Geology Exam 3

Jupiter is different from the terrestrial planets in what important way?

A. It shows atmospheric perturbations.

B. It radiates more energy than it receives from the Sun.

C. It is denser.

D. It has a rocky surface.

E. None of the above.

B

The banding of Jupiter's atmosphere is probably related to which of the following?

A. Jupiter's atmosphere shows no banding.

B. Reflection of the surface features.

C. Turbulent winds in the atmosphere of this rapidly spinning planet.

D. The composition of the atmosphere.

C (The bands of Jupiter (called "zones") are formed by turbulent winds in the atmosphere similar to the cyclones and anticyclones of Earth (rising and sinking gas).

By looking at any image of Jupiter, we know the planet is indeed banded.

Since Jupiter does not have a true surface and does have an incredibly thick atmosphere, we can deduce the bands are not a reflection of surface features.)

Jupiter is composed mainly of ____________.

A. hydrogen, lithium, and sodium

B. rocky silicate materials

C. water ice

D. hydrogen and helium

D (The incredibly low density of Jupiter (1.3 g/cm3) indicates a very different composition than any of the dense, terrestrial planets. While Jupiter does have core of rock and water ice, the amount of these materials is far less than the hydrogen and helium contained in Jupiter's atmosphere.)

Why is Jupiter so much larger than all of the terrestrial planets combined?

A. It radiates a significant amount of energy like the Sun.

B. It formed in the outer solar system where water ice was stable.

C. It has low density.

D. It has a large gravitational attraction.

B. (See Section 9.1 Major ConceptsLinks to an external site.

Jupiter was able to get much larger than the terrestrial planets because there was more material to accrete from at Jupiter's location. This is a result of water ice becoming stable here. There was A LOT of water in the Solar Nebula, but it could not condense into a solid state until the water is cold enough (far enough away from the Sun). Jupiter grew large because of the presence of water ice, this in turn allowed Jupiter to have a strong gravitational attraction that allowed Jupiter to hold onto the hydrogen and helium from the Solar Nebula, leading to Jupiter's very low density.)

Where does Jupiter's large magnetic field come from?

A. It develops like Earth's field when convection happens in a layer of molten iron deep inside.

B. All planets that spin have magnetic fields.

C. Convection in a layer of ionized hydrogen may create the magnetic field.

D. It is induced by the orbital motions of its moons and the ring system.

C. (See Section 9.3 The Interior of Jupiter Links to an external site.

As we have discussed previously, movement of a charged particles can produce a magnetic field. With the terrestrial planets a magnetic field is produced by convective motion of molten iron in the planets outer core. Since Jupiter does not have the same internal structure there must be a slightly different way the magnetic field develops. It occurs by convective motion of charged hydrogen in the metallic hydrogen layer of Jupiter.)

What are some important characteristics of the atmosphere of Jupiter? (Select all that apply.)

A. Jupiter's atmosphere formed by outgassing of solids in its interior.

B. The clouds are made of ices of ammonia (NH3) and water.

C. The main gases in the atmosphere are ammonia and methane

D. Jupiter's atmosphere formed by trapping nebula gas on to a large icy core.

E. It is poor in carbon dioxide, unlike Mars.

B, D, E (See Section 9.3 The Interior of JupiterLinks to an external site.

Jupiter's atmosphere is mostly composed of the gases hydrogen and helium, however there are significant amounts of the ices ammonia and water. Unlike the terrestrial planets, the atmosphere of Jupiter did not form by outgassing of the planet, but by collapse of the nebular gases onto Jupiter's large rocky-ice core. And unlike Mars and Venus, Jupiter does not have any carbon dioxide in its atmosphere.)

How are the rings of Jupiter related to the small moons Adrastea and Metis?

A. The magnetic fields of tiny Adrastea and Metis shepherd small chunks of ice into a narrow ring.

B. Collisions at the surface of these bodies may send showers of small particles spiraling inward to Jupiter.

C. Geysers of liquid water spew from the surface, freeze into droplets of ice, and go in orbit around Jupiter.

B (See Section 9.4 The RingsLinks to an external site.

