Question 1

The structure of Ganymede, a Galilean satellite of Jupiter, is thought to be:

Accepted Answer

A) a thick crust of ice, a rocky mantle, and metallic core. 
B) about half rock and half ice, with the rock at the center and the ice outside. 
C) a large rocky core with a thin layer (100 km thick) of ice and water over it. 
D) mostly or entirely rock with no firm evidence of an iron core, but with active volcanoes on its surface. 
A) a thick crust of ice, a rocky mantle, and metallic core. 
B) about half rock and half ice, with the rock at the center and the ice outside. 
C) a large rocky core with a thin layer (100 km thick) of ice and water over it. 
D) mostly or entirely rock with no firm evidence of an iron core, but with active volcanoes on its surface.

Question 2

How were the hydrocarbon lakes of Titan discovered?

Accepted Answer

A) Cassini imaged them from orbit. 
B) Huygens imaged them while descending to the surface. 
C) Radar maps made by Cassini to measure the height of the terrain revealed many flat areas. 
D) The Hubble Space Telescope imaged them from Earth. 
A) Cassini imaged them from orbit. 
B) Huygens imaged them while descending to the surface. 
C) Radar maps made by Cassini to measure the height of the terrain revealed many flat areas. 
D) The Hubble Space Telescope imaged them from Earth.

Question 3

The atmospheric pressure at the surface of Titan, Saturn's largest satellite, is 1 1/2 atmospheres (i.e., 1 1/2 times the air pressure at sea level on Earth). How much mass is contained in the atmosphere above a square meter of Titan's surface compared to the mass above a square meter of Earth's surface?

Accepted Answer

A) two-thirds as much as on Earth, because Titan has a smaller diameter and therefore a stronger gravitational pull than does Earth 
B) 0.92 times that on Earth, because Titan rotates faster than Earth, reducing the gravitational pull at the equator 
C) 1 1/2 times that on Earth, because the atmospheric pressure is directly proportional to the mass of the atmosphere 
D) 10 times that on Earth, because Titan has less mass and therefore less gravity than does Earth 
A) two-thirds as much as on Earth, because Titan has a smaller diameter and therefore a stronger gravitational pull than does Earth 
B) 0.92 times that on Earth, because Titan rotates faster than Earth, reducing the gravitational pull at the equator 
C) 1 1/2 times that on Earth, because the atmospheric pressure is directly proportional to the mass of the atmosphere 
D) 10 times that on Earth, because Titan has less mass and therefore less gravity than does Earth

Question 4

What has proven to be the best method for measuring the mass of a Galilean satellite of Jupiter?

Accepted Answer

A) observing its orbital motion around Jupiter and applying Kepler's laws 
B) measuring the density of material using a lunar lander vehicle and multiplying this density value by the satellite's volume 
C) measuring the mutual gravitational disturbances of the orbits of neighboring satellites by the satellite 
D) observing the slight changes in the motion of a spacecraft caused by gravitational force, as the spacecraft passed near the satellite 
A) observing its orbital motion around Jupiter and applying Kepler's laws 
B) measuring the density of material using a lunar lander vehicle and multiplying this density value by the satellite's volume 
C) measuring the mutual gravitational disturbances of the orbits of neighboring satellites by the satellite 
D) observing the slight changes in the motion of a spacecraft caused by gravitational force, as the spacecraft passed near the satellite

Question 5

The largest satellite (moon) in our planetary system is:

Accepted Answer

A) Earth's Moon. 
B) Titan, a satellite of Saturn. 
C) Phobos, one of Mars's moons. 
D) Ganymede, a satellite of Jupiter. 
A) Earth's Moon. 
B) Titan, a satellite of Saturn. 
C) Phobos, one of Mars's moons. 
D) Ganymede, a satellite of Jupiter.

Question 6

Why do we suspect the existence of some liquid beneath the surface of Callisto?

Accepted Answer

A) The interior appears to be highly differentiated, suggesting the existence of residual heat from the satellite's formation. 
B) The satellite is close enough to Jupiter (which emits more energy than it receives from the Sun) so that its interior should be warm enough to keep pure water liquid. 
C) The tidal churning caused by the pull of Jupiter should keep the interior warm enough to keep pure water liquid. 
D) There is evidence of an induced magnetic field caused by Callisto's passage through Jupiter's magnetosphere. 
A) The interior appears to be highly differentiated, suggesting the existence of residual heat from the satellite's formation. 
B) The satellite is close enough to Jupiter (which emits more energy than it receives from the Sun) so that its interior should be warm enough to keep pure water liquid. 
C) The tidal churning caused by the pull of Jupiter should keep the interior warm enough to keep pure water liquid. 
D) There is evidence of an induced magnetic field caused by Callisto's passage through Jupiter's magnetosphere.

Question 7

It has been known that Jupiter has satellites since:

Accepted Answer

A) the time of the ancient Greeks. 
B) the Voyager flybys in 1979. 
C) Galileo turned his telescope to the sky in 1610. 
D) Isaac Newton predicted their existence in 1708. 
A) the time of the ancient Greeks. 
B) the Voyager flybys in 1979. 
C) Galileo turned his telescope to the sky in 1610. 
D) Isaac Newton predicted their existence in 1708.

