Deck 23: Jupiter and Saturn

Question 1

Jupiter does not have

A) a hot interior.
B) convention occurring in its atmosphere.
C) crustal plates on its surface.
D) a dynamo effect.
E) any rings.

Answer 1

crustal plates on its surface.

Question 2

Jupiter's liquid metallic hydrogen

A) is found in the upper atmosphere of Jupiter.
B) is believed to exist on the surface of Io.
C) is believed to exist on Io.
D) does not conduct electricity very well.
E) none of the above

Answer 2

none of the above

Question 3

Europa has few craters because

A) it is protected from impacts by Jupiter's gravity.
B) it does not have a solid surface.
C) it has erased craters nearly as fast as they have formed.
D) its surface is not strong enough to support craters.
E) it keeps one face always pointed toward Jupiter which screens it from incoming meteorites.

Answer 3

it has erased craters nearly as fast as they have formed.

Question 4

In contrast to Earth,Jupiter rotates differentially,which means that

A) the equator of Jupiter rotates faster than its poles.
B) the poles of Jupiter rotate faster than its equator.
C) the magnetic field rotates faster than the visible surface.
D) Jupiter rotates in the opposite direction of Earth.
E) Jupiter rotates so that one side always faces the sun.

Question 5

In contrast to Jovian planets,terrestrial planets

A) formed from material at higher temperatures.
B) have a solid surface.
C) are composed mostly of rock and/or iron.
D) all of the above

Question 6

Belt and zone circulation

A) has been observed only on Jupiter and on terrestrial planets.
B) is caused by the planet's magnetic field.
C) is caused by rising and sinking gases in Jovian planets but not on terrestrials.
D) is more obvious on Saturn than Jupiter.
E) explains the formation of Cassini's division.

Question 7

The surfaces of old icy satellites of Jupiter

A) appear dark in color with few impact craters.
B) appear dark in color with many impact craters.
C) appear very bright because ice is very reflective.
D) generally show long bright grooves and a modest number of impact craters.
E) generally have small volcanoes that are active.

Question 8

Terrestrial planets are found in the ____ part of the solar system while Jovian planets are found in the ____ part of the solar system.

A) inner,outer
B) outer,inner
C) inner,inner
D) outer,outer

Question 9

In what way is the rocky material of Jupiter's core different from the rocks found on Earth?

A) It is much cooler because Jupiter is further from the sun.
B) It contains more liquid water.
C) It is much hotter and denser because of the extreme pressure at the core of Jupiter.
D) It is composed of iron and nickel because this material will settle to the core.
E) It is composed entirely of ices that have frozen into a large rock-like structure.

Question 10

Both Jupiter and Saturn

A) have liquid metallic hydrogen in their interiors.
B) have rings.
C) emit more energy than they absorb from the sun.
D) have belt and zone circulation.
E) all of the above

Question 11

Why do Jupiter and Saturn radiate more energy than they receive from the sun?

A) Magnetic and electric fields heat the planet.
B) Fusion reactions inside the planet provide an additional heat source.
C) The planets are still radiating heat from when they first formed.
D) Friction between the planet and its moons heat the planet.

Question 12

Compared to Jupiter,Saturn's atmosphere is more

A) brightly marked than Jupiter's.
B) rich in free oxygen.
C) hazy above the clouds.
D) all of the above
E) none of the above

Question 13

Both the outer (Jovian)planets Jupiter and Saturn

A) have liquid metallic hydrogen in their interiors.
B) have rings.
C) emit more energy than they absorb from the sun.
D) have belt and zone circulation.
E) all of the above

Question 14

Which of the Galilean satellites are geologically active?

A) Io and Callisto
B) Ganymede and Titan
C) Titan and Callisto
D) Europa and Io
E) Ganymede and Callisto

Question 15

The excess heat produced by Jupiter beyond that which it gets from the Sun is the result of

A) nuclear reactions in their liquid metallic hydrogen cores.
B) radioactive decay.
C) hot molten lava rising to the surface.
D) the planet's continual slow contraction.
E) the large number of meteorite and comet impacts that occur each year.

Question 16

The particles in Jupiter's ring

A) must be silicate particles.
B) must be particles of ices.
C) must be metallic particles.
D) must be pieces of captured comets.
E) must be material from eruptions of volcanoes on Io.

Question 17

The graph below indicates the temperature of Saturn's atmosphere as a function of distance from the upper cloud layer.Water will condense to form droplets at a temperature of approximately 270 K in the atmosphere of Saturn.At what distance from the upper cloud layer will clouds of water vapor form?

