Question 1

Jupiter and the other jovian planets are sometimes called "gas giants." In what sense is this term misleading?

Accepted Answer

A) The materials they are made of are not the kinds of thing we usually think of as gases. 
B) They are not in any sense "giants." 
C) Actually, it's a great description, because these worlds are big and gaseous throughout. 
D) They actually contain relatively little material in a gaseous state. 
A) The materials they are made of are not the kinds of thing we usually think of as gases. 
B) They are not in any sense "giants." 
C) Actually, it's a great description, because these worlds are big and gaseous throughout. 
D) They actually contain relatively little material in a gaseous state.

Question 2

Suppose you could float in space just a few meters above Saturn's rings. What would you see as you looked down on the rings?

Accepted Answer

A) a solid, shiny surface, looking much like a piece of a DVD but a lot bigger 
B) dozens of large "moonlets" made of metal and rock, each a few kilometers across 
C) countless icy particles, ranging in size from dust grains to large boulders 
D) Nothing- up close; the rings would be so completely invisible that you'd have no way to know they are there. They can be seen only from a distance. 
A) a solid, shiny surface, looking much like a piece of a DVD but a lot bigger 
B) dozens of large "moonlets" made of metal and rock, each a few kilometers across 
C) countless icy particles, ranging in size from dust grains to large boulders 
D) Nothing- up close; the rings would be so completely invisible that you'd have no way to know they are there. They can be seen only from a distance.

Question 3

How would Jupiter be different if it rotated slowly?

Accepted Answer

Jupiter's rapid rotation is key for both

Question 4

Describe some of the results from the Cassini/Huygens mission to Saturn and its moons.

Accepted Answer

Cassini has found a surprisingly active

Question 5

What is the Great Red Spot?

Accepted Answer

A) a region on Jupiter where the temperature is so high that the gas glows with red visible light 
B) a hurricane that comes and goes on Jupiter 
C) a place where reddish particles from Io impact Jupiter's surface 
D) a long- lived, high- pressure storm on Jupiter 
A) a region on Jupiter where the temperature is so high that the gas glows with red visible light 
B) a hurricane that comes and goes on Jupiter 
C) a place where reddish particles from Io impact Jupiter's surface 
D) a long- lived, high- pressure storm on Jupiter

Question 6

Which of the following statements about Titan is not true?

Accepted Answer

A) It is the coldest moon in the solar system. 
B) Its atmosphere is mostly nitrogen. 
C) Its surface is hidden from view by its thick atmosphere. 
D) It may have an ocean of liquid ethane. 
E) Its temperature is too cold for liquid water to exist. 
A) It is the coldest moon in the solar system. 
B) Its atmosphere is mostly nitrogen. 
C) Its surface is hidden from view by its thick atmosphere. 
D) It may have an ocean of liquid ethane. 
E) Its temperature is too cold for liquid water to exist.

Question 7

Why are there no impact craters on the surface of Io?

Accepted Answer

A) Jupiter's strong gravity attracted the planetesimals more strongly than Io, and thus none landed on its surface. 
B) Any craters that existed have been eroded through the strong winds on Io's surface. 
C) Io did have impact craters, but they have all been buried in lava flows. 
D) Io's thick atmosphere obscures the view of the craters. 
E) It is too small to have been bombarded by planetesimals in the early solar system. 
A) Jupiter's strong gravity attracted the planetesimals more strongly than Io, and thus none landed on its surface. 
B) Any craters that existed have been eroded through the strong winds on Io's surface. 
C) Io did have impact craters, but they have all been buried in lava flows. 
D) Io's thick atmosphere obscures the view of the craters. 
E) It is too small to have been bombarded by planetesimals in the early solar system.

Question 8

Which statement about Io is true?

Accepted Answer

A) It is the most volcanically active body in our solar system. 
B) It is the largest moon in the solar system. 
C) It is thought to have a deep, subsurface ocean of liquid water. 
D) It is the only moon in the solar system with a thick atmosphere. 
A) It is the most volcanically active body in our solar system. 
B) It is the largest moon in the solar system. 
C) It is thought to have a deep, subsurface ocean of liquid water. 
D) It is the only moon in the solar system with a thick atmosphere.

Question 9

Io's Volcanoes Predicted? The intense volcanic activity on Io came as somewhat of a surprise to many when it was discovered by the Voyager mission in 1979. Nevertheless, argue that all of the elements where in place to make a prediction of intense volcanic activity on Io before the Voyager mission. Search on the web for the history of Io's volcanism to see if such a prediction was actually made.

Accepted Answer

The intense volcanic activity on Io did

Question 10

According to current understanding, which of the following is required in order for a planet to have rings?

Accepted Answer

A) The planet must be at least as massive as Saturn. 
B) The planet must once have had a large moon that came too close to it, shattering the moon and creating the ring particles. 
C) The planet must orbit its star at a distance greater than Mars orbits the Sun. 
D) The planet must have many small moons that orbit relatively close to the planet in its equatorial plane. 
A) The planet must be at least as massive as Saturn. 
B) The planet must once have had a large moon that came too close to it, shattering the moon and creating the ring particles. 
C) The planet must orbit its star at a distance greater than Mars orbits the Sun. 
D) The planet must have many small moons that orbit relatively close to the planet in its equatorial plane.

