This topic contains a solution. Click here to go to the answer

Author Question: Why do astronomers think that Saturn's rings are not a permanent feature that has existed since the ... (Read 34 times)

roselinechinyere27m

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 557
Why do astronomers think that Saturn's rings are not a permanent feature that has existed since the formation of the planet?
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

What do astronomers think is the cause of the active volcanism occurring on Jupiter's moon Io?
 
  What will be an ideal response?



Related Topics

Need homework help now?

Ask unlimited questions for free

Ask a Question
Marked as best answer by a Subject Expert

lauravaras

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 347
Answer to Question 1

Saturn's rings can't be leftover material from the formation of Saturn. The rings are made of ice particles, and the planet would have been so hot when it formed that it would have vaporized and driven away any icy material. Rather, the rings must be debris from collisions between Saturn's icy Moons and passing comets or asteroids. Impacts large enough to scatter ice throughout the Saturn system are estimated to occur every 100 million years or so. The ice would quickly settle into the equatorial plane, and some would become trapped in rings.

Answer to Question 2

The activity you see in the Galilean moons must be driven by energy flowing outward, yet these objects are too small to have remained hot from the time of their formation. Io's volcanism seems to be driven by tidal heating. Io follows a slightly elliptical orbit caused by its interactions with the other moons. As Io's distance from Jupiter varies, the planet's gravitational field flexes the moon with varying tidal force, and the resulting friction heats Io's interior. That heat flowing outward causes the volcanism.





 

Did you know?

It is believed that the Incas used anesthesia. Evidence supports the theory that shamans chewed cocoa leaves and drilled holes into the heads of patients (letting evil spirits escape), spitting into the wounds they made. The mixture of cocaine, saliva, and resin numbed the site enough to allow hours of drilling.

Did you know?

Atropine was named after the Greek goddess Atropos, the oldest and ugliest of the three sisters known as the Fates, who controlled the destiny of men.

Did you know?

All adverse reactions are commonly charted in red ink in the patient's record and usually are noted on the front of the chart. Failure to follow correct documentation procedures may result in malpractice lawsuits.

Did you know?

If all the neurons in the human body were lined up, they would stretch more than 600 miles.

Did you know?

All patients with hyperparathyroidism will develop osteoporosis. The parathyroid glands maintain blood calcium within the normal range. All patients with this disease will continue to lose calcium from their bones every day, and there is no way to prevent the development of osteoporosis as a result.

For a complete list of videos, visit our video library