Jovian Planets
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 __________. View Available Hint(s) Io, Europa and Ganymede periodically return to the same orbital positions, creating the same gravitational tugs Europa and Ganymede are unusually large moons Europa and Ganymede always pull on Io from the same direction as Jupiter pulls on Io all three moons orbit with the same period, staying aligned at all times
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Jupiter and the other jovian planets are sometimes called "gas giants." In what sense is this term misleading? They actually contain relatively little material in a gaseous state. They are not in any sense "giants." The materials they are made of are more solid than gaseous. Actually, it's a great description, because these worlds are big and gaseous throughout.
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Look at the average densities of the jovian planets given in Figure 1. Can you identify a trend in jovian planet densities with mass or distance from the Sun? There is no clear trend in the densities with mass or distance. The more massive the planet, the lower the density. The densities decrease in order of distance from the Sun. The densities increase in order of distance from the Sun. The more massive the planet, the higher the density.
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Saturn's rings look bright because __________. View Available Hint(s) light from the Sun reflects off the material in the rings the material in the rings is hot and creates its own light light from Saturn reflects off the material in the rings
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The two jovian planets that contain the highest proportions of hydrogen compounds are ___________. View Available Hint(s) Uranus and Neptune Jupiter and Neptune Saturn and Neptune Saturn and Uranus Jupiter and Uranus Jupiter and Saturn
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Uranus and Neptune have methane clouds but Jupiter and Saturn do not. Which of the following explains why? Temperatures on Jupiter and Saturn are too high for methane to condense. The stronger gravity on Jupiter and Saturn pulls methane downward so that it can't form clouds. Jupiter and Saturn do not contain any methane gas. The rapid rotation of Jupiter and Saturn prevents methane clouds from forming.
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What is the Great Red Spot? a long-lived, high-pressure storm on Jupiter a region on Jupiter where the temperature is so high that the gas glows with red visible light a place where reddish particles from Io impact Jupiter's surface a hurricane that comes and goes on Jupiter
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What would be the approximate radius of a hydrogen/helium planet with a mass one-tenth that of Jupiter? about 0.7 times the radius of Jupiter about 0.9 times the radius of Jupiter about 1 time the radius of Jupiter about 0.5 times the radius of Jupiter
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Where is Jupiter's strong magnetic field generated? metallic hydrogen layer liquid hydrogen layer rocky core gaseous hydrogen layer cloud tops
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Why does Jupiter have several distinct cloud layers? Different layers represent clouds made of gases that condense at different temperatures. Different gases are present at different altitudes in Jupiter's atmosphere. Clouds form randomly, so on average there are always several layers. Different layers represent the various regions where the temperature is cool enough for liquid water to condense. Winds prevent clouds from forming at some altitudes, so we see clouds only at the other altitudes.
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How do typical wind speeds in Jupiter's atmosphere compare to typical wind speeds on Earth? They are slightly slower than average wind speeds on Earth. They are much faster than average wind speeds on Earth. They are about the same as average wind speeds on Earth.
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Part complete What causes the vivid bands seen in Jupiter's upper atmosphere? The lighter bands are clouds seen above the darker solid surface below. Rising and falling gas is stretched by Jupiter's rapid rotation into bands of weather that encircle the planet. Different materials are separated into bands by the centripetal force of Jupiter's rapid rotation. Jupiter's powerful magnetic field causes charged particles in its atmosphere to line up into bands.
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Part complete What is a likely reason why a large storm like the Great Red Spot on Jupiter can last so long? Jupiter is unique from the other jovians since it spins much faster, allowing storms to last longer. There is no solid surface underneath the storm to sap its energy. Chemical reactions within the atmosphere release energy, which prolongs the storm. Low pressure systems form easily and last a long time on the jovian planets since their atmospheres are so cold.
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Part complete Which of the following is not a general characteristic of the four jovian planets in our solar system? They are composed mainly of hydrogen, helium, and hydrogen compounds. They are higher in average density than are the terrestrial planets. They lack solid surfaces. They are much more massive than any of the terrestrial planets.
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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? a solid, shiny surface, looking much like a piece of a DVD but a lot bigger countless icy particles, ranging in size from dust grains to large boulders dozens of large "moonlets" made of metal and rock, each a few kilometers across Nothing-up close; the rings would be so completely invisible that you'd have no way to know they are there. They can be seen only from a distance.
