Question 1

The narrowness of the rings of Uranus and Neptune is believed to be caused by

Accepted Answer

A)  gravitational interactions between ring particles. 
B)  a spiral density wave which confines them. 
C)  the magnetic field which holds them in place. 
D)  the smaller mass of Uranus and Neptune as compared to that of Saturn. 
E)  small shepherd moons that orbit near the rings. 
A)  gravitational interactions between ring particles. 
B)  a spiral density wave which confines them. 
C)  the magnetic field which holds them in place. 
D)  the smaller mass of Uranus and Neptune as compared to that of Saturn. 
E)  small shepherd moons that orbit near the rings.

Question 2

For an observer on Uranus, the ecliptic passes only a few degrees from the celestial poles.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

____ are Kuiper belt objects that are in a 3:2 resonance orbit with the orbit of Neptune.

Accepted Answer

A)  Plutinos 
B)  Charons 
C)  Protons 
D)  Lepton 
E)  Resonons 
A)  Plutinos 
B)  Charons 
C)  Protons 
D)  Lepton 
E)  Resonons

Question 4

The diagram below shows a cross section of the interior of Uranus. Which of the regions do current computer models suggest is composed primarily of partly solid water? The lowest pressure regions will be gaseous.

Accepted Answer

A)  region 1 
B)  region 2 
C)  region 3 
D)  all of the regions 
E)  none of the regions 
A)  region 1 
B)  region 2 
C)  region 3 
D)  all of the regions 
E)  none of the regions

Question 5

The rings around Uranus and Neptune are confined by shepherd satellites.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

The ____ of a planet is the region around the planet where the magnetic field is able to deflect the solar wind and other charged particles.

Accepted Answer

A)  aurora 
B)  magnetosphere 
C)  hydrosphere 
D)  corona 
E)  Schwarzschild radius 
A)  aurora 
B)  magnetosphere 
C)  hydrosphere 
D)  corona 
E)  Schwarzschild radius

Question 7

The Roche limit is the

Accepted Answer

A)  distance from the sun within which a planet cannot retain an atmosphere. 
B)  minimum mass of an object in the solar system that would be classified as a planet. 
C)  maximum separation distance between the sun and a given planet. 
D)  distance from Earth at which we lose radio communication with a satellite. 
E)  distance from a planet within which a planet cannot hold itself together. 
A)  distance from the sun within which a planet cannot retain an atmosphere. 
B)  minimum mass of an object in the solar system that would be classified as a planet. 
C)  maximum separation distance between the sun and a given planet. 
D)  distance from Earth at which we lose radio communication with a satellite. 
E)  distance from a planet within which a planet cannot hold itself together.

Question 8

Jovian planets are found in the inner solar system.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

The existence of Uranus was predicted by the application of Newton's laws of motion and gravity.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

The rings of Uranus were discovered ______

Accepted Answer

A)  during an occultation of a star by the rings (as well as by the planet). 
B)  during an eclipse of one of the moons by the rings. 
C)  during a voyage to Uranus by astronauts 
D)  as Uranus and the rings passed behind Jupiter. 
E)  during an encounter by the Voyager 1 space probe. 
A)  during an occultation of a star by the rings (as well as by the planet). 
B)  during an eclipse of one of the moons by the rings. 
C)  during a voyage to Uranus by astronauts 
D)  as Uranus and the rings passed behind Jupiter. 
E)  during an encounter by the Voyager 1 space probe.

Question 11

Although Neptune has no liquid metallic hydrogen in its interior, it does have a magnetic field.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

The graph below plots the escape velocity of several solar system objects along the vertical axis and the surface temperature along the horizontal axis. The lines plotted in the figure are the speeds of the fastest gas particles as a function of temperature for various gases. Which of the objects in this diagram has the greatest surface temperature?

Accepted Answer

A)  Ganymede 
B)  Pluto 
C)  Titan 
D)  Triton 
E)  Miranda 
A)  Ganymede 
B)  Pluto 
C)  Titan 
D)  Triton 
E)  Miranda

Question 13

Why is Saturn oblate?

Accepted Answer

A)  The gravity of its moons flattens the planet. 
B)  The rapid rotation of the planet flattens it. 
C)  It formed that way originally and has no way to reshape itself. 
D)  The magnetic fields of Jupiter and Saturn interact and cause the planet to flatten. 
A)  The gravity of its moons flattens the planet. 
B)  The rapid rotation of the planet flattens it. 
C)  It formed that way originally and has no way to reshape itself. 
D)  The magnetic fields of Jupiter and Saturn interact and cause the planet to flatten.

Question 14

The grooved terrain found on Ganymede is believed to be

Accepted Answer

A)  flow channels for liquid water. 
B)  flow channels for liquid methane. 
C)  a system of faults in the crust. 
D)  the peaks of water waves in a large ocean. 
E)  caused by meteor impacts with the surface of Ganymede. 
A)  flow channels for liquid water. 
B)  flow channels for liquid methane. 
C)  a system of faults in the crust. 
D)  the peaks of water waves in a large ocean. 
E)  caused by meteor impacts with the surface of Ganymede.

