Deck 18: The Outer Solar System

Question 1

The Roche limit is the

A) distance from the sun within which a planet cannot retain an atmosphere.
B) minimum mass of an object in the solar system that would be classified as a planet.
C) maximum separation distance between the sun and a given planet.
D) distance from Earth at which we lose radio communication with a satellite.
E) distance from a planet within which a planet cannot hold itself together.

Answer 1

distance from a planet within which a planet cannot hold itself together.

Question 2

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) Mimas
D) Ganymede
E) Callisto

Answer 2

Titan

Question 3

____ are Kuiper belt objects that are in a 3:2 resonance orbit with the orbit of Neptune.

A) Plutinos
B) Charons
C) Protons
D) Lepton
E) Resonons

Answer 3

Plutinos

Question 4

Which of these Galilean satellites is most geologically active?

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

Question 5

The Galilean satellites orbit

A) Jupiter.
B) Saturn.
C) Uranus.
D) Neptune.
E) all of the above.

Question 6

The old surfaces of icy satellites of Jovian planets

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 7

Though Titan has a small mass , it is able to retain an atmosphere because it

A) is very cold.
B) is very hot
C) has an iron surface.
D) attracts gas from the solar wind.

Question 8

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 9

The fresh, newly created surfaces of icy satellites of Jovian planets

A) appear dark in color with few impact craters.
B) appear dark in color with many impact craters.
C) appear very bright because fresh 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 10

____ in Saturn's rings is/are produced by the gravitational interaction of Mimas with the particles in the rings and appears as a large ____ in the rings.

A) Cassini's division; gap
B) Cassini's division; clump
C) Moons; gap
D) Moons; clump

Question 11

The ____ of a planet is the region around the planet where the magnetic field is able to deflect the solar wind and other charged particles.

A) aurora
B) magnetosphere
C) hydrosphere
D) corona
E) Schwarzschild radius

Question 12

As a moon in a very elliptical orbit moves closer to and then farther from a planet, gravity flexes the moon with tides, and friction heats the interior. This process is referred to as

A) tidal heating.
B) occultation.
C) vaporization.
D) differentiation.
E) sublimation.

Question 13

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 14

The atmosphere of ____ contains mostly nitrogen with some methane.

A) Jupiter
B) Earth's moon
C) Callisto
D) Titan
E) Miranda

Question 15

In terms of mass, Jupiter is made mostly of

A) rock.
B) molten iron.
C) water.
D) hydrogen and helium.
E) carbon dioxide.

Question 16

The rotation of Uranus is peculiar in that

A) it is very slow, nearly zero.
B) it is much faster than is typical for Jovian planets.
C) it first turns in one direction, then stops and turns in the opposite direction.
D) the axis is nearly parallel to the plane of its orbit.

Question 17

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 not composed of iron and nickel because this material will float of the surface.
E) It is composed entirely of ices that have frozen into a large rock-like structure.

Question 18

The grooved terrain found on Ganymede is believed to be

A) flow channels for liquid water.
B) flow channels for liquid methane.
C) a system of faults in the crust.
D) the peaks of water waves in a large ocean.
E) caused by meteor impacts with the surface of Ganymede.

Question 19

At Jupiter's very center is a core of

A) heavy elements (molten rock and iron).
B) helium.
C) hydrogen.
D) both A and B

Question 20

Belt and zone circulation

A) occurs on Jupiter.
B) occurs on Saturn.
C) is caused by rising and sinking gases.
D) is more obvious on Jupiter than on Saturn.
E) all the above.

Question 21

The diagram below shows a cross section of the interior of Uranus. Which of the regions do current computer models suggest is composed primarily of partly solid water? The lowest pressure regions will be gaseous.

A) region 1
B) region 2
C) region 3
D) all of the regions
E) none of the regions

Question 22

Which of these are nearly 90 degrees to the orbit plane of Uranus?

A) Uranus' equator
B) the orbital planes of its major satellites
C) the orbital plane of its rings
D) all of the above.

