Question

Which of the following is the strongest proof of Saturn's rings being made of independently orbiting particles, rather than a solid sheet of materials?

(a) In a face-on image, the rings of Saturn appear to be a disk surrounding Saturn.
(b) Shepard moons have been observed around Saturn's rings.
(c) Cassini revealed large individual particles in Saturn's rings.
(d) Meteoroids have been observed to pass through the rings.
(e) The rings have different orbital periods.

Answer 1

The varying orbital periods of Saturn's rings provide the strongest proof that they are made of independently orbiting particles, as observed by the Cassini mission.

Step-by-step explanation:

The strongest proof of Saturn's rings being made of independently orbiting particles, rather than a solid sheet of materials, is (e) The rings have different orbital periods. This is indicative of the fact that ring particles are moving independently, as objects in different orbits around a planet will have different periods depending on their distance from the planet.

If the rings were a solid sheet, they would move as a single body with a uniform orbital period. Additional evidence of the particles' independent movement comes from the Cassini mission, which observed waves in the rings caused by embedded moons, as well as low-speed collisions and gravitational interactions between the particles, which behave like waves moving across the ocean.