Question 15

Jupiter's interior is mostly liquid helium.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

Triton orbits in the same direction as Neptune's rotation.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

What do the densities of the moons of Jupiter tell us about their origin?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What do the densities of the moons...

Question 18

Why is it believed that the rings of Saturn could not have formed just as the planet itself formed?

Accepted Answer

A)  Over time the solar wind should have blown away the particles in the rings. 
B)  The particles in the rings should fall into the planet in a short period of time. 
C)  The rings are made of ice particles which would have been vaporized by the heat released as Saturn formed. 
D)  The outer planets do not have enough mass to hold on to the rings. 
A)  Over time the solar wind should have blown away the particles in the rings. 
B)  The particles in the rings should fall into the planet in a short period of time. 
C)  The rings are made of ice particles which would have been vaporized by the heat released as Saturn formed. 
D)  The outer planets do not have enough mass to hold on to the rings.

Question 19

____________________ is the smallest of the large moons of Uranus and its surface has features called ovoids. These ovoids may have been formed by the upheaval of material by convection in the interior.

Accepted Answer

The answer of ____________________ is the smallest of the large...

Question 20

Why are the belts and zones on Saturn less distinct than those on Jupiter?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why are the belts and zones on...

The narrowness of the rings of Uranus and Neptune is believed to be caused by

For an observer on Uranus, the ecliptic passes only a few degrees from the celestial poles.

____ are Kuiper belt objects that are in a 3:2 resonance orbit with the orbit of Neptune.

The diagram below shows a cross section of the interior of Uranus. Which of the regions do current computer models suggest is composed primarily of partly solid water? The lowest pressure regions will be gaseous.

The rings around Uranus and Neptune are confined by shepherd satellites.

The ____ of a planet is the region around the planet where the magnetic field is able to deflect the solar wind and other charged particles.

The Roche limit is the

Jovian planets are found in the inner solar system.

The existence of Uranus was predicted by the application of Newton's laws of motion and gravity.

The rings of Uranus were discovered ______

Although Neptune has no liquid metallic hydrogen in its interior, it does have a magnetic field.

Why is Saturn oblate?

The grooved terrain found on Ganymede is believed to be

Jupiter's interior is mostly liquid helium.

Triton orbits in the same direction as Neptune's rotation.

What do the densities of the moons of Jupiter tell us about their origin?

Why is it believed that the rings of Saturn could not have formed just as the planet itself formed?

____________________ is the smallest of the large moons of Uranus and its surface has features called ovoids. These ovoids may have been formed by the upheaval of material by convection in the interior.

Why are the belts and zones on Saturn less distinct than those on Jupiter?

Here and Now

A Users Guide to the Sky

Cycles of the Sun and Moon

The Origin of Modern Astronomy

Light and Telescopes

Atoms and Spectra

The Sun

The Family of Stars

The Formation and Structure of Stars

The Deaths of Stars

Neutron Stars and Black Holes

The Milky Way Galaxy

Galaxies: Normal and Active

Modern Cosmology

The Origin of the Solar System

Earth and Moon: Bases for Comparative Planetology

Mercury, Venus and Mars

Meteorites, Asteroids, and Comets

Astrobiology: Life on Other Worlds

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Exam 18: The Outer Solar System

The narrowness of the rings of Uranus and Neptune is believed to be caused by

For an observer on Uranus, the ecliptic passes only a few degrees from the celestial poles.

____ are Kuiper belt objects that are in a 3:2 resonance orbit with the orbit of Neptune.

The diagram below shows a cross section of the interior of Uranus. Which of the regions do current computer models suggest is composed primarily of partly solid water? The lowest pressure regions will be gaseous.

The rings around Uranus and Neptune are confined by shepherd satellites.

The ____ of a planet is the region around the planet where the magnetic field is able to deflect the solar wind and other charged particles.

The Roche limit is the

Jovian planets are found in the inner solar system.

The existence of Uranus was predicted by the application of Newton's laws of motion and gravity.

The rings of Uranus were discovered ______

Although Neptune has no liquid metallic hydrogen in its interior, it does have a magnetic field.

Why is Saturn oblate?

The grooved terrain found on Ganymede is believed to be

Jupiter's interior is mostly liquid helium.

Triton orbits in the same direction as Neptune's rotation.

What do the densities of the moons of Jupiter tell us about their origin?

Why is it believed that the rings of Saturn could not have formed just as the planet itself formed?

____________________ is the smallest of the large moons of Uranus and its surface has features called ovoids. These ovoids may have been formed by the upheaval of material by convection in the interior.

Why are the belts and zones on Saturn less distinct than those on Jupiter?

Here and Now

A Users Guide to the Sky

Cycles of the Sun and Moon

The Origin of Modern Astronomy

Light and Telescopes

Atoms and Spectra

The Sun

The Family of Stars

The Formation and Structure of Stars

The Deaths of Stars

Neutron Stars and Black Holes

The Milky Way Galaxy

Galaxies: Normal and Active

Modern Cosmology

The Origin of the Solar System

Earth and Moon: Bases for Comparative Planetology

Mercury, Venus and Mars

Meteorites, Asteroids, and Comets

Astrobiology: Life on Other Worlds

Filters