Imagine a solar nebula that contains only three of the four main ingredients fou
ID: 237131 • Letter: I
Question
Imagine a solar nebula that contains only three of the four main ingredients found in our solar nebula: H/He gas, rock and metal - no hydrogen compounds (ie no water, ammonia, methane, etc.). Imagine that it underwent the same initial stages as our solar system, cooling to the same temperature before the remaining nebula was ejected. Consider how each of the following four categories would be different:
a) terrestrial planets
b) jovian planets
c) asteroids
d) comets
It's critical to remember that these objects can affect each other, so if one changes the others might as a result.
Explanation / Answer
a If there were no hydrogen compounds in the solar system the composition of terrestrial planets would be entirely different. If there were no hydrogen, there would not be any fusion reaction in which hydrogen converted into helium taking place in the sun which could affect the entire solar system. Since in the terrestrial planets there would not be evaporation of lighter gases like hydrogen due to the nearness to the sun. There would be no water on earth to support life.
b. The jovian planets is mainly made of methane and in its condensed form. Due to this composition the atmosphere here is thick and specific gravity is high . So the absence of hydrogen could alter these properties like thick atmosphere, high specific gravity.
c. asteroid: SInce the composition of asteroids is rock, metals, carbon rich materials. Only some of the distant asteroid contains like ice and volatiles like water. Absence of hydrogen does not have much effect on the composition of asteroids.
d. Since the comets are made of mainly made up of hydrogen components like condensed water, ammonia, methane and carbon dioxide etc. its composition will be entirely different due to absence of hydrogen in the solar nebula.