Question 1

Describe and name the types of planets that have been observed in other star systems, but not our own.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe and name the types of planets...

Question 2

Uranus has an orbital period of 84 Earth years, a rotation period of 17.2 hours, and an obliquity of 98°.Explain what solar days are like near the north pole of Uranus, and how long they last.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Uranus has an orbital period of 84...

Question 3

What do scientists mean when they say Jupiter's moon Io orbits in a "plasma torus," as shown in the figure below, and what causes this phenomenon?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What do scientists mean when they say...

Question 4

If Saturn's orbital period is 30 years and its axial tilt is 26 degrees, how long is it from the first day of spring to the first day of autumn on Saturn?

Accepted Answer

The answer of If Saturn's orbital period is 30 years...

Question 5

On which of the giant planets do we think we can find deep oceans of water? Why do we think this when we can't directly see inside the giant planets?

Accepted Answer

The answer of On which of the giant planets do...

Question 6

In addition to the visible light that we can see with our own eyes, Jupiter emits a large amount of radio waves.Explain the processes that allow Jupiter to give off each of these types of light.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In addition to the visible light that...

Question 7

How might planetary migration have affected Earth in our Solar System's history?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How might planetary migration have affected Earth...

Question 8

The atmosphere of Earth has only one main volatile component, water.The atmospheres of the giant planets, however, have a number of additional volatiles, such as methane and ammonia.What is the most conspicuous consequence of this difference?

Accepted Answer

The answer of The atmosphere of Earth has only one...

Question 9

Based on the flux of sunlight that it gets, Jupiter should have a temperature of 109 K.However, its temperature is observed to be 124 K.How much more energy is Jupiter radiating out into space compared to what it gets from the Sun?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Based on the flux of sunlight that...

Question 10

What is meant by "helium rain" inside of gas giants?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is meant by "helium rain" inside...

Question 11

Saturn has a large magnetosphere similar to Jupiter's, yet it is much harder to detect than Jupiter's magnetosphere.Why?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Saturn has a large magnetosphere similar to...

Question 12

If Saturn's rotational period is 11 hours and its radius is 6 * 10⁷ m, what is the average speed of an equatorial cloud in its atmosphere that is rotating with Saturn? (Neglect differential speeds due to winds.)

Accepted Answer

The answer of If Saturn's rotational period is 11 hours...

Question 13

Describe the process of planetary migration, and the effects it has on planetary systems.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe the process of planetary migration, and...

Question 14

What causes the large magnetic fields of Uranus and Neptune? How does this source help explain why the axes of their magnetic fields are misaligned and significantly offset from their rotational axes?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What causes the large magnetic fields of...

Question 15

The Kepler-20 system, illustrated in the figure below, has an order of planets that does not match what we expect from current planetary system formation theories.How do we explain this order, and that of other systems with large planets close to their star?

Accepted Answer

The answer of The Kepler-20 system, illustrated in the figure...

Question 16

Why are winds on the giant planets far faster than those on Earth?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why are winds on the giant planets...

Question 17

Explain why the densest materials in Jupiter are found in the core of the planet.How does this differ from the formation of Earth's dense core?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain why the densest materials in Jupiter...

Question 18

Describe the difference(s) between how the magnetic fields of terrestrial planets are produced and how those from gas giant and ice giant planets are produced.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe the difference(s) between how the magnetic...

Question 19

Would we expect to find cloud bands on giant planets in other solar systems? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Would we expect to find cloud bands...

Question 20

A diagram of the interior of Jupiter is shown the figure below, with layers labeled A-D.Describe what each of the four labeled layers is made of.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A diagram of the interior of Jupiter...

Quiz 10: Worlds of Gas and Liquidthe Giant Planets