Astronomy Chapter 11 & 12

25 July 2022
4.7 (114 reviews)
34 test answers

Unlock all answers in this set

Unlock answers (30)
question
Jupiter is noticeably oblate because a) it has a strong magnetic field b) it has a mantle of liquid hydrogen c) it has such power gravity d) it rotates rapidly e) it undergoes a gravitational attraction from each of its various moons
answer
d) it rotates rapidly
question
The most abundant element in Saturn's atmosphere is a) ammonia b) nitrogen c) hydrogen d) methane e) helium
answer
c) hydrogen
question
The reason the jovian planets lost very little of their original atmosphere is due to their a) many moons b) rapid rotation c) strong magnetic fields d) ring systems e) large mass
answer
e) large mass
question
The Roche limit is the point at which a) the mass of an object classifies it as a moon b) the internal forces that hold an object together weaken so that the object falls apart c) the external tidal forces on an object become greater than the internal forces that hold it together d) the external tidal forces on an object are strong enough to be felt by the object e) a moon orbiting a planet experiences synchronous rotation
answer
c) the external tidal forces on an object become greater than the internal forces that hold it together
question
Together, which two gasses make up 99% of Jupiter's atmosphere a) helium and ammonia b) water vapour and methane c) hydrogen and helium d) ammonia and methane e) hydrogen and ammonia
answer
c) hydrogen and helium
question
What are Saturn's rings a) a solid thin disk of material encircling Saturn b) large rocky boulders moving in orbit around Sun c) a glowing, flat magnetospheric auroral display d) small icy particles moving in orbit around Saturn e) a great disk of liquid helium
answer
d) small icy particles moving in orbit around Saturn
question
Differential rotation is when a planet's equator and polar regions rotate at different rates True False
answer
True
question
Jupiter has more than twice the mass of all other planets combined True False
answer
True
question
Saturn is less dense than water True False
answer
True
question
Saturn's two shepherd moons herd the particles in the F ring True False
answer
True
question
Differential rotation is when a planet's equator and polar regions rotate at different rates True False
answer
True
question
Jupiter is noticeably oblate (flattened) rather than spherical primarily because of which of the following physical effects? a) powerful gravity b) colliding comets that pile up near its equator c) rapid rotation d) a strong magnetic field e) moons distorting its surface
answer
c) rapid rotation
question
What is the probable source of the day-to-day variations in Jupiter's belts and zones? a) thermonuclear fusion b) Jupiter's huge magnetosphere c) oblateness due to low density d) differential rotation and the underlying zonal flow e) convection of cool ammonia ice upward
answer
d) differential rotation and the underlying zonal flow
question
The reason the jovian planets lost very little of their original atmosphere is due to their: a) ring systems. b) large mass. c) many moons. d) strong magnetic fields. e) rapid rotation.
answer
b) large mass.
question
Which gas is most common in Jupiter's atmosphere? a) helium b) nitrogen c) atomic hydrogen d) molecular hydrogen e) methane
answer
d) molecular hydrogen
question
What would Jupiter have needed to have become a star? a) more moons b) a slower rotation, like the Sun c) more mass d) a higher density e) a different chemical composition
answer
c) more mass
question
Jupiter gives back into space twice the energy it gets from the distant Sun. Where is this energy coming from, for the most part? a) helium rain descending into its mantle and core b) the combined tidal stress of all four large Galilean moons c) the radioactive decay of U-238 in its iron-rich core, just as with the Earth d) the impact energy of comets like SL-9 e) the slow escape of gravitational energy left from its formation
answer
e) the slow escape of gravitational energy left from its formation
question
Amateur astronomers have contributed to the understanding of impact events on Jupiter. True False
answer
True
question
Charged particles escaping from Jupiter's magnetosphere cause aurora when they collide with Jupiter's atmosphere. True False
answer
True
question
What is the origin of the jovian moons? a) The four Galilean moons formed with Jupiter, most others were later captures. b) They were ripped from the planet's interior in an early cataclysmic event. c) They are Trojan asteroids, orbiting 60 degrees ahead or behind Jupiter. d) They all formed with the planet. e) They were main belt asteroids, captured by Jupiter's strong gravity.
answer
a) The four Galilean moons formed with Jupiter, most others were later captures.
question
Where is Jupiter's ring located? a) between the orbit of the inner-most moon and the orbit of Io b) sharing the orbit of Amalthea c) in a thin ring at the distance of Io but inclined by an angle of about 30 degrees to Io's orbit d) above Jupiter's cloud tops and inside the orbit of its inner-most moon e) between the orbits of Io and Europa
