ch.10

Question 1

What are the four large Jovian planets?

Answer 1

Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune

These planets are characterized by their gaseous and liquid hydrogen composition.

Question 2

What is the main composition of the Jovian planets?

Answer 2

Gaseous and liquid hydrogen and its compounds

They lack solid surfaces and may have molten rock cores.

Question 3

How does Jupiter compare to Earth in terms of size and mass?

Answer 3

More than 10× Earth’s diameter and 300× the mass

Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system.

Question 4

What is the average density of Jupiter?

Answer 4

1.3 g/cm³

This indicates an interior composed of very light elements.

Question 5

What is the core temperature of Jupiter?

Answer 5

About 30,000 K

This high temperature is due to the immense pressure at the core.

Question 6

What is the Great Red Spot?

Answer 6

A persistent storm on Jupiter that has lasted over 300 years

It is a result of differential rotation and powerful jet streams.

Question 7

What creates Jupiter’s powerful magnetic field?

Answer 7

Convection in the deep metallic liquid hydrogen layer and rapid rotation

It is 20,000 times stronger than Earth’s magnetic field.

Question 8

How many natural satellites does Jupiter have?

Answer 8

79

The number changes frequently as more are discovered.

Question 9

What are the Galilean Moons?

Answer 9

Io, Europa, Ganymede, Callisto

They are the four innermost moons of Jupiter.

Question 10

What is significant about Europa’s surface?

Answer 10

Very few craters and looks like a cracked egg

This indicates possible subsurface water.

Question 11

What is Saturn’s average density?

Answer 11

0.7 g/cm³

This low density suggests a composition mostly of hydrogen and its compounds.

Question 12

What causes Saturn to radiate more energy than it receives?

Answer 12

Conversion of gravitational energy from falling helium droplets

This occurs as helium condenses in Saturn’s interior.

Question 13

What are Saturn’s rings composed of?

Answer 13

A swarm of individual bodies made mainly of water, ice, and carbon compounds

The sizes of these bodies range from centimeters to meters.

Question 14

What is unique about Titan, Saturn’s largest moon?

Answer 14

Larger than Mercury and has a mostly nitrogen atmosphere

It also features liquid oceans of methane.

Question 15

What is the blue color of Uranus attributed to?

Answer 15

Methane in its atmosphere

Methane absorbs red colors from sunlight.

Question 16

What is Uranus’s axial tilt?

Answer 16

Nearly lies in its orbital plane

This unusual tilt may be due to a past collision.

Question 17

What are the characteristics of Uranus’s rings?

Answer 17

Narrow rings composed of meter-sized dark objects

They are rich in carbon particles or organic-like materials.

Question 18

Which planet was discovered based on disturbances in Uranus’s orbit?

Answer 18

Neptune

Predictions made by John C. Adams and Urbain Leverrier led to its discovery.

Question 19

What is Triton, Neptune’s largest moon, believed to be?

Answer 19

A captured planetesimal from the Kuiper belt

Triton’s highly tilted orbit suggests this origin.

Question 20

Which planet has the largest satellite in the Solar System?

Answer 20

Jupiter

Ganymede is the largest moon.

Question 21

Which of the following is not an outer planet?

Answer 21

Pluto

Pluto is classified as a dwarf planet.

Question 22

Which Trans-Neptunian Object is largest in diameter?

Answer 22

Eris

Eris is larger than Pluto.

Question 23

How does Neptune’s atmosphere differ from Uranus’s?

Answer 23

Neptune has cloud belts, while Uranus lacks distinct bands

This difference is due to temperature and atmospheric dynamics.

Question 24

What type of dunes exist on Titan?

Answer 24

Ice crystal dunes

These are formed from the unique atmospheric conditions on Titan.

Question 25

What is a common characteristic of the Jovian planets?

Answer 25

All of the above ## Footnote They are mostly composed of hydrogen and helium, have thick atmospheres, lack solid surfaces, and have ring systems and satellites.

Question 26

What are the main components of the Jovian planets?

Answer 26

Mostly composed of hydrogen and helium ## Footnote Jovian planets include Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.

Question 27

Which of the following is a characteristic that Pluto shares with the Jovian planets?

Answer 27

None of the above ## Footnote Pluto does not share significant characteristics with Jovian planets.

