Question 1

Which statement is NOT a reason to suspect liquid water on Enceladus?

Accepted Answer

A)  It possesses a magnetic field. 
B)  Most of the moon's southern hemisphere is free of craters. 
C)  There are cracks on the surface less than 1000 years old. 
D)  Enceladus possesses a thin atmosphere. 
A)  It possesses a magnetic field. 
B)  Most of the moon's southern hemisphere is free of craters. 
C)  There are cracks on the surface less than 1000 years old. 
D)  Enceladus possesses a thin atmosphere.

Question 2

Jupiter's satellite Io has numerous black spots on its surface.What are these spots?

Accepted Answer

A)  volcanic vents 
B)  impact craters 
C)  collapsed features in an icy crust 
D)  debris from comets 
A)  volcanic vents 
B)  impact craters 
C)  collapsed features in an icy crust 
D)  debris from comets

Question 3

What is the visual appearance of Uranus from space?

Accepted Answer

A)  perpetually covered with yellowish, sulfur-rich clouds 
B)  blue-green with distinct white, high-altitude clouds and dark storms 
C)  blue-green and featureless 
D)  reddish belts and light zones parallel to the equator 
A)  perpetually covered with yellowish, sulfur-rich clouds 
B)  blue-green with distinct white, high-altitude clouds and dark storms 
C)  blue-green and featureless 
D)  reddish belts and light zones parallel to the equator

Question 4

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 our 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 our Moon. 
D)  an ancient, icy crust covered with numerous craters and no surface cracks or groove belts that would indicate internal activity.

Question 5

What have we observed about the evolution of the red spots and white and brown ovals in Jupiter's atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

A)  All of these seem to be permanent with no discernible changes over the four centuries we have been observing them. 
B)  Brown ovals routinely change into white ovals and then back into brown. 
C)  White ovals have been observed to merge to create a red spot. 
D)  The Great Red Spot seems too create and spin off other smaller red spots. 
A)  All of these seem to be permanent with no discernible changes over the four centuries we have been observing them. 
B)  Brown ovals routinely change into white ovals and then back into brown. 
C)  White ovals have been observed to merge to create a red spot. 
D)  The Great Red Spot seems too create and spin off other smaller red spots.

Question 6

Figure 7-6 in Comins,Discovering the Essential Universe,6th edition,shows the three cloud layers of Jupiter and Saturn.What is the unlabeled blank space beneath these layers?

Accepted Answer

A)  gaseous hydrogen 
B)  liquid hydrogen 
C)  solid metallic hydrogen 
D)  rocks 
A)  gaseous hydrogen 
B)  liquid hydrogen 
C)  solid metallic hydrogen 
D)  rocks

Question 7

Are the volcanoes of Io efficient replacers of the surface of this moon?

Accepted Answer

A)  No. The volcanoes emit only gases that dissipate into space. 
B)  No. The volcanoes emit solid material, mostly sulfur, but this material only coats the surface with about 12 mm per century. 
C)  Yes. The volcanoes emit enough so that the whole surface is covered with about 1 m of new material per century. 
D)  Yes. The volcanoes emit enough to coat the whole surface with about 1 m of new material per year. 
A)  No. The volcanoes emit only gases that dissipate into space. 
B)  No. The volcanoes emit solid material, mostly sulfur, but this material only coats the surface with about 12 mm per century. 
C)  Yes. The volcanoes emit enough so that the whole surface is covered with about 1 m of new material per century. 
D)  Yes. The volcanoes emit enough to coat the whole surface with about 1 m of new material per year.

Question 8

Where in the universe would you look for Ganymede?

Accepted Answer

A)  in the asteroid belt 
B)  around the planet Mars because it is one of the moons of Mars 
C)  on the Moon because it is one of the largest maria 
D)  near Jupiter because it is one of Jupiter's moons. 
A)  in the asteroid belt 
B)  around the planet Mars because it is one of the moons of Mars 
C)  on the Moon because it is one of the largest maria 
D)  near Jupiter because it is one of Jupiter's moons.

Question 9

The interior rotation of Uranus is considerably slower than the rotation rate of the clouds on its surface.How have we measured the interior rotation rate?

Accepted Answer

A)  By measuring the differential rotation between the poles and the equator. 
B)  The moons have locked into synchronous rotation at the same rate. 
C)  By measuring the wobble of the magnetosphere. 
D)  By measuring the speeds of the cloud layers at different depths and extrapolating to the surface. 
A)  By measuring the differential rotation between the poles and the equator. 
B)  The moons have locked into synchronous rotation at the same rate. 
C)  By measuring the wobble of the magnetosphere. 
D)  By measuring the speeds of the cloud layers at different depths and extrapolating to the surface.

Question 10

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 11

Which of the Galilean moons of Jupiter are within Jupiter's magnetosphere?

Accepted Answer

A)  only Io; the others are well outside the magnetosphere 
B)  only Io and Europa; the others are well outside the magnetosphere 
C)  all except Callisto, which is well outside the magnetosphere 
D)  all four Galilean moons 
A)  only Io; the others are well outside the magnetosphere 
B)  only Io and Europa; the others are well outside the magnetosphere 
C)  all except Callisto, which is well outside the magnetosphere 
D)  all four Galilean moons

Question 12

Detailed observations of Jupiter's rotation suggest that Jupiter:

Accepted Answer

A)  rotates in two separate parts, with equatorial regions rotating in a direction opposite to polar regions. 
B)  is slowing down noticeably at the present time. 
C)  rotates as a solid body, with equatorial and polar regions showing the same rotational period. 
D)  is not a rigid object because equatorial regions rotate faster than polar regions. 
A)  rotates in two separate parts, with equatorial regions rotating in a direction opposite to polar regions. 
B)  is slowing down noticeably at the present time. 
C)  rotates as a solid body, with equatorial and polar regions showing the same rotational period. 
D)  is not a rigid object because equatorial regions rotate faster than polar regions.

