Question 1

How do the jovian planet interiors differ?

Accepted Answer

A)  All have cores of about the same mass, but differ in the amount of surrounding hydrogen and helium. 
B)  The core mass decreases with the mass of the planet. 
C)  The composition changes from mostly ammonia in Jupiter and Saturn to mostly methane in Uranus and Neptune. 
D)  The composition changes from mostly hydrogen in Jupiter and Saturn to mostly helium in Uranus and Neptune. 
E)  All have about the same amount of hydrogen and helium but the proportion of rocks is greater in those planets closer to the Sun. 
A)  All have cores of about the same mass, but differ in the amount of surrounding hydrogen and helium. 
B)  The core mass decreases with the mass of the planet. 
C)  The composition changes from mostly ammonia in Jupiter and Saturn to mostly methane in Uranus and Neptune. 
D)  The composition changes from mostly hydrogen in Jupiter and Saturn to mostly helium in Uranus and Neptune. 
E)  All have about the same amount of hydrogen and helium but the proportion of rocks is greater in those planets closer to the Sun.

Question 2

According to current understanding, which of the following is required in order for a planet to have rings?

Accepted Answer

A)  The planet must have many small moons that orbit relatively close to the planet in its equatorial plane. 
B)  The planet must be at least as massive as Saturn. 
C)  The planet must orbit its star at a distance greater than Mars orbits the Sun. 
D)  The planet must once have had a large moon that came too close to it, shattering the moon and creating the ring particles. 
A)  The planet must have many small moons that orbit relatively close to the planet in its equatorial plane. 
B)  The planet must be at least as massive as Saturn. 
C)  The planet must orbit its star at a distance greater than Mars orbits the Sun. 
D)  The planet must once have had a large moon that came too close to it, shattering the moon and creating the ring particles.

Question 3

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 orbits Jupiter on an elliptical orbit, due to orbital resonances with other satellites. 
B)  Io is the closest to Jupiter of Jupiter's large moons. 
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 orbits Jupiter on an elliptical orbit, due to orbital resonances with other satellites. 
B)  Io is the closest to Jupiter of Jupiter's large moons. 
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 4

Why does Jupiter have three distinct layers of clouds?

Accepted Answer

A)  The three layers represent clouds made of gases that condense at different temperatures. 
B)  Jupiter has three different types of wind, each of which makes a different type of cloud. 
C)  The three layers reflect regions of Jupiter's atmosphere with different overall chemical compositions. 
D)  Clouds form randomly, so on average there are always three layers. 
A)  The three layers represent clouds made of gases that condense at different temperatures. 
B)  Jupiter has three different types of wind, each of which makes a different type of cloud. 
C)  The three layers reflect regions of Jupiter's atmosphere with different overall chemical compositions. 
D)  Clouds form randomly, so on average there are always three layers.

Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Probing the Interior of Jupiter: Astronomers claim to have a reasonable model for interior structure of Jupiter. What is the observational basis for this model? Does it make any predictions that have been put to observational tests? How is the interior structure of the Earth known (review Chapter 7 if necessary)? Do you think the interior structure of Jupiter is more or less well-tested than that of the interior structure of he Earth? Explain.

Accepted Answer

The observational basis for the model of

Question 7

What is "ice geology"? Give an example illustrating why it is important in the outer solar system.

Accepted Answer

Ice geology is the formation of surface

Question 8

If Jupiter were 10 times more massive, it would actually have a smaller radius.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

Why does it make sense that the jovian planets farther from the Sun have less mass?

Accepted Answer

The differences in the sizes of the jovi

Question 10

Describe the possible origins of Jupiter's vibrant colors. Contrast these with the origins of the colors of the other jovian planets.

Accepted Answer

The white zones of Jupiter's atmosphere

Question 11

How do astronomers think Jupiter generates its internal heat?

Accepted Answer

A)  radioactive decay 
B)  internal friction due to its high rotation rate 
C)  chemical processes 
D)  nuclear fusion in the core 
E)  by contracting, changing gravitational potential energy into thermal energy 
A)  radioactive decay 
B)  internal friction due to its high rotation rate 
C)  chemical processes 
D)  nuclear fusion in the core 
E)  by contracting, changing gravitational potential energy into thermal energy

Question 12

Use these choices for the following questions.
-Which of the above applies to Europa?

Accepted Answer

A) the most volcanically active body in the solar system 
B) thought to have a deep, subsurface ocean of liquid water 
C) probably a captured Kuiper Belt object 
D) the target of the Huygens probe, which landed on its surface. 
E) the largest moon in the solar system 
A) the most volcanically active body in the solar system 
B) thought to have a deep, subsurface ocean of liquid water 
C) probably a captured Kuiper Belt object 
D) the target of the Huygens probe, which landed on its surface. 
E) the largest moon in the solar system

Question 13

Describe some of the results from the Cassini/Huygens mission to Saturn and its moons.

Accepted Answer

Cassini has found a surprisingly active

Question 14

Which of the following best why we see horizontal "stripes" in photographs of Jupiter and Saturn?

