Question 1

Jupiter's rings are made of material from:

Accepted Answer

A) its innermost moons 
B) its upper atmosphere 
C) its outermost moons 
D) only Io 
E) only its retrograde moons 
A) its innermost moons 
B) its upper atmosphere 
C) its outermost moons 
D) only Io 
E) only its retrograde moons

Question 2

Rings that project to look like they are intertwined (but are not)are caused by:

Accepted Answer

A) new laws of physics 
B) ring material on highly elliptical orbits 
C) the gravitational influence of small moons 
D) electromagnetic interaction of the rings with Saturn's magnetic field 
E) meteoroid impacts 
A) new laws of physics 
B) ring material on highly elliptical orbits 
C) the gravitational influence of small moons 
D) electromagnetic interaction of the rings with Saturn's magnetic field 
E) meteoroid impacts

Question 3

Europa is a very interesting moon that scientists are considering visiting with a spacecraft in order to search for signs of life.What is it about this moon that makes it so interesting,and what surface features give us clues about its interior?

Accepted Answer

Europa has an icy surface riddled with c

Question 4

The only planet(s)without a moon is (are):

Accepted Answer

A) Mercury 
B) Venus 
C) Mars 
D) Mercury and Venus 
E) Mercury,Venus,and Mars 
A) Mercury 
B) Venus 
C) Mars 
D) Mercury and Venus 
E) Mercury,Venus,and Mars

Question 5

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 6

Name three characteristics of a geologically active moon.

Accepted Answer

A geologically active moon wou

Question 7

What leads astronomers to believe that many large moons associated with the giant planets have compositions that are roughly half water?

Accepted Answer

A) Spectroscopic analysis indicates the presence of large bodies of water. 
B) They have average densities midway between water and rock. 
C) Space probes have drilled into the surfaces of many of the moons and detected water. 
D) Rocks and other features that form only in the presence of water have been observed. 
E) Astronomers have observed the gravitational effects of tides on those moons. 
A) Spectroscopic analysis indicates the presence of large bodies of water. 
B) They have average densities midway between water and rock. 
C) Space probes have drilled into the surfaces of many of the moons and detected water. 
D) Rocks and other features that form only in the presence of water have been observed. 
E) Astronomers have observed the gravitational effects of tides on those moons.

Question 8

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) oxygen 
D) organic compounds 
E) All of the above are key ingredients. 
A) liquid water 
B) an energy source 
C) oxygen 
D) organic compounds 
E) All of the above are key ingredients.

Question 9

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 10

Describe some of the effects that moons can have on nearby ring systems.

Accepted Answer

Shepherd moons can create gaps,sharp edg

Question 11

On which of Saturn's moons did the Cassini-Huygens probe land in 2004?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 12

Saturn's rings disappear from sight every:

Accepted Answer

A) 40 years 
B) 25 years 
C) 15 years 
D) 8 years 
E) 6 months 
A) 40 years 
B) 25 years 
C) 15 years 
D) 8 years 
E) 6 months

Question 13

Of what are Saturn's ring primarily made?

Accepted Answer

A) water ice 
B) methane 
C) nitrogen 
D) dark organic material 
E) dark silicate material 
A) water ice 
B) methane 
C) nitrogen 
D) dark organic material 
E) dark silicate material

Question 14

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 15

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 16

It is theoretically possible for Earth to someday have a temporary ring structure.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

Ganymede is one of the largest moons in the Solar System.It shows some terrain that is ancient and heavily cratered,younger terrain with less craters,but no terrain that is free of craters.Why would Ganymede's geologic activity stop?

Accepted Answer

Ganymede's geologic activity p

Question 18

Do a planet's rings last forever? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

Because ring particles collide

Question 19

In terms of the surfaces of moons,brighter surfaces usually indicate older surfaces.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

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

Accepted Answer

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

Exam 11: Planetary Adornments Moons and Rings

Jupiter's rings are made of material from:

Rings that project to look like they are intertwined (but are not)are caused by:

Europa is a very interesting moon that scientists are considering visiting with a spacecraft in order to search for signs of life.What is it about this moon that makes it so interesting,and what surface features give us clues about its interior?

The only planet(s)without a moon is (are):

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

Name three characteristics of a geologically active moon.

What leads astronomers to believe that many large moons associated with the giant planets have compositions that are roughly half water?

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

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.

Describe some of the effects that moons can have on nearby ring systems.

On which of Saturn's moons did the Cassini-Huygens probe land in 2004?

Saturn's rings disappear from sight every:

Of what are Saturn's ring primarily made?

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

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

It is theoretically possible for Earth to someday have a temporary ring structure.

Ganymede is one of the largest moons in the Solar System.It shows some terrain that is ancient and heavily cratered,younger terrain with less craters,but no terrain that is free of craters.Why would Ganymede's geologic activity stop?

Do a planet's rings last forever? Why or why not?

In terms of the surfaces of moons,brighter surfaces usually indicate older surfaces.

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

Why Learn Astronomy

Patterns in the Skymotions of Earth

Motion of Astronomical Bodies

Gravity and Orbits

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 Liquid the Giant Planets

Dwarf Planets and Small Solar System Bodies

Taking the Measure of Stars

Our Starthe Sun

Star Formation and the Interstellar Medium

Evolution of Low-Mass Stars

Evolution of High-Mass Stars

Relativity and Black Holes

The Expanding Universe

Galaxies

The Milky Waya Normal Spiral Galaxy

Modern Cosmology

Large-Scale Structure in the Universe

Life

Filters