Question 1

Compared to the moons of Jupiter, the moons of Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune

Accepted Answer

A)  contain not only water ice but also methane and other ices 
B)  are made of pure methane ice 
C)  contain less methane ice and more water ice 
D)  are made of pure rock 
A)  contain not only water ice but also methane and other ices 
B)  are made of pure methane ice 
C)  contain less methane ice and more water ice 
D)  are made of pure rock

Question 2

Which of the following best describes the internal structure of Europa?

Accepted Answer

A)  thin icy crust, subsurface ocean of water, thick iron mantle, central rocky core 
B)  thin icy crust, subsurface ocean of water, thick rocky mantle, central iron core 
C)  thin icy crust, thick rocky mantle, central iron core 
D)  surface ocean of water, thick rocky mantle, central iron core 
A)  thin icy crust, subsurface ocean of water, thick iron mantle, central rocky core 
B)  thin icy crust, subsurface ocean of water, thick rocky mantle, central iron core 
C)  thin icy crust, thick rocky mantle, central iron core 
D)  surface ocean of water, thick rocky mantle, central iron core

Question 3

Chemical disequilibrium inevitably exists near deep-sea volcanic vents, because

Accepted Answer

A)  there are unequal concentrations of minerals and water 
B)  the high-temperature vent water causes water molecules to break down into hydrogen and oxygen 
C)  mixing between the high-temperature vent water and the surrounding low-temperature ocean water creates conditions in which minerals and water will undergo chemical reactions 
D)  the high pressures existing at the ocean floor cause chemical reactions between minerals and water 
A)  there are unequal concentrations of minerals and water 
B)  the high-temperature vent water causes water molecules to break down into hydrogen and oxygen 
C)  mixing between the high-temperature vent water and the surrounding low-temperature ocean water creates conditions in which minerals and water will undergo chemical reactions 
D)  the high pressures existing at the ocean floor cause chemical reactions between minerals and water

Question 4

Life beneath the surface of Europa would most likely obtain energy from

Accepted Answer

A)  the Sun 
B)  Jupiter 
C)  radioactivity 
D)  tidal heating 
A)  the Sun 
B)  Jupiter 
C)  radioactivity 
D)  tidal heating

Question 5

The largest Jovian moon Ganymede and Titan are

Accepted Answer

A)  larger than the Earth 
B)  larger than Mercury but smaller than the Earth 
C)  larger than the Moon but smaller than Mercury 
D)  about the same size as Mars 
A)  larger than the Earth 
B)  larger than Mercury but smaller than the Earth 
C)  larger than the Moon but smaller than Mercury 
D)  about the same size as Mars

Question 6

Jovian moons are typically made of

Accepted Answer

A)  solid ice 
B)  ice and rock 
C)  rock and iron 
D)  solid rock 
A)  solid ice 
B)  ice and rock 
C)  rock and iron 
D)  solid rock

Question 7

Neptune's moon Triton

Accepted Answer

A)  rotates in the opposite direction to Neptune's rotation 
B)  orbits in the opposite direction to Neptune's rotation 
C)  orbits about Neptune's rotational axes 
D)  orbits in the same direction to Neptune's rotation 
A)  rotates in the opposite direction to Neptune's rotation 
B)  orbits in the opposite direction to Neptune's rotation 
C)  orbits about Neptune's rotational axes 
D)  orbits in the same direction to Neptune's rotation

Question 8

What is believed to have been the main source of Titan's atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

A)  outgassing from the interior 
B)  gas captured from the solar nebula 
C)  we have no idea 
D)  comet impacts 
A)  outgassing from the interior 
B)  gas captured from the solar nebula 
C)  we have no idea 
D)  comet impacts

Question 9

On Saturn's moon Enceladus, fountains of ice particles and water vapor are seen to be spraying out of

Accepted Answer

A)  cryovolcanoes close to the equator 
B)  tiger stripe regions close to the south pole 
C)  tectonic plate boundaries 
D)  young impact craters near the north pole 
A)  cryovolcanoes close to the equator 
B)  tiger stripe regions close to the south pole 
C)  tectonic plate boundaries 
D)  young impact craters near the north pole

