Question 1

How might planetary migration have affected Earth in our Solar System's history?

Accepted Answer

As the large planets rearranged their or

Question 2

Uranus and Neptune are bluish green in color because they contain large amounts of

Accepted Answer

A)  ammonia. 
B)  methane. 
C)  water vapor. 
D)  hydrocarbons. 
E)  oxygen. 
A)  ammonia. 
B)  methane. 
C)  water vapor. 
D)  hydrocarbons. 
E)  oxygen.

Question 3

As a group, the giant planets all rotate ________ terrestrial planets.

Accepted Answer

A)  faster than 
B)  slower than 
C)  the same as 
D)  retrograde compared to 
E)  sideways compared to 
A)  faster than 
B)  slower than 
C)  the same as 
D)  retrograde compared to 
E)  sideways compared to

Question 4

If convection on Jupiter weakened, what would happen to the storms in the upper atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

A)  They would get stronger. 
B)  They would get weaker. 
C)  They would stay the same strength but become larger. 
D)  They would begin to rotate the opposite direction. 
E)  They would move deeper into the planet. 
A)  They would get stronger. 
B)  They would get weaker. 
C)  They would stay the same strength but become larger. 
D)  They would begin to rotate the opposite direction. 
E)  They would move deeper into the planet.

Question 5

How is the atmosphere of Saturn similar to the atmosphere of Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  They are both made of mostly hydrogen and helium. 
B)  They both create magnetic fields. 
C)  They both have jet streams and periods of stormy and calm weather. 
D)  They both rotate in less than 11 hours. 
E)  They both have a seamless transition between gas and liquid. 
A)  They are both made of mostly hydrogen and helium. 
B)  They both create magnetic fields. 
C)  They both have jet streams and periods of stormy and calm weather. 
D)  They both rotate in less than 11 hours. 
E)  They both have a seamless transition between gas and liquid.

Question 6

Many extrasolar planets identified by astronomers have masses exceeding that of Jupiter.How does this lead to higher densities for these planets?

Accepted Answer

A)  They are expected to have formed closer to their parent stars, where the protostellar nebula was denser. 
B)  Their higher masses lead to stronger gravitational forces, causing them to shrink with time, which leads to higher densities 
C)  Their higher masses have led them to accrete more planetesimals, resulting in higher densities than Jupiter 
D)  They are expected to orbit far from their parent stars, resulting in colder, denser atmospheres than Jupiter 
E)  They were able to fuse hydrogen into helium for a short period of time, resulting in denser cores than Jupiter has 
A)  They are expected to have formed closer to their parent stars, where the protostellar nebula was denser. 
B)  Their higher masses lead to stronger gravitational forces, causing them to shrink with time, which leads to higher densities 
C)  Their higher masses have led them to accrete more planetesimals, resulting in higher densities than Jupiter 
D)  They are expected to orbit far from their parent stars, resulting in colder, denser atmospheres than Jupiter 
E)  They were able to fuse hydrogen into helium for a short period of time, resulting in denser cores than Jupiter has

Question 7

Referring to the figure below, what is the angular diameter of Neptune if its diameter is 50,000 km and its distance is 30 astronomical units (AU)? Recall that 1 AU = 1.5 * 1011 meters.

Accepted Answer

A)  45 arcseconds 
B)  30 arcseconds 
C)  20 arcseconds 
D)  10 arcseconds 
E)  2 arcseconds 
A)  45 arcseconds 
B)  30 arcseconds 
C)  20 arcseconds 
D)  10 arcseconds 
E)  2 arcseconds

Question 8

The figure below is a picture of Saturn taken by the Hubble Space Telescope.What is causing the circle of light seen near Saturn's pole?

Accepted Answer

A)  Solar wind particles are being trapped by Saturn's magnetic field, causing an aurora. 
B)  Strong storms on Saturn are causing lightning strikes. 
C)  Saturn's tilt is causing that area of the planet to be warmer, so it gives off bluer light. 
D)  Metallic hydrogen is being released from the surface of Saturn. 
E)  Saturn is giving off energy because it is shrinking. 
A)  Solar wind particles are being trapped by Saturn's magnetic field, causing an aurora. 
B)  Strong storms on Saturn are causing lightning strikes. 
C)  Saturn's tilt is causing that area of the planet to be warmer, so it gives off bluer light. 
D)  Metallic hydrogen is being released from the surface of Saturn. 
E)  Saturn is giving off energy because it is shrinking.

