Question 1

Which giant planets have rings?

Accepted Answer

A)  all of them 
B)  only Jupiter and Saturn 
C)  only Saturn 
D)  only Saturn and Uranus 
E)  none of them 
A)  all of them 
B)  only Jupiter and Saturn 
C)  only Saturn 
D)  only Saturn and Uranus 
E)  none of them

Question 2

What leads astronomers to believe that some large moons associated with the giant planets have compositions that are roughly half water?

Accepted Answer

A)  Spectroscopic analysis indicates the presence of large bodies of water. 
B)  They have average densities midway between water and rock. 
C)  Space probes have drilled into the surfaces of many of the moons and detected water. 
D)  Rocks and other features that form only in the presence of water have been observed. 
E)  Astronomers have observed the gravitational effects of tides on those moons. 
A)  Spectroscopic analysis indicates the presence of large bodies of water. 
B)  They have average densities midway between water and rock. 
C)  Space probes have drilled into the surfaces of many of the moons and detected water. 
D)  Rocks and other features that form only in the presence of water have been observed. 
E)  Astronomers have observed the gravitational effects of tides on those moons.

Question 3

Name three characteristics of a geologically active moon.

Accepted Answer

A geologically active moon wou

Question 4

The "kinks" in Saturn's F Ring, shown in the figure below, are caused by

Accepted Answer

A)  Saturn's magnetic field. 
B)  the gravitational influence of the two pictured moons. 
C)  regions of dark dust and rocks in the ice ring. 
D)  comets or asteroids that had plunged through the rings in the past. 
E)  proximity to Saturn's Roche limit. 
A)  Saturn's magnetic field. 
B)  the gravitational influence of the two pictured moons. 
C)  regions of dark dust and rocks in the ice ring. 
D)  comets or asteroids that had plunged through the rings in the past. 
E)  proximity to Saturn's Roche limit.

Question 5

Cryovolcanism occurs when

Accepted Answer

A)  molten lava freezes when it reaches the surface because of extremely low temperatures. 
B)  volcanoes erupt underwater. 
C)  an icy moon has volcanoes emitting molten lava from deep underground. 
D)  low-temperature liquids explode through the surface because of increasing pressure underground. 
E)  a comet hits an object and causes volcanic eruptions. 
A)  molten lava freezes when it reaches the surface because of extremely low temperatures. 
B)  volcanoes erupt underwater. 
C)  an icy moon has volcanoes emitting molten lava from deep underground. 
D)  low-temperature liquids explode through the surface because of increasing pressure underground. 
E)  a comet hits an object and causes volcanic eruptions.

Question 6

Rings that look like they are intertwined (but are not) are caused by

Accepted Answer

A)  new laws of physics. 
B)  ring material on highly elliptical orbits. 
C)  the gravitational influence of small moons. 
D)  electromagnetic interaction of the rings with Saturn's magnetic field. 
E)  meteoroid impacts. 
A)  new laws of physics. 
B)  ring material on highly elliptical orbits. 
C)  the gravitational influence of small moons. 
D)  electromagnetic interaction of the rings with Saturn's magnetic field. 
E)  meteoroid impacts.

Question 7

Titan's thick atmosphere is believed to have been created when ultraviolet photons broke apart methane molecules, ultimately creating the observed smoglike conditions.However, this process would likely remove all of the atmospheric methane in roughly 10 million years, and yet we still see methane's presence today.What is the most likely cause for this?

Accepted Answer

A)  Cometary impacts periodically bring new methane to Titan. 
B)  Ethane rains down out of the atmosphere, combines with surface rocks, and creates new methane. 
C)  Infrared photons give atmospheric molecules enough energy to recombine into methane. 
D)  Volcanoes on Titan periodically release new methane into the atmosphere. 
E)  Bacteria on Titan constantly replenish the methane in the atmosphere. 
A)  Cometary impacts periodically bring new methane to Titan. 
B)  Ethane rains down out of the atmosphere, combines with surface rocks, and creates new methane. 
C)  Infrared photons give atmospheric molecules enough energy to recombine into methane. 
D)  Volcanoes on Titan periodically release new methane into the atmosphere. 
E)  Bacteria on Titan constantly replenish the methane in the atmosphere.

Question 8

Which moon gives rise to the particles that make up Saturn's E ring?

