20101117

Astronomy current events question: Saturn ring debris mountains

Astronomy 210L, Fall Semester 2010
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

Students are assigned to read online articles on current astronomy events, and take a short current events quiz during the first 10 minutes of lab. (This motivates students to show up promptly to lab, as the time cut-off for the quiz is strictly enforced!)
Annalee Newitz, "Two-Mile-High Mountains Discovered in Saturn's Rings," November 1, 2010
http://io9.com/5678790/two+mile+high-mountains-discovered-in-saturns-rings?skyline=true&s=i
The NASA Cassini spacecraft has recently imaged __________ in Saturn's rings, which may be caused by gravitational fluctuations between Saturn and its moons.
(A) snow cyclones.
(B) debris mountains.
(C) spiral arms.
(D) moonlet formation.
(E) liquid nitrogen geysers.

Correct answer: (B)

Student responses
Sections 70178, 70186, 70200
(A) : 0 students
(B) : 39 students
(C) : 2 students
(D) : 1 student
(E) : 1 student

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