ES101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Sulfur Dioxide, Galilean Moons, Astronomical Object
Document Summary
To understand the differences between jovian and terrestrial planets, we first need date back to the early days of our solar system and recognize the creation of these two types of planets. The solar nebula theory states that a shock wave from a nearby supernova triggered the collapse of the nebula. Thus, causing the cloud of gas to flatten with increased temperatures and rotation within its center creating a protosun. As the solar nebula matures, planets begin to form. However, the physical composition of each planet varies depending on the distance the planet is from the sun. This is also known as a temperature gradient, in which materials near the sun will condense and solidify greater than materials that are further away from the sun"s heat. This insight gives us the explanation on why terrestrial planets are closer to the sun and why jovian planets are further away from the sun within our solar system.
