Conditions inside a protoplanetary disc

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the conditions inside a protoplanetary disc, particularly focusing on gas pressure, temperature, and their implications for a fictional narrative set in such an environment. Participants explore the realism of these conditions in relation to a story being written, touching on theoretical aspects and personal interpretations of scientific literature.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions the realism of a gas pressure of one Barr in a protoplanetary disc and its implications for temperature and habitability for a spaceship or human.
  • Another participant suggests that the vast volume of a protoplanetary disc would likely make such a pressure unrealistic, proposing that the average density might be close to zero.
  • Some participants reflect on the nature of science fiction, suggesting that narrative satisfaction may outweigh strict adherence to scientific accuracy.
  • There is a mention of previous discussions on similar topics, indicating ongoing uncertainty in the understanding of protoplanetary disc conditions.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the realism of the conditions described in the story, with no consensus on the appropriate gas pressure or temperature levels in a protoplanetary disc. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the implications of these conditions for the narrative.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge the complexity and uncertainty surrounding the physical conditions in protoplanetary discs, referencing theoretical research that may not provide clear answers. There is an indication that assumptions about pressure and density are not universally agreed upon.

Galexy
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Summary:: Conditions inside a protoplanetary disc.

I have just finished writing a fictional story that takes place inside a protoplanetary disc. Now I think I should determine how realistic it is.

My question -- Somewhere in a typical PP disc, the gas pressure would be in the range of one Barr. How hot would it be at that level? Also, how close to the newly forming star would the one Barr level be?
My story takes place at this location, so is there any chance that the temperature would be tolerable for a spaceship (or an exposed human)? How outlandish is that?

I have looked at all kinds of research papers describing the theoretical physical conditions inside a PP disc. I just can't make any sense of them.

Thanks
 
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Congrats on finishing your story, @Galexy, but didn't you ask about protoplanetary disc conditions in a recent-ish post?

https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/atmospheric-pressure-inside-a-protoplanetary-disc.1009282/

If I recall, the answer was we generally don't know enough to make or break a sci-fi story in terms of realism. Also, if you've completed the story, would you rework it if someone was able to show conditions are not as you have described them? What would that do to your narrative? And why does it matter? Science fiction has latitude not to be real, the point is to use imaginative situations like yours to explore some aspect of the human condition. If you're sufficiently satisfied with your story, why change it?
 
Yes, you're right! I did post this question before - and I forgot completely!
Thanks for answering both my posts.
I was a fan of the old-style science fiction, before fantasy sci-fi took over. I was trying to write something that bent as few laws of physics as possible. Looks like I only partially succeeded.
Chances are, you won't find my story at your local book seller anytime soon. (LOL)
 
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Galexy said:
Chances are, you won't find my story at your local book seller anytime soon. (LOL)
Amazon Kindle is DIY, @Galexy and very easy to use. I've even mastered creating paperback and hard cover versions, and sold a few as well. I'm not on the local bookshop either, not yet at least, but maybe someday...
 
Galexy said:
Somewhere in a typical PP disc, the gas pressure would be in the range of one Barr.
I think that's too high to be realistic. The volume of the disc is so huge that with that pressure you'd get too much material.
Maybe you could start with adding up the mass of the planets in our solar system and make an estimate about the average density... My guess is that it'll be kind of zero-ish.

To have that pressure on already forming proto-planets might be OK, though. But that means gravity is already in place.
 
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