1. Seasons Revisited
Jupiter's `North Pole' points directly up relative to its orbit - that
is, Earth's tilt is about 23°, and Jupiter tilt is only 5°.
(Uranus' is slightly over 90°). Describe the seasons on Jupiter:
how strong would they be, and how much could they affect the interior
of the planet? How does this compare with Earth? Hint: be sure to
consider all the sources of heat for Jupiter and the Earth.
2. A miniature Solar System
Discussion Question 1, Ch. 11 in the text (p. 338).
3. Comparing Jovian Planets
Problem 3, Ch. 11 in the text (p. 338).
4. Cosmic Collisions
Uranus' moon Miranda
appears to have been violently fragmented in the past, and then
re-accreted together. The best theory for
the formation of our Moon says we went through a similar collision: the
Earth was hit by a Mars-sized impactor about 4 billion years ago,
spewing debris into orbit around the Earth which accreted to form the
Moon. However, neither the Moon nor the Earth show evidence for this
as dramatically as Miranda does. Think of some possible reasons for
this. Hint: Consider the relative sizes of Miranda and the Earth/Moon
and what effect this would have on their surfaces and atmospheres, and
the fact that Miranda was his by a much smaller object than hit the
Earth.
5. Life from the Ooze
Titan, Europa, and Mars have all been proposed to have oceans currently
or in the past, and as possible places for life. Discuss the evidence
for liquid water on each one. Which do you think is most likely to
have life? Why?
Last modified 19-Jun-2000