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The Galileo spacecraft dropped a probe into Jupiter's atmosphere that survived 200 km, or 0.3% of Jupiter's radius. Which is the deepest layer that this probe was able to directly sample? rocky core gaseous hydrogen layer metallic hydrogen layer liquid hydrogen layer
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What mechanism is most responsible for generating the internal heat of Io that drives its volcanic activity? accretion tidal heating radioactive decay bombardment differentiation
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Which moon has a thick atmosphere made mostly of nitrogen? Ganymede Titan Triton Europa
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Which moon is considered likely to have a deep, subsurface ocean of liquid water? Triton Europa Miranda Io
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Which of the following statements best describes the general pattern of composition among the four jovian planets? View Available Hint(s) Jupiter is made mostly of hydrogen, Saturn is made mostly of helium, Uranus is made mostly of hydrogen compounds, and Neptune is made mostly of rock. Uranus and Neptune contain relatively more rock and hydrogen compounds than Jupiter and Saturn. All four planets have essentially the same composition. Jupiter is made mostly of hydrogen and helium, while the other three jovian planets are made mostly of hydrogen compounds.
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Which of the following statements correctly describes the motion of the particles in Saturn's rings? View Available Hint(s) Particles in all the rings hover motionlessly high above Saturn. Particles in the inner rings orbit Saturn at a faster speed than particles in the outer rings. Particles in the inner rings orbit Saturn at a slower speed than particles in the outer rings. All the particles in the rings orbit Saturn with the same orbital period.
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Based on the leading scientific theory of solar system formation, which of the following statements best explains why Uranus and Neptune have a significantly different composition than Jupiter and Saturn? View Available Hint(s) The lower temperatures at the locations of Uranus and Neptune allowed more material to condense into solid form into solid form. The lower masses of Uranus and Neptune allowed more of their hydrogen and helium gas to escape into space. Jupiter and Saturn captured more gas from the solar nebula than Uranus and Neptune. Jupiter and Saturn formed closer to the Sun, where there was more hydrogen and helium gas and less hydrogen compounds and rock.
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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. View Available Hint(s) is much smaller is more perfectly spherical in shape is farther from Jupiter contains much more ice
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Part complete Which of the following best describes the internal layering of Jupiter, from the center outward? liquid core of hydrogen compounds; liquid hydrogen layer; metallic hydrogen layer; gaseous hydrogen layer; cloud layer solid rock core; layer of solid metallic hydrogen; layer of pure liquid hydrogen; cloud layer core of rock, metal, and hydrogen compounds; thick layer of metallic hydrogen; layer of liquid hydrogen; layer of gaseous hydrogen; cloud layer core of rock and metal; mantle of lower density rock; upper layer of gaseous hydrogen; cloud layer
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Saturn's rings are composed of __________. gas from the early solar system a series of solid concentric circles lots of individual particles of ice and rock parts of Saturn's upper atmosphere being vented into space
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The Huygens probe took numerous pictures as it descended to Titan's surface in 2005. What did the pictures show? a densely cratered surface primitive life forms features of erosion, including what appeared to be dry river valleys and lakebeds lava flows of molten basalt
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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? View Available Hint(s) We need to know whether the planet also has a third moon. We need to know whether either moon is volcanically active. We need to know their orbital periods. No other information is needed: With two moons, there is sure to be tidal heating. No other information is needed: With two moons, there is no chance of any tidal heating.
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What is the average thickness of Saturn's rings? a few tens of thousands of kilometers a few kilometers a few tens of meters a few hundred kilometers a few million kilometers
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Which lists the jovian planets in order of increasing distance from the Sun? Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Pluto Saturn, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
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Which of the following best explains why Jupiter's density is higher than Saturn's? View Available Hint(s) Jupiter has a stronger magnetic field than Saturn. Jupiter is closer to the Sun than Saturn. Jupiter is more massive than Saturn. Jupiter has a higher proportion of hydrogen compounds and rock than Saturn.
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Which statement about Io is true? It is the only moon in the solar system with a thick atmosphere. It is the largest moon in the solar system. It is the most volcanically active body in our solar system. It is thought to have a deep, subsurface ocean of liquid water.
