The discussion focuses on calculating the average temperature of a planet in a circular orbit at 0.4 AU from a star with a luminosity of 2/3 that of the Sun, while reflecting 30% of incident light (albedo). The relevant equations used include F = L/4πD² for flux and F = σT^4 for temperature, where σ is the Stefan-Boltzmann constant. The contributors emphasize the importance of defining variables and considering the lack of atmosphere, which significantly impacts temperature calculations.
PREREQUISITESAstronomy students, astrophysicists, and educators involved in planetary science and thermal dynamics will benefit from this discussion.
Please define your variables.quasarLie said:F=L/4πD²
What is the contribution of the reflected light to the temperature?quasarLie said:how to use the albedo
It ought to say a bit more... like, assume the planet rotates on its axis sufficiently fast and has sufficient atmosphere (but no greenhouse gases) that the temperature can be assumed roughly equal over the whole surface. Otherwise the answer can be substantially different.quasarLie said:consider a planet in a circular orbit around a star... calculate the average temperature
The planet don't have an atmosphere and it's luminosity is 2/3L (sun). I don't have more informationharuspex said:Please define your variables.
What is the contribution of the reflected light to the temperature?
Edit:
It ought to say a bit more... like, assume the planet rotates on its axis sufficiently fast and has sufficient atmosphere (but no greenhouse gases) that the temperature can be assumed roughly equal over the whole surface. Otherwise the answer can be substantially different.
if you are told that then you should have included it in the problem statement.quasarLie said:The planet don't have an atmosphere