Question 23

The magnetic fields of Uranus and Neptune are peculiar in that they are

A) highly inclined to their planet's axis of rotation.
B) very weak (virtually zero).
C) produced by the solar wind.
D) produced by disturbances caused by the orbits of the moons.
E) all of the above.

Question 24

Triton has a retrograde orbit around Neptune. This means that ____________ .

A) Triton orbits in the same direction as Neptune rotates on its axis.
B) Triton orbits in the opposite direction to the way Neptune rotates on its axis.
C) Triton does not orbit around Neptune. Instead, it stands still.

Question 25

The narrowness of the rings of Uranus and Neptune is believed to be caused by

A) gravitational interactions between ring particles.
B) a spiral density wave which confines them.
C) the magnetic field which holds them in place.
D) the smaller mass of Uranus and Neptune as compared to that of Saturn.
E) small shepherd moons that orbit near the rings.

Question 26

Jupiter does not have

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

Question 27

We can be sure the particles in the rings of Neptune are very small because

A) the rings are faint in forward-scattered light.
B) the rings are bright in forward-scattered light.
C) only small particles are produced in comet impacts with larger moons.
D) the magnetic field of Neptune would quickly force large particles out of the rings.
E) the larger particles would be quickly destroyed by impacts with the shepherd satellites.

Question 28

On its icy surface, Uranus's satellite Ariel has smooth valleys with few craters. Other areas are rough with many craters. Based on this, it can be concluded that

A) valleys are young and the rough areas are old.
B) the valleys are old and the rough areas are young.
C) both valleys and rough areas are young.
D) both valleys and rough areas are old.

Question 29

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

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

Question 30

Which of the following are found on Triton?

A) craters
B) flooded basins
C) atmospheric clouds
D) a thick nitrogen atmosphere
E) all of the above

Question 31

The graph below plots the escape velocity of several solar system objects along the vertical axis and the surface temperature along the horizontal axis. The lines plotted in the figure are the speeds of the fastest gas particles as a function of temperature for various gases. Which of the objects in this diagram has the greatest surface temperature?

A) Ganymede
B) Pluto
C) Titan
D) Triton
E) Miranda

Question 32

Saturn's atmosphere

A) has more distinctive zones and belts than Jupiter's.
B) is rich in free oxygen.
C) is hazy above the clouds.
D) is all of the above.
E) is none of the above.

Question 33

Which of these wins the prize as the blandest appearing planet as revealed visually by space probes?

A) Jupiter
B) Saturn
C) Uranus
D) Neptune

Question 34

Uranus and Neptune do not contain liquid metallic hydrogen because they

A) are not massive enough.
B) do not contain enough hydrogen.
C) rotate too slowly.
D) are too far from the sun.
E) have magnetic fields that are much too weak.

Question 35

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.

Question 36

____ is a satellite of Pluto.

A) Miranda
B) Charon
C) Venus
D) Krypton
E) Nereid

Question 37

The rings of Uranus were discovered ______

A) during an occultation of a star by the rings (as well as by the planet).
B) during an eclipse of one of the moons by the rings.
C) during a voyage to Uranus by astronauts
D) as Uranus and the rings passed behind Jupiter.
E) during an encounter by the Voyager 1 space probe.

Question 38

The reddish particles in Jupiter's ring are less than 1 percent as reflective as Saturn's whiter particles. Saturn's ring particles are thought to be ____while Jupiters are thought to be ______.

A) icy; rocky
B) rocky; icy
C) icy; also icy
D) rocky; also rocky

Question 39

Uranus and Neptune appear blue or blue-green because

A) their atmospheres absorb blue light very efficiently.
B) their solid air-less surfaces are this color
C) their surfaces are covered with liquid water with no atmosphere
D) traces of methane in their atmospheres absorb red light very efficiently.

Question 40

Some narrow rings of Saturn are seen in space probe photos to be caused by

A) gravitational interactions between ring particles.
B) a spiral density wave which confines them.
C) the magnetic field which holds them in place.
D) small shepherd moons that orbit inside and outside the rings

Question 41

Pluto is no longer classified as a planet; instead it is classified as a(n) ____________________.

