How is the Cassini division created and maintained in Saturn's rings?
A) A small moon orbits within the division, clearing particles from the gap.
B) An intense region of high-energy electrons in Saturn's magnetosphere at that distance has eroded the particles from the gap.
C) The rings simply formed that way in the ancient past.
D) One of Saturn's satellites exerts a resonant pull on particles in the division, clearing a gap.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Cassini division is maintained by the gravitational influence of Saturn's moon Mimas. The orbital resonance between particles in the Cassini division and Mimas exerts a periodic gravitational tug on the particles, preventing them from occupying the gap and thus maintaining the division.

How Is the Cassini Division Created and Maintained in Saturn's