Question 10

Most of the smallest Jovian moons are most likely

Accepted Answer

A)  captured asteroids and comets 
B)  captured objects from outside the solar system 
C)  small clumps of gas left over from the formation of the host planet 
D)  fragments of other moons 
A)  captured asteroids and comets 
B)  captured objects from outside the solar system 
C)  small clumps of gas left over from the formation of the host planet 
D)  fragments of other moons

Question 11

During its descent into Titan's atmosphere, the Huygens probe found

Accepted Answer

A)  large oceans of liquid methane covering the entire surface 
B)  small pools of liquids directly beneath its descent path 
C)  a completely smooth, frozen surface with no sign that any liquids had ever been present 
D)  no sign of flowing or pooled liquids currently on the surface although channels carved in the past by fluids were seen 
A)  large oceans of liquid methane covering the entire surface 
B)  small pools of liquids directly beneath its descent path 
C)  a completely smooth, frozen surface with no sign that any liquids had ever been present 
D)  no sign of flowing or pooled liquids currently on the surface although channels carved in the past by fluids were seen

Question 12

Io experiences strong internal tidal heating because of

Accepted Answer

A)  large amounts of radioactive decay occurring inside the moon 
B)  the large amount of internal heat left over from its formation 
C)  the strong tidal forces exerted by the outer Galilean moons, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto 
D)  the strong tidal force from the massive Jupiter combined with its elliptical orbit which causes the strength and direction of the force to constantly change 
A)  large amounts of radioactive decay occurring inside the moon 
B)  the large amount of internal heat left over from its formation 
C)  the strong tidal forces exerted by the outer Galilean moons, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto 
D)  the strong tidal force from the massive Jupiter combined with its elliptical orbit which causes the strength and direction of the force to constantly change

Question 13

What is the origin of the nitrogen in Titan's atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

A)  gas captured from the solar nebula 
B)  breakdown of ammonia (NH3) by ultraviolet light from the Sun 
C)  outgassing from Titan's interior 
D)  impacts from comets 
A)  gas captured from the solar nebula 
B)  breakdown of ammonia (NH3) by ultraviolet light from the Sun 
C)  outgassing from Titan's interior 
D)  impacts from comets

Question 14

Which feature seen on Saturn's moon Iapetus suggests that its interior must have been warm at some time in the past?

Accepted Answer

A)  the presence of several large impact features 
B)  the fact that one half is very bright while the other half is very dark 
C)  the observation of extinct volcanoes on its surface 
D)  the presence of a steep ridge running along its equator 
A)  the presence of several large impact features 
B)  the fact that one half is very bright while the other half is very dark 
C)  the observation of extinct volcanoes on its surface 
D)  the presence of a steep ridge running along its equator

Question 15

Which of the following is the most convincing observation that suggests that like Europa, Ganymede may also have a subsurface ocean?

Accepted Answer

A)  the detection of salts on the surface that may have been brought up from below the crust 
B)  the presence of young grooved terrain that may be the result of cryovolcanism 
C)  the fact that it is the largest moon in the solar system and, hence, should have plenty of internal heat to maintain liquid water beneath its surface 
D)  in addition to its internal magnetic field, Ganymede has a magnetic field induced by Jupiter which is consistent with a salty ocean beneath its crust 
A)  the detection of salts on the surface that may have been brought up from below the crust 
B)  the presence of young grooved terrain that may be the result of cryovolcanism 
C)  the fact that it is the largest moon in the solar system and, hence, should have plenty of internal heat to maintain liquid water beneath its surface 
D)  in addition to its internal magnetic field, Ganymede has a magnetic field induced by Jupiter which is consistent with a salty ocean beneath its crust

Question 16

Which of the following has the Cassini orbiter observed on the surface of Saturn's moon Titan?

Accepted Answer

A)  no evidence for any liquid hydrocarbons at all 
B)  oceans of methane and ethane covering much of the surface 
C)  lakes of hydrocarbons in the north polar regions 
D)  small pools of hydrocarbons close to the equator 
A)  no evidence for any liquid hydrocarbons at all 
B)  oceans of methane and ethane covering much of the surface 
C)  lakes of hydrocarbons in the north polar regions 
D)  small pools of hydrocarbons close to the equator

Question 17

Methane should be rapidly destroyed in Titan's atmosphere, yet it is still present in appreciable amounts. How can this be?

