Astronomy Ch. 13

it will provide the raw material for a future Neptunian ring

What is the prediction for the future of Triton?

its strange tilt produces extreme seasonal variation

Which is true about the seasons on Uranus?

Miranda

Which moon of Uranus displays the widest range of surface terrains, suggesting some catastrophic disruption?

(d) evidence for hydrogen in its spectrum

A gas giant orbiting a distant star would be expected to have (a) a ring system like that of Saturn; (b) a density less than water; (c) many large moons orbiting in different directions; (d) evidence for hydrogen in its spectrum

(c) roughly the same size

Compared with Uranus, the planet Neptune is (a) much smaller; (b) much larger; (c) roughly the same size; (d) tilted on its side

(d) have warm interiors

Moons that show few craters probably (a) are captured asteroids; (b) have been shielded from impacts by their host planets; (c) have had their smaller craters obliterated by larger impacts; (d) have warm interiors

(a) the planet's mass

The discovery of a moon orbiting a planet allows astronomers to measure (a) the planet's mass; (b) the moon's mass and density; (c) the planet's ring structure; (d) the planet's cratering history

(b) the patient use of improving technology

The discovery of new planets mostly requires (a) complex calculations and large supercomputers; (b) the patient use of improving technology; (c) an astronomy degree from a large university; (d) pure luck

(c) all orbit directly above the planet's equator

The five largest moons of Uranus (a) all orbit in the ecliptic plane; (b) can never come between Uranus and the Sun; (c) all orbit directly above the planet's equator; (d) all have significantly eccentric orbits

(d) have magnetic field axes most closely aligned with their axes of rotation

The jovian planets with the largest diameters also tend to (a) have the slowest rotation rates; (b) move most slowly in their orbit around the Sun; (c) have the fewest moons; (d) have magnetic field axes most closely aligned with their axes of rotation

hydrogen

The most abundant component of the atmospheres of Uranus and Neptune is:

(d) Uranus

The solar system object most similar to Neptune is (a) Earth; (b) Jupiter; (c) Saturn; (d) Uranus

false

True of False: both Uranus and Neptune's magnetic fields pass directly through the cores of their planet's like all other fields

(b) the U.S. Declaration of Independence

Uranus was discovered about the same time as (a) Columbus reached North America; (b) the U.S. Declaration of Independence; (c) the American Civil War; (d) the Great Depression in the United States

(a) more compressed horizontally

Uranus's rings were discovered by the occultation of starlight, as shown in Figure 13.15 ("Occultation of Starlight"). If Uranus were moving more rapidly relative to Earth, the graph in that figure would appear (a) more compressed horizontally; (b) the same; (c) more stretched out horizontally

stellar occultation

dimming of starlight produced when a solar system object such as a planet, moon, or ring passes directly in front of a star

Great Dark Spot

in 1989, Neptune was found to have a huge storm named the

Great Dark Spot

prominent storm system in the atmosphere of Neptune observed by Voyager 2, near the equator of the planet. the system was comparable in size to Earth

radiation darkening

the effect of chemical reactions that result when high-energy particles strike the icy surfaces of objects in the outer solar system. the reactions lead to a buildup of a dark layer of material

methane absorbs red light

two outer Jovian planets appear bluish in color because

growth of an object by the accumulation of matter

what is the process of accretion?