Astr 101 – Fall 2013 – Homework Assignment #3
Solar System – Jovian Planets and Minor Solar System Objects

Answer the following questions, using full English sentences. Answers should be no more than 4 lines long, and they must all fit in one page. Include a header with your name, the course number and assignment number at the top of the page. Make sure the page has smooth edges.

(1) Why are most of the moons of the jovian planets located outside the rings?

(2) Why do all jovian planets have so many moons, while the terrestrial planets have few if any, and even those are likely the results of accidents?

(3) Why is the gap between Mars and Jupiter much larger than those between terrestrial planets? Was there, or should there have been a planet there?

(4) Give two examples of evidence that catastrophic impacts occurred in the Solar System in the past.

(5) Give an example of a round asteroid and one that is not round, and explain the reason for this difference.