Chapter 10,11,12,13

Question 1

what does the nebular theory tell us about the giant planets?

Answer 1

1. Giant planets must form quickly
2. Giant planets must form beyond the frost line
3. Gas giants should have solid cores of ice and dust. these should be 10 earth masses since this is the threshold for runaway recreation of gas.

Question 2

Structure of gas planets

Answer 2

top-down: atmosphere crust mantle and core.
high pressure in the interior causes phase of hydrogen to change with depth. At highest pressure, selectrons can stream freely acting like metals

Question 3

facts about Jupiter

Answer 3

1. Jupiter’s core is not dense, solid mass at center
2. solid materials mixed with gas out to 1/2 radius

Question 4

How are mass and pressure linked

Answer 4

more mass compresses the gas making it smaller

Question 5

What causes colours on Jupiter and Saturn

Answer 5

Ammonia is the highest coldest layer and it reflects all colours hence the white look
Ammonium sulphide clouds reflect red/brown colour and these form at lower altitudes where its hotter.

Question 6

Wind pattern of gas giants

Answer 6

all four planets have differential rotation but Uranus and Neptune are simpler and more like Earth

Question 7

Jupiter and storms?

Answer 7

Jupiter has some of the longest-lived storms

Question 8

How are moons formed?

Answer 8

moon formation is the same as planet formation but smaller

Question 9

IO and volcanic activity

Answer 9

Io has evidence of volcanic activity due to tidal heating these effects are weaker the further away you go

Question 10

Europa’s geology?

Answer 10

• Euphora has lots of water ice available during formation
• Tidal heating acts on Europa too but to a lesser extent than Io
• Extra heat allows for liquid water ocean below the surface of Europa.

Question 11

What two moons have evidence of water?

Answer 11

Both Europa and Ganymede show measurement changes in the magnetic field suggesting both moons have liquid water oceans beneath icy crusts

Question 12

Titan Saturn’s largest moon

Answer 12

titan is the only moon with an atmosphere and is the second-largest moon in the solar system. that said it is likely covered by Saturn’s magnetosphere since it doesn’t have its own magnetic field

Question 13

Enceladus (medium moon of Saturn)

Answer 13

ongoing cryovolcanism - eject water vapours and ice particles. Evidence of liquid water below the icy crust

Question 14

Moons breakdown

Answer 14

see image:

Question 15

Rings around gas planets

Answer 15

Saturn’s rings are very thin and consist of ice and boulders, these particles collide and sometimes stick together. any particles with incline collide more often also losing their incline. Bright regions have higher particle density whilst darker regions have lower particle density.

Question 16

Velocity and distance

Answer 16

The more distant planets orbit the sun more slowly. suggesting closer objects orbit faster and have higher velocities

Question 17

How do rings prevent moon formation

Answer 17

only very small moons can survive in tidal forces close to Saturn. Collision with ring particles knocks off dust and debris from the moon to resupply rings.

Question 18

What is Roche limit

Answer 18

see image:

Question 19

Asteroids and comets

Answer 19

An asteroid is made up of silicate rocks, iron and nickel some have carbon-rich material. Comets are made up of silicate rocks, iron and nickel and hydrogen compound ice.

Question 20

What are the requirements to be considered a planet?

Answer 20

1. Must orbit the star, not another planet
2. must be large enough to be spherical in shape
3. must have cleared the orbit of debris.
   Dwarf planets do the first two but not the third

Question 21

effects of a huge impact

Answer 21

1. dust and debris from the impact was spread over most of north America
2. dust and ash filled the atmosphere, blocking sunlight and cooling the planet’s surface, killing plants at the base of the food chain
3. nitrous oxide was produced that acidified the oceans
4. heat from impact ignited volcanic eruptions which produced more ash.

Question 22

what happens when a comet approaches the sun

Answer 22

Icy material starts to vaporize, releasing gas and dust particles in a coma around the frozen nucleus. This develops two tails: the Plasma Tail of ionized gas particles pushed directly away from the sun by the solar wind. The dust tail of rocky particles pushed more gently by solar radiation.

Question 23

What are two ways to find exoplanets?

Answer 23

• direct method: actually see light from the planets
• indirect method: Detect the planets via their impacts on other objects.