brief overview of stellar evolution
DESCRIPTION
Brief Overview of Stellar Evolution. Pre-Main Sequence (really short time): The phase in which a protostar forms out of a cloud of gas that is slowly contracting under gravity Main Sequence (long time): - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Brief Overview of Stellar Evolution
• Pre-Main Sequence (really short time):The phase in which a protostar forms out of a cloud of gas that is slowly contracting under gravity
• Main Sequence (long time):The phase in which a star-wannabe becomes hot enough to initiate and maintain nuclear fusion of hydrogen in its core to become a true star.
• Post-Main Sequence (sorta short time):H-burning ceases, and other kinds of burning may occur, but the star is destined to become a White Dwarf, Neutron Star, or Black Hole
Formation of Stars and Planets
Observational Clues from the Solar System:
1. Orbits of planets lie nearly in ecliptic plane
2. The Sun’s equator lies nearly in the ecliptic
3. Inner planets are rocky and outer ones gaseous
4. All planets orbit prograde
5. Sun rotates prograde
6. Planet orbits are nearly circular
7. Big moons orbit planets in a prograde sense, with orbits in equatorial plane of the planet
8. Rings of Jovians in equatorial planes
9. S.S. mass in Sun, but angular momentum in planet orbits
Accretion and Sub-Accretion
Collection of Planetesima
ls into Planets
Solar Nebula TheoryImmanuel Kant (German): 1775, suggested that a
rotating cloud that contracts under gravity could explain planetary orbit characteristics
Basic Modern View –1. Oldest lunar rocks ~4.6 Gyr2. Planets formed over brief period of 10-100 Myr3. Gas collects into “disk”, and cools leading to
formation of condensates4. Growth of planetesimals by collisions
a) Build up minor bodies and small rocky worldsb) Build up Jovian cores that sweep up outer
gases
Share Question
If an interstellar cloud contracts to become a star, it is due to which force?
a) electromagnetic b) nuclear c) gravitational d) centrifugal
The Chaotic Early Solar System• Recent computer models
are challenging earlier views that planets formed in an orderly way at their current locations
• These models suggest that the jovian planets changed their orbits substantially, and that Uranus and Neptune could have changed places
• These chaotic motions could also explain a ‘spike’ in the number of impacts in the inner solar system ~3.8 billion years ago
The Moon and terrestrial planets were bombarded by planetesimals early in solar system history.
• The model predicts:
1.After formation, giant planet orbits were affected by gravitational ‘nudges’ from surrounding planetesimals
2. Jupiter and Saturn crossed a 1:2 orbital resonance (the ratio of orbital periods), which made their orbits more elliptical. This suddenly enlarged and tilted the orbits of Uranus and Neptune
3.Uranus / Neptune cleared away the planetesimals, sending some to the inner solar system causing a spike in impact rates
Cosmic Billiards
The early layout of the solar system may have changed dramatically due to gravitational interactions between the giant planets. Note how the orbits of Uranus and Neptune moved outwards, switched places, and scattered the planetesimal population.
20 AU
planetesimals
100 Myr 880 Myr
883 Myr ~1200 Myr
JS
UN
The Big Picture• The current layout of our solar
system may bear little resemblance to its original form
• This view is more in line with the “planetary migration” thought to occur even more dramatically in many extrasolar planet systems
• It may be difficult to prove or disprove these models of our early solar system. The many unexplained properties of the nature and orbits of planets, comets and asteroids may provide clues.
Artist’s depiction of Neptune orbiting close to Jupiter (courtesy Michael Carroll)
Bode’s Law
Planet Bode’s Actual Error
Mercury 0.4 0.4 <1%
Venus 0.7 0.7 <1%
Earth 1.0 1.0 Perfect
Mars 1.6 1.5 7%
Asteroids 2.8 2.8 <1%
Jupiter 5.2 5.2 <1%
Saturn 10.0 9.5 5%
Uranus 19.6 19.2 2%
Neptune --- 30.0 Miserable
Pluto 38.8 39.4 2%
?? 77.2 --- ---
Radiative Equilibrium
Global Temperatures of Planets
Planet Predicted Actual Error
(K) (K) (%)
Mercury 440 400 10
Venus 230 730 68
Earth 250 280 11
Mars 220 210 5
Jupiter 105 125 16
Saturn 80 95 16
Uranus 60 60 <1
Neptune 45 60 25
Pluto 40 40 <1
Share Question
As the Sun, changes how will we?
Density and Composition<>
(kg/m3)
Water 1000
Rock 3000
Air 1.3
Brass 8600
Steel 7830
Gold 19300
<>
(kg/m3)
Ices 1000
Volcanic rock and
stony meteorites
2800 - 3900
Iron rich minerals
5000 - 6000
iron ~7900
Ex: Moon – (surf) ~ 2800 and <> ~ 3300Earth – (surf) ~ 2800 but <> ~ 5500