Question 1

Titan is an interesting moon because:

Accepted Answer

A)  beneath its clouds, Titan may be Earth-like, with liquid water. 
B)  the Huygens rover has sent back images of sedimentary rocks there. 
C)  it has a rich atmosphere that may resemble that of the early Earth. 
D)  it is known to have ice volcanism on its surface. 
E)  All of the above. 
A)  beneath its clouds, Titan may be Earth-like, with liquid water. 
B)  the Huygens rover has sent back images of sedimentary rocks there. 
C)  it has a rich atmosphere that may resemble that of the early Earth. 
D)  it is known to have ice volcanism on its surface. 
E)  All of the above. C

Question 2

The leading hemisphere of Iapetus is much darker than the back side,which is icy.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 3

Shepherd moons were discovered because scientists hypothesized their existence after observing:

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. D

Question 4

Saturn has several enduring major storm systems similar to Jupiter's Great Red Spot.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

One of the most popular symbols of astronomy is Saturn with its system of rings.Describe the structure and makeup of these rings.

Accepted Answer

Saturn's rings consist of small icy obje

Question 6

Saturn has a surface magnetic field weaker than Earth's.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

Why do scientists think the Cassini spacecraft did not observe "spokes" on the rings during the first year of its visit with Saturn?

Accepted Answer

A)  The "spokes" observed before were a phenomenon of the Voyager 2 camera. 
B)  The "spokes" are not a regular phenomenon of Saturn's rings. They occur only in certain seasons. 
C)  The "spokes" are related to Saturn's magnetic field and the Cassini spacecraft was located inside Saturn's magnetic field, while Voyager 2 was not. 
D)  The Cassini spacecraft was not looking in the right part of Saturn's ring system to see the "spokes". 
E)  To see the "spokes," a particular alignment of the rings with the Sun is necessary and it took one year for that alignment to reoccur. 
A)  The "spokes" observed before were a phenomenon of the Voyager 2 camera. 
B)  The "spokes" are not a regular phenomenon of Saturn's rings. They occur only in certain seasons. 
C)  The "spokes" are related to Saturn's magnetic field and the Cassini spacecraft was located inside Saturn's magnetic field, while Voyager 2 was not. 
D)  The Cassini spacecraft was not looking in the right part of Saturn's ring system to see the "spokes". 
E)  To see the "spokes," a particular alignment of the rings with the Sun is necessary and it took one year for that alignment to reoccur.

Question 8

Shepherd satellites are defined as:

Accepted Answer

A)  satellites in the coma of a comet. 
B)  moons that confine a narrow ring. 
C)  a type of moon that orbits another moon. 
D)  moons that follow the exact orbit of another, larger, moon. 
E)  moons that orbit inside the system of rings. 
A)  satellites in the coma of a comet. 
B)  moons that confine a narrow ring. 
C)  a type of moon that orbits another moon. 
D)  moons that follow the exact orbit of another, larger, moon. 
E)  moons that orbit inside the system of rings.

Question 9

Scientists believe that large storms on Saturn are:

Accepted Answer

A)  tied to Saturn's rings. 
B)  in the high altitude ammonia clouds. 
C)  only found at the equator. 
D)  rooted deep in the atmosphere. 
E)  in Saturn's troposphere. 
A)  tied to Saturn's rings. 
B)  in the high altitude ammonia clouds. 
C)  only found at the equator. 
D)  rooted deep in the atmosphere. 
E)  in Saturn's troposphere.

Question 10

Which moon of Saturn constantly changes its rotational speed and rotational axis?

Accepted Answer

A)  Mimas 
B)  Iapetus 
C)  Hyperion 
D)  Calypso 
E)  Janus 
A)  Mimas 
B)  Iapetus 
C)  Hyperion 
D)  Calypso 
E)  Janus

Question 11

The Cassini spacecraft found evidence that the E Ring is related to Enceladus through:

Accepted Answer

A)  the gravitational interactions by Enceladus on the particles in the E Ring. 
B)  the deposition of gases from Enceladus on the particles of the E Ring making them more reflective as the gas condenses on the particles. 
C)  a continual supply of icy particles spewed via volcanism on Enceladus. 
D)  the impact history of Enceladus-a major impact caused parts of the moon to be ejected from the surface and cross the Roche Limit to become the E Ring. 
E)  their common origin: both the E Ring and Enceladus have a common "ancestral" comet parent. 
A)  the gravitational interactions by Enceladus on the particles in the E Ring. 
B)  the deposition of gases from Enceladus on the particles of the E Ring making them more reflective as the gas condenses on the particles. 
C)  a continual supply of icy particles spewed via volcanism on Enceladus. 
D)  the impact history of Enceladus-a major impact caused parts of the moon to be ejected from the surface and cross the Roche Limit to become the E Ring. 
E)  their common origin: both the E Ring and Enceladus have a common "ancestral" comet parent.

