ANSWER
Let’s go through each of the questions:
(1) Jupiter and Saturn vs. Uranus and Neptune:
(1a) Three similarities shared by all 4 giant planets:
- They are all composed primarily of gas and lack solid surfaces.
- They all have multiple moons or natural satellites.
- They all have strong magnetic fields.
(1b) Three ways in which Uranus and Neptune differ from Jupiter and Saturn:
- Uranus and Neptune are known as ice giants, while Jupiter and Saturn are gas giants. This is because a significant portion of Uranus and Neptune’s composition is icy and rocky materials.
- Uranus and Neptune have a bluish tint, while Jupiter and Saturn have more muted, yellowish colors.
- The rotation axes of Uranus and Neptune are tilted significantly compared to the other two, resulting in unique and extreme seasons.
(2) Jupiter’s Great Red Spot:
(2a) To calculate the wind speeds at the outer edges of the storm: The Great Red Spot has a diameter of 16,300 km and rotates completely in six days. To find the wind speeds at the outer edges, you can use the formula: Speed = Distance/Time. Speed = 16,300 km / (6 days x 24 hours/day) = approximately 113.2 km/hr.
(2b) Comparing wind speeds with terrestrial hurricanes: Wind speeds at the outer edges of the Great Red Spot are significantly higher (around 113.2 km/hr) than those in terrestrial hurricanes (200 km/hr), indicating that the Great Red Spot is an extremely powerful storm.
(3) Convince me!
To determine the density of Saturn, several quantities have been measured:
- The mass of Saturn, determined from its gravitational effects on its moons and spacecraft.
- The volume or size of Saturn, which is determined through observations of its shape and size.
- Using the formula Density = Mass/Volume, scientists can calculate the density of Saturn and find that it is less than that of water.
(4) Layers upon layers:
Jupiter has several distinct layers of clouds due to differences in temperature, pressure, and composition at various altitudes in its atmosphere. These differences create layers of clouds where specific compounds can condense and form clouds. Highly volatile gases like ammonia are found higher in the atmosphere because it’s colder there, allowing them to condense into clouds.
(5) Colors:
(5a) Jupiter and Saturn get their yellow/red colors from the presence of compounds like ammonia and methane in their atmospheres. These compounds can absorb certain wavelengths of light, giving rise to their characteristic colors.
(5b) Uranus and Neptune look bluish primarily due to the presence of methane in their atmospheres. Methane absorbs red and orange light, reflecting blue and green light, which gives these planets their bluish appearance.
(6) Receiving Signals from Jupiter:
If Jupiter is at a distance of 4.6 astronomical units (AU) from Earth, it would take radio signals approximately 39.16 minutes to travel from a probe orbiting Jupiter to Earth. This is because one AU is the average distance from Earth to the Sun, which is about 93 million miles (150 million kilometers).
(7) Changes:
Uranus’ atmosphere shows strong variations over the course of its orbit due to its extreme axial tilt, causing dramatic seasonal changes. Neptune and Saturn have moderate changes because of their less extreme tilts. Jupiter’s atmosphere appears stable year in and year out because it has a small axial tilt, which results in milder seasonal variations.
(8) The Solar System:
(8a) Three hypotheses for the differing quantities of atmosphere on two planets with 99% carbon dioxide atmospheres:
- Differences in planetary size and gravity, leading to varying abilities to retain an atmosphere.
- Varied geological or volcanic activity influencing the atmosphere’s composition.
- Varying interactions with the host star, such as solar wind and radiation, affecting atmospheric escape.
(8b) A hypothesis for a solar system with 8 terrestrial planets and no jovian planets could be that the protoplanetary disk lacked enough gas and dust to form large gas giants. Alternatively, interactions with nearby stars or other celestial bodies may have disrupted the formation of jovian planets.
(8c) Astronomers would be surprised to discover an active volcano on an asteroid because asteroids are typically small, airless bodies that lack the geological processes that lead to volcanic activity, like the presence of molten rock and tectonic activity.
QUESTION
Description
(1) Jupiter and Saturn vs. Uranus and Neptune
We have compared the Terrestrial Planets and the Giant or Jovian Planets, but when we look at the 4 Giant Planets we can see that they can be paired into Jupiter and Saturn vs. Uranus and Neptune.
(2 pts.) (1a) Explain 3 similarities shared by all 4 giant planets.
(2 pts.) (1b) Explain 3 ways in which Uranus and Neptune differ from Jupiter and Saturn.
(2) Jupiter’s Great Red Spot
The GRS rotates completely in six days.
(3 pts.) (2a) If the spot is circular (not quite true, but a reasonable approximation for this matter) and 16,300 km in diameter, what are the wind speeds at the outer edges of the storm? Give you answer in km/hr. (Hints: Speed = distance÷time. How far does does a cloud on the edge of the spot move in one rotation? )
(1 pt.) (2b) How do these speeds compare with winds in terrestrial hurricanes where wind speeds can be 120 mph = 200 km/hr?
(3) Convince me!
(4 pts.) We know that Saturn has a density less than that of water – so the planet would float in a giant bath tub. If you tell your friends that a planet could float, they are likely to laugh at you. Describe HOW we know the density of Saturn is less than that of water by observing it from here on Earth – what quantities have been measured (units?)? Which formula (or formulae) is (are) used?
(4) Layers upon layers.
(3 pts.) Jupiter have several distinct layers of clouds. Why are these clouds separated into several distinct layers, so that clouds composed of a highly volatile gas such as ammonia found higher in the atmosphere than water?
(5) Colors.
(3 pts.) (5a) What gives Jupiter and Saturn their yellow/red colors?
(1 pts.) (5b) Describe the physical process(es) that make Uranus and Neptune look bluish.
(6) Receiving Signals from Jupiter.
(3 pts.) The distance from the Earth to Jupiter varies as the two planets orbit the Sun. Suppose we measure the distance to Jupiter and find that it is at a distance of 4.6 AU from the Earth,. How much time will it take for radio signals from a probe orbiting Jupiter to travel through space to reach us? Give your answer in minutes.
(7) Changes.
(2 pts.) Why does Uranus’ atmosphere show strong variations over the course of its orbit, Neptune and Saturn have moderate changes while Jupiter’s atmosphere appears pretty much the same, year in and year out? Please discuss each of these four planets by name in your response.
(8) The Solar System
(6 pts.) (8 a) In another solar system, we discover two terrestrial planets both with atmospheres made of 99% carbon dioxide. However, one planet has ten times more atmosphere than the other. Propose three hypotheses to explain why they would differ so much in their quantities of atmosphere.
(4 pts.) (8 b) Our solar system contains 4 terrestrial planets and 4 jovian planets. Suppose we discover another solar system with 8 terrestrial planets and no jovian planets. Propose a hypothesis to explain why the formation of that solar system would have turned out so differently from our own.
(4 pts.) (8 c) Why would astronomers be surprised to discover an active volcano on an asteroid?
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