Calculating Solar Wind Density at Jupiter: Formula and Assumptions Explained"

[Logarythmic]

Homework Statement

I'm trying to solve a problem related to the solar wind pressure at Jupiter but I'm stuck at calculating the density. It is stated that the solar wind has a density of 5 [itex]cm^{-3}[/tex] and a speed of 400 km/s at the orbit of the Earth, and that it should be assumed that it propagates with constant velocity. Is the density of the solar wind at Jupiter just

$$\rho_J = \rho_E \frac{S_E}{S_J}$$

where S is the surface area of a sphere centered on the Sun?

 

[chrisk]

Your approach appears correct. Since the source can be considered a point source, using spherical surface area ratios calculated from the mean orbit radii will provide the correct density.