Question 1

Shepherd moons were discovered because scientists hypothesized their existence afterobserving:

Accepted Answer

A) the Cassini Gap. 
B) the spiral density waves in the ring system. 
C) that the gaps are not empty space, but low density regions of material. 
D) the narrow F Ring. 
E) the backlit E Ring. 
A) the Cassini Gap. 
B) the spiral density waves in the ring system. 
C) that the gaps are not empty space, but low density regions of material. 
D) the narrow F Ring. 
E) the backlit E Ring.

Question 2

Contrast the size, mass, and density of Jupiter and Saturn.

Accepted Answer

Saturn is almost as big as Jup

Question 3

Saturn's bands, oval storm systems, and turbulent flow patterns are powered by:

Accepted Answer

A) convective motion and rapid rotation. 
B) the greenhouse effect. 
C) a liquid metallic hydrogen interior. 
D) the fusion in Saturn's core. 
E) the tides of Titan. 
A) convective motion and rapid rotation. 
B) the greenhouse effect. 
C) a liquid metallic hydrogen interior. 
D) the fusion in Saturn's core. 
E) the tides of Titan.

Question 4

The asymmetrical surface markings on some of Saturn's moons are probably due to:

Accepted Answer

A) all of the moons are located within the rings and they sweep up ring particles. 
B) the moons of Saturn are made primarily of ices. 
C) in most cases, the moons are tidally locked by Saturn's gravity into synchronous rotation. 
D) comet impacts become progressively harder as you get closer to Saturn. 
E) most of the moons show signs of ice volcanism driven by tidal interactions. 
A) all of the moons are located within the rings and they sweep up ring particles. 
B) the moons of Saturn are made primarily of ices. 
C) in most cases, the moons are tidally locked by Saturn's gravity into synchronous rotation. 
D) comet impacts become progressively harder as you get closer to Saturn. 
E) most of the moons show signs of ice volcanism driven by tidal interactions.

Question 5

Compared to Jupiter, Saturn's atmosphere is:

Accepted Answer

A) more calm with fewer disturbances or storms. 
B) more uniform with no significant variation in color in the lower cloud levels. 
C) more violent with larger storm phenomena easily viewed from Earth. 
D) much thicker causing the visibility of the lower layers to be reduced. 
E) more colorful with variations in color easily viewed from Earth. 
A) more calm with fewer disturbances or storms. 
B) more uniform with no significant variation in color in the lower cloud levels. 
C) more violent with larger storm phenomena easily viewed from Earth. 
D) much thicker causing the visibility of the lower layers to be reduced. 
E) more colorful with variations in color easily viewed from Earth.

Question 6

Why do Saturn's rings exist?

Accepted Answer

The material in the rings lies

Question 7

Contrast Saturn's moon Titan with Earth's Moon.

Accepted Answer

Titan and Earth's Moon are sim

Question 8

Lightning in storms on Saturn produces bursts of radio waves.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

Rhea, Saturn's second largest moon, might best be described as:

Accepted Answer

A) having a very reflective, icy surface that is heavily cratered. 
B) orbiting in a highly elliptical orbit, far from Saturn. 
C) having the leading hemisphere six times darker than the following one. 
D) being composed of the densest material of any Saturnian moon and dark in appearance. 
E) being the only major moon of any planet not in synchronous rotation. 
A) having a very reflective, icy surface that is heavily cratered. 
B) orbiting in a highly elliptical orbit, far from Saturn. 
C) having the leading hemisphere six times darker than the following one. 
D) being composed of the densest material of any Saturnian moon and dark in appearance. 
E) being the only major moon of any planet not in synchronous rotation.

Question 10

Because it is less dense than Jupiter, Saturn is more oblate than Jupiter, even though it rotatesslightly more slowly.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

The atmosphere of Titan is composed mostly of:

Accepted Answer

A) oxygen. 
B) methane. 
C) carbon dioxide. 
D) hydrogen. 
E) nitrogen. 
A) oxygen. 
B) methane. 
C) carbon dioxide. 
D) hydrogen. 
E) nitrogen.

Question 12

Cassini is the name of:

Accepted Answer

A) the French astronomer who first discovered a gap in Saturn's rings. 
B) a gap in the rings created by a resonance with Mimas. 
C) NASA's orbiter now taking photos of Saturn. 
D) all of the above. 
E) none of the above. 
A) the French astronomer who first discovered a gap in Saturn's rings. 
B) a gap in the rings created by a resonance with Mimas. 
C) NASA's orbiter now taking photos of Saturn. 
D) all of the above. 
E) none of the above.

Question 13

Saturn's polar vortices are:

Accepted Answer

A) Earth-sized storm systems. 
B) similar to Jupiter's Great Red Spot. 
C) any whirlpool shaped storm near Saturn's poles. 
D) the bands that encircle Saturn that crosses both poles. 
E) gaps in Saturn's rings. 
A) Earth-sized storm systems. 
B) similar to Jupiter's Great Red Spot. 
C) any whirlpool shaped storm near Saturn's poles. 
D) the bands that encircle Saturn that crosses both poles. 
E) gaps in Saturn's rings.

