Question 1

Which of the following moons is thought to have a vast ocean of water beneath its thin frozen surface?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 2

What are the two basic materials of which the moons in the solar system are composed? For each type of material,name an example of a moon whose surface is composed primarily of that material.

Accepted Answer

Rocky material and ices.Some e

Question 3

Explain why it was difficult for the Voyager space probe to detect Jupiter's ring system as it was approaching the planet,but easy to detect the rings once it passed behind Jupiter.

Accepted Answer

Jupiter's ring system is composed mostly

Question 4

Which of the following can be used as an indicator of the age of a moon's surface?

Accepted Answer

A)  Surface brightness 
B)  Crater density 
C)  Volcanic activity 
D)  All of the above 
A)  Surface brightness 
B)  Crater density 
C)  Volcanic activity 
D)  All of the above

Question 5

Io is by far the most geologically active moon in the Solar System.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Moons in retrograde orbits are called irregular moons.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

The varied colors found on Io's surface are due to the presence of various molecules containing

Accepted Answer

A)  sulfur. 
B)  silicon. 
C)  mercury. 
D)  magnesium. 
A)  sulfur. 
B)  silicon. 
C)  mercury. 
D)  magnesium.

Question 8

Astronomers originally planned to have the Pioneer 11 space probe pass through the Cassini Gap in Saturn's rings.Would this have been successful?

Accepted Answer

A)  Yes,but they decided that it was more important to observe Saturn's moons. 
B)  No,because the same gravitational influences that create the Cassini Gap would have destroyed the probe. 
C)  No,because the Cassini Gap turns out to be too narrow. 
D)  No,because the Cassini Gap is not completely empty. 
A)  Yes,but they decided that it was more important to observe Saturn's moons. 
B)  No,because the same gravitational influences that create the Cassini Gap would have destroyed the probe. 
C)  No,because the Cassini Gap turns out to be too narrow. 
D)  No,because the Cassini Gap is not completely empty.

Question 9

What are three characteristics of the orbits of irregular moons,and how are irregular moons formed?

Accepted Answer

Irregular moons are probably captured as

Question 10

If the Moon had active volcanoes,

Accepted Answer

A)  the Moon would have a thick hydrogen atmosphere. 
B)  the Earth might have a ring. 
C)  the Moon's surface would have more craters than it currently does. 
D)  life could not exist on Earth. 
A)  the Moon would have a thick hydrogen atmosphere. 
B)  the Earth might have a ring. 
C)  the Moon's surface would have more craters than it currently does. 
D)  life could not exist on Earth.

Question 11

By examining extremophiles on Earth,which of the following appears NOT to be a key ingredient for life?

Accepted Answer

A)  Liquid water 
B)  An energy source 
C)  Organic compounds 
D)  All are key ingredients. 
A)  Liquid water 
B)  An energy source 
C)  Organic compounds 
D)  All are key ingredients.

Question 12

Regular moons orbit in the same direction as their parent planets rotate.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

The presence of shepherd moons keeps the giant planets' ring systems completely stable and the rings will last forever.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

How does the thickness of Saturn's bright ring system compare to its diameter?

Accepted Answer

A)  It's about 10 times thinner. 
B)  It's about 1,000 times thinner. 
C)  It's about 100,000 times thinner. 
D)  It's about 10 million times thinner. 
A)  It's about 10 times thinner. 
B)  It's about 1,000 times thinner. 
C)  It's about 100,000 times thinner. 
D)  It's about 10 million times thinner.

Question 15

Extremophiles exist on Earth in both extremely cold and hot environments,but only in places where sunlight allows photosynthesis to occur.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

Galileo discovered Saturn's rings and correctly concluded that they were formed by moons that had been tidally ripped apart.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

Lakes of methane,ethane,and other hydrocarbons can be found on the surface of Saturn's moon Titan.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

Which of the giant planets does NOT have rings?

Accepted Answer

A)  Jupiter 
B)  Saturn 
C)  Uranus 
D)  Neptune 
E)  All of the giant planets have rings. 
A)  Jupiter 
B)  Saturn 
C)  Uranus 
D)  Neptune 
E)  All of the giant planets have rings.

Question 19

Saturn's rings disappear from sight every

Accepted Answer

A)  40 years. 
B)  15 years. 
C)  8 years. 
D)  6 months. 
A)  40 years. 
B)  15 years. 
C)  8 years. 
D)  6 months.

Question 20

Eruptions of water-powered geysers have been seen on the surface of Saturn's moon Titan.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 11: Planetary Adornmentsmoons and Rings

Which of the following moons is thought to have a vast ocean of water beneath its thin frozen surface?

What are the two basic materials of which the moons in the solar system are composed? For each type of material,name an example of a moon whose surface is composed primarily of that material.

Explain why it was difficult for the Voyager space probe to detect Jupiter's ring system as it was approaching the planet,but easy to detect the rings once it passed behind Jupiter.

Which of the following can be used as an indicator of the age of a moon's surface?

Io is by far the most geologically active moon in the Solar System.

Moons in retrograde orbits are called irregular moons.

The varied colors found on Io's surface are due to the presence of various molecules containing

Astronomers originally planned to have the Pioneer 11 space probe pass through the Cassini Gap in Saturn's rings.Would this have been successful?

What are three characteristics of the orbits of irregular moons,and how are irregular moons formed?

If the Moon had active volcanoes,

By examining extremophiles on Earth,which of the following appears NOT to be a key ingredient for life?

Regular moons orbit in the same direction as their parent planets rotate.

The presence of shepherd moons keeps the giant planets' ring systems completely stable and the rings will last forever.

How does the thickness of Saturn's bright ring system compare to its diameter?

Extremophiles exist on Earth in both extremely cold and hot environments,but only in places where sunlight allows photosynthesis to occur.

Galileo discovered Saturn's rings and correctly concluded that they were formed by moons that had been tidally ripped apart.

Lakes of methane,ethane,and other hydrocarbons can be found on the surface of Saturn's moon Titan.

Which of the giant planets does NOT have rings?

Saturn's rings disappear from sight every

Eruptions of water-powered geysers have been seen on the surface of Saturn's moon Titan.

Why Learn Astronomy

Patterns in the Skymotions of Earth

Gravity and Orbitsa Celestial Ballet

Light

The Tools of the Astronomer

The Birth and Evolution of Planetary Systems

The Terrestrial Planets and Earths Moon

Atmospheres of the Terrestrial Planets

Worlds of Gas and Liquidthe Giant Planets

Gravity Is More Than Keplers Laws

Dwarf Planets and Small Solar System Bodies

Taking the Measure of Stars

A Run-Of-The-Mill G-Type Starour Sun

Star Formation and the Interstellar Medium

Stars in the Slow Lanelow-Mass Stellar Evolution

Live Fast,die Younghigh-Mass Stellar Evolution

Our Expanding Universe

Galaxies

The Milky Waya Normal Spiral Galaxy

Modern Cosmology

The Origin of Structure

Life

Filters