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Chapter 7: Problem 40

The Galileo spacecraft that orbited Jupiter from 1995 to 2003 discovered that Ganymede (Table 7-2) has a magnetic field twice as strong as that of Mercury. Does this discovery surprise you? Why or why not?

Short Answer

Expert verified
No, the discovery is not surprising. Given Ganymede's larger size compared to Mercury, it's possible that the internals of Ganymede are capable of creating a stronger magnetic field. However, this does not mean that larger bodies always have stronger magnetic fields, there are numerous factors at play.

Step by step solution

01

Understand the Relevance of Magnetic Fields in Celestial Bodies

Magnetic fields are generated in celestial bodies due to the movements of conductive fluids, like molten iron, in the interior of the bodies. When these fluids flow, they produce electric currents, which in turn form the magnetic field.
02

Know about Jupiter’s Moon Ganymede and Planet Mercury

Planet Mercury is smaller than Earth and has a weak magnetic field. On the contrary, Ganymede, Jupiter's moon, is the largest of all moons in our solar system, and it is even bigger than Mercury.
03

Form an Opinion based on Facts

A celestial body's size could relate to its capacity to generate a magnetic field. Even though Ganymede is a moon and Mercury is a planet, Ganymede is larger in size than Mercury. Therefore, knowing that Ganymede has a more intense magnetic field than Mercury might not be entirely surprising. It's important to note that various other factors (like the core composition, internal processes, etc.) also contribute to the magnetic field strength.

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