Question 12

Saturn's orbit is more elliptical than Jupiter's,and its tilt is much larger as well.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

Saturn is the only planet with a ring system.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

Which Saturnian moon has the leading hemisphere black as tar,the back side icy white?

Accepted Answer

A)  Rhea 
B)  Titan 
C)  Enceladus 
D)  Iapetus 
E)  Mimas 
A)  Rhea 
B)  Titan 
C)  Enceladus 
D)  Iapetus 
E)  Mimas

Question 15

What are Saturn's rings?

Accepted Answer

A)  a great disk of liquid helium 
B)  large rocky boulders moving in orbit around Saturn 
C)  a glowing, flat magnetospheric auroral display 
D)  a solid thin disk of material encircling Saturn 
E)  small icy particles moving in orbit around Saturn 
A)  a great disk of liquid helium 
B)  large rocky boulders moving in orbit around Saturn 
C)  a glowing, flat magnetospheric auroral display 
D)  a solid thin disk of material encircling Saturn 
E)  small icy particles moving in orbit around Saturn

Question 16

If satellite A is in a 2:1 resonance with satellite B,this means that:

Accepted Answer

A)  satellite A is twice as large as satellite B. 
B)  satellite A moves twice as fast as satellite B. 
C)  satellite A completes one orbit for every two orbits of satellite B. 
D)  the orbit of satellite B takes twice as long to complete as that of satellite A. 
E)  satellite B spins on its axis one time for every two orbits of satellite A. 
A)  satellite A is twice as large as satellite B. 
B)  satellite A moves twice as fast as satellite B. 
C)  satellite A completes one orbit for every two orbits of satellite B. 
D)  the orbit of satellite B takes twice as long to complete as that of satellite A. 
E)  satellite B spins on its axis one time for every two orbits of satellite A.

Question 17

What evidence suggests that Enceladus has ongoing geological activity?

Accepted Answer

A)  Voyager 2 photographed liquid nitrogen geysers 10 kilometers tall. 
B)  Lack of impact craters on much of its surface, evidence of ice flows from possible volcanic activity, and geysers that supply material for the E-ring. 
C)  Voyager 1 showed sulfur eruptions all over its pizza-pie colored surface. 
D)  Enceladus is located within Saturn's Roche limit, and ready to blow up. 
E)  Enceladus undergoes severe tidal stresses from its resonance with Titan. 
A)  Voyager 2 photographed liquid nitrogen geysers 10 kilometers tall. 
B)  Lack of impact craters on much of its surface, evidence of ice flows from possible volcanic activity, and geysers that supply material for the E-ring. 
C)  Voyager 1 showed sulfur eruptions all over its pizza-pie colored surface. 
D)  Enceladus is located within Saturn's Roche limit, and ready to blow up. 
E)  Enceladus undergoes severe tidal stresses from its resonance with Titan.

Question 18

What is exceptional about the rotation of Hyperion? Give a possible explanation.

Accepted Answer

It is the only moon with one hemisphere

Question 19

Why is Titan considered so interesting?

Accepted Answer

It has a thick atmos

Question 20

What element is notably deficient in Saturn's atmosphere,and why?

Accepted Answer

Helium seems to be c

Exam 12: Saturn: Spectacular Rings and Mysterious Moons

Titan is an interesting moon because:

The leading hemisphere of Iapetus is much darker than the back side,which is icy.

Shepherd moons were discovered because scientists hypothesized their existence after observing:

Saturn has several enduring major storm systems similar to Jupiter's Great Red Spot.

One of the most popular symbols of astronomy is Saturn with its system of rings.Describe the structure and makeup of these rings.

Saturn has a surface magnetic field weaker than Earth's.

Why do scientists think the Cassini spacecraft did not observe "spokes" on the rings during the first year of its visit with Saturn?

Shepherd satellites are defined as:

Scientists believe that large storms on Saturn are:

Which moon of Saturn constantly changes its rotational speed and rotational axis?

The Cassini spacecraft found evidence that the E Ring is related to Enceladus through:

Saturn's orbit is more elliptical than Jupiter's,and its tilt is much larger as well.

Saturn is the only planet with a ring system.

Which Saturnian moon has the leading hemisphere black as tar,the back side icy white?

What are Saturn's rings?

If satellite A is in a 2:1 resonance with satellite B,this means that:

What evidence suggests that Enceladus has ongoing geological activity?

What is exceptional about the rotation of Hyperion? Give a possible explanation.

Why is Titan considered so interesting?

What element is notably deficient in Saturn's atmosphere,and why?

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: Earth's 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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