Accepted Answer

A)  Titan 
B)  Triton 
C)  Callisto 
D)  Enceladus 
E)  Thethys 
A)  Titan 
B)  Triton 
C)  Callisto 
D)  Enceladus 
E)  Thethys

Question 9

Which of the following planets has the most complex and conspicuous ring system?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 10

Which of the following materials can be found within planetary rings in our Solar System?

Accepted Answer

A)  water ice 
B)  silicates 
C)  organic materials 
D)  boulder-sized rocks 
E)  all of these 
A)  water ice 
B)  silicates 
C)  organic materials 
D)  boulder-sized rocks 
E)  all of these

Question 11

What do astronomers believe causes the spokelike features associated with Saturn's B Ring?

Accepted Answer

Meteoroid impacts with larger

Question 12

Most large regular moons probably formed

Accepted Answer

A)  when passing asteroids were captured by the gravitational field of their planet. 
B)  at the same time as their planets and grew by accretion. 
C)  after a collision between a planet and a large asteroid fractured off a piece of the planet. 
D)  after the period of heavy bombardment in the early Solar System. 
E)  after a planet got kicked out of its orbit and was gravitationally captured by another planet. 
A)  when passing asteroids were captured by the gravitational field of their planet. 
B)  at the same time as their planets and grew by accretion. 
C)  after a collision between a planet and a large asteroid fractured off a piece of the planet. 
D)  after the period of heavy bombardment in the early Solar System. 
E)  after a planet got kicked out of its orbit and was gravitationally captured by another planet.

Question 13

What influence do pairs of shepherd moons have on the giant planets' rings?

Accepted Answer

A)  They gravitationally pull material off each other, reinforcing the rings. 
B)  They only allow the rocky ring systems to remain stable while destabilizing the icy ring systems. 
C)  They cause the rings to eventually fall into Saturn by gravitational tugs on the ring particles. 
D)  They keep rings between the pair narrow by gravitational tugs on the ring particles. 
E)  They prevent rings from forming between their respective orbits. 
A)  They gravitationally pull material off each other, reinforcing the rings. 
B)  They only allow the rocky ring systems to remain stable while destabilizing the icy ring systems. 
C)  They cause the rings to eventually fall into Saturn by gravitational tugs on the ring particles. 
D)  They keep rings between the pair narrow by gravitational tugs on the ring particles. 
E)  They prevent rings from forming between their respective orbits.

Question 14

Ganymede is one of the largest moons in the Solar System.It shows some terrain that is ancient and heavily cratered, and some younger terrain with fewer craters, but no terrain that is free of craters.Why would Ganymede's geological activity stop?

Accepted Answer

Ganymede's geological activity

Question 15

Two years after first being observed, astronomers reported that Saturn's rings vanished. What happened to them?

Accepted Answer

A)  The old ring system dissipated, and since then a new one has formed. 
B)  The orbital plane of the rings was seen edge-on, and the rings were too thin to be visible. 
C)  Most telescopes used hundreds of years ago couldn't adequately resolve the ring system. 
D)  Astronomers were looking at the wrong planet, leading to the chance discovery of Uranus. 
E)  They were hidden behind some of Saturn's many moons. 
A)  The old ring system dissipated, and since then a new one has formed. 
B)  The orbital plane of the rings was seen edge-on, and the rings were too thin to be visible. 
C)  Most telescopes used hundreds of years ago couldn't adequately resolve the ring system. 
D)  Astronomers were looking at the wrong planet, leading to the chance discovery of Uranus. 
E)  They were hidden behind some of Saturn's many moons.

Question 16

In the figure below showing Titan's surface, reflections off of dark surface features are strong evidence that these features are

Accepted Answer

A)  dried lava flows. 
B)  recent impact craters. 
C)  large sheets of frozen water ice. 
D)  composed of liquids. 
E)  a rocky material different from that of the lighter-colored surface. 
A)  dried lava flows. 
B)  recent impact craters. 
C)  large sheets of frozen water ice. 
D)  composed of liquids. 
E)  a rocky material different from that of the lighter-colored surface.

Question 17

What does a darkened surface indicate on a rocky moon, as compared to a different moon with a lighter surface?

