AST101H5 Lecture Notes - Continental Drift, Seismology
Document Summary
Venus mass + radius are similar to earth but atmosphere is 96% co2 and temperatures = 470 k due to being closer to the sun: no liquid water. Study of venus" surface using radars volcanoes, larger craters, very few rifts, no continental drift. Large masses + diameter small densities. Composition mostly of hydrogen and helium from densities + spectral patterns cold enough that no element can escape. We cant go inside them, but we are beginning to use seismology for these planets only indirect methods: composition = hydrogen and helium. Jovian planets all rotate rapidly causes planet to bulge at their equators: no observed expansion or contractions. Jupiter"s center: solid core of rock and metal = 10x mearth. Results of saturn: deeper atmosphere and oceans, smaller hydrogen metallic but larger core. Results of uranus and neptune: oceans of hydrogen compounds not h2, no metallic zone because pressure is not large enough.
