Question 1

Jupiter's Great Red Spot is a(n)
A) continent.
B) storm.
C) optical illusion.
D) hole in the clouds.

Accepted Answer

Jupiter's Great Red Spot is a massive storm, larger than Earth, that has been raging for at least 400 years.

Question 2

What is the Great Red Spot on Jupiter?
A) summit of a large mountain that rises above the upper cloud level
B) region over the south pole of Jupiter where ammonia compounds that absorb blue light have condensed in the colder atmosphere
C) area where charged particles from the satellite Io collide with Jupiter's cloud tops
D) large, long-lived hurricanelike storm that is maintained by the differential rotation of Jupiter's atmosphere

Accepted Answer

The Great Red Spot on Jupiter is a gigantic, long-lived storm, similar to a hurricane on Earth, but much larger. It has been observed for at least 400 years, indicating its longevity. The storm is sustained by Jupiter's fast atmospheric rotation, which varies at different latitudes.

Question 3

Which planet in the solar system has the fastest rotation?
A) Mercury
B) Uranus
C) Jupiter
D) Earth

Accepted Answer

Jupiter has the fastest rotation in the solar system, completing a rotation on its axis approximately every 10 hours.

Question 4

One interesting feature of Jupiter's rotation is the fact that
A) the direction of Jupiter's rotation is opposite to that of most of the planets and opposite to its direction of revolution around the Sun.
B) Jupiter's rotation rate has slowed down significantly since it was first observed through telescopes in the 1600s.
C) regions of Jupiter at different latitudes appear to rotate at different rates.
D) Jupiter's axis of rotation lies almost in the plane of its orbit.

Accepted Answer

Jupiter exhibits differential rotation, meaning its equatorial region rotates faster than its polar regions. This is due to its gaseous composition, allowing different parts of the planet to rotate at different rates.

Question 5

Detailed observations of Jupiter's rotation suggest that Jupiter
A) rotates in two separate parts, with equatorial regions rotating in a direction opposite to polar regions.
B) is slowing down noticeably at the present time.
C) rotates as a solid body, with equatorial and polar regions showing the same rotational period.
D) is not a rigid object because equatorial regions rotate faster than polar regions.

Accepted Answer

Jupiter is not a rigid body; it is a gas giant, which means its composition allows for differential rotation. The equatorial regions of Jupiter rotate faster than the polar regions, a phenomenon observed through telescopic and spacecraft measurements. This differential rotation is a characteristic feature of fluid bodies like gas giants.

Question 6

Which of these likely plays an important role in the banded structure on Jupiter's visible "surface" as seen from Earth?
A) "sweeping" of Jupiter's clouds through magnetic field lines from Jupiter's magnetosphere
B) underlying rising and falling convection pattern stretched into bands by Jupiter's rapid rotation
C) underlying north-south flow pattern stretched into bands by Jupiter's rapid rotation
D) breaking up by underlying mountain ranges of the strong eastward flow caused by Jupiter's rapid rotation

Accepted Answer

Jupiter's banded appearance is primarily due to the rising and falling convection currents within its atmosphere. These currents are stretched into bands by the planet's rapid rotation, creating the distinct striped pattern observed from Earth. Jupiter lacks a solid surface, making options involving physical features like mountain ranges (D) irrelevant. The influence of magnetic fields (A) and a north-south flow pattern (C) are not primary factors in the formation of these bands.

Question 7

The lifetime of the Great Red Spot of Jupiter appears to be
A) well over 2000 years, from ancient Greek records.
B) about 2 to 4 weeks between successive appearances, similar to sunspots.
C) about one Jupiter orbital period between successive appearances because the spot is produced by tidal effects.
D) at least 300 years, from visual records.

Accepted Answer

The Great Red Spot of Jupiter has been observed for at least 300 years, with continuous records of its existence dating back to the 17th century.