A) (-250 km)
B) (-150 km)
C) 0 km
D) 150 km
E) 250 km

Question 18

In contrast to Jovian planets,terrestrial planets do not

A) have liquid metallic hydrogen in their interiors.
B) have rings.
C) emit more energy than they absorb from the sun.
D) have deep atmospheric belt and zone circulation.
E) all of the above

Question 19

Liquid metallic hydrogen

A) is found in the upper atmosphere of Saturn.
B) is believed to exist on the surface of Titan.
C) is believed to exist on Io.
D) does not conduct electricity very well.
E) none of the above

Question 20

Jupiter is much more oblate than the Earth.This means that

A) Jupiter's radius is much larger than Earth's radius.
B) Jupiter's radius is significantly larger at its equator than at its poles.
C) Jupiter rotates very slowly.
D) Jupiter has belts and zones in its upper atmosphere.
E) the density of the atmosphere increases until it is a liquid and no solid surface exists.

Question 21

Jupiter can hold which of these gases in the atmosphere which the Earth cannot..

A) hydrogen
B) helium
C) both "a" and "b"
D) nitrogen and oxygen

Question 22

Saturn's F ring and the rings of Uranus are similar in that they

A) are made of dark material.
B) are made of icy material.
C) are found near large moons.
D) show well defined spokes.
E) are very narrow.

Question 23

Which of the Galilean moons is the largest?

A) Io
B) Europa
C) Callisto
D) Ganymede

Question 24

Saturn's rings are

A) composed of ice particles.
B) in the plane of the planet's equator.
C) within the planet's Roche limit.
D) all of the above
E) none of the above

Question 25

____ in Saturn's rings is(are)produced by the gravitational interaction of Mimas with the particles in the rings and appear(s)as a large gap in the rings.

A) Spokes
B) Spiral density waves
C) Bending waves
D) The Io torus
E) Cassini's division

Question 26

Why is Saturn oblate?

A) The gravity of its moons flattens the planet.
B) The rapid rotation of the planet flattens it.
C) It formed that way originally and has no way to reshape itself.
D) The magnetic fields of Jupiter and Saturn interact and cause the planet to flatten.

Question 27

Though Titan's mass is small,it is able to retain an atmosphere because

A) it is very cold.
B) it is very dense.
C) it rotates very slowly.
D) it attracts gas from the solar wind.
E) it has a very strong magnetic field.

Question 28

What evidence is there that supports the suggestion that Enceladus is adding material to Saturn's E ring?

A) The E ring is densest at the orbit of Enceladus.
B) Impacts by meteorites have been observed that put material into the E ring.
C) Volcanic eruptions have been observed that released material into the E ring.
D) Enceladus' magnetic field captures particles from the solar wind and deposits them in the E ring.
E) Enceladus' mass has decreased over the last fifty years while the mass of the E ring has increased.

Question 29

Which moon of the Jovian planets has a thick,hazy atmosphere?

A) Io
B) Triton
C) Europa
D) Titan

Question 30

The excess heat produced by Saturn is the result of

A) nuclear reactions in the liquid metallic hydrogen core.
B) radioactive decay.
C) hot molten lava rising to the surface.
D) the planet's continual slow contraction.
E) the large number of meteorite and comet impacts that occur each year.

Question 31

What causes the geological activity seen on some of the inner moons of Jupiter?

A) Constant collisions with space debris provide a power source for geological activity.
B) The strong magnetic field of Jupiter heats the surface of the inner moons.
C) Tidal friction as a result of being so close Jupiter heats their interiors.
D) Solar radiation reflected of Jupiter's surface provides a power source for geological activity.

Question 32

What is unique about the magnetic field of Saturn?

A) It rotates twice as fast as the cloud tops.
B) It is much stronger than Jupiter's field.
C) It is produced by a non metallic material.
D) It isn't produced by the dynamo effect.
E) Its axis is the same as the rotation axis of Saturn.

Question 33

Similar to Jupiter,Saturn is obviously oblate.This means that

A) Saturn's radius is much larger than Earth's radius.
B) Saturn's radius is larger at its equator than at its poles.
C) Saturn rotates very slowly.
D) Saturn has belts and zones in its upper atmosphere.
E) the density of the atmosphere increases until it is a liquid and no solid surface exists.

Question 34

The surfaces of old icy satellites of Saturn

A) appear dark in color with few impact craters.
B) appear dark in color with many impact craters.
C) appear very bright because ice is very reflective.
D) generally show long bright grooves and a modest number of impact craters.
E) generally have small volcanoes that are active.

