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There are many planetary systems other than our own, but it is only through a detailed understanding of the relatively accessible bodies in our solar system that a thorough appreciation of planetary science can be gained. This is particularly pertinent with the recent discovery of extra-solar planets and the desire to understand their formation and the prospect of life on other worlds. Planetary Science: The Science of Planets Around Stars focuses on the structure of planets and the stars they orbit and the interactions between them. The book is written in two parts, making it suitable for students at different levels and approaching planetary science from differing backgrounds. Twelve independent descriptive chapters reveal our solar system and the diverse bodies it contains, including satellites, planetary rings, asteroids, comets, meteorites, and interstellar dust. These chapters are accompanied by 42 detailed topics that discuss specialized subjects in a quantitative manner and will be essential reading for those in higher level courses. Coverage includes mineralogy, stellar formation and evolution, solar system dynamics, atmospheric physics, planetary interiors, thermodynamics, planetary astrophysics, and exobiology. Problems and answers are also included. Planetary Science: The Science of Planets Around Stars presents a complete overview of planetary science for students of physics, astronomy, astrophysics, earth sciences, and geophysics. Assuming no prior knowledge of astrophysics or geophysics, this book is suitable for students studying planetary science for the first time.
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PLANETARY SCIENCE
THE SCIENCE OF PLANETS AROUND STARS
PLANETARY SCIENCE
THE SCIENCE OF PLANETS AROUND STARS
George H A Cole Department of Physics, University of Hull, UK
Michael M Woolfson Department of Physics, University of York, UK
Institute of Physics Publishing Bristol and Philadelphia
# IOP Publishing Ltd 2002 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher. Multiple copying is permitted in accordance with the terms of licences issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency under the terms of its agreement with Universities UK (UUK). British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A catalogue record of this book is available from the British Library. ISBN 0 7503 0815 X Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data are available
Commissioning Editor: John Navas Production Editor: Simon Laurenson Production Control: Sarah Plenty Cover Design: FreÂdeÂrique Swist Published by Institute of Physics Publishing, wholly owned by The Institute of Physics, London Institute of Physics Publishing, Dirac House, Temple Back, Bristol BS1 6BE, UK US Oce: Institute of Physics Publishing, The Public Ledger Building, Suite 1035, 150 South Independence Mall West, Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA Typeset by Academic Technical, Bristol Printed in the UK by Bookcraft, Midsomer Norton, Somerset
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
xix
A REVIEW OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM 1
THE UNITY OF THE UNIVERSE 1.1. Cosmic abundance of the chemical elements 1.2. Some examples Problem 1
1 1 2 4
2
THE 2.1. 2.2. 2.3. 2.4. 2.5. 2.6. 2.7.
SUN AND OTHER STARS The interstellar medium Dense cool clouds Stellar clusters A scenario for formation of a galactic cluster Main sequence stars and their evolution Brown dwarfs Stellar companions Problem 2
6 6 6 8 10 12 12 12 15
3
THE 3.1. 3.2. 3.3. 3.4.
PLANETS An overview of the planets Orbital motions Orbits of the planets Planetary structuresÐgeneral considerations 3.4.1. Plan