Question 28

Why do astronomers believe that the Jovian planets are composed mainly of hydrogen and helium?

Answer 28

Because hydrogen and helium are the main constituents of the solar system ## Footnote The composition reflects the primordial material of the solar nebula.

Question 29

Why do astronomers believe that the Jovian planets must contain rocky material in their cores?

Answer 29

Because silicates and irons were part of the overall composition of the solar nebula ## Footnote This suggests a core of denser materials.

Question 30

Which of the following statements comparing Uranus and Neptune is correct?

Answer 30

Uranus has larger diameter and Neptune has more mass

Question 31

Of all the Jovian planets, ______ shows signs of tectonic plate motion.

Answer 31

Neptune

Question 32

The colors of Jupiter's clouds suggest the presence of ______.

Answer 32

Organic molecules

Question 33

The energy that stirs the circulation in Jupiter's atmosphere comes from _____.

Answer 33

The planet's interior

Question 34

The powerful _____ Jupiter is a result of the ______ and ______ in the interior of the planet.

Answer 34

Magnetic field; rapid rotation; heat generated

Question 35

________ is the largest of the Galilean moons.

Answer 35

Ganymede

Question 36

The average density of the Galilean satellites of Jupiter _____ with increasing distance from the planet.

Answer 36

Decreases

Question 37

The rings of Jupiter consist primarily of ______.

Answer 37

Small particles

Question 38

The Great Red Spot on Jupiter is _____

Answer 38

A giant vortex that has persisted for over 300 years

Question 39

______ has the lowest density of all the planets in the solar system.

Answer 39

Saturn

Question 40

The rings of Saturn consist primarily of _____.

Answer 40

Water ice

Question 41

The Roche limit refers to a _____.

Answer 41

Distance

Question 42

Compared to the Galilean satellites, the larger satellites of Saturn have ____ average density.

Answer 42

Lower

Question 43

Astronomers believe that the interior of Saturn's satellites is mostly ____.

Answer 43

Ice

Question 44

Spectral analysis of Titan's atmosphere indicates that it consists mainly of _____.

Answer 44

Nitrogen

Question 45

Astronomers can determine the mass of Jupiter by the gravitational pull Jupiter exerts on its moons.

Answer 45

True

Question 46

Hydrogen is the most abundant element in Jupiter's atmosphere.

Answer 46

True

Question 47

Jupiter is more massive than all the other planets put together.

Answer 47

True

Question 48

Jupiter's core is hotter than the Earth's core.

Answer 48

True

Question 49

The temperature of Jupiter's core is higher than the surface temperature of the Sun.

Answer 49

False

Question 50

The existence of auroral activity and lightning on Jupiter proves that Jupiter's atmosphere has the same chemical composition as the Earth's atmosphere.

Answer 50

False

Question 51

Astronomers expect that due to friction and collisions, the particles in Jupiter's ring are slowing down and will eventually spiral into the planet.

Answer 51

True

Question 52

The Jovian planets are differentiated.

Answer 52

True

Question 53

Astronomers knew for some time that the rings of Saturn are thin, because they could see stars through the rings.

Answer 53

True

Question 54

Saturn's larger satellites have lower average density than the Galilean satellites of Jupiter, therefore, we can conclude that Saturn's satellites contain less rock and more ice than the Galilean satellites.

Answer 54

True

Question 55

Astronomers believe that Pluto was pulled into the solar system by Neptune. The hypothesis is supported by the fact that Pluto and Neptune have a 3:2 orbital period ratio.

Answer 55

True

Question 56

The highly inclined and backwards rotation of Triton supports the hypothesis that Triton is a Kuiper belt object captured by Neptune.

Answer 56

True

Question 57

Observers on Earth can never see Jupiter in the crescent phase.

Answer 57

True

Question 58

The dwarf planet Pluto and its moon Charon are unique in the Solar System in that the orbital period of Charon equals the rotation period of Pluto. The synchronous rotation is the result of tidal interaction between them.

Answer 58

True

Question 59

All four of the gas giant planets have ring systems.

Answer 59

True

Question 60

The geography of Uranus' moon Miranda suggests it may have been broken apart into pieces by an impact and then drawn back together out of order by gravity.

Answer 60

True