Question 14

What is a planet's Roche limit?

Accepted Answer

The distance from a

Question 15

Which two of Saturn's moons switch orbits?

Accepted Answer

A) Enceladus and Titan 
B) Janus and Epimetheus 
C) Telesto and Calypso 
D) Helene and Dione 
E) None; this is not possible. 
A) Enceladus and Titan 
B) Janus and Epimetheus 
C) Telesto and Calypso 
D) Helene and Dione 
E) None; this is not possible.

Question 16

Describe the consequences of orbital resonances between the moons of Saturn and theparticles that make up that planet's ring system.

Accepted Answer

Particles that would have orbital period

Question 17

A typical ring particle is about the size of a snowball.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

The shepherd moons keep the ring particles in their rings by:

Accepted Answer

A) repelling the ring particles, causing them to slow down. 
B) repelling the ring particles, causing them to speed up or slow down. 
C) attracting the ring particles, causing them speed up. 
D) attracting the ring particles, causing them to speed up or slow down. 
E) both attracting and repelling the ring particles, causing them to speed up or slow down. 
A) repelling the ring particles, causing them to slow down. 
B) repelling the ring particles, causing them to speed up or slow down. 
C) attracting the ring particles, causing them speed up. 
D) attracting the ring particles, causing them to speed up or slow down. 
E) both attracting and repelling the ring particles, causing them to speed up or slow down.

Question 19

Many of Saturn's outer smaller moons, like Phoebe, orbit ________ compared to the planet'srotation.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Many of Saturn's outer smaller moons, like...

Question 20

The atmosphere of Saturn is composed mostly of:

Accepted Answer

A) methane and ammonia. 
B) carbon dioxide and ethane. 
C) hydrogen and helium. 
D) hydrogen sulfide and ammonia. 
E) nitrogen and oxygen. 
A) methane and ammonia. 
B) carbon dioxide and ethane. 
C) hydrogen and helium. 
D) hydrogen sulfide and ammonia. 
E) nitrogen and oxygen.

Exam 12: Saturn: Spectacular Rings and Mysterious Moons

Shepherd moons were discovered because scientists hypothesized their existence afterobserving:

Contrast the size, mass, and density of Jupiter and Saturn.

Saturn's bands, oval storm systems, and turbulent flow patterns are powered by:

The asymmetrical surface markings on some of Saturn's moons are probably due to:

Compared to Jupiter, Saturn's atmosphere is:

Why do Saturn's rings exist?

Contrast Saturn's moon Titan with Earth's Moon.

Lightning in storms on Saturn produces bursts of radio waves.

Rhea, Saturn's second largest moon, might best be described as:

Because it is less dense than Jupiter, Saturn is more oblate than Jupiter, even though it rotatesslightly more slowly.

The atmosphere of Titan is composed mostly of:

Cassini is the name of:

Saturn's polar vortices are:

What is a planet's Roche limit?

Which two of Saturn's moons switch orbits?

Describe the consequences of orbital resonances between the moons of Saturn and theparticles that make up that planet's ring system.

A typical ring particle is about the size of a snowball.

The shepherd moons keep the ring particles in their rings by:

Many of Saturn's outer smaller moons, like Phoebe, orbit ________ compared to the planet'srotation.

The atmosphere of Saturn is composed mostly of:

Charting the Heavens: The Foundations of Astronomy

The Copernican Revolution: The Birth of Modern Science

Radiation: Information From the Cosmos

Spectroscopy: the Inner Workings of Atoms

Telescopes: The Tools of Astronomy

The Solar System: Comparative Planetology and Formation Models

Earth: Our Home in Space

The Moon and Mercury: Scorched and Battered Worlds

Venus: Earths Sister Planet

Mars: a Near Miss for Life

Jupiter: Giant of the Solar System

Uranus and Neptune: The Outer Worlds of the Solar System

Solar System Debris: Keys to Our Origin

Exoplanets: Planetary Systems Beyond Our Own

The Sun: Our Parent Star

The Stars: Giants, Dwarfs, and the Main Sequence

The Interstellar Medium: Gas and Dust Among the Stars

Star Formation: a Traumatic Birth

Stellar Evolution: The Life and Death of a Star

Stellar Explosions: Novae, Supernovae, and the Formation of the Elements

Neutron Stars and Black Holes: Strange States of Matter

The Milky Way Galaxy: a Spiral in Space

Galaxies: Building Blocks of the Universe

Galaxies and Dark Matter: The Large-Scale Structure of the Cosmos

Cosmology: The Big Bang and the Fate of the Universe

The Early Universe: Toward the Beginning of Time

Life in the Universe: Are We Alone

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