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Chapter 7: Problem 50

Go to the "Super Planet Crash" Web page (http://www stefanom.org/spc/ or http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap150112 .html). Read "Help" to see the rules. First build a system like ours with four Earth-sized planets in the inner 2 AU-is this stable? What happens if you add in super-Earths or "ice giants"? Build up a few completely different planetary systems and see what happens. What types of situations cause instability in the inner 2 AU of these systems?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Earth-sized planets can be stable within 2 AU. Super-Earths or ice giants tend to cause instability. Factors like mass and distance affect stability.

Step by step solution

01

Access the Super Planet Crash Web Page

Go to the Super Planet Crash webpage at http://www.stefanom.org/spc/ or http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap150112.html.
02

Read the Help Section

Click on the 'Help' section of the webpage to understand the rules and objectives of the game.
03

Build a System with Four Earth-sized Planets

Using the game interface, create a planetary system with four Earth-sized planets within the inner 2 AU of the system. Observe if this configuration is stable over time.
04

Add Super-Earths or Ice Giants

Introduce super-Earth or ice giant planets to the existing system. Note the positions and distances, then observe the resulting behavior of the system.
05

Create Different Planetary Configurations

Develop several other planetary systems with various configurations, including a mix of different planet types and positions. Carefully observe the stability and any patterns that emerge.
06

Identify Causes of Instability

Analyze the outcomes from different configurations. Determine which specific factors, such as the number of planets or their masses and distances, lead to instability within the inner 2 AU of the system.

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Key Concepts

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

Super-Earths
Super-Earths are exoplanets with masses larger than Earth's but smaller than those of Uranus and Neptune. These planets can greatly affect the dynamics of a planetary system due to their significant gravitational influence.
For instance, when a super-Earth is added to a configuration of four Earth-sized planets, it can disturb their orbits, leading to instability in the system. Even a single super-Earth can exert enough gravitational force to displace other planets from their orbits.
When setting up a simulation, it's important to note:
  • The mass and distance of super-Earths in relation to other planets.
  • How their gravitational pull can alter existing orbits.
  • Why these disturbances can lead to collisions or ejections of planets from the system.
By experimenting with different placements, you can better understand how super-Earths interact within a planetary system.
Ice Giants
Ice giants, like Uranus and Neptune, possess large icy compositions and substantial masses. Despite being less massive than gas giants, their presence in a planetary system can still cause significant disruptions.
Adding an ice giant to an already established planetary system, especially one with smaller Earth-sized planets, requires careful observation.
  • Ice giants have strong gravitational fields that can perturb the orbits of smaller, inner planets.
  • They can also migrate over time, altering the dynamics of the system.
  • This migration might trigger a domino effect causing other planets to collide or be ejected.
In simulations, you may find that stability within 2 AU is harder to maintain when ice giants are introduced, highlighting their substantial impact on orbital dynamics.
Planetary Configurations
Various planetary configurations can result in different outcomes for system stability. The arrangement, mass, and distance between planets play crucial roles.
  • Configurations with planets of similar masses and evenly spaced orbits tend to have higher stability.
  • Mixing planets of different sizes, such as Earth-sized planets with super-Earths or ice giants, often introduces instability.
  • The proximity of large planets to smaller ones can greatly affect orbital paths.
In your experiments, consider:
  • Testing uniform configurations versus mixed ones.
  • Observing how the introduction of new planets shifts existing orbits.
  • Identifying patterns that contribute to either stability or chaos.
By tweaking these factors, you will gain a better understanding of how different planetary configurations influence overall stability.
Orbital Stability
Orbital stability is essential for a planetary system to remain intact over time. Several factors contribute to whether a system remains stable or becomes chaotic.
  • Mass of the planets: Larger masses have stronger gravitational influences.
  • Distance between planets: Closely spaced planets are more likely to interact and affect each other's orbits.
  • The initial positions: Starting placements can determine the long-term orbital paths.
In the simulations:
You should observe how even minor modifications can lead to significant changes in stability.
For example, adding a super-Earth to a stable configuration of four Earth-sized planets might cause instability, as the additional mass disrupts existing orbits.
Understanding these elements can help you predict and possibly control the behavior of real planetary systems.
Exoplanet Simulations
Exoplanet simulations, such as those offered by the Super Planet Crash game, allow us to explore and understand the complex dynamics of planetary systems.
These simulations are powerful tools because:
  • They provide visual and interactive means to manipulate different variables like planetary mass, distance, and position.
  • They give immediate feedback on how changes affect system stability, letting you identify patterns quickly.
  • They enable the study of impossible or impractical real-world scenarios.
When using such tools:
Take notes of every change you make and its impact.
Analyze the behavior over time to gain insights.

These simulations help bridge the gap between theoretical understandings and practical, observable phenomena in planetary systems.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Citizen science projects: a. Go to the "PlanetHunters" website at http://planethunters.org. PlanetHunters is part of the Zooniverse, a citizen science project that invites individuals to participate in a major science project using their own computers. To participate in this or any of the other Zooniverse projects mentioned in later chapters, you will need to sign up for an account. Read through the sections under “About," including the FAQ. What are some of the advantages to crowdsourcing Kepler data analysis? Back on the PlanetHunters home page, click on "Tutorial" and watch the "Introduction" and "Tutorial Video." When you're ready to try looking for planets, click on "Classify" and begin. Save a copy of your stars for your homework. b. Go to the "Disk Detective" website at http://www diskdetective.org/, another Zooniverse project for which you will need to make an account as in part (a). In this project, you will look at observations of young stars to see if there is evidence for a planetary disk. Under "Menu," read "Science" and “About," and then "Classify." Work through an example, and then classify a few images.

A planet in the "habitable zone" a. is close to the central star. b. is far from the central star. c. is the same distance from its star as Earth is from the Sun. d. is at a distance where liquid water can exist on the surface.

The terrestrial planets and the giant planets have different compositions because a. the giant planets are much larger. b. the terrestrial planets formed closer to the Sun. c. the giant planets are made mostly of solids. d. the terrestrial planets have few moons.

Because angular momentum is conserved, an ice-skater who throws her arms out will a. rotate more slowly. b. rotate more quickly. c. rotate at the same rate. d. stop rotating entirely,

What is an accretion disk?
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