Question 1

Briefly explain how Uranus and Neptune were discovered.

Accepted Answer

Uranus was discovered with the aid of a

Question 2

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 5

Which jovian planet should have the most extreme seasonal changes?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 6

Jupiter's colors come in part from its three layers of clouds.Which of the following is not the primary constituent of one of Jupiter's cloud layers?

Accepted Answer

A) clouds of sulfuric acid 
B) clouds of water 
C) clouds of ammonium hydrosulfide 
D) clouds of ammonia 
A) clouds of sulfuric acid 
B) clouds of water 
C) clouds of ammonium hydrosulfide 
D) clouds of ammonia

Question 7

Jupiter likely formed first since it is the largest jovian planet and closest to the Sun.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Which of the following most likely explains why Jupiter's interior releases so much heat?

Accepted Answer

A) Jupiter is contracting very gradually 
B) heat from radioactive decay 
C) a slow rate of nuclear fusion in Jupiter's core 
D) tidal heating 
A) Jupiter is contracting very gradually 
B) heat from radioactive decay 
C) a slow rate of nuclear fusion in Jupiter's core 
D) tidal heating

Question 9

Jupiter's Great Red Spot is a low-pressure storm like a hurricane on Earth.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

Which of the following is not a piece of evidence supporting the idea that Europa may have a subsurface ocean?

Accepted Answer

A) Europa has a magnetic field that appears to be induced by Jupiter's magnetic field. 
B) Photos of Europa's surface show regions that appear to consist of jumbled icebergs frozen in place. 
C) Europa's surface shows very few impact craters. 
D) Astronomers have detected small lakes of liquid water on Europa's surface. 
A) Europa has a magnetic field that appears to be induced by Jupiter's magnetic field. 
B) Photos of Europa's surface show regions that appear to consist of jumbled icebergs frozen in place. 
C) Europa's surface shows very few impact craters. 
D) Astronomers have detected small lakes of liquid water on Europa's surface.

Question 11

The Huygens probe took numerous pictures as it descended to Titan's surface in 2005.What did the pictures show?

Accepted Answer

A) primitive life forms 
B) a densely cratered surface 
C) lava flows of molten basalt 
D) features or erosion,including what appeared to be dry river valleys and lakebeds 
A) primitive life forms 
B) a densely cratered surface 
C) lava flows of molten basalt 
D) features or erosion,including what appeared to be dry river valleys and lakebeds

Question 12

What causes synchronous rotation?

Accepted Answer

A) Most jovian moons were formed out of their planet's nebula with the same rotational period as their parent planet. 
B) Most jovian moons were formed out of their planet's nebula with the same orbital period. 
C) A massive planet exerts a tidal force on a moon that causes the moon to obtain the same rotational period as its parent planet. 
D) A massive planet exerts a tidal force on a moon that causes the moon to align itself such that its tidal bulges always point toward and away from the planet. 
E) orbital resonances with other moons 
A) Most jovian moons were formed out of their planet's nebula with the same rotational period as their parent planet. 
B) Most jovian moons were formed out of their planet's nebula with the same orbital period. 
C) A massive planet exerts a tidal force on a moon that causes the moon to obtain the same rotational period as its parent planet. 
D) A massive planet exerts a tidal force on a moon that causes the moon to align itself such that its tidal bulges always point toward and away from the planet. 
E) orbital resonances with other moons

Question 13

The energy in the atmospheres of most of the jovian planets comes

Accepted Answer

A) almost entirely from the Sun. 
B) almost entirely from their interiors. 
C) both the Sun and their interiors,in roughly equal proportions. 
D) tidal heating. 
A) almost entirely from the Sun. 
B) almost entirely from their interiors. 
C) both the Sun and their interiors,in roughly equal proportions. 
D) tidal heating.

Question 14

Process of Science: What evidence is there of a subsurface ocean on Europa? Do you find it compelling?

Accepted Answer

The main evidence comes from trying to f

Question 15

All the following statements are true.Which one is most important in explaining the tremendous tidal heating that occurs on Io?

