What is a planet made of?

1
What is a planet made of?
2
One way in which scientists look at what a planet
is made of is by looking at density
3
Lets look at the density of the Planets
 
 
4
Lets look at the density of the Planets
The first four planets have higher densities
 
 
5
Lets look at the density of the Planets
The next four planets have lower densities
 
 
6
Lets look at the density of the Planets
And Pluto is somewhere in between
 
 
7
Lets look at the density of the Planets
These planets are known as the Rocky Planets
 
 
8
Lets look at the density of the Planets
These planets are known as the Rocky Planets
Because their densities suggest that they are
mostly made of rock and heavier materials
 
 
9
Lets look at the density of the Planets
These Planets are known as the gaseous planets
 
 
10
Lets look at the density of the Planets
Because their densities suggest that they are
mostly made of gas
These Planets are known as the gaseous planets
 
 
11
Lets look at the Earth
12
The Inside of the Earth is made of Several Layers
13
The Inside of the Earth is made of Several Layers
The Crust A Thin Rock Material
14

The Inside of the Earth is made of Several Layers
The Mantle A Dense and Mostly Solid Rock Material
15

The Inside of the Earth is made of Several Layers
The Outer Core Liquid Iron and Nickel
16

The Inside of the Earth is made of Several Layers
The Inner Core Solid Iron and Nickel
17
How Do We Know This?
The Crust A Thin Rock Material
The Mantle A Dense and Mostly Solid Rock Material
The Outer Core Liquid Iron and Nickel
The Inner Core Solid Iron and Nickel
18
Density
19
The Density of Earth is 5.53 gm/cm3
20
The Density of Earth is 5.53 gm/cm3
We know the surface of the Earth is covered with
Rocks
21
The Density of Earth is 5.53 gm/cm3
The Land is covered mostly by a type of rock
called Granite (density of Granite 2.6 gm/cm3)
22
The Density of Earth is 5.53 gm/cm3
The Land is covered mostly by a type of rock
called Granite (density of Granite 2.6 gm/cm3)
The Ocean is mostly covered by a type of rock
called Basalt (density of Granite 3.3 gm/cm3)
23
The Density of Earth is 5.53 gm/cm3
Granite 2.7 gm/cm3 Basalt 3.3 gm/cm3
Neither of these Rocks is dense enough to account
for the density of the Earth
24
The Density of Earth is 5.53 gm/cm3
Granite 2.7 gm/cm3 Basalt 3.3 gm/cm3
Iron has a density of 7.9 gm/cm3
25
The Density of Earth is 5.53 gm/cm3
Granite 2.7 gm/cm3 Basalt 3.3 gm/cm3
Iron has a density of 7.9 gm/cm3
So we believe the inside of the Earth is made of
a heavy element such as Iron or Nickel (density
of Nickel 8.9 gm/cm3)
26
The Density of Earth is 5.53 gm/cm3
Density of Rocks ? 3 gm/cm3
27
The Density of Earth is 5.53 gm/cm3
Density of Rocks ? 3 gm/cm3
Density of Iron/Nickel ? 8 gm/cm3
28
The Density of Earth is 5.53 gm/cm3
Density of Rocks ? 3 gm/cm3
Density of Iron/Nickel ? 8 gm/cm3
So we believe about ½ the Earth is a Rock-like
material and the other ½ a heavy metal such as
iron and nickel The density of the Earth will be
the average of the two
29
The Density of Mars is 3.9 gm/cm3
30
The Density of Mars is 3.9 gm/cm3
What does this tell us about the interior of Mars?
Remember the Earth has a density of 5.5 gm/cm3
31
The Density of Mars is 3.9 gm/cm3
What does this tell us about the interior of Mars?
Mars has a much smaller Iron Core than Earth does
Remember the Earth has a density of 5.5 gm/cm3
32
What does the density tell us about the interior
of these bodies? (do they have a very big core?)
Mercury density 5.4 gm/cm3
Venus density 5.2 gm/cm3
Moon density 3.3 gm/cm3
Remember the Earth has a density of 5.5 gm/cm3
33
The Density of Jupiter is 1.3 gm/cm3
What does this tell us about the interior of
Jupiter?
34
The Density of Jupiter is 1.3 gm/cm3
What does this tell us about the interior of
Jupiter?
Since the density of Jupiter is so small the
planet has to be made mostly of very light
material
35
The Density of Jupiter is 1.3 gm/cm3
What does this tell us about the interior of
Jupiter?
Since the density of Jupiter is so small the
planet has to be made mostly of very light
material
Jupiter is made mostly of Hydrogen and Helium gas
36
The Density of Saturn is 0.69 gm/cm3
37
The Density of Saturn is 0.69 gm/cm3
The Density of Saturn is 0.69 gm/cm3
Saturn is also made up mostly of Hydrogen and
Helium
38
The Density of Saturn is 0.69 gm/cm3
The Density of Saturn is 0.69 gm/cm3
Saturn is also made up mostly of Hydrogen and
Helium
The density of Saturn is less than 1 gm/cm3 so
this planet can float in water
39
(No Transcript)
40
What does the density tell us about the interior
of Uranus and Neptune?
Uranus density 1.3 gm/cm3
Neptune density 1.6 gm/cm3
41
What does the density tell us about the interior
of Uranus and Neptune?
Uranus density 1.3 gm/cm3
Neptune density 1.6 gm/cm3
Like Jupiter and Saturn these planets have low
densities which suggest they are primarily made
of gas. (in this case methane)
42
Pluto
density 2.1 gm/cm3
Since Pluto is so far away it is hard to see the
planet. Since it is good at reflecting light
scientists suspect there is ice at the surface,
possibly frozen Nitrogen
43
End