Question 9

Saturn has a lower abundance of helium in its atmosphere than Jupiter does.Why?

Accepted Answer

Saturn is farther from the Sun than Jupi

Question 10

What is the most likely reason that Jupiter radiates more energy than it receives from the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A)  There is nuclear fusion occurring near its core, which releases heat. 
B)  There is a greenhouse effect operating in the Jovian atmosphere. 
C)  It is still contracting under its own gravity. 
D)  It is undergoing tidal heating in its interior due to the gravitational pull of Saturn. 
E)  Friction between the cloud belts results in a heating effect. 
A)  There is nuclear fusion occurring near its core, which releases heat. 
B)  There is a greenhouse effect operating in the Jovian atmosphere. 
C)  It is still contracting under its own gravity. 
D)  It is undergoing tidal heating in its interior due to the gravitational pull of Saturn. 
E)  Friction between the cloud belts results in a heating effect.

Question 11

The Jovian atmospheric vortices are created by a combination of the Coriolis effect and

Accepted Answer

A)  Hadley cells. 
B)  convection. 
C)  their strong magnetic fields. 
D)  solar radiation. 
E)  chemical reactions. 
A)  Hadley cells. 
B)  convection. 
C)  their strong magnetic fields. 
D)  solar radiation. 
E)  chemical reactions.

Question 12

If Jupiter's radius is contracting at a rate of 2 cm/yr it would explain

Accepted Answer

A)  differential convection that powers Jupiter's Great Red Spot. 
B)  Jupiter's rotation rate slowing with time. 
C)  Jupiter's shape being oblate. 
D)  Jupiter radiating more heat than it receives from the Sun. 
E)  Jupiter's orbit around the Sun getting smaller. 
A)  differential convection that powers Jupiter's Great Red Spot. 
B)  Jupiter's rotation rate slowing with time. 
C)  Jupiter's shape being oblate. 
D)  Jupiter radiating more heat than it receives from the Sun. 
E)  Jupiter's orbit around the Sun getting smaller.

Question 13

Jupiter and Saturn are composed primarily of

Accepted Answer

A)  hydrogen. 
B)  helium. 
C)  water. 
D)  ammonia. 
E)  carbon. 
A)  hydrogen. 
B)  helium. 
C)  water. 
D)  ammonia. 
E)  carbon.

Question 14

Uranus and Neptune contain smaller percentages of hydrogen and helium than Jupiter and Saturn probably because Uranus and Neptune ________ than Jupiter and Saturn.

Accepted Answer

A)  are much smaller in radius 
B)  are much warmer 
C)  are much colder 
D)  formed later 
E)  formed earlier 
A)  are much smaller in radius 
B)  are much warmer 
C)  are much colder 
D)  formed later 
E)  formed earlier

Question 15

Each season on Uranus lasts approximate 21 Earth years because

Accepted Answer

A)  Uranus takes a very long time to orbit the Sun. 
B)  Uranus rotates very slowly. 
C)  Uranus's rotational axis is tipped by 45 degrees relative to it orbital axis. 
D)  Atmospheric circulation is ineffective in transferring heat in Uranus's atmosphere. 
E)  Uranus has many strong storms. 
A)  Uranus takes a very long time to orbit the Sun. 
B)  Uranus rotates very slowly. 
C)  Uranus's rotational axis is tipped by 45 degrees relative to it orbital axis. 
D)  Atmospheric circulation is ineffective in transferring heat in Uranus's atmosphere. 
E)  Uranus has many strong storms.

Question 16

Based on the flux of sunlight that it gets, Jupiter should have a temperature of 109 K.However, its temperature is observed to be 124 K.How much more energy is Jupiter radiating out into space compared to what it gets from the Sun?

