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Chapter 12: Problem 31

Describe the structure of Saturn's rings. What evidence is there that ring particles do not migrate significantly between ringlets?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Saturn's rings are made primarily of ice particles with a minor amount of rocky debris and dust. They're very thin but broad, divided into several distinct divisions with gaps caused by the gravitation of Saturn’s moons. Evidence that particles do not migrate significantly between the divisions within these rings includes the sharpness of the ring edges, color differences between the rings, and distinctive compositional data from spectral analysis.

Step by step solution

01

Describe the structure of Saturn's rings

To begin with, it's important to note that Saturn's rings are made up of countless small particles, primarily of water ice, though they also contain trace amounts of rocky material. They are extremely thin relative to their radial extent with a thickness not greater than 1 kilometer, but extending up to 282,000 kilometers from the planet, a larger distance than the Earth-Moon separation. The rings are divided into seven major divisions labelled the A-G rings, with gaps within them created by the gravitational pull of Saturn’s many moons, the largest of which is the Cassini Division.
02

Explain the lack of migration of ring particles between ringlets

There are several pieces of evidence that suggest that ring particles do not migrate significantly between these divisions. One of the compelling arguments is the sharpness of the edges of these rings and the lack of significant mixing of material between them. Another evidence is the color differences observed between rings, indicating they are largely composed of separate communities of particles. Finally, spectral data has identified compositional differences among the rings, which would not be expected if there was significant migration of particles.
03

Conclude

In conclusion, using the characteristics of Saturn's rings and the evidences of the immobility of the ring particles, it gives a detailed structure and dynamics at work within Saturn's rings. This helps in understanding not just about Saturn, but the formation and dynamics of planetary systems as a whole.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Is the chemical composition of Jupiter as a whole the same as that of its atmosphere? Explain any differences.

The two Voyager spacecraft were launched from Earth along a trajectory that took them directly to Jupiter. The force of Jupiter's gravity then gave the two spacecraft a "kick" that helped push them onward to Saturn. The much larger Cassini spacecraft, by contrast, was first launched on a trajectory that took it past Venus. Search the World Wide Web, especially the Web sites for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the European Space Agency, for information about the trajectory that Cassini took through the solar system to reach Saturn. Explain why this trajectory was so different from that of the Voyagers.

Saturn is the most distant of the planets visible without a telescope. Is there any way we could infer this from naked-eye observations? Explain. (Hint: Think about how Saturn's position on the celestial sphere must change over the course of weeks or months.)

Compare and contrast Jupiter's magnetosphere with the magnetosphere of a terrestrial planet like Earth. Why is the size of the Jovian magnetosphere highly variable, while that of the Earth's magnetosphere is not?

Both Jupiter and Saturn emit more energy than they receive from the Sun in the form of sunlight. Compare the internal energy sources of the two planets that produce this emission.
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