Question 11

Which of the following best describes the internal layering of Jupiter, from the center outward?

Accepted Answer

A) liquid core of hydrogen compounds; liquid hydrogen layer; metallic hydrogen layer; gaseous hydrogen layer; cloud layer 
B) core of rock and metal; mantle of lower density rock; upper layer of gaseous hydrogen; cloud layer 
C) core of rock, metal, and hydrogen compounds; thick layer of metallic hydrogen; layer of liquid hydrogen; layer of gaseous hydrogen; cloud layer 
D) solid rock core; layer of solid metallic hydrogen; layer of pure liquid hydrogen; cloud layer 
A) liquid core of hydrogen compounds; liquid hydrogen layer; metallic hydrogen layer; gaseous hydrogen layer; cloud layer 
B) core of rock and metal; mantle of lower density rock; upper layer of gaseous hydrogen; cloud layer 
C) core of rock, metal, and hydrogen compounds; thick layer of metallic hydrogen; layer of liquid hydrogen; layer of gaseous hydrogen; cloud layer 
D) solid rock core; layer of solid metallic hydrogen; layer of pure liquid hydrogen; cloud layer

Question 12

The large Jovian satellites have sizes comparable to Mercury. Why do they have an icy composition compared to Mercury's rocky composition?

Accepted Answer

A) They formed from hydrogen compounds expelled by the Jovian planets. 
B) They experienced many more cometary impacts during the Late Heavy Bombardment. 
C) They formed beyond the frost line, where ices were three to four times more abundant than metals and rock. 
D) They are captured comets. 
A) They formed from hydrogen compounds expelled by the Jovian planets. 
B) They experienced many more cometary impacts during the Late Heavy Bombardment. 
C) They formed beyond the frost line, where ices were three to four times more abundant than metals and rock. 
D) They are captured comets.

Question 13

How do typical wind speeds in Jupiter's atmosphere compare to typical wind speeds on Earth?

Accepted Answer

A) They are about the same as average winds on Earth. 
B) They are slightly slower than average winds on Earth. 
C) They are much faster than hurricane winds on Earth. 
D) They are slightly faster than average winds on Earth. 
A) They are about the same as average winds on Earth. 
B) They are slightly slower than average winds on Earth. 
C) They are much faster than hurricane winds on Earth. 
D) They are slightly faster than average winds on Earth.

Question 14

Overall, Jupiter's composition is most like that of .

Accepted Answer

A) an asteroid 
B) Earth 
C) the Sun 
D) a comet 
A) an asteroid 
B) Earth 
C) the Sun 
D) a comet

Question 15

Why does Jupiter have several distinct cloud layers?

Accepted Answer

A) Winds prevent clouds from forming at some altitudes, so we see clouds only at the other altitudes. 
B) Different layers represent the various regions where the temperature is cool enough for liquid water to condense. 
C) Different layers represent clouds made of gases that condense at different temperatures. 
D) Clouds form randomly, so on average there are always several layers. 
E) Different gases are present at different altitudes in Jupiter's atmosphere. 
A) Winds prevent clouds from forming at some altitudes, so we see clouds only at the other altitudes. 
B) Different layers represent the various regions where the temperature is cool enough for liquid water to condense. 
C) Different layers represent clouds made of gases that condense at different temperatures. 
D) Clouds form randomly, so on average there are always several layers. 
E) Different gases are present at different altitudes in Jupiter's atmosphere.

Question 16

Hydrogen exists as a gas, liquid, and solid within Jupiter.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

Which of the following is most unlikely to be found on Titan?

Accepted Answer

A) volcanic outgassing of methane and other gases 
B) rain or snow consisting of methane or ethane droplets or ice crystals 
C) lakes of liquid methane ethane 
D) lakes of liquid water in the warmer equatorial regions 
A) volcanic outgassing of methane and other gases 
B) rain or snow consisting of methane or ethane droplets or ice crystals 
C) lakes of liquid methane ethane 
D) lakes of liquid water in the warmer equatorial regions

Question 18

According to our theory of solar system formation, why did Uranus and Neptune end up to be much less massive than Jupiter and Saturn?

Accepted Answer

A) The colder gas in the outer regions of the solar nebula had less gravity and therefore could not gather up into such large balls as it could closer in. 
B) Particles in the solar nebula were more spread out at greater distances, so that accretion took longer and there was less time to pull in gas before the solar wind cleared the nebula. 
C) Ices were able to condense at the distance of Jupiter and Saturn, but only rock and metal could condense at the distances of Uranus and Neptune. 
D) The size differences are thought to be a random coincidence. 
A) The colder gas in the outer regions of the solar nebula had less gravity and therefore could not gather up into such large balls as it could closer in. 
B) Particles in the solar nebula were more spread out at greater distances, so that accretion took longer and there was less time to pull in gas before the solar wind cleared the nebula. 
C) Ices were able to condense at the distance of Jupiter and Saturn, but only rock and metal could condense at the distances of Uranus and Neptune. 
D) The size differences are thought to be a random coincidence.