Question 35

Which of the following objects may have organic particles on its surface as a result of the interaction of sunlight with methane in its upper atmosphere?

A) Io
B) Titan
C) Hyperion
D) Ganymede
E) Metis

Question 36

In what way is the rocky material of Saturn's core different from the rocks found on Earth?

A) It is much cooler because Jupiter is further from the sun.
B) It contains more liquid water.
C) It is much hotter and denser because of the extreme pressure at the core.
D) It is composed of iron and nickel because this material will settle to the core.
E) It is composed entirely of ices that have frozen into a large rock like structure.

Question 37

Spokes in Saturn's rings are peculiar because

A) they should freeze out very quickly.
B) differential rotation should erase them quickly.
C) the solar wind should blow small particles away.
D) the magnetic field should prevent such features from forming.
E) they are found only in the inner most ring.

Question 38

Saturn rotates differentially,which in the case of Saturn means that

A) the equator rotates faster than its poles.
B) the poles rotate faster than its equator.
C) the magnetic field rotates faster than the visible surface.
D) Saturn rotates in the opposite direction of Earth.
E) Saturn rotates so that one side always faces the sun.

Question 39

Why is Saturn's moon Titan able to retain an atmosphere?

A) Titan only contains light gases which are easy to retain.
B) Titan has a large enough mass and is cold enough.
C) Titan is biological active.
D) It is so close to Saturn that Saturn's gravity retains Titan's atmosphere.

Question 40

What is special about Saturn's moon Titan?

A) It's the only moon in the solar system with a significant atmosphere.
B) It contains liquid methane on its surface.
C) It is larger than the planet Mercury.
D) All of the above.

Question 41

Jupiter's intense magnetic field traps high energy particles from the solar wind and forms a radiation belt around the planet.

Question 42

Saturn's moon,Titan,has a dense nitrogen atmosphere while the planet Mercury does not.Titan is better able to hold an atmosphere than Mercury because

A) Titan's mass is much larger than Mercury's (equal to Jupiter's).
B) Titan is closer to the Sun than Mercury is.
C) Titan's mass is much smaller than Mercury's.
D) Titan is farther from the Sun than Mercury is.
E) Titan's atmosphere is much hotter than Mercury's.

Question 43

The pressure inside Jupiter converts much of its hydrogen into a liquid metallic state.

Question 44

Saturn is less dense than Jupiter.

Question 45

The satellites of Jovian planets typically have more ________ on their surfaces than the earth's rocky moon because they are ________ than the moon.

A) ice,closer to the sun
B) ice,farther from the sun
C) rock,closer to the sun
D) rock,farther from the sun

Question 46

Of the planets listed below left to right,which one would float in a bath tub of water on Earth if you could get it in the tub?

A) Mercury
B) Venus
C) Saturn
D) Mars

Question 47

Saturn's rings are composed of icy particles.

Question 48

Satellites of Jupiter that lack craters are generally inactive bodies with old surfaces.

Question 49

Jupiter's shape is ____________________ because it is rotating rapidly and has a low density.

Question 50

The spokes in Saturn's rings are maintained by differential rotation.

Question 51

The layers in the interior of Jupiter are supposed to be made of (from center outward)

A) gaseous H/He,liquid H/He,metallic H/He,molten rock/iron
B) molten rock/iron,metallic H/He,liquid H/He,gaseous H
C) gaseous H/He alone
D) molten rock/iron alone

Question 52

Shepherd satellites keep the F ring narrow.

Question 53

Many of Saturn's smaller moons are likely captured asteroids or objects that originally formed in the Kuiper belt.

Question 54

Which of the objects below has the most volcanoes erupting at any given time?

A) Earth's moon
B) Earth
C) Mars
D) Jupiter's moon Io

Question 55

Jupiter radiates less heat than it absorbs from the sun.

Question 56

Jovian planets are found in the inner solar system.

Question 57

Jupiter's interior is mostly liquid helium.

Question 58

Compared to Jupiter,Saturn's belts and zones are obscured by haze high in its atmosphere.

Question 59

The region of Jupiter that is responsible for the magnetic field is composed of ____________________.

Question 60

Jupiter's ring is composed of icy particles.

Question 61

The one object in the solar system besides Earth suspected of possibly having a liquid on its surface is ____________________.

Question 62

The largest satellites of Jupiter are known as the ____________________ satellites.