Question 1

The Huygens probe took numerous pictures as it descended to Titan's surface in 2005.What did the pictures show?

Accepted Answer

A)  primitive life forms
B)  a densely cratered surface
C)  lava flows of molten basalt
D)  features or erosion,including what appeared to be dry river valleys and lakebedsE) A) and B)
F) A) and C)

Question 2

What causes synchronous rotation?

Accepted Answer

A)  Most jovian moons were formed out of their planet's nebula with the same rotational period as their parent planet.
B)  Most jovian moons were formed out of their planet's nebula with the same orbital period.
C)  A massive planet exerts a tidal force on a moon that causes the moon to obtain the same rotational period as its parent planet.
D)  A massive planet exerts a tidal force on a moon that causes the moon to align itself such that its tidal bulges always point toward and away from the planet.
E)  orbital resonances with other moonsF) A) and C)
G) All of the above

Question 3

What is the most abundant gas in Titan's atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

A)  methane
B)  nitrogen
C)  hydrogen compounds
D)  oxygen
E)  argonF) A) and B)
G) A) and D)

Question 4

What is the most important reason why an icy moon is more likely to be geologically active than a rocky moon of the same size?

Accepted Answer

A)  Ice has a lower melting point than rock.
B)  Ice is less rigid than rock.
C)  Ice contains more radioactive elements than rock.
D)  Ice is affected by tidal forces to a greater extent than rock.
E)  Ice is less dense than rock.F) All of the above
G) B) and E)

Question 5

Jupiter's colors come in part from its three layers of clouds.Which of the following is not the primary constituent of one of Jupiter's cloud layers?

Accepted Answer

A)  clouds of sulfuric acid
B)  clouds of water
C)  clouds of ammonium hydrosulfide
D)  clouds of ammoniaE) None of the above
F) All of the above

Question 6

Jupiter likely formed first since it is the largest jovian planet and closest to the Sun.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

Which of the following most likely explains why Jupiter's interior releases so much heat?

Accepted Answer

A)  Jupiter is contracting very gradually
B)  heat from radioactive decay
C)  a slow rate of nuclear fusion in Jupiter's core
D)  tidal heatingE) B) and D)
F) All of the above

Question 8

Hydrogen exists as a gas,liquid,and solid within Jupiter.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

Process of Science: A prediction based on Newton's theory of gravity led to the discovery of Neptune.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

Which of the following is not a piece of evidence supporting the idea that Europa may have a subsurface ocean?

Accepted Answer

A)  Europa has a magnetic field that appears to be induced by Jupiter's magnetic field.
B)  Photos of Europa's surface show regions that appear to consist of jumbled icebergs frozen in place.
C)  Europa's surface shows very few impact craters.
D)  Astronomers have detected small lakes of liquid water on Europa's surface.E) None of the above
F) A) and B)

Question 11

Process of Science: What evidence is there of a subsurface ocean on Europa? Do you find it compelling?

Accepted Answer

The main evidence comes from trying to f...

Question 12

Briefly explain how Uranus and Neptune were discovered.

Accepted Answer

Uranus was discovered with the aid of a ...

Question 13

Which of the following best describes the internal layering of Jupiter,from the center outward?

Accepted Answer

A)  core of rock,metal,and hydrogen compounds;thick layer of metallic hydrogen;layer of liquid hydrogen;layer of gaseous hydrogen;cloud layer
B)  core of rock and metal;mantle of lower density rock;upper layer of gaseous hydrogen;cloud layer
C)  solid rock core;layer of solid metallic hydrogen;layer of pure liquid hydrogen;cloud layer
D)  liquid core of hydrogen compounds;liquid hydrogen layer;metallic hydrogen layer;gaseous hydrogen layer;cloud layerE) None of the above
F) B) and C)

Question 14

Which jovian planet should have the most extreme seasonal changes?

Accepted Answer

A)  Jupiter
B)  Saturn
C)  Uranus
D)  NeptuneE) A) and B)
F) C) and D)

Question 15

All the following statements are true.Which one is most important in explaining the tremendous tidal heating that occurs on Io?

