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Chapter 14: Problem 45

Some scientists are discussing the possibility of placing spacecraft in orbit about Uranus and Neptune. What kinds of data should be collected, and what questions would you like to see answered by these missions?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Ideally, new data from spacecrafts should aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of Uranus and Neptune's physical characteristics and elemental composition, including high-resolution images, atmospheric sampling, and gravitational fields measurements. The missions could try to address questions regarding these planets' surface features, weather patterns, rotational behaviour, and compatibility with current theories about the Solar System's formation, along with the exciting question of potential signs of extraterrestrial life.

Step by step solution

01

Background Research

Learn about the existing knowledge of Uranus and Neptune prior to considering what fresh data would be beneficial. Factors to consider could entail the planets' structure, atmosphere, meteorology, magnetosphere, and satellites.
02

Data contemplation

The next step is to contemplate what further data could offer additional insight into Uranus and Neptune. This may encompass high-resolution images, atmospheric composition, gravitational fields, and detection of geological activity.
03

Formulate Questions

Based on the chosen data, determine what questions could be addressed by the proposed space missions. These might relate to the planets' surface features, weather patterns, rotational behaviour, and possible signs of previous or present extraterrestrial life. Compatibility with current theories regarding the Solar System's formation could also be examined.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

The brightness of sunlight is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the Sun. For example, at a distance of \(4 \mathrm{AU}\) from the Sun, sunlight is only \((1 / 4)^{2}=1 / 16=\) \(0.0625\) as bright as at \(1 \mathrm{AU}\). Compared with the brightness of sunlight on the Earth, what is its brightness (a) on Pluto at perihelion (29.649 AU from the Sun) and (b) on Pluto at aphelion (49.425 AU from the Sun)? (c) How much brighter is it on Pluto at perihelion compared with aphelion? (Even this brightness is quite low. Noon on Pluto is about as dim as it is on the Earth a half hour after sunset on a moonless night.)

. If Triton had been formed along with Neptune rather than having been captured, would you expect it to be in a prograde or retrograde orbit? Would you expect the satellite to show signs of tectonic activity? Explain your answers.

Search the World Wide Web for a list of trans-Neptunian objects. What are the largest and smallest objects of this sort that have so far been found, and how large are they? Have any objects larger than Eris been found?

How do the orientations of Uranus's and Neptune's magnetic axes differ from those of other planets?

Imagine that you are in charge of planning the New Horizons flyby of Pluto and Charon. In your opinion, what data should be collected and what kinds of questions should the mission attempt to answer?
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