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Chapter 4: Problem 2

What are the characteristics of a Jovian planet?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Answer: Key characteristics of Jovian planets include primarily gaseous composition, large size and mass, thick and extensive atmosphere, lack of a well-defined solid surface, strong magnetic fields, and the presence of numerous moons and ring systems.

Step by step solution

01

Definition of Jovian Planets

Jovian planets, also known as gas giants, are a type of planet that is primarily composed of gaseous material. These planets are named after the Roman god Jupiter (Jove) because Jupiter is an example of this type of planet. The Jovian planets in our solar system include Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
02

Composition

Jovian planets are mostly made up of hydrogen and helium, with traces of other elements such as methane, ammonia, and water. The presence of these elements gives the planets a very different composition compared to the terrestrial planets (such as Earth), which are primarily composed of rocky and metallic materials.
03

Size and Mass

Jovian planets are much larger and more massive than terrestrial planets. They have a wider diameter and a significantly higher mass, mainly due to their gaseous composition. For example, Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system, with a diameter of about 143,000 kilometers and a mass that is more than 300 times that of Earth.
04

Atmosphere

Jovian planets have a thick and extensive atmosphere, featuring many layers of clouds composed of different compounds, such as ammonia and methane. The pressure and temperature within the atmosphere of Jovian planets increase with depth.
05

Lack of Solid Surface

Unlike terrestrial planets, Jovian planets do not have a well-defined solid surface. This is because their outer layer is comprised mostly of gas, and as one goes deeper, the gas becomes more and more compressed, eventually turning into a dense, hot mixture of liquids and gas.
06

Magnetic Field

Jovian planets have strong magnetic fields, which are generated by the movement of conductive materials within their interiors, such as metallic hydrogen in the case of Jupiter and Saturn, and ionized water in the case of Uranus and Neptune. These magnetic fields can cause auroras and interact with the solar wind, affecting the planet's atmosphere and surroundings.
07

Moons and Rings

Jovian planets are known for having many moons, ranging in size from small asteroid-like objects to large bodies that rival the size of Earth's moon. In addition, they all possess ring systems, which are composed of small particles of ice and rock orbiting the planet. While Saturn's rings are the most prominent and well-known, Jupiter, Uranus, and Neptune also have rings, albeit less visible and more diffuse. These are the main characteristics that distinguish a Jovian planet from other types of planets, such as terrestrial planets. By understanding these features, one can identify and classify planets based on their composition, size, atmosphere, and other properties.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

(a) What is meant by accretion? (b) Why are the terrestrial planets denser at their centers than at their surfaces?

Explain how our current understanding of the formation of the solar system can account for the following characteristics of the solar system: (a) All planetary orbits lie in nearly the same plane. (b) All planetary orbits are nearly circular. (c) The planets orbit the Sun in the same direction in which the Sun itself rotates.

What are proplyds? What do they tell us about the plausibility of our model of the solar system's origin?

Imagine a trans-Neptunian object with roughly the same mass as Earth but located 50 AU from the Sun. (a) What do you think this object would be made of? Explain your reasoning. (b) On the basis of this speculation, assume a reasonable density for this object and calculate its diameter. How many times bigger or smaller than Earth would it be?

What are the asteroid belt, the Kuiper belt, and the Oort cloud? Where are they located? How do the objects found in these three regions compare?
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