite.

Question 3

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 smoke-like 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 smoke-like particles.

Question 4

The high-speed winds observed on Jupiter occur mainly:

Accepted Answer

A)  in a northwest-southeast direction from the light zones toward the dark belts. 
B)  in a northeast-southwest direction from the dark belts toward the light zones. 
C)  from the poles toward the equator. 
D)  in the directions parallel to the equator. 
A)  in a northwest-southeast direction from the light zones toward the dark belts. 
B)  in a northeast-southwest direction from the dark belts toward the light zones. 
C)  from the poles toward the equator. 
D)  in the directions parallel to the equator.

Question 5

The temperature in the core of Jupiter is:

Accepted Answer

A)  as hot as the temperature of the Sun's core, but it is composed of rock, so nuclear fusion will not occur. 
B)  as hot as the temperature of the Sun's core, and because Jupiter's core is mostly hydrogen, nuclear fusion occurs at a low rate to produce excess heat on Jupiter. 
C)  cooler than the temperature of the Sun's surface, meaning that no nuclear fusion can take place. 
D)  hotter than the temperature of the Sun's surface but cooler than the temperature of the Sun's core, so nuclear fusion cannot take place. 
A)  as hot as the temperature of the Sun's core, but it is composed of rock, so nuclear fusion will not occur. 
B)  as hot as the temperature of the Sun's core, and because Jupiter's core is mostly hydrogen, nuclear fusion occurs at a low rate to produce excess heat on Jupiter. 
C)  cooler than the temperature of the Sun's surface, meaning that no nuclear fusion can take place. 
D)  hotter than the temperature of the Sun's surface but cooler than the temperature of the Sun's core, so nuclear fusion cannot take place.

Question 6

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 7

The MAIN gravitational effect that organizes the particles in the rings of Saturn into specific narrow orbits is:

Accepted Answer

A)  the complex gravitational effects of the planet and the Sun on the ring particles. 
B)  perturbations by neighboring planets, such as Jupiter and Neptune. 
C)  collisions between the ring particles and the major moons of the planets. 
D)  gravitational perturbations by the large moons orbiting these planets. 
A)  the complex gravitational effects of the planet and the Sun on the ring particles. 
B)  perturbations by neighboring planets, such as Jupiter and Neptune. 
C)  collisions between the ring particles and the major moons of the planets. 
D)  gravitational perturbations by the large moons orbiting these planets.

Question 8

The very wide range of colors that are seen on the surface of Io results from:

Accepted Answer

A)  frozen ices of sulfur dioxoide, water vapor, and carbon dioxide. 
B)  the wide range of temperatures, each region emitting its own blackbody spectrum. 
C)  different chemical compounds, each with its own characteristic color, emitted from the volcanoes. 
D)  various forms of sulfur, the color of which can vary widely following exposure to a variety of thermal conditions. 
A)  frozen ices of sulfur dioxoide, water vapor, and carbon dioxide. 
B)  the wide range of temperatures, each region emitting its own blackbody spectrum. 
C)  different chemical compounds, each with its own characteristic color, emitted from the volcanoes. 
D)  various forms of sulfur, the color of which can vary widely following exposure to a variety of thermal conditions.

Question 9

The spacecraft that photographed Neptune on a 1989 flyby mission was:

Accepted Answer

A)  Viking. 
B)  Voyager. 
C)  Magellan. 
D)  Galileo. 
A)  Viking. 
B)  Voyager. 
C)  Magellan. 
D)  Galileo.

Question 10

Which statement CORRECTLY describes how Neptune differs from Uranus?

Accepted Answer

A)  Neptune rotates quite rapidly (16 hours), whereas Uranus rotates very slowly (243 days). 
B)  A number of storms and ice clouds are visible in Neptune's atmosphere, whereas Uranus's atmosphere appears almost featureless. 
C)  Neptune is circled by a system of narrow, dark rings, whereas the rings of Uranus are wide, like those of Saturn. 
D)  Neptune's magnetic axis is closely aligned with its rotation axis, whereas for Uranus the two axes are at a large angle to each other. 
A)  Neptune rotates quite rapidly (16 hours), whereas Uranus rotates very slowly (243 days). 
B)  A number of storms and ice clouds are visible in Neptune's atmosphere, whereas Uranus's atmosphere appears almost featureless. 
C)  Neptune is circled by a system of narrow, dark rings, whereas the rings of Uranus are wide, like those of Saturn. 
D)  Neptune's magnetic axis is closely aligned with its rotation axis, whereas for Uranus the two axes are at a large angle to each other.