answer
d) above Jupiter's cloud tops and inside the orbit of its inner-most moon
question
The reason Saturn lost very little of its original atmosphere is due to its: a) many moons. b) ring system. c) large mass. d) rapid rotation. e) strong magnetic field.
answer
c) large mass.
question
Saturn is noticeably oblate because: a) its powerful gravity acts stronger on the closer poles than the distant equator. b) it is a fluid body that is spinning rapidly. c) it is tidally distorted by the pulls for its satellite system. d) it has strong magnetic fields that deform its shape. e) All of the above are correct.
answer
b) it is a fluid body that is spinning rapidly.
question
Although it is almost the same size as Jupiter, Saturn's gravity is about 2.5 times less, because of Saturn's lower mass and density. True False
answer
True
question
Compared with the time it takes Jupiter to orbit the Sun once, the time it takes Saturn, which is twice as far away, to orbit the Sun is a) significantly less than twice as long. b) about twice as long. c) significantly more than twice as long.
answer
c) significantly more than twice as long.
question
In appearance, what immediately distinguishes Saturn from all the other planets? a) a dark blue color to its atmosphere b) its large system of moons c) its large ring system d) spectacular colored bands of clouds
answer
c) its large ring system
question
Why does the appearance of Saturn's rings change over time as seen from Earth? a) They grow and shrink in radius as Saturn moves closer to and farther from the Sun over the course of its seasons. b) They brighten periodically due to auroral discharges that sometimes occur in Saturn's magnetic field. c) The rings are slowly evaporating and will eventually vanish. d) The rings lie in the planet's equatorial plane, which is tilted with respect to the ecliptic. e) They are spinning around Saturn in a direction whose axis of rotation is perpendicular to the planet's axis of rotation.
answer
d) The rings lie in the planet's equatorial plane, which is tilted with respect to the ecliptic.
question
The atmosphere of Saturn is composed mostly of: a) hydrogen and helium. b) methane and ammonia. c) carbon dioxide and ethane. d) hydrogen sulfide and ammonia. e) nitrogen and oxygen.
answer
a) hydrogen and helium.
question
Scientists believe that large storms on Saturn are: a) rooted deep in the atmosphere. b) in Saturn's troposphere. c) tied to Saturn's rings. d) in the high altitude ammonia clouds. e) only found at the equator.
answer
a) rooted deep in the atmosphere.
question
What two factors enable Saturn to retain its primordial hydrogen? a) high density and large magnetosphere b) high rotation rate and small magnetic field c) the planet's large mass (resulting in a high escape speed) and low temperature d) large mass and large radius
answer
c) the planet's large mass (resulting in a high escape speed) and low temperature
question
Saturn's bands, oval storm systems, and turbulent flow patterns are powered by: a) the Greenhouse Effect. b) convective motion and rapid rotation. c) the tides of Titan. d) a liquid metallic hydrogen interior. e) the fusion in Saturn's core.
answer
b) convective motion and rapid rotation.
question
Why does Saturn radiate even more excess energy than Jupiter? a) Saturn is still radiating heat left over from its formation. b) Saturn can fuse hydrogen into helium in its core, like the Sun. c) Helium rain gives off heat as it differentiates toward Saturn's center. d) Saturn's thick cloud layer contributes to a larger Greenhouse Effect. e) Saturn's atmosphere contains much methane, creating a large Greenhouse Effect.
answer
c) Helium rain gives off heat as it differentiates toward Saturn's center.
question
The Roche limit is the point at which: a) the mass of an object classifies it as a moon. b) the internal forces that hold an object together weaken so that the object falls apart. c) the external tidal forces on an object are strong enough to be felt by the object. d) a moon orbiting a planet experiences synchronous rotation. e) the external tidal forces on an object become greater than the internal forces that hold it together.
answer
e) the external tidal forces on an object become greater than the internal forces that hold it together.
question
The asymmetrical surface markings on some of Saturn's moons are probably due to: a) comet impacts become progressively harder as you get closer to Saturn. b) all of the moons are located within the rings and they sweep up ring particles. c) the moons of Saturn are made primarily of ices. d) in most cases, the moons are tidally locked by Saturn's gravity into synchronous rotation. e) most of the moons show signs of ice volcanism driven by tidal interactions.
answer
d) in most cases, the moons are tidally locked by Saturn's gravity into synchronous rotation.