The Cosmic Perspective Chapter 10 Lecture 21

Which lists the jovian planets in order of increasing distance from the Sun?

Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune

Why does Neptune appear blue and Jupiter red?

Methane in Neptune's atmosphere absorbs red light.

Why is Jupiter denser than Saturn?

Its higher mass and gravity compress its interior.

Some jovian planets give off more energy than they receive because

they are still slowly contracting after formation.

The main ingredients of most satellites of the jovian planets are

hydrogen compound ices.

Under what circumstances is thermal escape likely to be important

Light gases on small planets near the sun

What happens to the atmosphere if the planet's mass increases

Escape velocity increases

Less thermal escape

What happens to the atmosphere if the planet's mass decreases

Escape velocity decreases

More smaller escape

More massive gasses

Move more slowly

Decreases temperature

Least massive gasses

move more quickly

Increases temperature

Thermal Escape

Easiest for small and hot worlds

Containing Light gases and farther from the sun

Can affect isotopes of heavier elements

Solar wind stripping

Easiest for worlds without strong magnetic field

Condensation

Where a planet's surface cools down

Happens when there are no greenhouse gases

Chemical reactions

depend on composition

Very special cause of chemical reactions

Carbonate rock formation pulls carbon dioxide from atmosphere

Combines with liquid water and other materials

Why the mercury and moon have outgassing

tons of volcanic activity billions of years ago.

Geological history of mars

Lots of craters at first

Plenty of volcanism and tectonics, craters wiped out

Erosion in the beginning

Volcanism now slows and stops

Climate Change and Erosion are now weak

Outgassing Produces...

greenhouse gases such as Carbon Dioxide, water and nitrogen

Sulfuric bearing Gasses

If the Sunrise is on the equinox, which way should the sun move afterwards

Left, North

Climate Change

Tilt of the axis

Distance From the sun

Brigtness of the Star. Amount of Greenhouse gases