Question 1

Europa's subsurface ocean, if it indeed exists,

Accepted Answer

A)  could be more than ten times deeper than the deepest ocean trenches on Earth 
B)  should be of similar depth to the deepest ocean trenches on Earth 
C)  should be of similar depth to the shallowest oceans on Earth 
D)  could be more than a hundred times deeper than the deepest ocean trenches on Earth 
A)  could be more than ten times deeper than the deepest ocean trenches on Earth 
B)  should be of similar depth to the deepest ocean trenches on Earth 
C)  should be of similar depth to the shallowest oceans on Earth 
D)  could be more than a hundred times deeper than the deepest ocean trenches on Earth A

Question 2

What is the ratio of the tidal force in Newtons that Jupiter exerts on a 1 kg rock on Io to the force of the Io's own gravity on the same rock? (Useful data: MJupiter = 1.899 × 1027 kilograms, rIo = 3.642 × 106 meters, the average Jupiter-Io distance is 4.216 × 108 meters, and MIo = 8.932 × 1022 kilograms)

Accepted Answer

A)  18.0 
B)  32.5 
C)  12.1 
D)  99.6 
A)  18.0 
B)  32.5 
C)  12.1 
D)  99.6 A

Question 3

Most of the key energy-generating chemical reactions used by life on Earth are

Accepted Answer

A)  rearrangement reactions 
B)  redox reactions 
C)  decomposition reactions 
D)  combination reactions 
A)  rearrangement reactions 
B)  redox reactions 
C)  decomposition reactions 
D)  combination reactions B

Question 4

In addition to being the second-largest moon in the solar system, Saturn's moon Titan, is

Accepted Answer

A)  the only moon to have its own internal magnetic field 
B)  the only moon to have its own atmosphere 
C)  more geologically active than the Earth 
D)  the only moon to show evidence for a subsurface ocean of water 
A)  the only moon to have its own internal magnetic field 
B)  the only moon to have its own atmosphere 
C)  more geologically active than the Earth 
D)  the only moon to show evidence for a subsurface ocean of water

Question 5

The lack of large impact craters on the surface of Europa is consistent with

Accepted Answer

A)  active volcanism that is constantly resurfacing the crust 
B)  the surface being covered with an ocean of liquid water 
C)  the crust being so thick and hard that impacts leave no marks on the surface 
D)  a subsurface ocean of water because large impacts will break the thin crust causing water and slushy ice below to flood out and resurface the crust 
A)  active volcanism that is constantly resurfacing the crust 
B)  the surface being covered with an ocean of liquid water 
C)  the crust being so thick and hard that impacts leave no marks on the surface 
D)  a subsurface ocean of water because large impacts will break the thin crust causing water and slushy ice below to flood out and resurface the crust

Question 6

Like our own moon, many Jovian moons exhibit what is called synchronous rotation. This means that they rotate at the same rate

Accepted Answer

A)  that their host planet rotates 
B)  as all other moons around the host planet 
C)  that the host planet orbits about the Sun 
D)  that they orbit their host planet 
A)  that their host planet rotates 
B)  as all other moons around the host planet 
C)  that the host planet orbits about the Sun 
D)  that they orbit their host planet

Question 7

Even though Titan has liquid methane on its surface, some internal heat, and plenty of carbon-containing compounds, it is not a suitable place for life because

Accepted Answer

A)  Titan orbits within Saturn's radiation belt so its surface is completely sterilized by high-energy particles 
B)  there is too much volcanic activity on the surface 
C)  it has no ozone layer to protect the surface from harmful UV rays from the Sun 
D)  it is far too cold, and methane is not a very good biological solvent 
A)  Titan orbits within Saturn's radiation belt so its surface is completely sterilized by high-energy particles 
B)  there is too much volcanic activity on the surface 
C)  it has no ozone layer to protect the surface from harmful UV rays from the Sun 
D)  it is far too cold, and methane is not a very good biological solvent

Question 8

From a chemical energy standpoint, the basic requirement for life is a situation in which chemicals naturally exist in a state of

Accepted Answer

A)  instability 
B)  disequilibrium 
C)  equilibrium 
D)  stability 
A)  instability 
B)  disequilibrium 
C)  equilibrium 
D)  stability

Question 9

How is Titan, the moon of Saturn, similar to the Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  like the Earth, Titan has an atmosphere made mostly of molecular nitrogen 
B)  Titan, like the Earth, has an internal magnetic field 
C)  like the Earth, Titan has oceans of liquid water on its surface 
D)  Titan is almost the same size as the Earth 
A)  like the Earth, Titan has an atmosphere made mostly of molecular nitrogen 
B)  Titan, like the Earth, has an internal magnetic field 
C)  like the Earth, Titan has oceans of liquid water on its surface 
D)  Titan is almost the same size as the Earth