Question 8

In describing the observations of the movements of the satellites of Jupiter, what is the difference between an occultation and an eclipse?

Accepted Answer

A) An occultation is the passage of the satellite into Jupiter's shadow, whereas an eclipse is the disappearance of the satellite behind the planet. 
B) There is no difference-these terms both describe the disappearance of the satellite behind the planet. 
C) An occultation is the passage of the satellite in front of the planet, whereas an eclipse is the disappearance of the satellite behind the planet. 
D) An occultation is the disappearance of the satellite behind the planet, whereas an eclipse is the passage of the satellite into Jupiter's shadow. 
A) An occultation is the passage of the satellite into Jupiter's shadow, whereas an eclipse is the disappearance of the satellite behind the planet. 
B) There is no difference-these terms both describe the disappearance of the satellite behind the planet. 
C) An occultation is the passage of the satellite in front of the planet, whereas an eclipse is the disappearance of the satellite behind the planet. 
D) An occultation is the disappearance of the satellite behind the planet, whereas an eclipse is the passage of the satellite into Jupiter's shadow.

Question 9

What can we say about the observations of the four large satellites of Jupiter before Galileo's telescopic observation of 1610?

Accepted Answer

A) The moons individually are bright enough to be visible to the naked eye, so they were undoubtedly observed before 1610. But such observations were not made public, most likely out of fear of contradicting established dogma. 
B) The moons individually are bright enough to be visible to the naked eye, but their angular separation from bright Jupiter is too small to allow them to be resolved individually without a telescope. Therefore, they could not have been observed before 1610. 
C) The moons individually are not bright enough to be seen without a telescope, so they could not have been observed before 1610. 
D) The moons individually are not bright enough to be seen without a telescope, but a conjunction of all four does make them visible to the naked eye. There were a few reliable reports of such an observation before 1610. 
A) The moons individually are bright enough to be visible to the naked eye, so they were undoubtedly observed before 1610. But such observations were not made public, most likely out of fear of contradicting established dogma. 
B) The moons individually are bright enough to be visible to the naked eye, but their angular separation from bright Jupiter is too small to allow them to be resolved individually without a telescope. Therefore, they could not have been observed before 1610. 
C) The moons individually are not bright enough to be seen without a telescope, so they could not have been observed before 1610. 
D) The moons individually are not bright enough to be seen without a telescope, but a conjunction of all four does make them visible to the naked eye. There were a few reliable reports of such an observation before 1610.

Question 10

The heating of the interior of the large Galilean satellite Io of Jupiter, in order to produce volcanic activity, is probably caused by:

Accepted Answer

A) its original heat of formation. 
B) radioactive elements in its surface. 
C) nuclear fission within its interior. 
D) tidal distortion by Jupiter and its other satellites. 
A) its original heat of formation. 
B) radioactive elements in its surface. 
C) nuclear fission within its interior. 
D) tidal distortion by Jupiter and its other satellites.

Question 11

The outer three Galilean satellites of Jupiter differ from Io, the innermost such satellite, by having surfaces of:

Accepted Answer

A) water ice. 
B) smoothly polished rock. 
C) carbon dioxide. 
D) sulfur. 
A) water ice. 
B) smoothly polished rock. 
C) carbon dioxide. 
D) sulfur.

Question 12

To determine the mass of Io you would need:

Accepted Answer

A) the mass of Jupiter and the orbital radius of Io. 
B) spectrographic information from Io. 
C) careful observation of the motions of Europa. 
D) careful observations of the motions of a spacecraft near Io. 
A) the mass of Jupiter and the orbital radius of Io. 
B) spectrographic information from Io. 
C) careful observation of the motions of Europa. 
D) careful observations of the motions of a spacecraft near Io.

Question 13

Callisto is believed to have each of the following features EXCEPT one. Which is the exception?

Accepted Answer

A) a thin atmosphere 
B) an induced magnetic field 
C) extensive crater fields containing many craters of all sizes 
D) an icy but relatively dark surface 
A) a thin atmosphere 
B) an induced magnetic field 
C) extensive crater fields containing many craters of all sizes 
D) an icy but relatively dark surface

Question 14

Of the spacecraft that have visited Jupiter, which was placed in orbit around the planet?

Accepted Answer

A) None of them. They all provided flyby views as they traveled to other planets. 
B) Pioneer 
C) Voyager 
D) Galileo 
A) None of them. They all provided flyby views as they traveled to other planets. 
B) Pioneer 
C) Voyager 
D) Galileo

Question 15

Which of the Galilean satellites of Jupiter does not have evidence of water ice?

Accepted Answer

A) Io 
B) Europa 
C) Ganymede 
D) Callisto 
A) Io 
B) Europa 
C) Ganymede 
D) Callisto

Question 16

Some of Saturn's moderate-sized satellites (smaller than Titan) have peculiar surfaces in which their leading hemispheres (pointing ahead in the satellite's orbit) are distinctly different from their trailing hemispheres. Which of the following does not show this distinct patterning?

