Chapter 12

Suppose there were a narrow belt near Jupiter's equator that had a rotation period of \(9^{h} 45^{m}\). In which direction would the zonal winds blow in that belt relative to the rest of the equatorial region?

Why are oxygen compounds such as carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide extremely low in abundance in the atmospheres of Jupiter and Saturn?

The large sizes and rapid rotations of Jupiter and Saturn result in very large Coriolis effects in their atmospheres. How are the large Coriolis effects on Jupiter and Saturn related to the appearance of their cloud features?

Why do the deepest parts of Jupiter's atmosphere that we can see have a bluish color?

What evidence do we have that Jupiter and Saturn must be made of more than hydrogen and helium alone?

What would happen to the temperature at the Earth's surface if the Sun stopped shining? How about the atmosphere of Jupiter?

How do the size and shape of Jupiter's magnetosphere compare with that of the Earth?

What evidence do we have that Saturn's rings aren't solid disks?

What happens to an asteroid that passes within the Roche distance of a planet?