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Solar System. All masses that orbit the sun plus the sun!. Solar System Contents. Sun (most of the mass!) Planets and their satellites Asteroids (asteroid belt) Comets (Oort cloud) Gas and dust (all over!). Terrestrial Planets. Earthlike: rocks , metals
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Solar System All masses that orbit the sun plus the sun!
Solar System Contents • Sun (most of the mass!) • Planets and their satellites • Asteroids (asteroid belt) • Comets (Oort cloud) • Gas and dust (all over!)
Terrestrial Planets • Earthlike: rocks, metals • Solids and fluidlike materials • Surfaces that record change • Small sizes, but high densities • Inside asteroid belt
Jovian Planets • Jupiter-like: Liquids & gases • No solid surfaces to preserve changes • Large sizes, low densities, made mostly of hydrogen and helium • Outside asteroid belt
Planet Models • Mass & spherical shape (Newton’s law of gravitation) • Radius (from angular size and distance) • Bulk density (mass/volume) => infer general composition • Contain density layers (lowest, surface; highest, core)
Evolution of Planets • Heat (energy flow)! • Heat goes from hotter to cooler regions • Drives internal & surface change • Eventually radiates into space
Energy Transfer • Conduction (solids; adjacent particles collide) • Convection (fluids; lower density blobs rise) • Radiation (radiate energy, emitted and absorbed)
Internal Evolution • Energy flow from core to surface to space • Source: Stored energy of formation, radioactive decay • Results in volcanism, tectonics on solid surfaces (terrestrial); convection in liquids & gases (Jovian)
External Evolution • Impact cratering: Solid objects from space, hit at tens km/s • Bomb-like explosion; many megatons (H-bomb!) • Creates circular impact craters on solid surfaces; turbulent regions in liquids