Gas Giants & Stars: Do They Have a Solid Part?

  • B
  • Thread starter Allen_Wolf
  • Start date
  • Tags
    Gas Stars
In summary, gas giants and stars are primarily composed of gas particles, with some potentially having liquid or solid cores. However, the extreme pressure and heat of these celestial bodies make it difficult for anything solid to exist. Stars are composed of plasma, and their mass and intense gravity allow them to stay compact without a solid core. Gravity is not limited to solids and can also affect gas particles.
  • #1
Allen_Wolf
48
4
Are the gas giants and stars only composed of gas particles? Don't they have a solid crust or something? If they don't have a solid part then how can they exist alone?
 
Astronomy news on Phys.org
  • #2
Allen_Wolf said:
Are the gas giants and stars only composed of gas particles? Don't they have a solid crust or something? If they don't have a solid part then how can they exist alone?
Some gas giants have liquid cores. Some may potentially have solid cores. But for the most part, they're primarily made out of gas. If you ever fell into a gas giant, you'd likely be crushed by the pressure of the atmosphere long before you struck anything solid (or liquid).

Stars are too hot for anything like this. They're composed of plasma, which is a form of matter where electrons aren't bound to atoms. Stars may have differing compositions (heavier elements tend to fall towards the cores of stars), but they're composed of plasma through-and-through.
 
  • #3
Chalnoth said:
Some gas giants have liquid cores. Some may potentially have solid cores. But for the most part, they're primarily made out of gas. If you ever fell into a gas giant, you'd likely be crushed by the pressure of the atmosphere long before you struck anything solid (or liquid).

Stars are too hot for anything like this. They're composed of plasma, which is a form of matter where electrons aren't bound to atoms. Stars may have differing compositions (heavier elements tend to fall towards the cores of stars), but they're composed of plasma through-and-through.
But how can they stay compact even without a solid core?
 
  • #4
Allen_Wolf said:
But how can they stay compact even without a solid core?
How do you think stars are held together? Why do you think Earth has an atmosphere?
 
  • #5
Allen_Wolf said:
But how can they stay compact even without a solid core?
A mass is a mass whatever state it is in, and where there is mass there is gravity.
Gravity is not a property only of solids.
 
  • #6
Solid is just the state where atoms have so little energy that they stick together and stay. The sun's core may be composed to Hydrogen in a plasma state, but it's 150 times as dense as water.
 

Related to Gas Giants & Stars: Do They Have a Solid Part?

1. Do gas giants and stars have a solid surface?

No, gas giants and stars do not have a solid surface. They are primarily composed of gas and plasma, with no solid surface to stand on.

2. If they don't have a solid surface, then what are they made of?

Gas giants and stars are primarily made up of hydrogen and helium gases, with smaller amounts of other elements such as carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen. Stars also have a significant amount of plasma, which is a hot, ionized gas.

3. Can we land on a gas giant or a star?

No, it is not possible to land on a gas giant or a star due to their lack of solid surface and extreme temperatures and pressures. Any spacecraft or object attempting to land would be crushed and vaporized.

4. Are there any exceptions to this? Can we land on any moons or planets orbiting gas giants?

Yes, there are exceptions. Some of the moons and planets orbiting gas giants, such as Jupiter's moon Io, have solid surfaces that could potentially be landed on. However, these surfaces are still highly inhospitable due to extreme conditions.

5. Can we study the interiors of gas giants and stars without physically landing on them?

Yes, scientists use various methods such as remote sensing, spectroscopy, and computer simulations to study the interiors of gas giants and stars. These methods provide valuable information about their composition, structure, and behavior without the need for physical exploration.

Similar threads

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
2
Replies
48
Views
1K
  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
Replies
4
Views
1K
  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
Replies
11
Views
719
  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
Replies
10
Views
1K
  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
Replies
11
Views
2K
  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
Replies
4
Views
884
  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
Replies
2
Views
2K
Back
Top