Question 1

What is the source of Jupiter's intense magnetic field?

Accepted Answer

A)  electric currents in ionized layers of Jupiter's atmosphere 
B)  electric currents in Jupiter's molten iron core 
C)  permanently magnetized iron core 
D)  electric currents in Jupiter's liquid hydrogen layer 
A)  electric currents in ionized layers of Jupiter's atmosphere 
B)  electric currents in Jupiter's molten iron core 
C)  permanently magnetized iron core 
D)  electric currents in Jupiter's liquid hydrogen layer

Question 2

The rings of Saturn alternately appear very distinct and then almost disappear when viewed from Earth over a period of a few years because:

Accepted Answer

A)  Earth is very much closer to Saturn at opposition than at conjunction, so the rings are more easily seen at this time. 
B)  the solar wind occasionally blows away the ring particles when the Sun is particularly active. 
C)  the ice crystals from which they are made melt and refreeze as the planet approaches and recedes from the Sun. 
D)  the plane of the rings is tilted with respect to the ecliptic plane and thus appears edge-on at times. 
A)  Earth is very much closer to Saturn at opposition than at conjunction, so the rings are more easily seen at this time. 
B)  the solar wind occasionally blows away the ring particles when the Sun is particularly active. 
C)  the ice crystals from which they are made melt and refreeze as the planet approaches and recedes from the Sun. 
D)  the plane of the rings is tilted with respect to the ecliptic plane and thus appears edge-on at times.

Question 3

On which moon have eruptions of material into space NOT been seen to occur?

Accepted Answer

A)  Europa 
B)  Enceladus 
C)  Io 
D)  Triton 
A)  Europa 
B)  Enceladus 
C)  Io 
D)  Triton

Question 4

How does the orbital period P of particles moving around in the rings of Saturn depend on the distance r of the particles from the center of the planet?

Accepted Answer

A)  P² is proportional to r³. 
B)  P is constant for all r because the rings move as a solid disk. 
C)  P is proportional to 1/r² 
D)  P increases directly with r. 
A)  P² is proportional to r³. 
B)  P is constant for all r because the rings move as a solid disk. 
C)  P is proportional to 1/r² 
D)  P increases directly with r.

Question 5

What is the mechanism that generates the variable component of Ganymede's magnetic field?

Accepted Answer

A)  variable electric currents in the conducting upper atmosphere of this moon 
B)  electric currents induced in the conducting ocean by Ganymede's motion through Jupiter's powerful magnetic field 
C)  spinning of the moon whose surface is electrically charged, which is equivalent to an electric current 
D)  spinning and permanently magnetized iron core within the liquid ocean 
A)  variable electric currents in the conducting upper atmosphere of this moon 
B)  electric currents induced in the conducting ocean by Ganymede's motion through Jupiter's powerful magnetic field 
C)  spinning of the moon whose surface is electrically charged, which is equivalent to an electric current 
D)  spinning and permanently magnetized iron core within the liquid ocean

Question 6

In 2004,the bottoms of Saturn's ring were visible from Earth.In 2019,what will an Earth-based observer see?

Accepted Answer

A)  The rings will be edge-on and thus not visible. 
B)  The bottoms will again be visible. 
C)  The tops of the rings will be visible. 
D)  It is not possible to predict this so far in advance. 
A)  The rings will be edge-on and thus not visible. 
B)  The bottoms will again be visible. 
C)  The tops of the rings will be visible. 
D)  It is not possible to predict this so far in advance.

Question 7

How many large,spherical moons are in orbit around Jupiter?

Accepted Answer

A)  11 
B)  4 
C)  none 
D)  16 
A)  11 
B)  4 
C)  none 
D)  16

Question 8

One interesting feature of Jupiter's rotation is the fact that:

Accepted Answer

A)  the direction of Jupiter's rotation is opposite to that of most of the planets and opposite to its direction of revolution around the Sun. 
B)  Jupiter's rotation rate has slowed down significantly since it was first observed through telescopes in the 1600s. 
C)  regions of Jupiter at different latitudes appear to rotate at different rates. 
D)  Jupiter's axis of rotation lies almost in the plane of its orbit. 
A)  the direction of Jupiter's rotation is opposite to that of most of the planets and opposite to its direction of revolution around the Sun. 
B)  Jupiter's rotation rate has slowed down significantly since it was first observed through telescopes in the 1600s. 
C)  regions of Jupiter at different latitudes appear to rotate at different rates. 
D)  Jupiter's axis of rotation lies almost in the plane of its orbit.

Question 9

How would Interplanetary Travel Holidays,Inc.,advertise a holiday on Jupiter's satellite Io?

Accepted Answer

A)  Greatest deep-sea diving beneath thick ice layers! 
B)  Glaciers galore for your hiking pleasure under star-studded skies! 
C)  Exquisite ethane lakes, hydrocarbons beyond your wildest dreams! 
D)  The largest number of volcanoes for your travel dollar anywhere in the solar system! 
A)  Greatest deep-sea diving beneath thick ice layers! 
B)  Glaciers galore for your hiking pleasure under star-studded skies! 
C)  Exquisite ethane lakes, hydrocarbons beyond your wildest dreams! 
D)  The largest number of volcanoes for your travel dollar anywhere in the solar system!