Question 19

What would happen to Jupiter if we could somehow double its mass?

Accepted Answer

A) Its density would decrease, and its diameter would double. 
B) Its density would stay about the same, and its volume would double. 
C) It would become a star, with nuclear fusion in its core. 
D) Its density would increase, but its diameter would barely change. 
A) Its density would decrease, and its diameter would double. 
B) Its density would stay about the same, and its volume would double. 
C) It would become a star, with nuclear fusion in its core. 
D) Its density would increase, but its diameter would barely change.

Question 20

How thick are Saturn's rings from top to bottom?

Accepted Answer

A) a few kilometers 
B) a few tens of meters 
C) a few hundred kilometers 
D) a few tens of thousands of kilometers 
E) a few million kilometers 
A) a few kilometers 
B) a few tens of meters 
C) a few hundred kilometers 
D) a few tens of thousands of kilometers 
E) a few million kilometers

Jupiter and the other jovian planets are sometimes called "gas giants." In what sense is this term misleading?

Suppose you could float in space just a few meters above Saturn's rings. What would you see as you looked down on the rings?

How would Jupiter be different if it rotated slowly?

Describe some of the results from the Cassini/Huygens mission to Saturn and its moons.

What is the Great Red Spot?

Which of the following statements about Titan is not true?

Why are there no impact craters on the surface of Io?

Which statement about Io is true?

According to current understanding, which of the following is required in order for a planet to have rings?

Which of the following best describes the internal layering of Jupiter, from the center outward?

The large Jovian satellites have sizes comparable to Mercury. Why do they have an icy composition compared to Mercury's rocky composition?

How do typical wind speeds in Jupiter's atmosphere compare to typical wind speeds on Earth?

Overall, Jupiter's composition is most like that of .

Why does Jupiter have several distinct cloud layers?

Hydrogen exists as a gas, liquid, and solid within Jupiter.

Which of the following is most unlikely to be found on Titan?

According to our theory of solar system formation, why did Uranus and Neptune end up to be much less massive than Jupiter and Saturn?

What would happen to Jupiter if we could somehow double its mass?

How thick are Saturn's rings from top to bottom?

A Modern View of the Universe

Discovering the Universe for Yourself

The Science of Astronomy

Making Sense of the Universe: Understanding Motion, Energy, and Gravity

Light: the Cosmic Messenger

Formation of the Solar System

Earth and the Terrestrial Worlds

Asteroids, Comets, and Dwarf Planets: Their Nature, Orbits, and Impacts

Other Planetary Systems: the New Science of Distant Worlds

Our Star

Surveying the Stars

Star Stuff

The Bizarre Stellar Graveyard

Our Galaxy

A Universe of Galaxies

The Birth of the Universe

Dark Matter, Dark Energy, and the Fate of the Universe

Life in the Universe

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Exam 8: Jovian Planet System

Jupiter and the other jovian planets are sometimes called "gas giants." In what sense is this term misleading?

Suppose you could float in space just a few meters above Saturn's rings. What would you see as you looked down on the rings?

How would Jupiter be different if it rotated slowly?

Describe some of the results from the Cassini/Huygens mission to Saturn and its moons.

What is the Great Red Spot?

Which of the following statements about Titan is not true?

Why are there no impact craters on the surface of Io?

Which statement about Io is true?

According to current understanding, which of the following is required in order for a planet to have rings?

Which of the following best describes the internal layering of Jupiter, from the center outward?

The large Jovian satellites have sizes comparable to Mercury. Why do they have an icy composition compared to Mercury's rocky composition?

How do typical wind speeds in Jupiter's atmosphere compare to typical wind speeds on Earth?

Overall, Jupiter's composition is most like that of .

Why does Jupiter have several distinct cloud layers?

Hydrogen exists as a gas, liquid, and solid within Jupiter.

Which of the following is most unlikely to be found on Titan?

According to our theory of solar system formation, why did Uranus and Neptune end up to be much less massive than Jupiter and Saturn?

What would happen to Jupiter if we could somehow double its mass?

How thick are Saturn's rings from top to bottom?

A Modern View of the Universe

Discovering the Universe for Yourself

The Science of Astronomy

Making Sense of the Universe: Understanding Motion, Energy, and Gravity

Light: the Cosmic Messenger

Formation of the Solar System

Earth and the Terrestrial Worlds

Asteroids, Comets, and Dwarf Planets: Their Nature, Orbits, and Impacts

Other Planetary Systems: the New Science of Distant Worlds

Our Star

Surveying the Stars

Star Stuff

The Bizarre Stellar Graveyard

Our Galaxy

A Universe of Galaxies

The Birth of the Universe

Dark Matter, Dark Energy, and the Fate of the Universe

Life in the Universe

Filters