Terrestrial Planets. Sources of internal heat.
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Transcript of Terrestrial Planets. Sources of internal heat.
Planetary InteriorsPlanetary Interiors
► If everything else were equalIf everything else were equal The internal heat is proportional to the The internal heat is proportional to the
volume of the planet, which goes as the volume of the planet, which goes as the cube of the radiuscube of the radius
The rate of heat loss depends upon the The rate of heat loss depends upon the area of the surface, which goes as the area of the surface, which goes as the square of the radiussquare of the radius
Net resultNet result
►The ratio of stored heat versus cooling The ratio of stored heat versus cooling goes something like R, the radiusgoes something like R, the radius
►Thus, all else being equal, we expect Thus, all else being equal, we expect the interior of a larger planet to be the interior of a larger planet to be warmer than the interior of a smaller warmer than the interior of a smaller planetplanet
MercuryMercury
► Similar to the Moon, but with small lava Similar to the Moon, but with small lava plains rather than the giant mariaplains rather than the giant maria