PHYSICS 20E Lecture Notes - Lecture 18: Europa Europa, Acidophile, Sodium Carbonate
Document Summary
Lecture 18: life in the outer solar system. Enceladus - moon of saturn (tiny, smaller than the moon) Europa - moon of jupiter (next biggest) Europa is one of the galilean jupiter moons that he discovered with his telescope. Europa may be the most promising spot in the solar system for life (besides earth). We might expect anaerobic life, like that near deep-sea volcanic vents on earth. Moons have another source of energy besides the sun. Europa: 3. 6 days (2 x io"s period) Ganymede: 7. 2 days (2 x europa"s period) Ganymede"s one rotation means two rotations for europa which adds energy to system and allows for liquid water on europa. Europa is constantly being heated by the gravitational field from jupiter and the other moons. The difference in the moon"s gravity across earth stretches earth into two tidal bulges. High tide on part of the earth that is facing the moon. Internal heat determined by proximity to jupiter.
