Question 1

Why is the F ring much narrower than the main rings?

Accepted Answer

A)  The ring is in a stronger part of Saturn's gravitational field and cannot spread out any farther. 
B)  The ring is constrained by Saturn's strong magnetic field. 
C)  Two "shepherd" satellites focus the particles into a narrow ring. 
D)  There are not enough particles available to make a wider ring. 
A)  The ring is in a stronger part of Saturn's gravitational field and cannot spread out any farther. 
B)  The ring is constrained by Saturn's strong magnetic field. 
C)  Two "shepherd" satellites focus the particles into a narrow ring. 
D)  There are not enough particles available to make a wider ring.

Question 2

Which is the LARGEST planetary satellite in the solar system?

Accepted Answer

A)  Earth's Moon 
B)  Neptune's satellite Triton 
C)  Jupiter's satellite Ganymede 
D)  Saturn's satellite Titan 
A)  Earth's Moon 
B)  Neptune's satellite Triton 
C)  Jupiter's satellite Ganymede 
D)  Saturn's satellite Titan

Question 3

Which of the moons of Jupiter is characterized by an exceptionally smooth,icy surface,few craters,and many streaks and cracks?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 4

Jupiter is significantly thicker through the equator than it is through the poles.The word we use to describe such a planetary shape is:

Accepted Answer

A)  oblate. 
B)  obtuse. 
C)  oblique. 
D)  obese. 
A)  oblate. 
B)  obtuse. 
C)  oblique. 
D)  obese.

Question 5

What is believed to be the source of the many colors seen on the surface of Io,the inner large satellite of Jupiter?

Accepted Answer

A)  impurities in a water ice crust 
B)  sulfur and sulfur compounds 
C)  phosphorus compounds 
D)  organic (carbon) compounds discolored by solar ultraviolet light 
A)  impurities in a water ice crust 
B)  sulfur and sulfur compounds 
C)  phosphorus compounds 
D)  organic (carbon) compounds discolored by solar ultraviolet light

Question 6

Which spacecraft recently dropped a probe into the atmosphere of Jupiter?

Accepted Answer

A)  Ulysses 
B)  Voyager 
C)  Cassini 
D)  Galileo 
A)  Ulysses 
B)  Voyager 
C)  Cassini 
D)  Galileo

Question 7

Which spacecraft visited Saturn in 2004 to image both the planet and its moons and to send a probe into the Saturnian atmosphere,emulating the previous Galileo mission to Jupiter?

Accepted Answer

A)  Voyager, on its next flyby of Saturn 
B)  Cassini 
C)  the Hubble Space Telescope 
D)  Huygens 
A)  Voyager, on its next flyby of Saturn 
B)  Cassini 
C)  the Hubble Space Telescope 
D)  Huygens

Question 8

Does Jupiter have rings orbiting the planet?

Accepted Answer

A)  yes, three very thin rings composed of fine dust particles 
B)  no 
C)  yes, three very wide, bright rings and several faint, thin ones 
D)  yes, several thin dark rings of particles made up of or at least coated with methane ice 
A)  yes, three very thin rings composed of fine dust particles 
B)  no 
C)  yes, three very wide, bright rings and several faint, thin ones 
D)  yes, several thin dark rings of particles made up of or at least coated with methane ice

Question 9

Evidence of lava flow,either recent or ancient,is NOT found on:

Accepted Answer

A)  Jupiter. 
B)  Earth. 
C)  Earth's Moon. 
D)  Mars. 
A)  Jupiter. 
B)  Earth. 
C)  Earth's Moon. 
D)  Mars.

Question 10

Which feature/characteristic appears NOT to be included in the interior of Titan?

Accepted Answer

A)  rocks 
B)  ice 
C)  high levels of radioactivity 
D)  liquid water 
A)  rocks 
B)  ice 
C)  high levels of radioactivity 
D)  liquid water

Question 11

Which motion is seen to be characteristic of the four Galilean moons of Jupiter?

Accepted Answer

A)  Each of the four Galilean moons keeps the same face toward the Sun at all times. 
B)  Each of the four Galilean moons keeps the same face toward the planet at all times. 
C)  The four Galilean moons orbit the planet in the opposite direction to its rotation-retrograde motion. 
D)  The four Galilean moons orbit the planet in a plane carrying them over both the north and south poles of Jupiter. 
A)  Each of the four Galilean moons keeps the same face toward the Sun at all times. 
B)  Each of the four Galilean moons keeps the same face toward the planet at all times. 
C)  The four Galilean moons orbit the planet in the opposite direction to its rotation-retrograde motion. 
D)  The four Galilean moons orbit the planet in a plane carrying them over both the north and south poles of Jupiter.

