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Chapter 11: Problem 16

How is Mercury's magnetosphere similar to that of the Earth? How is it different? Why do you suppose Mercury does not have Van Allen belts?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Mercury's magnetosphere is similar to Earth's in that both have a global magnetic field. However, Mercury's magnetosphere is weaker and smaller due to the planet's smaller size and slower rotation. Mercury does not have Van Allen belts, unlike Earth, due to its weak magnetic field and its closeness to the sun, which leads to a constant bombardment of high-energy particles that disrupts the formation and sustaining of Van Allen belts.

Step by step solution

01

UNDERSTANDING THE TERM 'MAGNETOSPHERE'

The magnetosphere is the region surrounding a planet which is dominated by the planetary magnetic field. This protects the planet from solar wind.
02

ANALYZING THE MAGNETOSPHERES OF MERCURY AND EARTH

Mercury's magnetosphere is similar to Earth's as they both have a global magnetic field. However, it is weaker than that of the Earth due to its smaller size and slower rotation. Earth's magnetosphere is much larger and stronger because Earth is larger in size and has a faster rotation.
03

UNDERSTANDING VAN ALLEN BELTS

The Van Allen belts are zones of energetic charged particles, which are captured by and held around a planet by that planet's magnetic field. These particles are derived from the solar wind feeding the belts.
04

EXPLAINING THE ABSENCE OF VAN ALLEN BELTS AROUND MERCURY

Mercury does not have Van Allen belts because its magnetic field is weak and its proximity to the sun receives a constant high-energy barrage of particles that prevents the formation and sustaining of such belts.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Compare the volcanoes of Venus, the Earth, and Mars. Cite evidence that hot- spot volcanism is or was active on all three worlds.

Use the Stamy Night Enthusiast \({ }^{\text {M }}\) program to observe solar transits of Venus (see Question 83). Display the entire celestial sphere (select Guides \(>\) Atlas in the Favourites menu). Open the Find pane and click the menu button for Venus (the downwardpointing blue arrow to the left of Venus) in the list. Select Centre from the menu. Use the zoom controls in the toolbar to adjust the field of view to about \(1^{\circ} \times 1^{\circ}\). (a) In the toolbar, Stop time flow and then set the Time and Date to June 8, 2004, at 12:00:00 A.M. Set the Time Flow Rate to 1 hour. Step backward or forward through time using the single-step buttons (the leftmost and the rightmost buttons) and record the times at which the solar transit begins and ends, changing the Time Flow Rate to 1 minute and the field of view to increase the accuracy of your measurement, as necessary. What is the total duration of the solar transit? (b) The ecliptic appears in Starry Night Enthusiast \({ }^{\top M}\) as a green line. During the transit, is Venus precisely on the ecliptic? If not, about how far off is it? (Hint: The Sun has an angular diameter of about 30 arcmin.) (c) Repeat parts (a) and (b) for the solar transit of Venus on June 6,2012 .

On Mars, the difference in elevation between the highest point (the summit of Olympus Mons) and the lowest point (the bottom of the Hellas Planitia basin) is \(30 \mathrm{~km}\). On Earth, the corresponding elevation difference (from the peak of Mount Everest to the bottom of the deepest ocean) is only \(20 \mathrm{~km}\). Discuss why the maximum elevation difference is so much greater on Mars.

Why are naked-eye observations of Mercury best made at dusk or dawn, while telescopic observations are best made during the day?

Consider the idea that Mercury has a solid iron-bearing mantle that is permanently magnetized like a giant bar magnet. Using the fact that iron demagnetizes at temperatures above \(770^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\), present an argument against this explanation of Mercury's magnetic field.
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