Outer 1 Flashcards
(25 cards)
What are the 4 jovian planets?
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune
What does TNO stand for?
Trans-neptunian objects
What is the perihelion?
The point in the orbit of a planet where it is nearest to its star
What is the aphelion?
The point in the orbit of a planet where it is farthest from its star
What is differential rotation and why does Jupiter exhibit it?
The equatorial regions spinning faster than the polar regions
Due to the gaseous nature of Jupiter
What is the fastest rotating planet in the solar system?
Jupiter
What shape is Jupiter and why?
Non spherical shape, bulging out at the equator. Due to its fast rotation
Does Jupiter have a rocky core?
Yes
What are the two main features of Jupiters atmosphere?
Ever changing bands that run parallel to the equator.
The great red spot
What is the composition of Jupiter’s atmosphere?
Hydrogen (86.1%)
Helium (13.8%)
traces of methane, ammonia and water vapour
How has jupiter held on to hydrogen and helium through its lifetime?
its great size, it has a strong enough gravitational force that even light gases cannot escape
What are the bright zones and dark belts on Jupiter caused by?
Convection currents
Are bright zones and dark belts high or low pressure?
Zones : high pressure
Belts : low pressure
Are zones or belts rising on Jupiter?
Belts are sinking
Zones are rising
What is Zonal wind flow on Jupiter?
Stable wind flow that lies beneath the zones and belts
From pole to pole what does the zonal wind flow pattern broadly match?
The belt/zone pattern
What is the colour variation in Jupiter’s atmosphere due to?
Complex chemical processes occurring in the atmosphere
What are the 3 layers of clouds on Jupiter?
- A crystal layer of ammonia ice crystals
- Tawny coloured layer of ammonium hydrosulfide
- A layer of water ice clouds (can’t be seen by visual telescopes)
What are the winds on Jupiter driven by?
Thermal energy from the planet’s core
Types of Storm on Jupiter and mechanism for their colour
Great Red Spot (unknown origin of colour)
White ones (colour from the clouds that top them)
Brown ones (act as windows into the deeper atmosphere)
What is the Great Red Spot?
Massive cyclone that has been raging in jupiter for hundreds of years
why do we know that Jupiter has its own internal heat source?
Jupiter emits twice as much energy as it receives from the sun
Where does the internal energy of Jupiter come from?
Gravitational energy released during the planet’s formation. This was converted to heat in the interior
Which probe collected data about Jupiter
Galileo