Accepted Answer

A)  Io is the closest to Jupiter of Jupiter's large moons.
B)  Io orbits Jupiter on an elliptical orbit,due to orbital resonances with other satellites.
C)  Io exhibits synchronous rotation,meaning that its rotation period and orbital period are the same.
D)  Io orbits Jupiter in the Io torus,and therefore has a surface that is bombarded by many charged particles.E) C) and D)
F) None of the above

Question 16

Jupiter's Great Red Spot is a low-pressure storm like a hurricane on Earth.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

Why is the radiation so intense in the region that traces Io's orbit around Jupiter (the Io torus) ?

Accepted Answer

A)  Io's gravity allows this region to capture huge numbers of charged particles from the solar wind.
B)  An orbital resonance between Io,Europa,and Ganymede makes the radiation intense.
C)  Jupiter's strong magnetic field makes the radiation intense everywhere,and the region around Io is no different than any other region.
D)  The region is full of gases that become ionized after they are released from volcanoes on Io.E) B) and C)
F) All of the above

Question 18

Given the differences in size and composition of the jovian planets in our solar system,how many groups is it appropriate to sort them into?

Accepted Answer

A)  one
B)  two
C)  three
D)  fourE) None of the above
F) A) and D)

Question 19

The energy in the atmospheres of most of the jovian planets comes

Accepted Answer

A)  almost entirely from the Sun.
B)  almost entirely from their interiors.
C)  both the Sun and their interiors,in roughly equal proportions.
D)  tidal heating.E) B) and C)
F) C) and D)

Question 20

Why are there no impact craters on the surface of Io?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is too small to have been bombarded by planetesimals in the early solar system.
B)  Jupiter's strong gravity attracted the planetesimals more strongly than Io and thus none landed on its surface.
C)  Io did have impact craters but they have all been buried in lava flows.
D)  Any craters that existed have been eroded through the strong winds on Io's surface.
E)  Io's thick atmosphere obscures the view of the craters.F) A) and E)
G) B) and E)

Exam 11: Jovian Planet Systems

Given the differences in size and composition of the jovian planets in our solar system,how many groups is it appropriate to sort them into?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which jovian planet should have the most extreme seasonal changes?

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Why are there no impact craters on the surface of Io?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What is the most abundant gas in Titan's atmosphere?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

All the following statements are true.Which one is most important in explaining the tremendous tidal heating that occurs on Io?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Jupiter's Great Red Spot is a low-pressure storm like a hurricane on Earth.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What causes synchronous rotation?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Why is the radiation so intense in the region that traces Io's orbit around Jupiter (the Io torus) ?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following most likely explains why Jupiter's interior releases so much heat?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The energy in the atmospheres of most of the jovian planets comes

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Briefly explain how Uranus and Neptune were discovered.

Correct AnswerverifiedUranus was discovered with the aid of a ...View AnswerShow Answer

Hydrogen exists as a gas,liquid,and solid within Jupiter.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The Huygens probe took numerous pictures as it descended to Titan's surface in 2005.What did the pictures show?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Process of Science: A prediction based on Newton's theory of gravity led to the discovery of Neptune.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Jupiter likely formed first since it is the largest jovian planet and closest to the Sun.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Process of Science: What evidence is there of a subsurface ocean on Europa? Do you find it compelling?

Correct AnswerverifiedThe main evidence comes from trying to f...View AnswerShow Answer

Which of the following best describes the internal layering of Jupiter,from the center outward?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What is the most important reason why an icy moon is more likely to be geologically active than a rocky moon of the same size?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following is not a piece of evidence supporting the idea that Europa may have a subsurface ocean?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Jupiter's colors come in part from its three layers of clouds.Which of the following is not the primary constituent of one of Jupiter's cloud layers?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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Uranus was discovered with the aid of a ...
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The main evidence comes from trying to f...
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