Uranus

1. Uranus is peculiar because its

a. orbit is highly eccentric

b. orbit is strongly inclined to the ecliptic plane

c. satellites are in polar, rather than equatorial, orbits

d. axis of rotation is nearly in the ecliptic plane*

e. moons revolve in the same direction the planet rotates.

2. Belt-zone circulation is not easily visible on Uranus because

a. no clouds form in the pure hydrogen atmosphere.

b. there is no differential rotation.

c. clouds form very deep in the atmosphere. *

d. the atmosphere is stirred by cyclonic circulation.

e. there is no liquid metallic core.

3. Rings around Uranus were discovered by means of

a. photography from a high altitude observatory on earth

b. photography from spacecraft

c. observations of stellar occultations*

d. theoretical prediction

e. none of the above, since Uranus has no known rings.

4. In what way are the rings around Uranus and Jupiter like those of Saturn?

a. They are both not solid, but are made of many tiny objects.

b. They are made of lumps of ice.

c. They are very thin.

d. They reflect light very well.

e. a and c *

5. The narrowness of the rings of Uranus and Neptune is believed to be caused b

a. gravitational interactions between ring particles.

b. a spiral density wave which confines them.

c. the magnetic field which holds them in place.

d. the smaller mass of Uranus and Neptune as compared to that of Saturn.

e. small shepherd moons that orbit near the rings. *

6. Stellar occultations are important in planetary studies because

a. by timing the occultation we can get a lower limit to the size of the planet.*

b. they help determine the precise location of a planet.

c. they reveal whether planets have surface features.

d. they help determine the eccentricity of a planets orbit.

e. None of these.

7. The satellites of Uranus are

a. gaseous bodies

b. plane, featureless bodies

c. icy, rocky bodies with old and young surfaces*

d. captured comets.

8. In what way are the rings around Uranus and Jupiter like those of Saturn?

a. they are both not solid, but are made of many tiny objects

b. they are made of lumps of ice

c. they are very thin

d. they reflect light very well

e. both a and c*