Accepted Answer

A) Iapetus 
B) Rhea 
C) Enceladus 
D) Dione 
A) Iapetus 
B) Rhea 
C) Enceladus 
D) Dione

Question 17

Where are Saturn's six moderately sized satellites in relation to the rings?

Accepted Answer

A) All are closer to Saturn than the main ring system. 
B) Mimas is between the G ring and the E ring; the other five are within the boundaries of the E ring. 
C) Enceladus and Tethys are within the boundaries of the E ring; Mimas is closer to Saturn than this, and the other three are outside the boundary of the E ring. 
D) All are well outside the ring system. 
A) All are closer to Saturn than the main ring system. 
B) Mimas is between the G ring and the E ring; the other five are within the boundaries of the E ring. 
C) Enceladus and Tethys are within the boundaries of the E ring; Mimas is closer to Saturn than this, and the other three are outside the boundary of the E ring. 
D) All are well outside the ring system.

Question 18

The most striking characteristic observed on the surface of Iapetus, one of the outer satellites of Saturn, is:

Accepted Answer

A) a brightness variation, its leading hemisphere being as dark as asphalt whereas its trailing hemisphere appears as bright as ice. 
B) plumes of nitrogen gas rising from cracks in the icy surface, apparently as a result of geyser activity. 
C) a crater so large that the impact that created it must have come close to shattering the satellite. 
D) an interconnecting network of parallel grooves, indicating tectonic activity in geologically recent times. 
A) a brightness variation, its leading hemisphere being as dark as asphalt whereas its trailing hemisphere appears as bright as ice. 
B) plumes of nitrogen gas rising from cracks in the icy surface, apparently as a result of geyser activity. 
C) a crater so large that the impact that created it must have come close to shattering the satellite. 
D) an interconnecting network of parallel grooves, indicating tectonic activity in geologically recent times.

Question 19

Which of the following features have NOT been found on Europa, one of the Galilean satellites of Jupiter?

Accepted Answer

A) mountains 
B) craters 
C) ice 
D) cracks running along the surface 
A) mountains 
B) craters 
C) ice 
D) cracks running along the surface

Question 20

Which chemical or chemicals appear to play a prominent role in the eruptive plumes of Io?

Accepted Answer

A) methane and ammonia 
B) molten lava 
C) sulfur and sulfur dioxide 
D) water and steam 
A) methane and ammonia 
B) molten lava 
C) sulfur and sulfur dioxide 
D) water and steam

Exam 13: Jupiter and Saturns Satellites of Fire and Ice

The structure of Ganymede, a Galilean satellite of Jupiter, is thought to be:

How were the hydrocarbon lakes of Titan discovered?

What has proven to be the best method for measuring the mass of a Galilean satellite of Jupiter?

The largest satellite (moon) in our planetary system is:

Why do we suspect the existence of some liquid beneath the surface of Callisto?

It has been known that Jupiter has satellites since:

In describing the observations of the movements of the satellites of Jupiter, what is the difference between an occultation and an eclipse?

What can we say about the observations of the four large satellites of Jupiter before Galileo's telescopic observation of 1610?

The heating of the interior of the large Galilean satellite Io of Jupiter, in order to produce volcanic activity, is probably caused by:

The outer three Galilean satellites of Jupiter differ from Io, the innermost such satellite, by having surfaces of:

To determine the mass of Io you would need:

Callisto is believed to have each of the following features EXCEPT one. Which is the exception?

Of the spacecraft that have visited Jupiter, which was placed in orbit around the planet?

Which of the Galilean satellites of Jupiter does not have evidence of water ice?

Some of Saturn's moderate-sized satellites (smaller than Titan) have peculiar surfaces in which their leading hemispheres (pointing ahead in the satellite's orbit) are distinctly different from their trailing hemispheres. Which of the following does not show this distinct patterning?

Where are Saturn's six moderately sized satellites in relation to the rings?

The most striking characteristic observed on the surface of Iapetus, one of the outer satellites of Saturn, is:

Which of the following features have NOT been found on Europa, one of the Galilean satellites of Jupiter?

Which chemical or chemicals appear to play a prominent role in the eruptive plumes of Io?

Astronomy and the Universe

Knowing the Heavens

Eclipses and the Motion of the Moon

Gravitation and the Waltz of the Planets

The Nature of Light

Optics and Telescopes

Comparative Planetology I: Our Solar System

Comparative Planetology II: the Origin of Our Solar System

The Living Earth

Our Barren Moon

Mercury, Venus, and Mars: Terrestrial, yet Unique

Jupiter and Saturn: Lords of the Planets

Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, and the Kuiper Belt: Remote Worlds

Asteroids, Comets, and Impacts

Our Star, the Sun

The Nature of the Stars

The Birth of Stars

Stellar Evolution: on and After the Main Sequence

Stellar Evolution: The Death of Stars

Stellar Remnants: Neutron Stars and Black Holes

Our Galaxy

Galaxies

Quasars and Active Galaxies

Cosmology: The Origin and Evolution of the Universe

Exploring the Early Universe

The Search for Extraterrestrial Life

Filters