Question 12

Jupiter's strong magnetic field:

Accepted Answer

A)  has no effect on Io. 
B)  is the main cause of the geologic activity on Io. 
C)  contains many charged particles that have been ejected from Io. 
D)  has caused Io to go around Jupiter in a synchronous orbit. 
A)  has no effect on Io. 
B)  is the main cause of the geologic activity on Io. 
C)  contains many charged particles that have been ejected from Io. 
D)  has caused Io to go around Jupiter in a synchronous orbit.

Question 13

If the orbital period of Jupiter's moon Ganymede is 7.15 days,what would be the view from a point on its surface at the equator?

Accepted Answer

A)  Both the Sun and Jupiter would remain fixed in the sky above Ganymede. 
B)  Both Jupiter and the Sun would rise and set with a period of about 7.15 days. 
C)  The Sun, if visible, would always be at the same point in the sky, but Jupiter would rise and set with a period of about 7.15 days. 
D)  Jupiter, if visible, would always remain at the same point in the sky, but the Sun would rise and set with a period of a few days. 
A)  Both the Sun and Jupiter would remain fixed in the sky above Ganymede. 
B)  Both Jupiter and the Sun would rise and set with a period of about 7.15 days. 
C)  The Sun, if visible, would always be at the same point in the sky, but Jupiter would rise and set with a period of about 7.15 days. 
D)  Jupiter, if visible, would always remain at the same point in the sky, but the Sun would rise and set with a period of a few days.

Question 14

To generate a planet-wide magnetic field requires a body to rotate and to contain some liquid that is electrically conductive.What is believed to be the source of the magnetic field of Enceladus?

Accepted Answer

A)  molten nickel-iron, as on Earth 
B)  salty icewater 
C)  liquid metallic hydrogen, as on Saturn 
D)  Enceladus is too small to generate its own magnetic field, so this must be an induced field, caused by the presence of Saturn. 
A)  molten nickel-iron, as on Earth 
B)  salty icewater 
C)  liquid metallic hydrogen, as on Saturn 
D)  Enceladus is too small to generate its own magnetic field, so this must be an induced field, caused by the presence of Saturn.

Question 15

The particles in Saturn's rings are composed of:

Accepted Answer

A)  rocks with the reflectivity of dark asphalt. 
B)  iron and nickel. 
C)  ammonia and methane ice, possibly with rocky centers. 
D)  water ice or rock coated with water ice. 
A)  rocks with the reflectivity of dark asphalt. 
B)  iron and nickel. 
C)  ammonia and methane ice, possibly with rocky centers. 
D)  water ice or rock coated with water ice.

Question 16

What is/are the MAIN constituent(s)of the atmosphere of Titan,a satellite of Saturn?

Accepted Answer

A)  ammonia and methane 
B)  nitrogen and oxygen 
C)  nitrogen and methane 
D)  carbon dioxide 
A)  ammonia and methane 
B)  nitrogen and oxygen 
C)  nitrogen and methane 
D)  carbon dioxide

Question 17

The infrared camera of the Hubble Space Telescope was able to see through the haze layers of the atmosphere of Uranus to show:

Accepted Answer

A)  a system of Jupiter-like bands and zones above which are giant and constantly changing methane clouds. 
B)  a deeper but somewhat structured haze layer consisting of methane and ethane gases. 
C)  light zones and dark reddish belts circling the planet parallel to the equator, interspersed with dark spots and light ovals. 
D)  volcanoes on the planet's surface spewing out vast quantities of sulfurous gases into the atmosphere. 
A)  a system of Jupiter-like bands and zones above which are giant and constantly changing methane clouds. 
B)  a deeper but somewhat structured haze layer consisting of methane and ethane gases. 
C)  light zones and dark reddish belts circling the planet parallel to the equator, interspersed with dark spots and light ovals. 
D)  volcanoes on the planet's surface spewing out vast quantities of sulfurous gases into the atmosphere.

Question 18

The required heating of the large Galilean moon Io of Jupiter in order to produce volcanic activity is probably caused by:

Accepted Answer

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

Question 19

What conditions are considered to be necessary for a planet to be able to generate an intense magnetic field?

Accepted Answer

A)  ionized and electrically conducting layer in its atmosphere 
B)  electrically conducting material in its interior and slow rotation because rapid rotation will destroy a magnetic field 
C)  solid iron core into which a magnetic field was induced early in the planet's history 
D)  relatively rapid rotation and electrically conducting material in its interior 
A)  ionized and electrically conducting layer in its atmosphere 
B)  electrically conducting material in its interior and slow rotation because rapid rotation will destroy a magnetic field 
C)  solid iron core into which a magnetic field was induced early in the planet's history 
D)  relatively rapid rotation and electrically conducting material in its interior

Question 20

The major gaps in the rings of Saturn are MOST likely to be caused by:

Accepted Answer

A)  beams of charged particles, similar to Earth's Van Allen belts, in Saturn's magnetosphere that clear out this region. 
B)  mutual gravitational interactions between the multitude of particles in the rings. 
C)  the intervention of a massive body that moved through the rings in their early history, leaving the gaps. 
D)  combined gravitational forces from Saturn and its moons that deflect the paths of particles that stray into the gaps. 
A)  beams of charged particles, similar to Earth's Van Allen belts, in Saturn's magnetosphere that clear out this region. 
B)  mutual gravitational interactions between the multitude of particles in the rings. 
C)  the intervention of a massive body that moved through the rings in their early history, leaving the gaps. 
D)  combined gravitational forces from Saturn and its moons that deflect the paths of particles that stray into the gaps.