Question 11

At what locations are auroras seen on Jupiter?

Accepted Answer

A)  directly above both magnetic poles, with little extension from these regions toward the equator 
B)  only over the major spots in the atmosphere, such as the Great Red Spot, where the magnetic field of Jupiter is disturbed 
C)  in oval regions around Jupiter's magnetic poles but only rarely, if ever, directly over these poles 
D)  along the equator, aligned with the dark bands and light zones 
A)  directly above both magnetic poles, with little extension from these regions toward the equator 
B)  only over the major spots in the atmosphere, such as the Great Red Spot, where the magnetic field of Jupiter is disturbed 
C)  in oval regions around Jupiter's magnetic poles but only rarely, if ever, directly over these poles 
D)  along the equator, aligned with the dark bands and light zones

Question 12

To compute the density of Jupiter,we obtain its mass from:

Accepted Answer

A)  Kepler's third law and its size from Kepler's second law. 
B)  its observed rotation period and its size from trigonometry. 
C)  Kepler's third law and its size from trigonometry. 
D)  its gravitational redshift and its size from Kepler's first law. 
A)  Kepler's third law and its size from Kepler's second law. 
B)  its observed rotation period and its size from trigonometry. 
C)  Kepler's third law and its size from trigonometry. 
D)  its gravitational redshift and its size from Kepler's first law.

Question 13

The atmospheres of Jupiter and Saturn are alike in many ways.In which way do they DIFFER?

Accepted Answer

A)  bands caused by rapid rotation 
B)  auroras 
C)  helium rain 
D)  convection 
A)  bands caused by rapid rotation 
B)  auroras 
C)  helium rain 
D)  convection

Question 14

What is the basic structure of the planet Jupiter?

Accepted Answer

A)  rocky core overlaid by a thick mantle of liquid hydrogen, relatively thin gaseous atmosphere 
B)  small rocky core overlaid by a thin mantle of liquid hydrogen, thick gaseous atmosphere 
C)  large rocky core with a thin mantle of liquid hydrogen, thin gaseous atmosphere 
D)  rocky core, liquid hydrogen mantle, and gaseous atmosphere, all having about the same thickness 
A)  rocky core overlaid by a thick mantle of liquid hydrogen, relatively thin gaseous atmosphere 
B)  small rocky core overlaid by a thin mantle of liquid hydrogen, thick gaseous atmosphere 
C)  large rocky core with a thin mantle of liquid hydrogen, thin gaseous atmosphere 
D)  rocky core, liquid hydrogen mantle, and gaseous atmosphere, all having about the same thickness

Question 15

One of the MOST important sources of heat in the interiors of moons that orbit close to giant planets is:

Accepted Answer

A)  thermal energy from the moon's parental planets. 
B)  continuous tidal distortion from the planet and other moons. 
C)  reflection of sunlight from the planet's surface. 
D)  decay of radioactive elements within the moons. 
A)  thermal energy from the moon's parental planets. 
B)  continuous tidal distortion from the planet and other moons. 
C)  reflection of sunlight from the planet's surface. 
D)  decay of radioactive elements within the moons.

Question 16

What features characterize the visible surface of Triton,Neptune's largest moon?

Accepted Answer

A)  ice heavily cratered by ancient impacts 
B)  a wrinkled surface, frozen lakes, and plumes of nitrogen gas 
C)  a dense atmosphere permanently shrouded in clouds 
D)  lava flows, volcanoes, and sulfur dioxide frost 
A)  ice heavily cratered by ancient impacts 
B)  a wrinkled surface, frozen lakes, and plumes of nitrogen gas 
C)  a dense atmosphere permanently shrouded in clouds 
D)  lava flows, volcanoes, and sulfur dioxide frost

Question 17

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 18

Which early telescope observation probably convinced Galileo that the Copernican heliocentric model provided a better explanation for the solar system than the Greek geocentric model?

