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Chapter 11: Problem 8

If a moon revolves opposite to its planet's rotation, it probably a. was captured after the planet formed. b. had its orbit altered by a collision. c. has a different composition from other moons. d. formed very recently in the Solar System's history.

Short Answer

Expert verified
a. was captured after the planet formed.

Step by step solution

01

- Analyze the Question

The question asks about the possible reasons behind a moon revolving in the opposite direction to its planet's rotation.
02

- Review Possible Answers

Consider each provided option: a) The moon was captured after the planet formed. b) The moon had its orbit altered by a collision. c) The moon has a different composition from other moons. d) The moon formed very recently in the Solar System's history.
03

- Apply Scientific Understanding

Moons that orbit in the opposite direction (retrograde orbit) to their planet's rotation are often thought to be captured objects rather than having formed from the same material as the planet. This is because capture is the most straightforward explanation for such an opposite motion.
04

- Compare with Options

Compare the scientific understanding with each option: a) Capturing an object leads to retrograde motion. b) Collisions might alter an orbit but are less likely to result in retrograde motion. c) Different composition does not explain the motion direction. d) Formation time does not necessarily dictate orbit direction.
05

- Conclusion

Option a) matches the scientific expectation that a moon revolving opposite to the rotation of its planet was likely captured after the planet formed.

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Key Concepts

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

retrograde orbit
A retrograde orbit occurs when a moon revolves around a planet in the opposite direction to the planet's rotation.
This is quite rare and can tell us a lot about the moon's history. Most moons follow their planet's rotation direction, which we call a prograde orbit.
When a moon has a retrograde orbit, it usually means something special happened to bring it there.
Gravitational influences or past events could have pushed or pulled the moon into its current path.
Understanding why a moon has a retrograde orbit helps scientists learn more about the early stages of our Solar System and how celestial bodies interact.
moon formation
Moons can form in several ways. One common method is from the material left over after the planet forms. This material collects to form the moon.
Another way a moon can form is through a collision. If a large object hits the planet, the debris from the crash can come together to form a moon.
However, if a moon has a retrograde orbit, it likely did not form this way, as moons that form from a planet's debris usually follow the same direction as the planet's rotation.
Retrograde moons are more special and need different explanations for their formation.
planetary capture
Planetary capture is the process where a planet takes hold of an object passing by and turns it into a moon.
This can happen if the object gets caught by the planet's gravity and settles into an orbit.
A retrograde orbit is a strong sign that the moon was captured rather than formed with the planet.
When a planet captures a moon, that moon's original path might have been altered drastically.
This altered path often results in the moon revolving in the opposite direction from the planet's rotation.
orbital dynamics
Orbital dynamics is the study of how objects move in space due to gravitational forces.
This field helps us understand the paths and behaviors of moons, planets, and other celestial bodies.
When thinking about retrograde orbits, orbital dynamics provides the tools to figure out why a moon might orbit backward.
It considers gravitational influences, historical events, and interactions with other objects.
By studying orbital dynamics, scientists can predict future movements and discover the reasons behind current orbital patterns.
This understanding is crucial for predicting how moons and planets will behave and interact over time.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Gravitational interactions with moons produce a. fine structure within rings. b. short-lived rings. c. smoothed-out rings. d. rings with spokes.

Particles at the very outer edge of Saturn's A Ring are in a 7: 6 orbital resonance with the moon Janus. If the orbital period of Janus is 16 hours 41 minutes \(\left(16^{\mathrm{h}} 41^{\mathrm{m}}\right),\) what is the orbital period of the outer edge of Ring A?

Planetary scientists have estimated that Io's extensive volcanism could be covering the moon's surface with lava and ash to an average depth of up to 3 millimeters (mm) per year. a. Io's radius is \(1,820 \mathrm{km}\). If you assume Io is a sphere, what are its surface area and volume? b. What is the volume of volcanic material deposited on Io's surface each year? c. How many years would it take for volcanism to perform the equivalent of depositing Io's entire volume on its surface? d. How many times might Io have "turned inside out" over the age of the Solar System?

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