Jupiter: The Gas Giant

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Questions and Answers

What is significant about Jupiter's Great Red Spot?

It has been observed to change color frequently.

It is a type of moon that orbits Jupiter.

It is a storm that has lasted for at least 350 years. (correct)

It is the largest volcano in our solar system.

Which statement correctly describes Jupiter's atmosphere?

It has a thin atmosphere mainly made of carbon dioxide. (correct)

It contains large amounts of water vapor.

It is the densest atmosphere of all gas giants.

It is primarily composed of oxygen and nitrogen.

What is Jupiter's length of a day?

24.6 hours (correct)

12 Earth years

About 10 hours

687 Earth days

Which fact is true regarding Jupiter's size?

It is larger than 1,000 Earths combined. Signup and view all the answers

What is Mars often referred to as and why?

The Red Planet because of the iron in its soil. Signup and view all the answers

How long does it take Jupiter to complete one orbit around the Sun?

Approximately 12 Earth years Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following accurately describes Jupiter's distance from the Sun?

Roughly 228 million kilometers Signup and view all the answers

Which one of Jupiter's moons is noted for being the most volcanically active?

Io Signup and view all the answers

What phenomenon causes Uranus to have a blue color?

Methane gas Signup and view all the answers

What is unique about Uranus's rotation compared to its orbit?

It rotates at a 90-degree angle. Signup and view all the answers

Which spacecraft was the only one to visit Neptune?

Voyager 2 Signup and view all the answers

How long does it take for Neptune to complete one orbit around the Sun?

165 Earth years Signup and view all the answers

What are comets considered to be remnants of?

The solar system's formation Signup and view all the answers

Where are comets primarily found before they are redirected toward the Sun?

Kuiper Belt or Oort Cloud Signup and view all the answers

What triggers the formation of a comet's tail?

Sublimation of ice into gas Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the closest point in a comet's orbit to the Sun?

Perihelion Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following gases is NOT part of a comet's tail composition?

Sulfur dioxide Signup and view all the answers

What is the Oort Cloud primarily known for?

Containing long-period comets Signup and view all the answers

What is the expected return year for Halley's Comet based on its 76-year orbit?

2061 Signup and view all the answers

How often does Comet C/1995 O1 (Hale-Bopp) orbit the Sun?

2,534 years Signup and view all the answers

What forms the coma of a comet?

Gas from sublimated ices Signup and view all the answers

What are short-period comets primarily associated with?

Kuiper Belt Signup and view all the answers

What is the appearance of the dust tail of a comet?

White or yellow Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic defines the nucleus of a comet?

It is a solid body made of volatile ices Signup and view all the answers

What are the main types of meteorites?

Stony, metallic, and stony-metallic Signup and view all the answers

What are stony meteoroids without chondrules called?

Achondrites Signup and view all the answers

How are most meteoroids that cause meteors described in size?

Most of them are millimeter-sized. Signup and view all the answers

Why do asteroids have irregular shapes?

They are formed in different locations at different distances from the sun. Signup and view all the answers

What occurs during a penumbral lunar eclipse?

The Moon travels through Earth’s penumbra and dims slightly. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary composition of most meteorites?

Nickel and iron Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant environmental effect of meteors entering the atmosphere?

They cause ionization of atmospheric molecules. Signup and view all the answers

What is a common cause of meteor showers?

Passing through debris left by a comet Signup and view all the answers

What visual effect occurs during a total lunar eclipse as a result of Earth's atmosphere?

The Moon appears red. Signup and view all the answers

Why do lunar eclipses not occur every month?

The Moon's orbit is tilted by 5 degrees. Signup and view all the answers

During which phase does a solar eclipse occur?

New Moon Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of a partial lunar eclipse?

The Earth's shadow appears very dark on the side of the Moon. Signup and view all the answers

How often do solar and lunar eclipses repeat their cycles?

Every 18 years Signup and view all the answers

What primarily causes the Moon to become obscured during a solar eclipse?

The Moon comes between Earth and the Sun. Signup and view all the answers

In a lunar eclipse, which body is positioned directly opposite the Sun?

Moon Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes what happens to the Moon during a total lunar eclipse?

The Moon is entirely in Earth’s shadow. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

JUPITER (GAS PLANET)

Named after the Roman god Zeus and associated with war due to its reddish hue.
Diameter: Approximately 6,779 kilometers (4,212 miles) and can contain over 1,000 Earths.
Distance from the Sun: 228 million kilometers, making it the fifth planet in the solar system.
Day length: 24.6 hours; Year length: about 687 Earth days.
Surface temperature ranges from -5°C to -87°C.
Hosts the Great Red Spot, a massive storm larger than Earth, persisting for over 350 years.
Atmosphere primarily composed of carbon dioxide (95.3%), nitrogen, and argon.
Features a system of rings and numerous moons, highlighting its immense size and magnetic field.

MARS (RED PLANET)

Known as the Red Planet due to its iron-rich soil, giving it a reddish appearance.
Home to Olympus Mons, the tallest volcano and largest mountain in the solar system, towering 16 miles high.
Contains the Borealis Basin, the largest crater on Mars, covering 5,300 miles and accounting for 40% of the planet’s surface.

URANUS

Discovered on March 13, 1781, by William Herschel using a telescope.
Named after the Greek god of the sky; characterized by a blue hue from methane gas in its atmosphere.
Rotates on its side, almost at a 90-degree angle from its orbit, in retrograde motion.
The planet has completed its first orbit in 165 years since discovery (1846).

COMETS

Composed of ice and dust; known for their long tails formed as they approach the Sun.
Typically classified as short-period comets found in the Kuiper Belt or long-period comets originating from the Oort Cloud.
As comets near the Sun, they heat up, causing ice to sublimate into gas, creating visible tails.
Famous comets include Halley, which will return in 2061, and Hale-Bopp, which was prominent in 1996-1997.

ASTEROIDS

Vary in size and shape, most being jagged and irregular; they can range from pebbles to hundreds of miles in diameter.
Classified into three main types: stony, metallic, and stony-metallic.
Composition primarily includes nickel and iron, with some containing clay or other rock types.

METEORS AND METEOR SHOWERS

Millions of meteors enter Earth's atmosphere daily, with possible meteor showers occurring when Earth passes comet debris.
Notable meteorites include Chelyabinsk, Allan Hills 84001, and the Winchcombe meteorite.

LUNAR ECLIPSE

Occurs when Earth blocks sunlight from reaching the Moon, aligning Sun, Earth, and Moon.
Types of lunar eclipses: Penumbral (slight dimming), Partial (Earth's shadow partially covers the Moon), and Total (Moon appears red due to filtered sunlight).
Occurs less frequently than expected due to the Moon’s orbit being tilted by 5 degrees.

SOLAR ECLIPSE

Occurs when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, casting a shadow over the Earth's surface.
Only happens during a New Moon, when the moonlit half is turned away from the Earth.
Eclipses repeat in cycles, occurring approximately every 18 years.

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Description

Explore the fascinating characteristics of Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system. Learn about its Roman roots, immense size, and stunning array of moons. This quiz will test your knowledge of Jupiter's history, distance from the Sun, and physical features.