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Chapter 10: Problem 12

Uranus and Neptune are different from Jupiter and Saturn in that a. Uranus and Neptune have a higher percentage of ices in their interiors. b. Uranus and Neptune have no rings. c. Uranus and Neptune have no magnetic field. d. Uranus and Neptune are closer to the Sun.

Short Answer

Expert verified
a. Uranus and Neptune have a higher percentage of ices in their interiors.

Step by step solution

01

Understand the Question

The question asks how Uranus and Neptune are different from Jupiter and Saturn. The possible choices are regarding differences in interior composition, rings, magnetic fields, and distance from the Sun.
02

Recall Key Characteristics

Review the characteristics of Uranus, Neptune, Jupiter, and Saturn. Uranus and Neptune are known as 'ice giants', while Jupiter and Saturn are 'gas giants'.
03

Evaluate Each Option

Check the validity of each option: a. Uranus and Neptune have a higher percentage of ices (water, ammonia, methane) in their interiors compared to Jupiter and Saturn. b. Both Uranus and Neptune do have rings, albeit fainter than those of Jupiter and Saturn. c. Both Uranus and Neptune have magnetic fields. d. Uranus and Neptune are farther from the Sun compared to Jupiter and Saturn.
04

Eliminate Incorrect Options

Options b, c, and d are incorrect based on known facts about rings, magnetic fields, and solar distance. This leaves option a as the correct choice.
05

Confirm the Correct Answer

Since option a is the only valid choice, confirm that Uranus and Neptune have a higher percentage of ices in their interiors, making them different from Jupiter and Saturn.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Ice Giants
Uranus and Neptune are classified as 'ice giants'. This distinguishes them from 'gas giants' like Jupiter and Saturn.
Ice giants possess a higher proportion of 'ices', which in astronomical terms, include water, ammonia, and methane.
These ices are not in solid form but exist mixed with rock and gas in the planets' interiors.
Their blue and greenish hues are largely due to the presence of methane, which absorbs red light and reflects blue light.
Unlike gas giants, which are made mostly of hydrogen and helium, ice giants have more complex chemistries and thicker layers of icy material.
Gas Giants
Jupiter and Saturn are known as 'gas giants'. This means their composition is mostly hydrogen and helium.
Gas giants have large atmospheres with extensive layers of gas above their core.
Jupiter and Saturn's enormous hydrogen and helium envelopes contrast the icy and rockier compositions of ice giants.
Both Jupiter and Saturn have numerous moons and well-defined ring systems.
Their massive sizes and powerful gravitational fields make them key members of our solar system.
While both types of planets share some characteristics, their compositions set them apart.
Planetary Composition
The composition of planets in our solar system varies significantly. This influences their classification and characteristics.
• Rocky planets like Earth and Mars have solid surfaces made mainly of silicate rocks and metals.
• Gas giants such as Jupiter and Saturn consist primarily of hydrogen and helium, enveloping a small core.
• Ice giants like Uranus and Neptune feature large quantities of water, ammonia, and methane in addition to hydrogen and helium.
These differences in composition affect not only appearance but also physical behavior, atmospheres, and potential habitability.
Understanding such differences helps us learn about the formation and evolution of the solar system.
Solar System Planets
Our solar system consists of eight main planets, each categorized as either terrestrial or giant.
Terrestrial planets, which are Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars, are closer to the Sun and have solid rocky surfaces.
The giant planets, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, are much farther out and lack solid surfaces.
• Jupiter and Saturn are gas giants.
• Uranus and Neptune are ice giants.
Besides these eight, there are dwarf planets, numerous moons, and countless small rocky and icy bodies.
Studying our solar system helps to understand the broader universe and the myriad of planetary systems it contains.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Uranus occults a star at a time when the relative motion between Uranus and Earth is \(23.0 \mathrm{km} / \mathrm{s}\). An observer on Earth sees the star disappear for 37 minutes 2 seconds and notes that the center of Uranus passed directly in front of the star. a. On the basis of these observations, what value would the observer calculate for the diameter of Uranus? b. What could you conclude about the planet's diameter if its center did not pass directly in front of the star?

The following steps lead to convection in the atmospheres of giant planets. After (a), place (b)-(f) in order. a. Gravity pulls particles toward the center. b. Warm material rises and expands. c. Particles fall toward the center, converting gravitational energy to kinetic energy. d. Expanding material cools. e. Thermal energy heats the material. f. Friction converts kinetic energy to thermal energy.

What could have caused the planets to migrate through the Solar System? a. gravitational pull from the Sun b. interaction with the solar wind c. accreting gas from the solar nebula d. gravitational pull from other planets

Occultations directly determine a planet's a. diameter. b. mass. c. density. d. orbital speed.

a. Go to websites for the NASA Juno mission (http://www. nasa.gov/mission_pages/juno and http://missionjuno.swri edu), a spacecraft that was launched in 2011 and is scheduled to arrive at Jupiter in \(2016 .\) What are the science goals of the mission? Examine the mission's trajectory. Why did it loop around the Sun and pass Earth again in 2013 before heading to Jupiter? Why is there a plaque dedicated to Galileo Galilei on the spacecraft? b. What are the main instruments for this mission? Are there any data yet? Have any discoveries been reported?
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