Question 10

The complexity of any life present in Europa's subsurface ocean is mainly limited by the

Accepted Answer

A)  amount of water in the ocean 
B)  amount of available energy to sustain it 
C)  average temperature of the water 
D)  amount of organic material present 
A)  amount of water in the ocean 
B)  amount of available energy to sustain it 
C)  average temperature of the water 
D)  amount of organic material present

Question 11

Triton's retrograde orbit is consistent with it having

Accepted Answer

A)  been spun out from a rapidly rotating Neptune 
B)  been captured by Neptune's gravity 
C)  undergone a massive impact 
D)  formed from a rotating disk of gas and dust around Neptune 
A)  been spun out from a rapidly rotating Neptune 
B)  been captured by Neptune's gravity 
C)  undergone a massive impact 
D)  formed from a rotating disk of gas and dust around Neptune

Question 12

Saturn's icy moon Enceladus

Accepted Answer

A)  has an ancient, heavily cratered surface reminiscent of the Moon 
B)  is small and irregular in shape like an asteroid 
C)  has a smooth, icy surface criss-crossed with dark cracks 
D)  has fountains of ice particles and water vapor spraying out from its surface 
A)  has an ancient, heavily cratered surface reminiscent of the Moon 
B)  is small and irregular in shape like an asteroid 
C)  has a smooth, icy surface criss-crossed with dark cracks 
D)  has fountains of ice particles and water vapor spraying out from its surface

Question 13

Much of Europa's surface appears chaotic and clogged with huge iceberg-like blocks. This is consistent with

Accepted Answer

A)  a thin icy crust that has been broken into pieces by tidal forces below which is a subsurface ocean of water 
B)  the surface thawing due to heat emitted by Jupiter 
C)  the breaking up of the surface due to plate tectonics 
D)  a giant impact that has recently shattered the crust into pieces 
A)  a thin icy crust that has been broken into pieces by tidal forces below which is a subsurface ocean of water 
B)  the surface thawing due to heat emitted by Jupiter 
C)  the breaking up of the surface due to plate tectonics 
D)  a giant impact that has recently shattered the crust into pieces

Question 14

The probability of finding life in any subsurface ocean beneath the surface of Ganymede is much lower than for Europa because

Accepted Answer

A)  its icy crust will be much thicker, making it much more difficult for nutrients to be transported from the surface 
B)  it does not have a rock/water boundary at its ocean bottom 
C)  there is less tidal heating 
D)  of all of these 
A)  its icy crust will be much thicker, making it much more difficult for nutrients to be transported from the surface 
B)  it does not have a rock/water boundary at its ocean bottom 
C)  there is less tidal heating 
D)  of all of these

Question 15

In addition to nitrogen, the other main components of Titan's atmosphere are

Accepted Answer

A)  ammonia and water vapor 
B)  hydrogen and helium 
C)  oxygen and carbon dioxide 
D)  hydrocarbons like methane and ethane 
A)  ammonia and water vapor 
B)  hydrogen and helium 
C)  oxygen and carbon dioxide 
D)  hydrocarbons like methane and ethane

Question 16

Life in the subsurface ocean of Europa will most likely consist of

Accepted Answer

A)  creatures similar to seals and penguins which enter the ocean through holes in the icy crust 
B)  plants on the ocean floor 
C)  simple single-celled organisms 
D)  fish and other complex aquatic organisms 
A)  creatures similar to seals and penguins which enter the ocean through holes in the icy crust 
B)  plants on the ocean floor 
C)  simple single-celled organisms 
D)  fish and other complex aquatic organisms

Question 17

A probe placed in orbit about Europa would be able to confirm the presence of a subsurface ocean using a

Accepted Answer

A)  spectrometer to detect the spectral signature of liquid water at and beneath the surface 
B)  camera to observe the formation and breakup of icebergs on the surface 
C)  projectile to break the thin icy crust to reveal the water below 
D)  laser altimeter to detect the regular bulging of the thin icy crust on top of the ocean due to tidal forces 
A)  spectrometer to detect the spectral signature of liquid water at and beneath the surface 
B)  camera to observe the formation and breakup of icebergs on the surface 
C)  projectile to break the thin icy crust to reveal the water below 
D)  laser altimeter to detect the regular bulging of the thin icy crust on top of the ocean due to tidal forces

Question 18

If Triton has a subsurface ocean, it will most likely consist of

Accepted Answer

A)  water mixed with ammonia, methane, or other melted ices 
B)  liquid nitrogen 
C)  liquid ammonia and methane 
D)  liquid water 
A)  water mixed with ammonia, methane, or other melted ices 
B)  liquid nitrogen 
C)  liquid ammonia and methane 
D)  liquid water