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Which statement about Saturn's rings is not true? The large gap known as the Cassini Division is shaped by an orbital resonance with the moon Mimas, which orbits well outside the rings. Some features of the rings are shaped by small moons that actually orbit within the ring system. The rings must look much the same today as they did shortly after Saturn formed. The rings are so thin that they essentially disappear from view when seen edge-on.
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Why do astronomers believe that Triton is a captured moon? Triton is very small and potato-shaped, which is common of captured moons. Triton appears to be made mostly of ice. Triton orbits Neptune in a direction opposite that of Neptune's rotation. Triton is too large to have been formed in the "miniature solar nebula" thought to have surrounded Neptune in its very early history.
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How does the strength of Jupiter's magnetic field compare to that of Earth's magnetic field? Jupiter's magnetic field is about twice as strong as Earth's. Jupiter's magnetic field strength is about the same as Earth's. Jupiter's magnetic field is much weaker than Earth's. Jupiter's magnetic field is about 20,000 times as strong as Earth's.
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Io experiences tidal heating primarily because __________. View Available Hint(s) it is made of relatively soft materials that deform quite easily. it has an elongated shape that makes it look more like an egg than a sphere. it is located very close to Jupiter. its elliptical orbit causes the tidal force to vary as Io orbits Jupiter.
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Jupiter's colors come in part from its three layers of clouds. Which of the following is not the primary constituent of one of Jupiter's cloud layers? clouds of ammonium hydrosulfide clouds of water clouds of ammonia clouds of sulfuric acid
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Overall, Jupiter's composition is most like that of ________. a comet an asteroid Earth the Sun
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Planetary rings are composed of a large number of individual particles that orbit their planet in accord with Kepler's laws. exist around all of the jovian planets. orbit in the equatorial plane of their planet. all of the above
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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? View Available Hint(s) Io's surprisingly elliptical orbit Io's unusual, egg-like shape the orbital resonance between Io, Europa, and Ganymede active volcanoes on Io
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What atmospheric constituent is responsible for the blue color of Uranus and Neptune? ammonia water hydrogen methane
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What is the most abundant gas in Titan's atmosphere?hydrogen compounds argon methane nitrogen oxygen
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Which jovian planet should have the most extreme seasonal changes? Neptune Saturn Jupiter Uranus
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Which moon of Jupiter is thought to contain liquid water somewhere in its interior? Callisto Europa Ganymede all of the above
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Which of the following best describes the nature of planetary rings? They are a solid sheet of material around a planet, looking much like a DVD or blu-ray disk. The are solid, concentric rings around a planet. They are composed of reflective molecules of gas. They are composed of countless individual particles.
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Which of the following statements best explains why the densities of Uranus and Neptune are higher than that of Saturn, even though Saturn is much more massive? View Available Hint(s) They have higher masses. They have stronger magnetic fields. They are at greater distances from the Sun. They have a higher proportion of hydrogen compounds and rock. Their interiors are more compressed due to stronger gravity.
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Why is Jupiter denser than Saturn? It is made of a different composition than Saturn, including a higher proportion of hydrogen compounds and rocks. It has a greater proportion of helium to hydrogen compared to Saturn. Its core is much larger than Saturn's. The extra mass of Jupiter compresses its interior to a greater extent than that of Saturn. Scientists do not know why this is so.
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What is the most likely method in which Jupiter generates its internal heat? chemical processes radioactive decay nuclear fusion in the core internal friction due to its high rotation rate by contracting, changing gravitational potential energy into thermal energy
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Which of the following best describes the composition of the particles forming Saturn's rings? methane ice metallic grains hydrogen and helium volcanic rock water ice
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The largest moon in the solar system is ____________ 2. The jovian moon with the most geologically active surface is ________ 3. Strong evidence both from surface features and magnetic field data support the existence of a subsurface ocean on ___________ 4. _______ is responsible for the tremendous volcanic activity on Io. 5._______ the most distant of Jupiter's four Galilean moons. 6. The fact that Europa orbits Jupiter twice for every one orbit of Ganymede is an example of a(n)______
Ganymede lo europa tidal heating Callistois orbital resonance
Which of the jovian planets have rings? Jupiter Saturn Neptune Uranus all of the above
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