Question 10

The lifetime of the Great Red Spot of Jupiter appears to be:

Accepted Answer

A)  well over 2000 years, from ancient Greek records. 
B)  about 2 to 4 weeks between successive appearances, similar to sunspots. 
C)  about one Jupiter orbital period between successive appearances because the spot is produced by tidal effects. 
D)  at least 300 years, from visual records. 
A)  well over 2000 years, from ancient Greek records. 
B)  about 2 to 4 weeks between successive appearances, similar to sunspots. 
C)  about one Jupiter orbital period between successive appearances because the spot is produced by tidal effects. 
D)  at least 300 years, from visual records.

Question 11

The 2009 impact site near the south pole of Jupiter's atmosphere was noticeably different from the 1994 impacts.How?

Accepted Answer

A)  The 2009 site was much larger, indicating a more massive impactor. 
B)  The 2009 site was surrounded by a halo of small impacts, indicating an impact by an asteroid rather than a comet. 
C)  The 2009 site was not surrounded by a halo of small impacts, thus indicating an impact by an asteroid rather than a comet. 
D)  The colors that developed at this site were different from those of the earlier impacts because of differences in temperature and composition of Jupiter's atmosphere near the poles. 
A)  The 2009 site was much larger, indicating a more massive impactor. 
B)  The 2009 site was surrounded by a halo of small impacts, indicating an impact by an asteroid rather than a comet. 
C)  The 2009 site was not surrounded by a halo of small impacts, thus indicating an impact by an asteroid rather than a comet. 
D)  The colors that developed at this site were different from those of the earlier impacts because of differences in temperature and composition of Jupiter's atmosphere near the poles.

Question 12

The specific and unique property of water that was responsible for the large-scale surface features-dark polygons surrounded by heavily grooved and lighter terrain-on Ganymede's surface is:

Accepted Answer

A)  its reflectivity when still wet compared to when it is fully frozen. Wet ice in the polygons appears darker. 
B)  the difference in reflectivities of ice and liquid water. The light ice network surrounds darker pools of liquid water. 
C)  the change in color of water ice with temperature, becoming darker in the centers of the colder polygons but lighter at their warmer edges. 
D)  the fact that it expands when it freezes. Water squeezed out from beneath old, dark ice expanded to produce the lighter, raised terrain. 
A)  its reflectivity when still wet compared to when it is fully frozen. Wet ice in the polygons appears darker. 
B)  the difference in reflectivities of ice and liquid water. The light ice network surrounds darker pools of liquid water. 
C)  the change in color of water ice with temperature, becoming darker in the centers of the colder polygons but lighter at their warmer edges. 
D)  the fact that it expands when it freezes. Water squeezed out from beneath old, dark ice expanded to produce the lighter, raised terrain.

Question 13

What are the MOST abundant gases in the atmosphere of Uranus?

Accepted Answer

A)  carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and oxygen 
B)  hydrogen and helium, with traces of methane 
C)  methane and water that form clouds, which are easily visible from Earth 
D)  nitrogen and ammonia 
A)  carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and oxygen 
B)  hydrogen and helium, with traces of methane 
C)  methane and water that form clouds, which are easily visible from Earth 
D)  nitrogen and ammonia

Question 14

The gravitational effect that confines the particles of the F ring of Saturn to a narrow orbit is the:

Accepted Answer

A)  major gravitational distortion caused by the neighboring planet Jupiter. 
B)  pressure of the solar wind upon these particles. 
C)  gravitational influence of two small shepherding satellites in orbits adjacent to the ring. 
D)  gravitational effects of the major moons of Saturn, such as Mimas and Enceladus. 
A)  major gravitational distortion caused by the neighboring planet Jupiter. 
B)  pressure of the solar wind upon these particles. 
C)  gravitational influence of two small shepherding satellites in orbits adjacent to the ring. 
D)  gravitational effects of the major moons of Saturn, such as Mimas and Enceladus.

Question 15

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 16

Rhea is locked into a synchronous orbit by the strong gravitational pull of Saturn.This suggests that its orbital eccentricity (e)is close to:

Accepted Answer

A)  0. 
B)  π 
C)  1. 
D)  infinite. 
A)  0. 
B)  π 
C)  1. 
D)  infinite.

Question 17

The spacecraft that successfully photographed Uranus on a 1986 flyby mission was:

Accepted Answer

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

Question 18

The plumes that were seen rising from the surface of Triton,Neptune's largest satellite,are believed to be:

Accepted Answer

A)  nitrogen gas driven through fissures from beneath the surface by radioactive heat. 
B)  volcanic ash from eruptions similar to but much smaller than Earthbound eruptions. 
C)  sulfur dioxide from geysers heated by tidal stresses. 
D)  water, methane, and ammonia ice crystals above volcanic vents. 
A)  nitrogen gas driven through fissures from beneath the surface by radioactive heat. 
B)  volcanic ash from eruptions similar to but much smaller than Earthbound eruptions. 
C)  sulfur dioxide from geysers heated by tidal stresses. 
D)  water, methane, and ammonia ice crystals above volcanic vents.