Why is the F ring much narrower than the main rings?

Which is the LARGEST planetary satellite in the solar system?

Which of the moons of Jupiter is characterized by an exceptionally smooth,icy surface,few craters,and many streaks and cracks?

Jupiter is significantly thicker through the equator than it is through the poles.The word we use to describe such a planetary shape is:

What is believed to be the source of the many colors seen on the surface of Io,the inner large satellite of Jupiter?

Which spacecraft recently dropped a probe into the atmosphere of Jupiter?

Which spacecraft visited Saturn in 2004 to image both the planet and its moons and to send a probe into the Saturnian atmosphere,emulating the previous Galileo mission to Jupiter?

Does Jupiter have rings orbiting the planet?

Evidence of lava flow,either recent or ancient,is NOT found on:

Which feature/characteristic appears NOT to be included in the interior of Titan?

Which motion is seen to be characteristic of the four Galilean moons of Jupiter?

Jupiter's strong magnetic field:

If the orbital period of Jupiter's moon Ganymede is 7.15 days,what would be the view from a point on its surface at the equator?

To generate a planet-wide magnetic field requires a body to rotate and to contain some liquid that is electrically conductive.What is believed to be the source of the magnetic field of Enceladus?

The particles in Saturn's rings are composed of:

What is/are the MAIN constituent(s)of the atmosphere of Titan,a satellite of Saturn?

The infrared camera of the Hubble Space Telescope was able to see through the haze layers of the atmosphere of Uranus to show:

The required heating of the large Galilean moon Io of Jupiter in order to produce volcanic activity is probably caused by:

What conditions are considered to be necessary for a planet to be able to generate an intense magnetic field?

The major gaps in the rings of Saturn are MOST likely to be caused by:

Discovering the Night Sky

Gravitation and the Waltz of the Planets

Light and Telescopes

Formation of the Solar System and Other Planetary Systems

Exoplanets

The Terrestrial Planets and Their Moons

Vagabonds of the Solar System

The Sun: Our Extraordinary Ordinary Star

Characterizing Stars

The Lives of the Stars From Birth Through Middle Age

The Deaths and Remnants of Stars

The Galaxies

Cosmology

Astrobiology

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Exam 7: The Outer Planets and Their Moons

Why is the F ring much narrower than the main rings?

Which is the LARGEST planetary satellite in the solar system?

Which of the moons of Jupiter is characterized by an exceptionally smooth,icy surface,few craters,and many streaks and cracks?

Jupiter is significantly thicker through the equator than it is through the poles.The word we use to describe such a planetary shape is:

What is believed to be the source of the many colors seen on the surface of Io,the inner large satellite of Jupiter?

Which spacecraft recently dropped a probe into the atmosphere of Jupiter?

Which spacecraft visited Saturn in 2004 to image both the planet and its moons and to send a probe into the Saturnian atmosphere,emulating the previous Galileo mission to Jupiter?

Does Jupiter have rings orbiting the planet?

Evidence of lava flow,either recent or ancient,is NOT found on:

Which feature/characteristic appears NOT to be included in the interior of Titan?

Which motion is seen to be characteristic of the four Galilean moons of Jupiter?

Jupiter's strong magnetic field:

If the orbital period of Jupiter's moon Ganymede is 7.15 days,what would be the view from a point on its surface at the equator?

To generate a planet-wide magnetic field requires a body to rotate and to contain some liquid that is electrically conductive.What is believed to be the source of the magnetic field of Enceladus?

The particles in Saturn's rings are composed of:

What is/are the MAIN constituent(s)of the atmosphere of Titan,a satellite of Saturn?

The infrared camera of the Hubble Space Telescope was able to see through the haze layers of the atmosphere of Uranus to show:

The required heating of the large Galilean moon Io of Jupiter in order to produce volcanic activity is probably caused by:

What conditions are considered to be necessary for a planet to be able to generate an intense magnetic field?

The major gaps in the rings of Saturn are MOST likely to be caused by:

Discovering the Night Sky

Gravitation and the Waltz of the Planets

Light and Telescopes

Formation of the Solar System and Other Planetary Systems

Exoplanets

The Terrestrial Planets and Their Moons

Vagabonds of the Solar System

The Sun: Our Extraordinary Ordinary Star

Characterizing Stars

The Lives of the Stars From Birth Through Middle Age

The Deaths and Remnants of Stars

The Galaxies

Cosmology

Astrobiology

Filters