Lesson 9 & 10 from Assignment

Question 1

Why is Saturn almost as big as Jupiter, despite its smaller mass?

Answer 1

Jupiter’s greater mass condenses it more, thus increasing its density

Question 2

The for Galilean moons around Jupiter are:

Answer 2

A mixture of rock and ice

Question 3

Why do astronomers think Miranda has such an unusual surface?

Answer 3

It underwent an episode of tidal heating in the past

Question 4

Planetary rings are:

Answer 4

all of the mentioned choices

Question 5

How do the jovian planet interiors differ?

Answer 5

All have cores about the same mass, but differ in the amount of surrounding hydrogen and helium

Question 6

How do astronomers think Jupiter generates its internal heat?

Answer 6

By contracting, changing gravitational potential energy into thermal energy

Question 7

When a comet passes near the sun, part of it takes on the appearance of a large, bright ball from which the tail extends. This part is called:

Answer 7

the coma

Question 8

Why aren’t small asteroids spherical in shape?

Answer 8

The strength of gravity on small asteroids is less than the strength of the rock

Question 9

primitive meteorites can be distinguished from other meteorites and terrestrial rocks because they:

Answer 9

contain a noticeable fraction of pure metallic flakes