Astronomy Chapter 11 – Flashcards
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How does the force of gravity at Jupiter's cloud tops compare with the force of gravity at Earth's surface?
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gravityatJupiterscloudtops/gravityatEarthssurface = 2.54
Assignment 8 Problem 11.1
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How does the mass of Jupiter compare with that of the other planets?
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It is twice as massive as all other planets combined
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How does the density of Jupiter compare to the terrestrial planets?
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Its density is less than any terrestrial
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Essentially, the Great Red Spot is
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a large cyclonic storm (hurricane).
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Jupiter's differential rotation and complex atmospheric structure induce turbulent storms, such as the Great Red Spot. Identify the statements that correctly describe the characteristics of storm systems on Jupiter.
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-On Jupiter, the larger the storm, the longer it can last.
-Storms are localized features, confined and powered by zonal flow.
-Individual storm systems can interact, resulting in the storm growing or fading out.
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What would Jupiter have needed to have become a star?
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more mass
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What is thought to lie at the center of Jupiter?
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a massive core of rocky materials with some iron mixed in
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Jupiter gives back into space twice the energy it gets from the distant Sun. Where is this energy coming from, for the most part?
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the slow escape of gravitational energy left from its formation
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At what distance would a satellite orbit Jupiter in the time taken for Jupiter to rotate exactly once, so that the satellite would appear stationary above the planet? (More Precisely 2-3 in the textbook)
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1.59×10^5 km
Assignment 8 Problem 11.8
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What is thought to be the cause of Io's volcanos?
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tidal stresses from both Jupiter and Europa
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Which of the Galilean moons is the densest and most geologically active?
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lo
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What is the origin of the jovian moons?
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The four Galilean moons formed with Jupiter, most others were later captures.
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The surface of which jovian moon most resembles the pack ice of the Arctic Ocean?
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Europa
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The largest moon in the solar system is ________
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Ganymede
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The jovian moon with the most geologically active surface is ______
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Io
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Strong evidence both from surface features and magnetic field data support the existence of a subsurface ocean on _____
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Europa
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_______ is responsible for the tremendous volcanic activity on Io.
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Tidal heating
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________ is the most distant of Jupiter's four Galilean moons
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Callisto
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The fact that Europa orbits Jupiter for twice for every one orbit of Ganymede is an example of a(n) _____
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orbital resonance
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Which of the jovian moons is the largest and also the largest moon in the solar system, even bigger than Mercury?
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Ganymede
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Which statement about Jupiter's rings is false?
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They are made of ice, like Saturn's
