Giant Planets, Moons, and Rings

Flashcards about the giant planets, moons, and rings in our solar system based on lecture notes.

How does Jupiter compare to Earth in terms of mass?

Jupiter is 318 times more massive than Earth.

What is the relative mass of Saturn compared to Jupiter?

Saturn is about 25% as massive as Jupiter.

What distinguishes Uranus and Neptune from Jupiter and Saturn in terms of hydrogen and helium content?

Uranus and Neptune are depleted in hydrogen and helium relative to Jupiter and Saturn.

Do Jupiter, Saturn, and Neptune have major internal heat sources?

Yes, Jupiter, Saturn, and Neptune have major internal heat sources.

Which giant planet has no measurable internal heat?

Uranus has no measurable internal heat.

Which planet has the strongest magnetic field and largest magnetosphere?

Jupiter has the strongest magnetic field and largest magnetosphere.

What are the atmospheres of the giant planets primarily composed of?

The atmospheres are composed mostly of hydrogen and helium.

What causes the colors in the clouds of Jupiter?

The exact cause of the colors in the clouds of Jupiter is unknown.

What is the Great Red Spot?

A large storm (oval-shaped high-pressure system) found on Jupiter.

What primarily composes Saturn’s rings?

Water ice.

What are the rings of Uranus and Neptune composed of?

Narrow rings of dark material.

What are Ganymede and Callisto primarily composed of?

More than half water ice.

Which of Jupiter's moons is the most volcanically active object in the solar system?

Io is the most volcanically active.

What is found beneath the thick ice crust of Europa?

A global ocean of liquid water.

What is unique about Titan's atmosphere?

It is thicker than that of Earth.

What substances form lakes and rivers on Titan?

Liquid hydrocarbons (methane and ethane).

What is Pluto's surface composed of?

Dark cratered terrain, light-colored basins of nitrogen ice, and mountains of frozen water.

What maintains the tenuous E Ring of Saturn?

Geysers of water erupting from the moon Enceladus.

What causes the complex structure of planetary rings?

Waves and resonances induced by moons within the rings or orbiting outside them.