Accepted Answer

Stefan-Boltzmann law says that the rate

Question 17

The strongest planetary magnetic fields in the Solar System are found on which planet?

Accepted Answer

A)  Jupiter 
B)  Saturn 
C)  Uranus 
D)  Neptune 
E)  Earth 
A)  Jupiter 
B)  Saturn 
C)  Uranus 
D)  Neptune 
E)  Earth

Question 18

Uranus has an orbital period of 84 Earth years, a rotation period of 17.2 hours, and an obliquity of 98°.Explain what solar days are like near the north pole of Uranus, and how long they last.

Accepted Answer

Each solar day will last 84 Earth years

Question 19

What causes the large magnetic fields of Uranus and Neptune? How does this source help explain why the axes of their magnetic fields are misaligned and significantly offset from their rotational axes?

Accepted Answer

Uranus and Neptune have very deep,salty

Question 20

Describe and name the types of planets that have been observed in other star systems, but not our own.

Accepted Answer

Outside of our solar system,astronomers

Exam 10: Worlds of Gas and Liquidthe Giant Planets

How might planetary migration have affected Earth in our Solar System's history?

Uranus and Neptune are bluish green in color because they contain large amounts of

As a group, the giant planets all rotate ________ terrestrial planets.

If convection on Jupiter weakened, what would happen to the storms in the upper atmosphere?

How is the atmosphere of Saturn similar to the atmosphere of Earth?

Many extrasolar planets identified by astronomers have masses exceeding that of Jupiter.How does this lead to higher densities for these planets?

Referring to the figure below, what is the angular diameter of Neptune if its diameter is 50,000 km and its distance is 30 astronomical units (AU)? Recall that 1 AU = 1.5 * 1011 meters.

The figure below is a picture of Saturn taken by the Hubble Space Telescope.What is causing the circle of light seen near Saturn's pole?

Saturn has a lower abundance of helium in its atmosphere than Jupiter does.Why?

What is the most likely reason that Jupiter radiates more energy than it receives from the Sun?

The Jovian atmospheric vortices are created by a combination of the Coriolis effect and

If Jupiter's radius is contracting at a rate of 2 cm/yr it would explain

Jupiter and Saturn are composed primarily of

Uranus and Neptune contain smaller percentages of hydrogen and helium than Jupiter and Saturn probably because Uranus and Neptune ________ than Jupiter and Saturn.

Each season on Uranus lasts approximate 21 Earth years because

Based on the flux of sunlight that it gets, Jupiter should have a temperature of 109 K.However, its temperature is observed to be 124 K.How much more energy is Jupiter radiating out into space compared to what it gets from the Sun?

The strongest planetary magnetic fields in the Solar System are found on which planet?

Uranus has an orbital period of 84 Earth years, a rotation period of 17.2 hours, and an obliquity of 98°.Explain what solar days are like near the north pole of Uranus, and how long they last.

What causes the large magnetic fields of Uranus and Neptune? How does this source help explain why the axes of their magnetic fields are misaligned and significantly offset from their rotational axes?

Describe and name the types of planets that have been observed in other star systems, but not our own.

Thinking Like an Astronomer

Patterns in the Skymotions of Earth and the Moon

Motion of Astronomical Bodies

Gravity and Orbits

Light

The Tools of the Astronomer

The Formation of Planetary Systems

The Terrestrial Planets and Earths Moon

Atmospheres of the Terrestrial Planets

Planetary Moons and Rings

Dwarf Planets and Small Solar System Bodies

Taking the Measure of Stars

Our Starthe Sun

The Interstellar Medium and Star Formation

Evolution of Low-Mass Stars

Evolution of High-Mass Stars

Relativity and Black Holes

Galaxies

The Milky Waya Normal Spiral Galaxy

The Expanding Universe

Cosmology

Large-Scale Structure in the Universe

Life

Filters

Referring to the figure below, what is the angular diameter of Neptune if its diameter is 50,000 km and its distance is 30 astronomical units (AU)? Recall that 1 AU = 1.5 * 10¹¹ meters.