Accepted Answer

A)  It indicates the presence of cooling lava from volcanic eruptions. 
B)  It indicates that the surface of the darkened moon is older than that of the lighter moon. 
C)  It indicates that the surface of the darkened moon is younger than that of the lighter moon. 
D)  It indicates an elevated level of organic compounds on the surface. 
E)  It indicates a colder region on the surface of the planet. 
A)  It indicates the presence of cooling lava from volcanic eruptions. 
B)  It indicates that the surface of the darkened moon is older than that of the lighter moon. 
C)  It indicates that the surface of the darkened moon is younger than that of the lighter moon. 
D)  It indicates an elevated level of organic compounds on the surface. 
E)  It indicates a colder region on the surface of the planet.

Question 18

Assume that we discover a new moon of Jupiter.It orbits Jupiter at a large distance and in the opposite direction that Jupiter rotates.It is much smaller than most of Jupiter's other moons
And has a density close to that of Earth rocks.Therefore, this moon is most likely

Accepted Answer

A)  a regular moon that formed with Jupiter in the early Solar System. 
B)  an irregular moon that is most likely a captured asteroid. 
C)  an irregular moon that is most likely a captured comet. 
D)  an irregular moon that is most likely a protoplanet that collided with Jupiter in the early Solar System and then was caught in orbit by Jupiter's gravity. 
E)  More information is needed before any conclusion can be made. 
A)  a regular moon that formed with Jupiter in the early Solar System. 
B)  an irregular moon that is most likely a captured asteroid. 
C)  an irregular moon that is most likely a captured comet. 
D)  an irregular moon that is most likely a protoplanet that collided with Jupiter in the early Solar System and then was caught in orbit by Jupiter's gravity. 
E)  More information is needed before any conclusion can be made.

Question 19

Of what are Saturn's rings primarily made?

Accepted Answer

A)  water ice 
B)  methane 
C)  nitrogen 
D)  dark organic material 
E)  dark silicate material 
A)  water ice 
B)  methane 
C)  nitrogen 
D)  dark organic material 
E)  dark silicate material

Question 20

Io has the most volcanic activity in the Solar System because

Accepted Answer

A)  it is continually being bombarded with material in Saturn's E ring. 
B)  it is one of the largest moons and its interior is heated by radioactive decays. 
C)  of gravitational friction caused by the moon Enceladus. 
D)  its interior is tidally heated as it orbits around Jupiter. 
E)  the ice on the surface creates large pressure on the water below. 
A)  it is continually being bombarded with material in Saturn's E ring. 
B)  it is one of the largest moons and its interior is heated by radioactive decays. 
C)  of gravitational friction caused by the moon Enceladus. 
D)  its interior is tidally heated as it orbits around Jupiter. 
E)  the ice on the surface creates large pressure on the water below.

Exam 11: Planetary Moons and Rings

Which giant planets have rings?

What leads astronomers to believe that some large moons associated with the giant planets have compositions that are roughly half water?

Name three characteristics of a geologically active moon.

The "kinks" in Saturn's F Ring, shown in the figure below, are caused by

Cryovolcanism occurs when

Rings that look like they are intertwined (but are not) are caused by

Which moon gives rise to the particles that make up Saturn's E ring?

Which of the following planets has the most complex and conspicuous ring system?

Which of the following materials can be found within planetary rings in our Solar System?

What do astronomers believe causes the spokelike features associated with Saturn's B Ring?

Most large regular moons probably formed

What influence do pairs of shepherd moons have on the giant planets' rings?

Ganymede is one of the largest moons in the Solar System.It shows some terrain that is ancient and heavily cratered, and some younger terrain with fewer craters, but no terrain that is free of craters.Why would Ganymede's geological activity stop?

Two years after first being observed, astronomers reported that Saturn's rings vanished. What happened to them?

In the figure below showing Titan's surface, reflections off of dark surface features are strong evidence that these features are

What does a darkened surface indicate on a rocky moon, as compared to a different moon with a lighter surface?

Assume that we discover a new moon of Jupiter.It orbits Jupiter at a large distance and in the opposite direction that Jupiter rotates.It is much smaller than most of Jupiter's other moons And has a density close to that of Earth rocks.Therefore, this moon is most likely

Of what are Saturn's rings primarily made?

Io has the most volcanic activity in the Solar System because

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

Worlds of Gas and Liquidthe Giant Planets

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

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