Earth Science: Geology, the Environment, and the Universe

Section 3: The Gas Giant Planets

The Gas Giant Planets

1
Which planets in the figure are similar in composition to the sun?
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A)1-4 and 9
B)5-8
C)9
D)1-4
2
What characteristics do the gas giants have in common?
A)ring systems and moons
B)all of the answers are correct
C)composed of lightweight elements such as hydrogen and helium
D)are very large, 15 to 300 times the mass of Earth
3
What are Jupiter's moons composed of?
A)iron and ice
B)sulfuric acid
C)hydrogen and helium
D)rock and ice
4
Where did Saturn's rings most likely come from?
A)the formation of Saturn
B)gravitational attraction of ringlets
C)solar system formation
D)leftover debris from a moon that was destroyed
5
Use the table to determine the smallest gas giant planet.
Planet Orbital Radius, a (AU) Planetary Radius, r (km) Planetary Mass, m (1024 kg)
Mercury0.3872439.70.3302
Venus 0.7236051.84.8685
Earth 1.06378.15.9736
Mars 1.52433970.64185
Jupiter5.20471 4921898.6
Saturn 9.58260 268568.46
Uranus 19.20125 55986.832
Neptune30.04724 764102.43
Pluto39.23611950.0125


A)Neptune
B)Saturn
C)Jupiter
D)Uranus
6
Why is Pluto NOT classified as a terrestrial planet?
A)it's atmospheric composition
B)it's low density and small size
C)the angle of it's orbital plane
D)it's distance from the Sun
7
Pluto and Charon are __________.
A)in synchronous rotation
B)extremely different in mass
C)satellites of gas giant planets
D)in different equatorial planes
8
What is the composition of Saturn's atmosphere?
A)hydrogen and helium
B)hydrogen, helium, and ammonia ice
C)sulfuric acid and hydrogen
D)helium and oxygen
9
Why does Jupiter have a banded appearance?
A)due to it's four moons
B)it's rings
C)the Great Red Spot causes the bands
D)flow patterns in its atmosphere
10
Neptune's atmosphere had a persistent storm called __________.
A)the Giant Red Dot
B)the Great Dark Spot
C)the Spot
D)the Big Cloud
11
What causes Uranus' blue appearance?
A)the vast oceans
B)surfuric acid in its atmosphere
C)the ammonia ice droplets
D)the methane in its atmosphere
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