Download ISNS3371_020607_bw

ISNS 3371 - Phenomena of Nature
Geosynchronous/Geostationary Orbits
Since gravity decreases with altitude (inversely proportional to square of
distance from the center of the Earth), the orbital velocity varies with altitude.
A geosynchronous orbit has a period the same
as the rotational speed of the Earth - e.g., it
orbits in the same amount of time that the
Earth rotates - 1 sidereal day. A geostationary
orbit is a geosynchronous orbit at the equator
- it always stays above the same place on the
Earth - communications satellites, satellite TV,
etc…
A geostationary orbit is 42,000 km above the center of the Earth and the altitude is
about 35,600 km
ISNS 3371 - Phenomena of Nature
Calculating Geosynchronous Orbit Altitude
For an orbiting body, the inward and outward forces must equal each other
(Newtons 3rd Law) - the centripetal force from orbital motion has to equal the
centrifugal force from gravity:
Fcentripetal  Fcentrifugal
m sat ag  m sat ac
ag  a c
ac   2 r
MG
r2
MG
 2r  2
r
MG
3
r  2
ag 

r
3
MG
2
 is angular velocity - at geosynchronous
orbit,  of satellite is equal to the angular
velocity of the Earth
 = 2/86164 (length of sidereal day)
M = 5.97 X 1024 kg
G= 6.67 x 10-11 Nm2/ kg2
Plug in the numbers and you get
r = 42,164 km
ISNS 3371 - Phenomena of Nature
Escape Velocity
If a projectile is fired straight up with a large enough velocity, it will escape
the Earth’s gravity. It will travel slower and slower due to the Earth’s gravity,
but never to zero. Escape velocity - velocity at which gravity can not stop
outward motion. Note that the gravitational attraction of Earth never ceases,
it just gets infinitesimally small.
Escape velocity is calculated by using conservation of energy - a body
achieves escape velocity when the all of its initial gravitational energy is
converted to kinetic energy.
ISNS 3371 - Phenomena of Nature
Gravitational potential energy at PE(at Earth' s surface)  mgh  mgR
E
the Earth’s surface
Acceleration due to gravity
Potential energy
Kinetic energy
KE=PE
Escape velocity
GME
g
RE
GME m
PE 
RE
1
KE  mv 2
2
1 2 GM E m
mv 
2
RE
2GME
v
RE
Starting from the surface of the Earth:
RE = 6.378 X 106 m, ME = 5.97 X 1024 kg, G= 6.67 x 10-11 Nm2/ kg2
v= 11,174 m/s

ISNS 3371 - Phenomena of Nature
Center of Mass
Newton also showed that
two objects attracted to
each other by gravity
actually orbit about their
center of mass - the point
at which the objects
would balance if the were
connected.
Center of Mass - Binary Star
This idea is used to find planets orbiting other stars - massive
planets cause star to move against background stars
ISNS 3371 - Phenomena of Nature
Tides
The gravitational attraction of the Moon varies as the square of the
distance (Newton’s Law of Gravitation) - gravity stronger on side facing the
Moon than on opposite side. The Moon pulls the ocean water towards it on
facing side - creates tide - and pulls the Earth away from the ocean water
on the other side - reason for tides twice a day. Time of tides varies by 50
min per day - Moon at its highest point every 24 hrs 50 min because Moon
orbits Earth while Earth rotates.
ISNS 3371 - Phenomena of Nature
The Sun also causes tides - why are
they weaker than the Moons’ (by
about 1/2)? The Sun’s gravitational
attraction on the Earth is about 180
times that of the moon. But the Sun’s
greater distance means the difference
on opposite sides of the Earth is much
smaller - only about 0.02% as
opposed to 7% for the moon.
Neap tides - when Moon’s and Sun’s
gravitational forces oppose each other
Spring tides - when
Moon’s and Sun’s
gravitational forces
add up
ISNS 3371 - Phenomena of Nature
Tides
ISNS 3371 - Phenomena of Nature
Tidal Bulge
Because the Earth rotates, friction drags the tidal bulges off of the EarthMoon line. This tidal friction causes the Earth’s rotation to slow and the
Moon to move farther out.
ISNS 3371 - Phenomena of Nature
The Moon pulls on tidal bulge - slows Earth’s rotation
The excess mass in Earth’s tidal bulge exerts a gravitational attraction on the
Moon that pulls the Moon ahead in its orbit - Moon moves farther away Conservation of Angular Momentum!
ISNS 3371 - Phenomena of Nature
Tidal Heating in Jovian Moons
The four inner moons of Jupiter - Io, Europa, and Ganymede - all show
evidence of geological activity - indicators of molten interiors. The heat
source is tidal heating.
Moons have elliptical orbit and synchonous rotation - one side always faces
Jupiter
- as Ganymede completes one orbit, Europa completes exactly two orbits,
and Io completes exactly four orbits - moons periodically line up - causes
orbital ellipticity.
- tidal bulges are constantly being flexed in different directions - generates
friction inside
ISNS 3371 - Phenomena of Nature
Io
Jupiter’s tidal forces flex Io like a
ball of silly putty.
- friction generates heat
- interior of Io is molten
Volcanoes erupt frequently.
- sulfur in the lava accounts for
yellow color
- surface ice vaporizes and
jets away
Evidence of tectonics and impact
cratering is covered.
ISNS 3371 - Phenomena of Nature
Volcanic Plumes
ISNS 3371 - Phenomena of Nature
Lava fountain - active lava hot
enough to cause "bleeding" in
Galileo's camera - overloading of
camera by the brightness of the
target
Newly erupted hot lava flow. Dark,
"L"-shaped lava flow marks the
location of the November 1999
eruption.
ISNS 3371 - Phenomena of Nature
Gas and Dust Plume
A broad plume of gas and dust about 80 km high above a lava flow
ISNS 3371 - Phenomena of Nature
Europa
Metallic core, rocky mantle, and a crust
made of H2O ice
Its fractured surface tells a tale of
tectonics.
- few impact craters seen
- double-ridged cracks
- jumbled icebergs
These provide photographic evidence
of a subsurface ocean.
Europa has a magnetic field.
- implies liquid salt water beneath
the icy crust
Where liquid water exists, there could
be life!
ISNS 3371 - Phenomena of Nature
ISNS 3371 - Phenomena of Nature
Evidence of a Subsurface ocean
Jumbled crust with icebergs and surface cracks with double-ridged
pattern - caused by tidal flexing of thick layer of ice on top of liquid
ocean of water.
ISNS 3371 - Phenomena of Nature
Europa Ice Rafts
Thin, disrupted, ice crust in the Conamara region of Europa
- white and blue colors outline areas blanketed by a fine dust of ice
particles ejected at the time of formation of the large (26 kilometer in
diameter) crater Pwyll 1000 kilometers to the south.
- a few small craters - less than 500 meters in diameter were probably
formed at the same time as the blanketing occurred by large, intact,
blocks of ice thrown up in the impact explosion that formed Pwyll.
ISNS 3371 - Phenomena of Nature
Ganymede
Largest moon in the Solar System
Its surface has 2 types of terrain:
- heavily cratered, implies old
- long grooves, few craters, implies
young like Europa
It also has a magnetic field.
Could it have subsurface ocean?
- case not as strong as Europa’s
- tidal heating would be weaker
- would need additional heating
from radioactive decay