Kuiper Belt

Question 1

kuiper belt (2)

Answer 1

• region of s.s. beyond planets

- consists mainly of sm. bodies which are remnants from s.s. formation

Question 2

kuiper belt objects (KBO)

Answer 2

• composed of largely frozen ices

- methane, ammonia, & water

Question 3

home to 3 recognized dwarf planets

Answer 3

1. pluto
2. haumea
3. makemake

Question 4

largest member of kuiper belt

Answer 4

pluto

Question 5

scattered disk and scattered disk objects

Answer 5

• scattered disk = region beyond the kuiper belt

- scattered disk objects = KBO-like bodies w/ extremely lg. orbits

Question 6

eris (3)

Answer 6

• trans-neptunian object (TNO)
• largest known dwarf planet in s.s.
• 9th largest body known to orbit sun directly

Question 7

eris physical characteristics

• mass
• orbital pd
• magnitude
• 1 moon

Answer 7

• mass = 27% more massive than pluto
• orbital pd = 550 yrs
• magnitude = 18.7
• moon = dysnomia

Question 8

eris distance from sun (3)

Answer 8

• current distance from sun = 3 x pluto
• perihelion = 40 AU
• aphelion = 100 AU

Question 9

dwarf planets (5)

Answer 9

1. pluto
2. ceres
3. eris
4. haumea
5. makemake

Question 10

haumea physical characteristics

• mass
• orbital pd
• distance from sun (2)
• rotational pd
• 2 moons

Answer 10

• mass = 1/3 mass of pluto
• orbital pd = 280 yrs
• perihelion = 35 AU
• aphelion = 50 AU
• rotational pd = 4 hrs
• 2 moons = Hi’iaka & Namaka

Question 11

why does haumea have an ellipsoidal shape?

Answer 11

bc of its rapid rotation

Question 12

Hi’iaka (2)

Answer 12

• outer, larger, and brighter moon

- orbits haumea in nearly circular path every 50 days

Question 13

Namaka (3)

Answer 13

• smaller, inner moon
• 1/10 mass of haumea
• orbits haumea in 18 days in highly elliptical orbit

Question 14

makemake physical characteristics

• diameter
• distance from the sun (2)
• # of moons
• orbital pd
• rotational pd

Answer 14

• diameter = 3/4 pluto
• perihelion = 40 AU
• aphelion = 53 AU
• # of moons = 0
• orbital pd = 310 yrs
• rotation pd = 8 hours

Question 15

makemake surface characteristics (2)

Answer 15

• extremely low avg. temps

- surface is covered w/ methane, ethane, & nitrogen ices

Question 16

Sedna physical characteristics

• classification
• dist. from sun (2)
• orbital pd

Answer 16

• classification = TNO & dwarf planet candidate
• perihelion = 75 AU
• aphelion = 975 AU
• orbital pd = 12,050 years

Question 17

sedna color (3)

Answer 17

• one of reddest objects in s.s.
  
  • color caused by hydrocarbon sludge
  • surface is homogeneous in color