Question 19

Triton's source of internal heat is mostly associated with

Accepted Answer

A)  tidal heat associated with its elliptical orbit around Neptune 
B)  tidal heat left over from it being captured into orbit around Neptune 
C)  radioactive decay 
D)  heat left over from its formation 
A)  tidal heat associated with its elliptical orbit around Neptune 
B)  tidal heat left over from it being captured into orbit around Neptune 
C)  radioactive decay 
D)  heat left over from its formation

Question 20

Perhaps the MOST convincing piece of evidence suggesting that Europa has a subsurface ocean is the

Accepted Answer

A)  fact that the magnetic field of Jupiter is able to induce a magnetic field in Europa consistent with a salty ocean beneath its crust 
B)  fact that calculations suggest that there is enough internal heat to keep the ice melted beneath the crust 
C)  lack of impact craters on its surface 
D)  observation of iceberg-like features on its surface 
A)  fact that the magnetic field of Jupiter is able to induce a magnetic field in Europa consistent with a salty ocean beneath its crust 
B)  fact that calculations suggest that there is enough internal heat to keep the ice melted beneath the crust 
C)  lack of impact craters on its surface 
D)  observation of iceberg-like features on its surface

Europa's subsurface ocean, if it indeed exists,

Most of the key energy-generating chemical reactions used by life on Earth are

In addition to being the second-largest moon in the solar system, Saturn's moon Titan, is

The lack of large impact craters on the surface of Europa is consistent with

Like our own moon, many Jovian moons exhibit what is called synchronous rotation. This means that they rotate at the same rate

Even though Titan has liquid methane on its surface, some internal heat, and plenty of carbon-containing compounds, it is not a suitable place for life because

From a chemical energy standpoint, the basic requirement for life is a situation in which chemicals naturally exist in a state of

How is Titan, the moon of Saturn, similar to the Earth?

The complexity of any life present in Europa's subsurface ocean is mainly limited by the

Triton's retrograde orbit is consistent with it having

Saturn's icy moon Enceladus

Much of Europa's surface appears chaotic and clogged with huge iceberg-like blocks. This is consistent with

The probability of finding life in any subsurface ocean beneath the surface of Ganymede is much lower than for Europa because

In addition to nitrogen, the other main components of Titan's atmosphere are

Life in the subsurface ocean of Europa will most likely consist of

A probe placed in orbit about Europa would be able to confirm the presence of a subsurface ocean using a

If Triton has a subsurface ocean, it will most likely consist of

Triton's source of internal heat is mostly associated with

Perhaps the MOST convincing piece of evidence suggesting that Europa has a subsurface ocean is the

The Science of Life in the Universe

The Universal Context of Life

The Habitability of Earth

The Nature of Life on Earth

The Origin and Evolution of Life on Earth

Searching for Life in Our Solar System

Mars

The Nature and Evolution of Habitability

Habitability Outside the Solar System

The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

Interstellar Travel and the Fermi Paradox

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Exam 9: Life on Jovian Moons

Europa's subsurface ocean, if it indeed exists,

Most of the key energy-generating chemical reactions used by life on Earth are

In addition to being the second-largest moon in the solar system, Saturn's moon Titan, is

The lack of large impact craters on the surface of Europa is consistent with

Like our own moon, many Jovian moons exhibit what is called synchronous rotation. This means that they rotate at the same rate

Even though Titan has liquid methane on its surface, some internal heat, and plenty of carbon-containing compounds, it is not a suitable place for life because

From a chemical energy standpoint, the basic requirement for life is a situation in which chemicals naturally exist in a state of

How is Titan, the moon of Saturn, similar to the Earth?

The complexity of any life present in Europa's subsurface ocean is mainly limited by the

Triton's retrograde orbit is consistent with it having

Saturn's icy moon Enceladus

Much of Europa's surface appears chaotic and clogged with huge iceberg-like blocks. This is consistent with

The probability of finding life in any subsurface ocean beneath the surface of Ganymede is much lower than for Europa because

In addition to nitrogen, the other main components of Titan's atmosphere are

Life in the subsurface ocean of Europa will most likely consist of

A probe placed in orbit about Europa would be able to confirm the presence of a subsurface ocean using a

If Triton has a subsurface ocean, it will most likely consist of

Triton's source of internal heat is mostly associated with

Perhaps the MOST convincing piece of evidence suggesting that Europa has a subsurface ocean is the

The Science of Life in the Universe

The Universal Context of Life

The Habitability of Earth

The Nature of Life on Earth

The Origin and Evolution of Life on Earth

Searching for Life in Our Solar System

Mars

The Nature and Evolution of Habitability

Habitability Outside the Solar System

The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

Interstellar Travel and the Fermi Paradox

Filters