Accepted Answer

A) Io is the closest to Jupiter of Jupiter's large moons. 
B) Io orbits Jupiter on an elliptical orbit,due to orbital resonances with other satellites. 
C) Io exhibits synchronous rotation,meaning that its rotation period and orbital period are the same. 
D) Io orbits Jupiter in the Io torus,and therefore has a surface that is bombarded by many charged particles. 
A) Io is the closest to Jupiter of Jupiter's large moons. 
B) Io orbits Jupiter on an elliptical orbit,due to orbital resonances with other satellites. 
C) Io exhibits synchronous rotation,meaning that its rotation period and orbital period are the same. 
D) Io orbits Jupiter in the Io torus,and therefore has a surface that is bombarded by many charged particles.

Question 16

Given the differences in size and composition of the jovian planets in our solar system,how many groups is it appropriate to sort them into?

Accepted Answer

A) one 
B) two 
C) three 
D) four 
A) one 
B) two 
C) three 
D) four

Question 17

What is the most abundant gas in Titan's atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

A) methane 
B) nitrogen 
C) hydrogen compounds 
D) oxygen 
E) argon 
A) methane 
B) nitrogen 
C) hydrogen compounds 
D) oxygen 
E) argon

Question 18

Why is the radiation so intense in the region that traces Io's orbit around Jupiter (the Io torus)?

Accepted Answer

A) Io's gravity allows this region to capture huge numbers of charged particles from the solar wind. 
B) An orbital resonance between Io,Europa,and Ganymede makes the radiation intense. 
C) Jupiter's strong magnetic field makes the radiation intense everywhere,and the region around Io is no different than any other region. 
D) The region is full of gases that become ionized after they are released from volcanoes on Io. 
A) Io's gravity allows this region to capture huge numbers of charged particles from the solar wind. 
B) An orbital resonance between Io,Europa,and Ganymede makes the radiation intense. 
C) Jupiter's strong magnetic field makes the radiation intense everywhere,and the region around Io is no different than any other region. 
D) The region is full of gases that become ionized after they are released from volcanoes on Io.

Question 19

What is the most important reason why an icy moon is more likely to be geologically active than a rocky moon of the same size?

Accepted Answer

A) Ice has a lower melting point than rock. 
B) Ice is less rigid than rock. 
C) Ice contains more radioactive elements than rock. 
D) Ice is affected by tidal forces to a greater extent than rock. 
E) Ice is less dense than rock. 
A) Ice has a lower melting point than rock. 
B) Ice is less rigid than rock. 
C) Ice contains more radioactive elements than rock. 
D) Ice is affected by tidal forces to a greater extent than rock. 
E) Ice is less dense than rock.

Question 20

Process of Science: A prediction based on Newton's theory of gravity led to the discovery of Neptune.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 11: Jovian Planet Systems

Briefly explain how Uranus and Neptune were discovered.

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

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

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

Which jovian planet should have the most extreme seasonal changes?

Jupiter's colors come in part from its three layers of clouds.Which of the following is not the primary constituent of one of Jupiter's cloud layers?

Jupiter likely formed first since it is the largest jovian planet and closest to the Sun.

Which of the following most likely explains why Jupiter's interior releases so much heat?

Jupiter's Great Red Spot is a low-pressure storm like a hurricane on Earth.

Which of the following is not a piece of evidence supporting the idea that Europa may have a subsurface ocean?

The Huygens probe took numerous pictures as it descended to Titan's surface in 2005.What did the pictures show?

What causes synchronous rotation?

The energy in the atmospheres of most of the jovian planets comes

Process of Science: What evidence is there of a subsurface ocean on Europa? Do you find it compelling?

All the following statements are true.Which one is most important in explaining the tremendous tidal heating that occurs on Io?

Given the differences in size and composition of the jovian planets in our solar system,how many groups is it appropriate to sort them into?

What is the most abundant gas in Titan's atmosphere?

Why is the radiation so intense in the region that traces Io's orbit around Jupiter (the Io torus)?

What is the most important reason why an icy moon is more likely to be geologically active than a rocky moon of the same size?

Process of Science: A prediction based on Newton's theory of gravity led to the discovery of Neptune.

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 and Matter: Reading Messages from the Cosmos

Telescopes: Portals of Discovery

Our Planetary System

Formation of the Solar System

Planetary Geology: Earth and the Other Terrestrial Worlds

Planetary Atmospheres: Earth and the Other 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 Birth

Star Stuff

The Bizarre Stellar Graveyard

Our Galaxy

Galaxies and the Foundations of Modern Cosmology

Galaxy Evolution

The Birth of the Universe

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

Life in the Universe

Celestial Timekeeping and Navigation

Space and Time

Spacetime and Gravity

Building Blocks of the Universe

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