BYU GEOL 109 EXAM 2026 ACTUAL
SCRIPT PRESENTING ACCURATE ANSWERS
GRADED A+
◉Which letter in this image of Ganymede labels an area of grooved
terrain? Click on your answer.
IMAGE
A. (Cratered area)
B. (Crater ring)
C. (Smoother plains) Answer: C. (Smoother plains)
◉The composition of the surface of Ganymede is most like which of
the other satellites of Jupiter?
A. Amalthea
B. Io
C. Europa
D. Triton Answer: C. Europa
,◉The icy layers of Jupiter's satellites increase in thickness as one
moves from Europa to Callisto because ____________________. (Select all
that apply.)
A. the outer satellites orbit farther from the Sun
B. they accreted in a thermal gradient centered around Jupiter
C. the larger satellites retained more of there accretionary heat
D. the inner satellites didn't out gas as much as the outer satellites
Answer: B. they accreted in a thermal gradient centered around
Jupiter
◉Which of the Galilean satellites of Jupiter has the most heavily
cratered surface.
A. Io
B. Callisto
C. Europa
D. Ganymede Answer: B. Callisto
◉If you were a solar system explorer in search of liquid water at or
near the surface, which of the satellites of Jupiter would be most
likely to have it today?
A. Io
,B. Ganymede
C. Callisto
D. Europa Answer: D. Europa
◉Why isn't Earth's Moon heated by tidal flexing? (Select all that
apply.)
A. The Moon is too far away from the Earth.
B. The outer part of the Moon is too rigid to flex as a result of tidal
forces.
C. The tidal energy is dissipated by the rise and fall of tides in Earth's
oceans.
D. The orbit of the Moon is nearly circular.
E. Earth only has one large moon, unlike Jupiter. Answer: D. The
orbit of the Moon is nearly circular.
E. Earth only has one large moon, unlike Jupiter.
◉Would you expect to find young basaltic lavas at the surface of
Callisto? Why? (Select all that apply.)
A. No, because it is too cold.
B. No, because it does not have silicates near the surface that could
melt.
, C. Yes, Callisto is strongly tidally heated to create magma.
D. Yes, large areas of dark, smooth plains are evidence that there are
young lavas on Callisto. Answer: A. No, because it is too cold.
B. No, because it does not have silicates near the surface that could
melt.
◉Arrange these images of Jupiter's satellites by their distance from
Jupiter as they orbit. Place the closest satellite on the top and the
farthest one on the bottom. Answer: Order:
Io
Europa
Ganymede
Callisto
◉Saturn is the most similar in composition and internal structure to
which of the planets below.
A. Mercury
B. Mars
C. Jupiter
D. Neptune Answer: C. Jupiter
SCRIPT PRESENTING ACCURATE ANSWERS
GRADED A+
◉Which letter in this image of Ganymede labels an area of grooved
terrain? Click on your answer.
IMAGE
A. (Cratered area)
B. (Crater ring)
C. (Smoother plains) Answer: C. (Smoother plains)
◉The composition of the surface of Ganymede is most like which of
the other satellites of Jupiter?
A. Amalthea
B. Io
C. Europa
D. Triton Answer: C. Europa
,◉The icy layers of Jupiter's satellites increase in thickness as one
moves from Europa to Callisto because ____________________. (Select all
that apply.)
A. the outer satellites orbit farther from the Sun
B. they accreted in a thermal gradient centered around Jupiter
C. the larger satellites retained more of there accretionary heat
D. the inner satellites didn't out gas as much as the outer satellites
Answer: B. they accreted in a thermal gradient centered around
Jupiter
◉Which of the Galilean satellites of Jupiter has the most heavily
cratered surface.
A. Io
B. Callisto
C. Europa
D. Ganymede Answer: B. Callisto
◉If you were a solar system explorer in search of liquid water at or
near the surface, which of the satellites of Jupiter would be most
likely to have it today?
A. Io
,B. Ganymede
C. Callisto
D. Europa Answer: D. Europa
◉Why isn't Earth's Moon heated by tidal flexing? (Select all that
apply.)
A. The Moon is too far away from the Earth.
B. The outer part of the Moon is too rigid to flex as a result of tidal
forces.
C. The tidal energy is dissipated by the rise and fall of tides in Earth's
oceans.
D. The orbit of the Moon is nearly circular.
E. Earth only has one large moon, unlike Jupiter. Answer: D. The
orbit of the Moon is nearly circular.
E. Earth only has one large moon, unlike Jupiter.
◉Would you expect to find young basaltic lavas at the surface of
Callisto? Why? (Select all that apply.)
A. No, because it is too cold.
B. No, because it does not have silicates near the surface that could
melt.
, C. Yes, Callisto is strongly tidally heated to create magma.
D. Yes, large areas of dark, smooth plains are evidence that there are
young lavas on Callisto. Answer: A. No, because it is too cold.
B. No, because it does not have silicates near the surface that could
melt.
◉Arrange these images of Jupiter's satellites by their distance from
Jupiter as they orbit. Place the closest satellite on the top and the
farthest one on the bottom. Answer: Order:
Io
Europa
Ganymede
Callisto
◉Saturn is the most similar in composition and internal structure to
which of the planets below.
A. Mercury
B. Mars
C. Jupiter
D. Neptune Answer: C. Jupiter