Accepted Answer

A)  The light stripes are regions of high clouds, and the dark stripes are regions where we can see down to deeper, darker clouds. 
B)  The dark and light stripes correspond to alternating bands of different chemical composition. 
C)  There are three different color stripes corresponding to the three different types of clouds found on these planets. 
D)  Dark stripes are those in which there is a stratosphere and light stripes are those with no stratosphere. 
A)  The light stripes are regions of high clouds, and the dark stripes are regions where we can see down to deeper, darker clouds. 
B)  The dark and light stripes correspond to alternating bands of different chemical composition. 
C)  There are three different color stripes corresponding to the three different types of clouds found on these planets. 
D)  Dark stripes are those in which there is a stratosphere and light stripes are those with no stratosphere.

Question 15

If Jupiter were scaled to the size of a basketball, Earth would be the closest to the size of

Accepted Answer

A)  a pinhead. 
B)  a marble. 
C)  a baseball. 
D)  a grapefruit. 
E)  a basketball. 
A)  a pinhead. 
B)  a marble. 
C)  a baseball. 
D)  a grapefruit. 
E)  a basketball.

Question 16

Titan's surface may contain lakes of liquid methane.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 18

Contrast Jupiter's magnetosphere with that of Earth and of the other jovian planets.

Accepted Answer

Jupiter has the strongest magnetic field

Question 19

Use these choices for the following questions.
-Which of the above applies to Ganymede?

Accepted Answer

A) the most volcanically active body in the solar system 
B) thought to have a deep, subsurface ocean of liquid water 
C) probably a captured Kuiper Belt object 
D) the target of the Huygens probe, which landed on its surface. 
E) the largest moon in the solar system 
A) the most volcanically active body in the solar system 
B) thought to have a deep, subsurface ocean of liquid water 
C) probably a captured Kuiper Belt object 
D) the target of the Huygens probe, which landed on its surface. 
E) the largest moon in the solar system

Question 20

The water-ice particles forming Saturn's rings are frozen together into a thin sheet that rotates around Saturn like a solid body.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

How do the jovian planet interiors differ?

According to current understanding, which of the following is required in order for a planet to have rings?

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

Why does Jupiter have three distinct layers of clouds?

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

What is "ice geology"? Give an example illustrating why it is important in the outer solar system.

If Jupiter were 10 times more massive, it would actually have a smaller radius.

Why does it make sense that the jovian planets farther from the Sun have less mass?

Describe the possible origins of Jupiter's vibrant colors. Contrast these with the origins of the colors of the other jovian planets.

How do astronomers think Jupiter generates its internal heat?

Use these choices for the following questions. -Which of the above applies to Europa?

Describe some of the results from the Cassini/Huygens mission to Saturn and its moons.

Which of the following best why we see horizontal "stripes" in photographs of Jupiter and Saturn?

If Jupiter were scaled to the size of a basketball, Earth would be the closest to the size of

Titan's surface may contain lakes of liquid methane.

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

Contrast Jupiter's magnetosphere with that of Earth and of the other jovian planets.

Use these choices for the following questions. -Which of the above applies to Ganymede?

The water-ice particles forming Saturn's rings are frozen together into a thin sheet that rotates around Saturn like a solid body.

Our Place in the Universe

Discovering the Universe for Yourself

The Science of Astronomy

Making Sense of the Universe: Understanding Motion, Energy, and Gravity

Light: the Cosmic Messenger

Formation of Planetary Systems: Our Solar System and Beyond

Earth and the Terrestrial Worlds

Asteroids, Comets, and Dwarf Planets: Their Nature, Orbits, and Impacts

Our Star

Surveying the Stars

Star Stuff

Bizarre Stellar Graveyard

Our Galaxy

Galaxies and the Foundation of Modern Cosmology

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

The Beginning of Time

Life in the Universe

Filters

Exam 8: Jovian Planet Systems

How do the jovian planet interiors differ?

According to current understanding, which of the following is required in order for a planet to have rings?

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

Why does Jupiter have three distinct layers of clouds?

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

What is "ice geology"? Give an example illustrating why it is important in the outer solar system.

If Jupiter were 10 times more massive, it would actually have a smaller radius.

Why does it make sense that the jovian planets farther from the Sun have less mass?

Describe the possible origins of Jupiter's vibrant colors. Contrast these with the origins of the colors of the other jovian planets.

How do astronomers think Jupiter generates its internal heat?

Use these choices for the following questions. -Which of the above applies to Europa?

Describe some of the results from the Cassini/Huygens mission to Saturn and its moons.

Which of the following best why we see horizontal "stripes" in photographs of Jupiter and Saturn?

If Jupiter were scaled to the size of a basketball, Earth would be the closest to the size of

Titan's surface may contain lakes of liquid methane.

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

Contrast Jupiter's magnetosphere with that of Earth and of the other jovian planets.

Use these choices for the following questions. -Which of the above applies to Ganymede?

The water-ice particles forming Saturn's rings are frozen together into a thin sheet that rotates around Saturn like a solid body.

Our Place in the Universe

Discovering the Universe for Yourself

The Science of Astronomy

Making Sense of the Universe: Understanding Motion, Energy, and Gravity

Light: the Cosmic Messenger

Formation of Planetary Systems: Our Solar System and Beyond

Earth and the Terrestrial Worlds

Asteroids, Comets, and Dwarf Planets: Their Nature, Orbits, and Impacts

Our Star

Surveying the Stars

Star Stuff

Bizarre Stellar Graveyard

Our Galaxy

Galaxies and the Foundation of Modern Cosmology

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

The Beginning of Time

Life in the Universe

Filters