Question 1

How do the atmospheres of Saturn's moon,Titan,and Neptune's moon,Triton,compare? How are they similar and how are they different?

Accepted Answer

Both of the moons have unexpected atmosp...

Question 2

The Cassini division is an apparent dark gap in Saturn's ring system.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

Which Jovian planet has a solid surface?

Accepted Answer

A)   Jupiter
B)   Saturn
C)   Uranus
D)   None of these

Question 4

Which planets are believed to have a thick layer of ammonia- and methane-laden water in their interiors?

Accepted Answer

A)   Saturn and Uranus
B)   Saturn and Neptune
C)   Uranus and Neptune
D)   Saturn,Uranus,and Neptune

Question 5

Uranus and Neptune are about the same size,yet Neptune shows spots and bands in its atmosphere,whereas Uranus is almost featureless.Why this difference?

Accepted Answer

A)   Uranus and Neptune are at vastly different distances from the Sun,and the resulting difference in temperature causes the atmospheres to behave very differently.
B)   The two planets,although of similar size,have atmospheres that differ vastly in composition.
C)   The difference can be traced to the fact that Uranus is lying with its rotation axis almost in the plane of its orbit and Neptune is not.
D)   Neptune is still contracting and giving out energy,which warms the lower layers of its atmosphere,but Uranus is not.

Question 6

The color differences in the Saturn ring system suggests that the icy particles do not migrate from one ringlet to another.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

Compared to that of Earth,the diameter of Jupiter is

Accepted Answer

A)   several thousand times larger.
B)   about 11 times as large.
C)   about 300 times larger.
D)   about 1/300 as large.

Question 8

How does the composition of Saturn's atmosphere compare to that of Jupiter,which is the same as that of the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A)   Saturn's atmosphere contains less helium than does that of either Jupiter or the Sun.
B)   They are almost equivalent,with the same proportions of hydrogen,helium,and heavier elements.
C)   Saturn's atmosphere contains far more heavy elements than does that of either Jupiter or the Sun.
D)   Saturn's atmosphere has far less hydrogen than does that of either Jupiter or the Sun.

Question 9

Triton,the largest satellite of Neptune,has

Accepted Answer

A)   no measurable atmosphere.
B)   a very thin atmosphere of nitrogen gas.
C)   a dense atmosphere of methane and ammonia.
D)   a dense atmosphere of nitrogen with methane clouds.

Question 10

Even through a large,backyard telescope,both Uranus and Neptune look like

Accepted Answer

A)   Jupiter and its moons.
B)   large disks with rings and moons.
C)   small blue dots.
D)   Saturn and its ring system.

Question 11

The white ovals seen on Jupiter appear to be

Accepted Answer

A)   vortices (whirlpools) created between regions of oppositely directed winds.
B)   upwelling gas that then descends in the brown ovals.
C)   descending masses of gas within the dark belts.
D)   clouds of ammonia ice crystals that condense when Jupiter's atmosphere flows over fixed obstacles such as mountains.

Question 12

The brown ovals that are seen in Jupiter's atmosphere appear bright in an image taken in infrared radiation.Why is this?

Accepted Answer

A)   The ovals are moving toward us,and the Doppler blueshift makes them appear brighter.
B)   The ovals are moving away from us,and the Doppler redshift makes them appear brighter.
C)   The ovals are high up in the Jovian atmosphere.
D)   The ovals are deep within the Jovian atmosphere.

Question 13

One distinctive feature that is visible on the "surface" of Jupiter through a telescope from Earth is

Accepted Answer

A)   the Cassini division.
B)   Maxwell Montes.
C)   Olympus Mons.
D)   the Great Red Spot.

Question 14

The Roche limit around a planet is defined as the

Accepted Answer

A)   distance beyond which the orbital velocity of a body in a Keplerian orbit is greater than the escape velocity and matter is no longer captured by the planet.
B)   distance inside which a solid satellite (e.g. ,a fragment of rock) will be pulled apart by tidal forces.
C)   outer extent of the magnetic field of the planet,or the magnetospheric boundary.
D)   distance inside which relative tidal forces will overcome the mutual gravitational forces of a group of particles.

Question 15

Why do the rings of Saturn alternately appear very distinct and then almost disappear when viewed from Earth over periods of a few years?

Accepted Answer

A)   Earth is much closer to Saturn at opposition than at conjunction;hence,the rings are more easily seen at this time.
B)   The solar wind occasionally blows away the ring particles when the Sun is particularly active.
C)   The ice crystals from which they are made melt and refreeze as the planet approaches and recedes from the Sun.
D)   The plane of the rings is tilted with respect to the ecliptic plane and thus appear edge-on at times.

Question 16

How were Uranus's rings discovered?

Accepted Answer

In 1977,Uranus was supposed to pass in f...

Question 17

The best time to observe Jupiter from Earth is when it is

Accepted Answer

A)   at conjunction-when it appears closest to the Sun and is at its brightest.
B)   at maximum eastern or western elongation and is farthest away from the Sun in our sky at sunrise or sunset.
C)   high above our southern horizon at sunrise or sunset.
D)   at opposition-hence closest to Earth.

Question 18

Saturn has weaker surface gravity than Jupiter,so its cloud layers are more spread out.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

Evidence of volcanism (lava outflow,etc. ) ,either active or ancient,is NOT found on

Accepted Answer

A)   Venus.
B)   Mars.
C)   Earth.
D)   Jupiter.

Question 20

Describe the structure of Saturn's extensive ring system in detail.

Accepted Answer

Saturn's rings are made of an indefinite...

Exam 7: Observing the Dynamic Giant Planets

The white ovals seen on Jupiter appear to be

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The brown ovals that are seen in Jupiter's atmosphere appear bright in an image taken in infrared radiation.Why is this?

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Which planets are believed to have a thick layer of ammonia- and methane-laden water in their interiors?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Triton,the largest satellite of Neptune,has

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

How does the composition of Saturn's atmosphere compare to that of Jupiter,which is the same as that of the Sun?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The Roche limit around a planet is defined as the

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

One distinctive feature that is visible on the "surface" of Jupiter through a telescope from Earth is

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Saturn has weaker surface gravity than Jupiter,so its cloud layers are more spread out.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Describe the structure of Saturn's extensive ring system in detail.

Correct AnswerverifiedSaturn's rings are made of an indefinite...View AnswerShow Answer

Compared to that of Earth,the diameter of Jupiter is

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The best time to observe Jupiter from Earth is when it is

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Even through a large,backyard telescope,both Uranus and Neptune look like

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The color differences in the Saturn ring system suggests that the icy particles do not migrate from one ringlet to another.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Evidence of volcanism (lava outflow,etc. ) ,either active or ancient,is NOT found on

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

How were Uranus's rings discovered?

Correct AnswerverifiedIn 1977,Uranus was supposed to pass in f...View AnswerShow Answer

The Cassini division is an apparent dark gap in Saturn's ring system.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which Jovian planet has a solid surface?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

How do the atmospheres of Saturn's moon,Titan,and Neptune's moon,Triton,compare? How are they similar and how are they different?

Correct AnswerverifiedBoth of the moons have unexpected atmosp...View AnswerShow Answer

Uranus and Neptune are about the same size,yet Neptune shows spots and bands in its atmosphere,whereas Uranus is almost featureless.Why this difference?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Why do the rings of Saturn alternately appear very distinct and then almost disappear when viewed from Earth over periods of a few years?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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Saturn's rings are made of an indefinite...
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In 1977,Uranus was supposed to pass in f...
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Both of the moons have unexpected atmosp...
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