Question 8

What is the dominant circulation pattern in Jupiter's atmosphere (i.e., at the visible "surface")?
A) alternating bands of eastward and westward flow parallel to the equator
B) air rising at the equator, flowing north and south toward the poles, then sinking and returning to the equator at a lower level
C) uniform eastward flow of the entire atmosphere, with occasional dark storms and turbulent swirls
D) isolated storms and turbulent swirls, with little overall flow pattern in any particular direction

Accepted Answer

Jupiter's atmosphere is characterized by alternating bands of eastward and westward flow parallel to the equator, known as zonal bands, which are a distinctive feature visible even through small telescopes.

Question 9

Which feature of Jupiter leads to the confinement of its clouds in very narrow bands around the planet?
A) high gravitational field
B) powerful magnetic field
C) the large proportion of hydrogen and helium in its atmosphere
D) rapid rotation

Accepted Answer

Jupiter's rapid rotation is the primary reason for the confinement of its clouds in very narrow bands around the planet. This rapid rotation leads to strong Coriolis forces, which organize the atmospheric patterns into distinct latitudinal bands.

Question 10

The Great Red Spot is
A) the top of a massive mountain penetrating through Jupiter's clouds.
B) a temporary storm in Jupiter's atmosphere, lasting a few months.
C) a large, long-lived storm system in Jupiter's atmosphere.
D) the colored polar cap of Jupiter.

Accepted Answer

The Great Red Spot is a gigantic storm in Jupiter's atmosphere, known for its size and longevity, having existed for at least 400 years.

Question 11

The composition of the clouds seen on Jupiter is
A) similar to the composition of Earth's clouds throughout the whole atmosphere-water droplets and crystals of frozen water.
B) very different from the composition of Earth's clouds: almost entirely ammonia and ammonium hydrosulfide crystals and almost no water.
C) similar to the composition of Earth's clouds (water droplets and crystals of frozen water) in the higher levels but very different (ammonia crystals) in the lower levels.
D) similar to the composition of Earth's clouds (water droplets and crystals of frozen water) in the lower levels but very different (ammonia crystals and other chemicals) in the higher levels.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The composition of the clouds seen on...

Question 12

What is the Great Red Spot?
A) dark, polar hood in the clouds of Titan, a satellite of Saturn
B) large storm on Neptune discovered by the Voyager spacecraft
C) lava lake on Io, a satellite of Jupiter
D) large and long-lived, possibly permanent storm on Jupiter

Accepted Answer

The Great Red Spot is a giant, high-pressure storm on Jupiter, known for its size and longevity. It has been observed for at least 400 years, making it the most well-known feature of Jupiter's atmosphere.

Question 13

What are the MOST common molecules in Jupiter's clouds?
A) ice crystals of water and carbon dioxide
B) liquid droplets of water and ammonia
C) ice crystals of methane, ammonia, and water vapor
D) water ice crystals

Accepted Answer

Jupiter's clouds are primarily composed of ammonia, water vapor, and methane in the form of ice crystals. These components are the most common due to Jupiter's cold atmospheric temperatures and chemical composition.

Question 14

Have astronomers observed differential rotation in the atmosphere of Jupiter?
A) No. The entire atmosphere rotates together.
B) Yes. The polar regions rotate slightly faster than the equatorial regions.
C) Yes. The equatorial regions rotate slightly faster than the polar regions.
D) Yes. The equatorial regions rotate much faster (approximately half the period) than the polar regions.

Accepted Answer

Jupiter's equatorial regions rotate slightly faster than its polar regions, a phenomenon known as differential rotation. This is observable through the movement of clouds and atmospheric features at different latitudes.

Question 15

Which of these conclusions is correct on the basis of observations of the motions of Jupiter's clouds?
A) The planet rotates differentially, with the equatorial regions rotating fastest while intermediate latitudes and polar regions rotate more slowly.
B) Intermediate-latitude regions rotate fastest while equatorial and polar regions rotate more slowly, as shown by the presence of bands and zones and locally rotating spots and ovals.
C) The planet rotates as a solid body because of its great mass and self-gravitation, with all regions having the same rotation speed.
D) The planet rotates differentially, with equatorial regions rotating slowest and rotation speed increasing toward both poles.