Question 42

Volcanism is apparent on many objects in the solar system. However, volcanic activity is known to be currently occurring only on Earth and Jupiter's satellite____________________.

Question 43

____________________ is the smallest of the large moons of Uranus and its surface has features called ovoids. These ovoids may have been formed by the upheaval of material by convection in the interior.

Question 44

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

Question 45

The rings of ____________________ were discovered when they occulted a star.

Question 46

What type of geological activity is seen on Neptune's moon Triton?

A) Plate tectonics and earthquakes are a common occurrence on Triton.
B) Volcanoes of molten lava, similar to Earth, have been seen there.
C) Geysers of liquid nitrogen are seen erupting from its surface.
D) Geysers of liquid water are seen erupting from its surface.

Question 47

Pluto's density is 1.8 g/cm³. Iron is about 5 g/cm³. Rock is about is 3 g/cm³. Ice or water is 1.0 g/cm³. This implies that

A) Pluto has a large iron-nickel core.
B) Pluto is about 50% water and 50% rocky material.
C) Pluto is all rock.
D) Pluto is all water or water ice.

Question 48

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 49

The existence and location of ____________________ was accurately predicted and located based on differences in the expected and observed orbit of another planet.

Question 50

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

Question 51

Why is it believed that the rings of Saturn could not have formed just as the planet itself formed?

A) Over time the solar wind should have blown away the particles in the rings.
B) The particles in the rings should fall into the planet in a short period of time.
C) The rings are made of ice particles which would have been vaporized by the heat released as Saturn formed.
D) The outer planets do not have enough mass to hold on to the rings.

Question 52

The graph below plots the escape velocity of several solar system objects along the vertical axis and the surface temperature along the horizontal. The lines plotted in the figure are the fastest speeds of gas particles as a function of temperature for various gases. Which of the gases plotted in this diagram could be retained by Miranda?

A) only CO₂
B) only NH₃
C) CO₂, NH₃, and O₂
D) all of them
E) none of them

Question 53

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 biologically active.
D) It is so close to Saturn that Saturn's gravity retains Titan's atmosphere.

Question 54

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

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

Question 55

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

Question 56

What is one possible reasons Jupiter and Saturn radiate more energy than they receive from the sun?

A) Magnetic and electric fields heat the planet.
B) Fusion reactions of hydrogen into helium 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 57

Small ____________________ can confine sections of Saturn's rings to produce sharp edges or narrow ringlets.

Question 58

____________________ discovered Uranus using a telescope that he built himself.

Question 59

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 60

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

Question 61

Both Jupiter and Saturn contain liquid metallic hydrogen.

Question 62

Nereid's orbit is peculiar in that it is highly elliptical.

Question 63

The rings around Uranus and Neptune are confined by shepherd satellites.

Question 64

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

Question 65

The existence of Uranus was predicted by the application of Newton's laws of motion and gravity.

Question 66

Saturn's belts and zones are obscured by haze high in its atmosphere.

Question 67

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

Question 68

Jupiter radiates less heat than it absorbs from the sun.

Question 69

The ____________________ was a large cyclonic storm in the atmosphere of Neptune observed by Voyager 2.

Question 70

For an observer on Uranus, the ecliptic passes only a few degrees from the celestial poles.

Question 71

Jupiter's ring is composed of particles of frozen ice.

Question 72

Saturn is less dense than Jupiter.

Question 73

Satellites that lack craters are generally old, inactive bodies.

Question 74

Jovian planets are found in the inner solar system.

Question 75

Jupiter's interior is mostly liquid helium.

Question 76

Shepherd satellites keep Saturn's F ring narrow.

Question 77

The rings of Uranus were discovered by the Voyager 2 spacecraft.

Question 78

Although Uranus and Neptune have no liquid metallic hydrogen in their interiors, they do have magnetic fields.

Question 79

Although Neptune has no liquid metallic hydrogen in its interior, it does have a magnetic field.

Question 80

Saturn's rings are composed of icy particles.