Jovian Planet Systems Flashcards
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 much more massive then any of the terrestrial planets. They lack solid surfaces. They are higher in average density than are the terrestrial planets.
They are higher in average density than are the terrestrial planets.
Which of the following best describes the internal layering of Jupiter, from the center outward?
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. 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.
Which of the following statements comparing the jovian interiors is not thought to be true?
They all have cores that contain at least some rock and metal. Deep inside them, they all have pressures far higher than that found on the bottom of the ocean on Earth. They all have the same exact set of internal layers, those these layers differ in size. They all have cores of roughly the same mass.
They all have the same exact set of internal layers, those these layers differ in size.
Overall, Jupiter’s composition is most like that of ______.
Earth the Sun an asteroid a comet
the Sun
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 water clouds of ammonia clouds of sulfuric acid clouds of ammonium hydrosulfide
clouds of sulfuric acid
What is the Great Red Spot?
a place where reddish particles from Io impact Jupiter's surface a region on Jupiter where the temperature is so high that the gas glows with red visible light a long-lived, high-pressure storm on Jupiter a hurricane that comes and goes on Jupiter
a long-lived, high-pressure storm on Jupiter
What atmospheric constituent is responsible for the blue color of Uranus and Neptune?
water hydrogen ammonia methane
methane
How does the strength of Jupiter’s magnetic field compare to that of Earth’s magnetic field?
Jupiter's magnetic field is much weaker than Earth's. Jupiter's magnetic field is about twice as strong as Earth's. Jupiter's magnetic field is about 20,000 times as strong as Earth's. Jupiter's magnetic field strength is about the same as Earth's.
Jupiter’s magnetic field is about 20,000 times as strong as Earth’s.
Which statement about Io is true?
It is the most volcanically active body in our solar system. It is the only moon in the solar system with a thick atmosphere. It is thought to have a deep, subsurface ocean of liquid water. It is the largest moon in the solar system.
It is the most volcanically active body in our solar system.
Which moon has a thick atmosphere made mostly of nitrogen?
Titan Triton Europa Ganymede
Titan
Which moon is considered likely to have a deep, subsurface ocean of liquid water?
Io Europa Miranda Triton
Europa
Which large jovian moon is thought to have been captured into its present orbit?
Callisto Io Titan Triton
Triton
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?
dozens of large "moonlets" made of metal and rock, each a few kilometers across 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 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.
countless icy particles, ranging in size from dust grains to large boulders
Which statement about planetary rings is not true?
Individual ring particles orbit their planet in accord with Kepler's laws, so that particles closer in orbit faster than particles farther out. Rings are always located closer to a planet's surface than any large moons. Saturn's rings formed along with its moons 4.6 billion years ago. All four jovian planets have rings.
Saturn’s rings formed along with its moons 4.6 billion years ago.
Which of the following statements best describes the general pattern of composition among the four jovian planets?
Jupiter and Saturn have compositions that are fairly different from the compositions of Uranus and Neptune.
Jupiter is made mostly of hydrogen and helium, while the other three jovian planets are made mostly of hydrogen compounds.
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.
All four planets have essentially the same composition.
Jupiter and Saturn have compositions that are fairly different from the compositions of Uranus and Neptune.
Which of the following statements best describes the pattern of jovian planet densities?
There is no clear trend in the densities. Jupiter is the densest, and the densities of the other planets increase in order of distance from the Sun. Jupiter is the densest, and the densities of the other planets decrease in order of distance from the Sun. The more massive the planet, the lower the density. The more massive the planet, the higher the density.
There is no clear trend in the densities.
Which of the following statements best explains why the densities of Uranus and Neptune are higher than those of Jupiter and Saturn?
Their interiors are more compressed due to stronger gravity. They have a higher proportion of hydrogen compounds and rock. 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.
Which of the following best explains why Jupiter’s density is higher than Saturn’s?
Jupiter is closer to the Sun than Saturn. Jupiter has a stronger magnetic field than Saturn. Jupiter has a higher proportion of hydrogen compounds and rock than Saturn. Jupiter is more massive than Saturn.
Jupiter is more massive than Saturn.
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 and higher density than Jupiter and Saturn?
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. 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.
Sort each of the planetary properties below based on whether they apply to some, all, or none of the four jovian planets in our solar system.
Jupiter and Saturn only :
composed mostly of hydrogen and helium Interior is mostly liquid or metallic hydrogen blue color because of methane composed mostly hydrogen compounds magnetic field stronger than earths orbited by rings of ice and rock strong atmospheric winds and storms approximately 10 earth-mass cores solid surface under a atmosphere
composed mostly of hydrogen and helium
Interior is mostly liquid or metallic hydrogen
Sort each of the planetary properties below based on whether they apply to some, all, or none of the four jovian planets in our solar system.
Uranus and Neptune only:
composed mostly of hydrogen and helium Interior is mostly liquid or metallic hydrogen blue color because of methane composed mostly hydrogen compounds magnetic field stronger than earths orbited by rings of ice and rock strong atmospheric winds and storms approximately 10 earth-mass cores solid surface under a atmosphere
blue color because of methane
composed mostly hydrogen compounds