Accepted Answer

A)  on the surface of Titan live cows that are constantly producing methane gas 
B)  larger hydrocarbons like ethane and propane are being broken down by ultraviolet light into methane 
C)  methane may be continually evaporating from the surface and the interior 
D)  comet impacts are constantly supplying the atmosphere with fresh methane 
A)  on the surface of Titan live cows that are constantly producing methane gas 
B)  larger hydrocarbons like ethane and propane are being broken down by ultraviolet light into methane 
C)  methane may be continually evaporating from the surface and the interior 
D)  comet impacts are constantly supplying the atmosphere with fresh methane

Question 18

The first Jovian moons were discovered by

Accepted Answer

A)  Galileo 
B)  Tycho 
C)  Huygens 
D)  Cassini 
A)  Galileo 
B)  Tycho 
C)  Huygens 
D)  Cassini

Question 19

When the Huygens probe touched down on Titan, it landed

Accepted Answer

A)  in a vast ocean of liquid methane 
B)  on a solid surface of frozen water and methane ices that resembled a streambed 
C)  in a shallow pool of liquid methane 
D)  on the slopes of an icy volcano covered with water and methane ice 
A)  in a vast ocean of liquid methane 
B)  on a solid surface of frozen water and methane ices that resembled a streambed 
C)  in a shallow pool of liquid methane 
D)  on the slopes of an icy volcano covered with water and methane ice

Question 20

In chemistry, oxidation occurs when a substance

Accepted Answer

A)  loses electrons 
B)  rearranges its electrons internally 
C)  accepts electrons 
D)  breaks into its constituent atoms 
A)  loses electrons 
B)  rearranges its electrons internally 
C)  accepts electrons 
D)  breaks into its constituent atoms

Compared to the moons of Jupiter, the moons of Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune

Which of the following best describes the internal structure of Europa?

Chemical disequilibrium inevitably exists near deep-sea volcanic vents, because

Life beneath the surface of Europa would most likely obtain energy from

The largest Jovian moon Ganymede and Titan are

Jovian moons are typically made of

Neptune's moon Triton

What is believed to have been the main source of Titan's atmosphere?

On Saturn's moon Enceladus, fountains of ice particles and water vapor are seen to be spraying out of

Most of the smallest Jovian moons are most likely

During its descent into Titan's atmosphere, the Huygens probe found

Io experiences strong internal tidal heating because of

What is the origin of the nitrogen in Titan's atmosphere?

Which feature seen on Saturn's moon Iapetus suggests that its interior must have been warm at some time in the past?

Which of the following is the most convincing observation that suggests that like Europa, Ganymede may also have a subsurface ocean?

Which of the following has the Cassini orbiter observed on the surface of Saturn's moon Titan?

Methane should be rapidly destroyed in Titan's atmosphere, yet it is still present in appreciable amounts. How can this be?

The first Jovian moons were discovered by

When the Huygens probe touched down on Titan, it landed

In chemistry, oxidation occurs when a substance

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

Exam 9: Life on Jovian Moons

Compared to the moons of Jupiter, the moons of Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune

Which of the following best describes the internal structure of Europa?

Chemical disequilibrium inevitably exists near deep-sea volcanic vents, because

Life beneath the surface of Europa would most likely obtain energy from

The largest Jovian moon Ganymede and Titan are

Jovian moons are typically made of

Neptune's moon Triton

What is believed to have been the main source of Titan's atmosphere?

On Saturn's moon Enceladus, fountains of ice particles and water vapor are seen to be spraying out of

Most of the smallest Jovian moons are most likely

During its descent into Titan's atmosphere, the Huygens probe found

Io experiences strong internal tidal heating because of

What is the origin of the nitrogen in Titan's atmosphere?

Which feature seen on Saturn's moon Iapetus suggests that its interior must have been warm at some time in the past?

Which of the following is the most convincing observation that suggests that like Europa, Ganymede may also have a subsurface ocean?

Which of the following has the Cassini orbiter observed on the surface of Saturn's moon Titan?

Methane should be rapidly destroyed in Titan's atmosphere, yet it is still present in appreciable amounts. How can this be?

The first Jovian moons were discovered by

When the Huygens probe touched down on Titan, it landed

In chemistry, oxidation occurs when a substance

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