Chapter 14: Problem 1
Suppose a satellite has a diameter of
Short Answer
Expert verified
The satellite is likely to be a regular satellite.
Step by step solution
01
Understand Satellite Types
Firstly, understand the types of satellites. Regular satellites typically have nearly circular orbits and lie close to the planet's equatorial plane. Collision fragments are pieces of a larger body that broke apart and might have irregular shapes and more eccentric orbits. Captured asteroids are bodies that were captured by a planet's gravitational pull and generally have more eccentric and inclined orbits.
02
Analyze Orbit Position
The problem states that the satellite's orbit lies nearly in the equatorial plane of its parent planet and is well outside the planet’s ring system. Regular satellites often have orbits that align closely with the planet's equatorial plane, which is consistent with this description.
03
Consider Satellite Size
The satellite has a diameter of 800 km. This size is significant, and regular satellites are often large due to their origin near the planet; they are formed from the planetary disk from which the planet itself formed. Collision fragments and captured asteroids tend to be smaller and irregular in size.
04
Evaluate Satellite Type Likelihood
Given the orbit's alignment with the equatorial plane and the large size of the satellite, these characteristics strongly suggest it is a regular satellite rather than a collision fragment or a captured asteroid. Regular satellites are formed in the planet's equatorial plane and tend to be larger and more spherical than other types.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Regular Satellites
Regular satellites are closely associated with their parent planets. They typically form within the same disk of gas and dust that formed the planet itself.
This means that their orbits naturally align with the planet's equatorial plane, leading to nearly circular paths around their parent bodies. Here are some key characteristics of regular satellites:
This means that their orbits naturally align with the planet's equatorial plane, leading to nearly circular paths around their parent bodies. Here are some key characteristics of regular satellites:
- They usually have circular orbits and stay close to the equatorial plane of the planet.
- Their formations are synchronized with the planet's formation and are often spherical due to gravitational forces.
- They can be quite large, as they form from substantial material within the protoplanetary disk.
Collision Fragments
Collision fragments result from cosmic collisions where a larger celestial body loses pieces of itself. These fragments often have irregular shapes and unexpected orbits, sometimes significantly deviating from their parent planet's equatorial plane.
Key features of collision fragments include:
Key features of collision fragments include:
- They generally have chaotic and eccentric (oval-shaped) orbits due to the unpredictable nature of their formation.
- These fragments tend to be smaller and irregularly shaped compared to regular satellites.
- Because of their origins, collision fragments might not conform to the regular patterns exhibited by native satellite bodies.
Captured Asteroids
Captured asteroids are celestial bodies that originate elsewhere in the solar system and are caught by the gravitational pull of a planet, transforming into its satellite.
These asteroids typically have more erratic orbits, with greater eccentricity and inclination compared to the planet's equatorial plane. Important aspects of captured asteroids include:
These asteroids typically have more erratic orbits, with greater eccentricity and inclination compared to the planet's equatorial plane. Important aspects of captured asteroids include:
- They tend to have high-inclination orbits and are often quite eccentric.
- Their sizes and shapes are irregular, as they were not formed in the planet's vicinity but rather captured later.
- These orbital characteristics reflect their origins outside the immediate influence of the planet’s gravity.