Cadet Competition Written Practice Exam

Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system and has an impressive mass that is approximately 318 times that of Earth. This immense mass not only makes Jupiter a prominent feature in our solar system but also influences the gravitational dynamics of its many moons and nearby celestial bodies. Its significant mass primarily consists of hydrogen and helium, which are the two most abundant elements in the universe, contributing to its status as a gas giant. The mass of Jupiter plays a crucial role in its ability to retain a thick atmosphere and a strong magnetic field, both of which are characteristic of gas giants. The other planets mentioned have much smaller masses in comparison to Jupiter. Earth, being the reference planet, has a mass of 1 Earth. Neptune and Uranus, while also being gas giants, have masses that are around 17 times and 14 times that of Earth, respectively. Therefore, Jupiter stands out distinctly as the planet with a mass equivalent to about 318 Earths.