Accepted Answer

Jupiter's cloud motions indicate differential rotation, where the equatorial regions rotate faster than the intermediate and polar regions. This is observed through the planet's distinct bands and zones, as well as the movement of spots and ovals on its surface.

Question 16

The rotation period of Jupiter is
A) relatively short, on the order of 10 hours.
B) very short, on the order of 1 hour.
C) very long-several weeks-because of its great size and mass.
D) long, on the order of several days.

Accepted Answer

Jupiter has a very fast rotation period, completing one rotation in just under 10 hours, making it one of the fastest rotating planets in the Solar System.

Question 17

One distinctive feature that is visible on the "surface" of Jupiter through a telescope from Earth is
A) the Great Red Spot.
B) Olympus Mons.
C) the Cassini Division.
D) the northern auroral oval.

Accepted Answer

The Great Red Spot is a giant storm on Jupiter that is visible from Earth through a telescope, making it a distinctive feature on the planet's surface. Olympus Mons is a volcano on Mars, the Cassini Division is a gap in Saturn's rings, and the northern auroral oval refers to auroras that occur on Earth and other planets, not a surface feature visible through telescopes.

Question 18

What is the overall composition, according to the number of atoms, of the outer atmospheric regions of Jupiter in terms of the relative numbers of atoms?
A) 75 percent hydrogen, 15 percent helium, and 10 percent everything else
B) hydrogen and helium only, with no other elements
C) 86 percent hydrogen, 13 percent helium, and 1 percent everything else
D) pure hydrogen

Accepted Answer

Jupiter's atmosphere is predominantly composed of hydrogen and helium. The most accurate composition by number of atoms is approximately 86% hydrogen, 13% helium, and 1% other elements, reflecting the primordial composition of the gas cloud from which the solar system formed.

Question 19

Which of these chemicals is the MOST abundant in the outer atmosphere of Jupiter? A) H₂O (water vapor) B) CH₄ (methane) C) NH₃ (ammonia) D) CO₂ (carbon dioxide)

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of these chemicals is the MOST...

Question 20

The brown ovals seen in Jupiter's atmosphere appear bright in an image taken in infrared radiation. Why is this?
A) The ovals are moving toward Earth, and the Doppler blueshift makes them appear brighter.
B) The ovals are moving away from Earth, and the Doppler redshift makes them appear brighter.
C) The ovals are high up in the Jovian atmosphere.
D) The ovals are deep within the Jovian atmosphere.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The brown ovals seen in Jupiter's atmosphere...

Quiz 9: The Outer Planets

Jupiter's Great Red Spot is a(n)

What is the Great Red Spot on Jupiter?

Which planet in the solar system has the fastest rotation?

One interesting feature of Jupiter's rotation is the fact that

Detailed observations of Jupiter's rotation suggest that Jupiter

Which of these likely plays an important role in the banded structure on Jupiter's visible "surface" as seen from Earth?

The lifetime of the Great Red Spot of Jupiter appears to be

What is the dominant circulation pattern in Jupiter's atmosphere (i.e., at the visible "surface") ?

Which feature of Jupiter leads to the confinement of its clouds in very narrow bands around the planet?

The Great Red Spot is

The composition of the clouds seen on Jupiter is

What is the Great Red Spot?

What are the MOST common molecules in Jupiter's clouds?

Have astronomers observed differential rotation in the atmosphere of Jupiter?

Which of these conclusions is correct on the basis of observations of the motions of Jupiter's clouds?

The rotation period of Jupiter is

One distinctive feature that is visible on the "surface" of Jupiter through a telescope from Earth is

What is the overall composition, according to the number of atoms, of the outer atmospheric regions of Jupiter in terms of the relative numbers of atoms?

Which of these chemicals is the MOST abundant in the outer atmosphere of Jupiter?

The brown ovals seen in Jupiter's atmosphere appear bright in an image taken in infrared radiation. Why is this?