The moons Adrastea and Metis are so close to Jupiter's rings that it is suspected, impacts into these moons can send material towards Jupiter, some of which can be trapped in the ring of Jupiter. Perhaps this process replenishes Jupiter's ring enough that the ring never completely disappears.)

In what way is Io similar to Earth's Moon? (Select all that apply.)

A. Both are tidally locked with one face pointed toward their host planet.

B. They have about the same density.

C. They are about the same size.

D. Both have heavily cratered surfaces.

E. Both have active volcanoes.

A, B, C (The easiest way to answer this question is to think "what is the major difference between the Moon and Io?". The answer to this question is Io is still geologically active while the Moon is geologically dead. This is because Io experiences tidal forces with Jupiter that keeps Io warm. This results in Io having active volcanism that buries impact craters. So we would not mark D and E because only the Moon is heavily cratered and only Io has active volcanoes.)

The surface of Io is thought to be less than a million years old because ________________.

A. volcanoes have been discovered on its surface

B. it is internally differentiated

C. it has no impact craters

D. it is too close to Jupiter

C

Which of the following are major differences between Io and Europa?

A. Europa is much denser than Io.

B. The age of their surfaces.

C. The composition of the surface materials.

D. Europa is much larger than Io.

C (See Section 9.5.1 Io and 9.5.2 EuropaLinks to an external site.

The density of Io indicates Io is made of silicates, while the density of Europa indicates it is made of ice.)

The age of the surface of Europa is like which of the satellites of Jupiter?

A. Io

B. Amalthea

C. Callisto

D. Ganymede

A (Like Io, Europa has no craters indicating a similar surface age. The other moons have many craters.)

Which of the following statements is true about Europa?

A. Europa has abundant craters and large impact basins.

B. Europa has no water ice at its surface and is dominated by silicates.

C. It is composed of ice throughout.

D. It has crisscrossing stripes and fractures.

D

The most volcanically active body in the solar system is ______________.

A. Io

B. Enceladus

C. Earth

D. Jupiter

E. Europa

A (See Section 9.5.1 IoLinks to an external site.

Io is the most actively volcanic body in the Solar System. This is evidenced by the fact that the spacecraft Voyager identified 11 volcanoes that had experienced recent volcanic activity. The chances of a spacecraft passing Earth and observing an erupting volcano are slim.)

Which of the following is true about the subdued crater palimpsests on Ganymede?

A. They formed as the planet froze and expanded.

B. They are more abundant in the grooved terrain than in the cratered terrain.

C. Palimpsests were produced by ionic deformation within the ice.

D. They were produced as the icy lithosphere flowed to fill in an impact crater.

D (See Section 9.5.3 Ganymeade Links to an external site.and review Figure 9.26

By definition, palimpsests are remnants of old craters that have been modified by ice flow, causing the crater to be smoothed out and the topography erased. These craters are similar to ghost craters on the terrestrial planets (such as Mercury and the Moon) where basalt lava flows covered the original crater.)

The grooved terrain of Ganymede _______________.

A. is younger than its cratered terrain

B. is older than the cratered terrain

C. forms only a small part of Ganymede's surface.

D. developed as Earth-style plate tectonics developed

A (See Section 9.5.3 GanymeadeLinks to an external site. under section Bright and Grooved Terrain.

Impact crater frequency shows the bright and grooved terrain is younger than the older, dark, cratered terrain.

As seen from the global image of Ganymeade, the bright and grooved terrain is not restricted to a small area on the moon, but makes up a significant portion of it.

Though the bright and grooved terrain may have some similarities to plate tectonics on Earth, the development process is not the same as plate tectonics. The grooved terrain formed as Ganymeade expanded as it froze, creating cracks for magma of water to extrude, and then fracture as expansion continued.)