Chapter 6 HW/Quiz

Io experiences tidal heating primarily because __________.

As you saw in Part A, Io's elliptical orbit is necessary to its tidal heating. This elliptical orbit, in turn, is a result of the orbital resonance among Io, Europa, and Ganymede. This orbital resonance causes Io to have a more elliptical orbit than it would otherwise, because __________.

We cannot see tidal forces or tidal heating; rather, we predict that they must occur based on the orbital characteristics of the moons. What observational evidence confirms that tidal heating is important on Io?

Orbital resonance also gives Europa an elliptical orbit, so it experiences tidal heating, too. However, Europa experiences less tidal heating than Io, because Europa __________ than Io.

We now know of many Jupiter-size planets around other stars. Suppose that future observations show that one of these planets has two orbiting moons. What additional information, if any, would we need to decide whether these moons experience tidal heating?

Sort each of the planetary properties below based on whether they apply to some, all, or none of the four jovian planets in our solar system. Jupiter and Saturn Only

Sort each of the planetary properties below based on whether they apply to some, all, or none of the four jovian planets in our solar system. Uranus and Neptune Only

Sort each of the planetary properties below based on whether they apply to some, all, or none of the four jovian planets in our solar system. All Four Jovian Planets

Sort each of the planetary properties below based on whether they apply to some, all, or none of the four jovian planets in our solar system. No Jovian Planets

Saturn's rings are composed of __________.

Saturn's rings look bright because __________.

Which of the following statements correctly describes the motion of the particles in Saturn's rings?

The largest moon in the solar system is

The jovian moon with the most geologically active surface is

Strong evidence both from surface features and magnetic field data support the existence of a subsurface ocean on

is responsible for the tremendous volcanic activity on Io.

is the most distant of Jupiter's four Galilean moons.

The fact that Europa orbits Jupiter twice for every one orbit of Ganymede is an example of a(n)

The following figures show four positions (1-4) of a comet during its orbit of the Sun. Also shown is the orbit of the Earth around the Sun. Rank the positions of the comet from left to right based on the size of its tail, from shortest to longest. (Not to scale; tails not shown.)

Listed following are some distinguishing characteristics of comets, meteors, and asteroids. Match these to the appropriate category of objects. Comets

Listed following are some distinguishing characteristics of comets, meteors, and asteroids. Match these to the appropriate category of objects. Meteors

Listed following are some distinguishing characteristics of comets, meteors, and asteroids. Match these to the appropriate category of objects. Asteroids

Which of the following gases is not a significant ingredient of the jovian planet atmospheres?

According to our theory of solar system formation, why did Uranus and Neptune end up to be much less massive than Jupiter and Saturn?

Uranus and Neptune have methane clouds but Jupiter and Saturn do not. Which factor explains why?

Which of the following best explains why many jovian moons have been more geologically active than the Moon or Mercury?

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

Why do astronomers believe that Triton is a captured moon?

Which of the following is not a general characteristic of the four jovian planets in our solar system?

Overall, Jupiter's composition is most like that of ________.

What is the Great Red Spot?

What atmospheric constituent is responsible for the blue color of Uranus and Neptune?

Which statement about Io is true?

Which moon has a thick atmosphere made mostly of nitrogen?

Suppose you could float in space just a few meters above Saturn's rings. What would you see as you looked down on the rings?

In which list are the jovian planets in order of increasing distance from the Sun?

The outer layers of most jovian moons are made primarily of

Which of the following statements best describes the size of the largest asteroid, Ceres?

If we could put all the asteroids together, their total mass would be ________.

Why didn't a planet form where the asteroid belt is now located?

When you see the bright flash of a meteor, what are you actually seeing?

In science fiction movies, spaceships are often shown dodging through large numbers of closely spaced, boulder-size objects. Which of the following real things in our solar system would look most like such science fiction dangers?

Which of the following objects are probably not located in the same general region of the solar system in which they originally formed?

When we see a meteor shower, it means that ________.

The asteroid belt is located ________.

Which statement is not thought to be true of all comets in our solar system?

According to current evidence, Pluto is best explained as ________.

If the hypothesis tracing the extinction of the dinosaurs to an impact is correct, the dinosaurs died off largely because ________.

The impact of a 100 meter asteroid could kill many people if it struck a major city. Suppose the probability of such an impact in any single year is 1 in 1,000, and suppose we know (somehow) that it has been 1200 years since the last impact. What would that tell us?