Question 13

The surface of Callisto,the outer Galilean moon of Jupiter,can BEST be described as:

Accepted Answer

A)  relatively smooth, with a great many impact craters and one large basin created by an asteroid impact. 
B)  relatively smooth, with many small craters but no evidence of large impacts. 
C)  rough and mountainous, with evidence of either volcanoes or geyser-like activity. 
D)  very smooth, with a network of streaks and cracks and very few craters. 
A)  relatively smooth, with a great many impact craters and one large basin created by an asteroid impact. 
B)  relatively smooth, with many small craters but no evidence of large impacts. 
C)  rough and mountainous, with evidence of either volcanoes or geyser-like activity. 
D)  very smooth, with a network of streaks and cracks and very few craters.

Question 14

How did the Great Dark Spot,observed on Neptune,compare with Jupiter's Great Red Spot?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Great Dark Spot was much smaller in relation to Neptune's size. 
B)  The Great Dark Spot wandered over Neptune's surface, whereas the Great Red Spot remained relatively fixed. 
C)  The Great Dark Spot disappeared after a few years. 
D)  The Great Dark Spot was matched by a similar spot on the opposite side of the planet, whereas the Great Red Spot was solitary. 
A)  The Great Dark Spot was much smaller in relation to Neptune's size. 
B)  The Great Dark Spot wandered over Neptune's surface, whereas the Great Red Spot remained relatively fixed. 
C)  The Great Dark Spot disappeared after a few years. 
D)  The Great Dark Spot was matched by a similar spot on the opposite side of the planet, whereas the Great Red Spot was solitary.

Question 15

The size of Saturn's moon Titan is:

Accepted Answer

A)  about the same as the size of the moons of Mars. 
B)  intermediate between the sizes of Mercury and Mars. 
C)  intermediate between the sizes of Mars and Earth. 
D)  intermediate between the size of Mercury and the size of Earth's moon. 
A)  about the same as the size of the moons of Mars. 
B)  intermediate between the sizes of Mercury and Mars. 
C)  intermediate between the sizes of Mars and Earth. 
D)  intermediate between the size of Mercury and the size of Earth's moon.

Question 16

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 right 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 right 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 17

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 18

What is the Great Red Spot on Jupiter?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 19

Which planet has wide,bright rings that are easily visible from Earth?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 20

The Great Red Spot is:

Accepted Answer

A)  the top of a massive mountain penetrating through Jupiter's clouds. 
B)  a temporary storm in Jupiter's atmosphere, lasting a few months. 
C)  a large, long-lived storm system in Jupiter's atmosphere. 
D)  the colored polar cap of Jupiter. 
A)  the top of a massive mountain penetrating through Jupiter's clouds. 
B)  a temporary storm in Jupiter's atmosphere, lasting a few months. 
C)  a large, long-lived storm system in Jupiter's atmosphere. 
D)  the colored polar cap of Jupiter.

Which statement is NOT a reason to suspect liquid water on Enceladus?

Jupiter's satellite Io has numerous black spots on its surface.What are these spots?

What is the visual appearance of Uranus from space?

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

What have we observed about the evolution of the red spots and white and brown ovals in Jupiter's atmosphere?

Figure 7-6 in Comins,Discovering the Essential Universe,6th edition,shows the three cloud layers of Jupiter and Saturn.What is the unlabeled blank space beneath these layers?

Are the volcanoes of Io efficient replacers of the surface of this moon?

Where in the universe would you look for Ganymede?

The interior rotation of Uranus is considerably slower than the rotation rate of the clouds on its surface.How have we measured the interior rotation rate?

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

Which of the Galilean moons of Jupiter are within Jupiter's magnetosphere?

Detailed observations of Jupiter's rotation suggest that Jupiter:

The surface of Callisto,the outer Galilean moon of Jupiter,can BEST be described as:

How did the Great Dark Spot,observed on Neptune,compare with Jupiter's Great Red Spot?

The size of Saturn's moon Titan is:

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

How is the mass of Jupiter determined?

What is the Great Red Spot on Jupiter?

Which planet has wide,bright rings that are easily visible from Earth?

The Great Red Spot is:

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

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Exam 7: The Outer Planets and Their Moons

Which statement is NOT a reason to suspect liquid water on Enceladus?

Jupiter's satellite Io has numerous black spots on its surface.What are these spots?

What is the visual appearance of Uranus from space?

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

What have we observed about the evolution of the red spots and white and brown ovals in Jupiter's atmosphere?

Figure 7-6 in Comins,Discovering the Essential Universe,6th edition,shows the three cloud layers of Jupiter and Saturn.What is the unlabeled blank space beneath these layers?

Are the volcanoes of Io efficient replacers of the surface of this moon?

Where in the universe would you look for Ganymede?

The interior rotation of Uranus is considerably slower than the rotation rate of the clouds on its surface.How have we measured the interior rotation rate?

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

Which of the Galilean moons of Jupiter are within Jupiter's magnetosphere?

Detailed observations of Jupiter's rotation suggest that Jupiter:

The surface of Callisto,the outer Galilean moon of Jupiter,can BEST be described as:

How did the Great Dark Spot,observed on Neptune,compare with Jupiter's Great Red Spot?

The size of Saturn's moon Titan is:

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

How is the mass of Jupiter determined?

What is the Great Red Spot on Jupiter?

Which planet has wide,bright rings that are easily visible from Earth?

The Great Red Spot is:

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