Accepted Answer

A)  the observation of sunspots on the Sun and the detection of solar rotation 
B)  the observation of moons orbiting another planet, Jupiter, rather than Earth 
C)  the change in apparent angular size of the Moon as it orbits Earth 
D)  the change with time in the angular size of Mars 
A)  the observation of sunspots on the Sun and the detection of solar rotation 
B)  the observation of moons orbiting another planet, Jupiter, rather than Earth 
C)  the change in apparent angular size of the Moon as it orbits Earth 
D)  the change with time in the angular size of Mars

Question 19

What is the Great Red Spot?

Accepted Answer

A)  a dark, polar hood in the clouds of Titan, a satellite of Saturn 
B)  a large, anticyclonic storm on Neptune discovered by the Voyager spacecraft 
C)  a lava lake on Io, a satellite of Jupiter 
D)  a large and long-lived, possibly permanent storm on Jupiter 
A)  a dark, polar hood in the clouds of Titan, a satellite of Saturn 
B)  a large, anticyclonic storm on Neptune discovered by the Voyager spacecraft 
C)  a lava lake on Io, a satellite of Jupiter 
D)  a large and long-lived, possibly permanent storm on Jupiter

Question 20

What is believed to be the basic structure of the interior of Uranus?

Accepted Answer

A)  rocky core, thick layer of highly compressed liquid water, thick outer layer of liquid hydrogen, thin gaseous atmosphere 
B)  rocky core, thick layer of liquid water covered by a thin gaseous atmosphere 
C)  rocky core, thick layer of liquid metallic hydrogen, thin gaseous atmosphere 
D)  iron core, thick layer of rock, solid icy surface covered by a thin gaseous atmosphere. 
A)  rocky core, thick layer of highly compressed liquid water, thick outer layer of liquid hydrogen, thin gaseous atmosphere 
B)  rocky core, thick layer of liquid water covered by a thin gaseous atmosphere 
C)  rocky core, thick layer of liquid metallic hydrogen, thin gaseous atmosphere 
D)  iron core, thick layer of rock, solid icy surface covered by a thin gaseous atmosphere.

Which statement about all four of the giant planets is TRUE?

A striking characteristic on Triton,the largest satellite of Neptune,is:

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

The high-speed winds observed on Jupiter occur mainly:

The temperature in the core of Jupiter is:

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 MAIN gravitational effect that organizes the particles in the rings of Saturn into specific narrow orbits is:

The very wide range of colors that are seen on the surface of Io results from:

The spacecraft that photographed Neptune on a 1989 flyby mission was:

Which statement CORRECTLY describes how Neptune differs from Uranus?

At what locations are auroras seen on Jupiter?

To compute the density of Jupiter,we obtain its mass from:

The atmospheres of Jupiter and Saturn are alike in many ways.In which way do they DIFFER?

What is the basic structure of the planet Jupiter?

One of the MOST important sources of heat in the interiors of moons that orbit close to giant planets is:

What features characterize the visible surface of Triton,Neptune's largest moon?

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

Which early telescope observation probably convinced Galileo that the Copernican heliocentric model provided a better explanation for the solar system than the Greek geocentric model?

What is the Great Red Spot?

What is believed to be the basic structure of the interior of Uranus?

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

Which statement about all four of the giant planets is TRUE?

A striking characteristic on Triton,the largest satellite of Neptune,is:

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

The high-speed winds observed on Jupiter occur mainly:

The temperature in the core of Jupiter is:

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 MAIN gravitational effect that organizes the particles in the rings of Saturn into specific narrow orbits is:

The very wide range of colors that are seen on the surface of Io results from:

The spacecraft that photographed Neptune on a 1989 flyby mission was:

Which statement CORRECTLY describes how Neptune differs from Uranus?

At what locations are auroras seen on Jupiter?

To compute the density of Jupiter,we obtain its mass from:

The atmospheres of Jupiter and Saturn are alike in many ways.In which way do they DIFFER?

What is the basic structure of the planet Jupiter?

One of the MOST important sources of heat in the interiors of moons that orbit close to giant planets is:

What features characterize the visible surface of Triton,Neptune's largest moon?

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

Which early telescope observation probably convinced Galileo that the Copernican heliocentric model provided a better explanation for the solar system than the Greek geocentric model?

What is the Great Red Spot?

What is believed to be the basic structure of the interior of Uranus?

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