Question 19

Where in the solar system would you look for liquid hydrogen?

Accepted Answer

A)  on the polar caps of Mars 
B)  on the surface of Venus, beneath the clouds 
C)  nowhere because it is not cold enough anywhere in the solar system to liquefy hydrogen 
D)  in the deep interiors of Jupiter and Saturn 
A)  on the polar caps of Mars 
B)  on the surface of Venus, beneath the clouds 
C)  nowhere because it is not cold enough anywhere in the solar system to liquefy hydrogen 
D)  in the deep interiors of Jupiter and Saturn

Question 20

Saturn is less massive than Jupiter but almost the same size.Explain.

Accepted Answer

A)  The smaller mass exerts less gravitational force and is unable to compress the mass as much as in Jupiter. 
B)  Saturn is rotating faster than Jupiter, and the increased centrifugal force results in a larger size. 
C)  Saturn's interior is hotter than that of Jupiter. 
D)  Saturn is composed of lighter material than Jupiter. 
A)  The smaller mass exerts less gravitational force and is unable to compress the mass as much as in Jupiter. 
B)  Saturn is rotating faster than Jupiter, and the increased centrifugal force results in a larger size. 
C)  Saturn's interior is hotter than that of Jupiter. 
D)  Saturn is composed of lighter material than Jupiter.

What is the source of Jupiter's intense magnetic field?

The rings of Saturn alternately appear very distinct and then almost disappear when viewed from Earth over a period of a few years because:

On which moon have eruptions of material into space NOT been seen to occur?

How does the orbital period P of particles moving around in the rings of Saturn depend on the distance r of the particles from the center of the planet?

What is the mechanism that generates the variable component of Ganymede's magnetic field?

In 2004,the bottoms of Saturn's ring were visible from Earth.In 2019,what will an Earth-based observer see?

How many large,spherical moons are in orbit around Jupiter?

One interesting feature of Jupiter's rotation is the fact that:

How would Interplanetary Travel Holidays,Inc.,advertise a holiday on Jupiter's satellite Io?

The lifetime of the Great Red Spot of Jupiter appears to be:

The 2009 impact site near the south pole of Jupiter's atmosphere was noticeably different from the 1994 impacts.How?

The specific and unique property of water that was responsible for the large-scale surface features-dark polygons surrounded by heavily grooved and lighter terrain-on Ganymede's surface is:

What are the MOST abundant gases in the atmosphere of Uranus?

The gravitational effect that confines the particles of the F ring of Saturn to a narrow orbit is the:

What can be said about tectonic activity on Ganymede?

Rhea is locked into a synchronous orbit by the strong gravitational pull of Saturn.This suggests that its orbital eccentricity (e)is close to:

The spacecraft that successfully photographed Uranus on a 1986 flyby mission was:

The plumes that were seen rising from the surface of Triton,Neptune's largest satellite,are believed to be:

Where in the solar system would you look for liquid hydrogen?

Saturn is less massive than Jupiter but almost the same size.Explain.

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

What is the source of Jupiter's intense magnetic field?

The rings of Saturn alternately appear very distinct and then almost disappear when viewed from Earth over a period of a few years because:

On which moon have eruptions of material into space NOT been seen to occur?

How does the orbital period P of particles moving around in the rings of Saturn depend on the distance r of the particles from the center of the planet?

What is the mechanism that generates the variable component of Ganymede's magnetic field?

In 2004,the bottoms of Saturn's ring were visible from Earth.In 2019,what will an Earth-based observer see?

How many large,spherical moons are in orbit around Jupiter?

One interesting feature of Jupiter's rotation is the fact that:

How would Interplanetary Travel Holidays,Inc.,advertise a holiday on Jupiter's satellite Io?

The lifetime of the Great Red Spot of Jupiter appears to be:

The 2009 impact site near the south pole of Jupiter's atmosphere was noticeably different from the 1994 impacts.How?

The specific and unique property of water that was responsible for the large-scale surface features-dark polygons surrounded by heavily grooved and lighter terrain-on Ganymede's surface is:

What are the MOST abundant gases in the atmosphere of Uranus?

The gravitational effect that confines the particles of the F ring of Saturn to a narrow orbit is the:

What can be said about tectonic activity on Ganymede?

Rhea is locked into a synchronous orbit by the strong gravitational pull of Saturn.This suggests that its orbital eccentricity (e)is close to:

The spacecraft that successfully photographed Uranus on a 1986 flyby mission was:

The plumes that were seen rising from the surface of Triton,Neptune's largest satellite,are believed to be:

Where in the solar system would you look for liquid hydrogen?

Saturn is less massive than Jupiter but almost the same size.Explain.

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