Saturn radiates more energy than it receives from the sun. the explanation is that
A nuclear reactions are going on in the core
B Saturn still retains primordial heat from its formation
C differentiation is still going on in the interior
D none of the above
the rings of Saturn are thought to have originated from
A a close satellite which broke up
B material ejected from the surface by the rotation
C unknown causes
D no choice
spectroscopy of the upper layers of Saturn have revealed an atmosphere composed largely of
A carbon dioxide (co2) and traces of water vapor (h2o)
B nitrogen (n2), oxygen (o2) and water vapor (h2o)
C methane (ch4), ammonia (nh3) and water vapor (h2o)
D clouds of sulfuric acid droplets, (h2so4)
Saturn's density is
A less than that of Jupiter
B about that of Jupiter
C similar to the Earth's
D greater than that of the Earth
Saturn is unique in that it
A is the only planet with rings.
B is the brightest planet in our sky.
C is the only Jovian planet with more than 4 moons.
D has the least average density of the planets.
E three of the above.
how could astronomers tell from Earth that Saturn's ring system must be very thin?
A the rings are a source of clear radio waves.
B the rings disappear from time to time as seen from Earth.
C the rings have moons above and below them that can be seen with large Earth-based telescopes.
D the rings reflect very little sunlight and are hard to see from Earth.
Saturn's atmosphere is
A more brightly marked than Jupiter's
B rich in free oxygen
C haze above the clouds
D all of these
the spectrum of Saturn shows less ammonia than does the spectrum of the Jovian atmosphere because
A Saturn's lower temperature allows the ammonia to freeze out
B Saturn has a lower primordial abundance of ammonia
C of Saturn's excess energy, which causes the ammonia to dissociate (break-u into its component atoms)
D the source of Jupiter's ammonia is Io; Saturn does not have a similar moon to supply the
ammonia
the observation of a smaller abundance of helium in Saturn's atmosphere the in Jupiter's atmosphere is consistent with
A Saturn's proportionally greater excess energy compared with Jupiter's
B Jupiter's greater magnetic field
C the lack of atmospheric detail observed in Saturn
D Saturn's lower temperature
the bands and zones on Saturn are not as pronounced as on Jupiter because
A Saturn is farther away from the Earth
B Saturn has a thicker cloud layer overlying the bands
C Saturn is colder
D differentiation of the elements is still going on
ring systems have been discovered around:
A Saturn only.
B Jupiter and Saturn.
C Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus.
D all of the Jovian planets.
a narrow sharply defined ring is
A caused by the presence of shepherding satellites on either side
B a natural result of the gravitational interaction of ring particles
C a natural result of the collisions among ring particles
D unstable and never observed
it is believed that the rings of the planets are prevented from dissipating by:
A "shepherding" satellites.
B the gravitational fields of the parent planets.
C the interactions of the ring particles themselves.
D gravitational interaction with the classical moons.
the rings of Saturn sometimes disappear from view because:
A they are thin and we are looking at them "on edge".
B when Saturn is at conjunction with the sun the rings are too far away to be seen.
C the rings show a "phasing effect", i.e., their brightness depends on the relative angle between the sun and the planet as viewed from Earth (much like the ray systems on the moon).
D they dissipate and later new rings form from colliding larger bodies.
the cloud patterns of Saturn:
A appeared very much like those of Jupiter.
B are very difficult to see because of a heavy smog layer above them.
C are much more varied than those of Jupiter.
D are absent since the atmosphere of Saturn is nearly transparent.
Saturn's rings are
A composed of small ice particles.
B in the plane of the planet's equator.
C within the planet's roche limit.
D all of the above.
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