How Does an Asteroid's Radius Affect Its Cooling Rate?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around calculating the radius of an asteroid based on its cooling rate, given specific parameters like the internal and surface temperatures, core density, and thermal conductivity of the mantle. Participants express confusion about how to approach the problem and seek guidance on solving it. The problem requires finding the radius R that results in a cooling rate of 1 K per million years, considering the asteroid's structure and thermal properties. There is a suggestion to rewrite the question according to homework posting guidelines for clarity. Overall, the thread highlights a collaborative effort to understand the thermal dynamics of asteroids.
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Consider an asteroid with an iron core (pc = 8000kg/m^3) covered by a thin silicate mantle (pm = 3400kg/m^3) with a thickness of 20% of the radius R of the asteroid. Assume that the internal temperature Ti = 600K is constant throughout the core. The thermal energy of the core is 3*k*Ti per atom(where k is Boltzmann's constant) and assume that the thermal conductivity of the silicate mantle is about kc = 2 W/ (m*K). Ignore the heat capacity of the mantle. If the surface of the asteroid has a temperature of Ts = 200K find the value of R such that the asteroid has a cooling rate of 1 K / 1 million years.

I really don't know where to start with this question. Any help would be appreciated.
 
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i get the exactly same question...

i don't know how to solve it either...

have you already got the answer yet?
if you have, could you give me some hint?
please email me jaywang19880830@gmail.com
 
gotbrackets? said:
Consider an asteroid with an iron core (pc = 8000kg/m^3) covered by a thin silicate mantle (pm = 3400kg/m^3) with a thickness of 20% of the radius R of the asteroid. Assume that the internal temperature Ti = 600K is constant throughout the core. The thermal energy of the core is 3*k*Ti per atom(where k is Boltzmann's constant) and assume that the thermal conductivity of the silicate mantle is about kc = 2 W/ (m*K). Ignore the heat capacity of the mantle. If the surface of the asteroid has a temperature of Ts = 200K find the value of R such that the asteroid has a cooling rate of 1 K / 1 million years.

I really don't know where to start with this question. Any help would be appreciated.

Well, a good start would be to rewrite this homework question as per the homework posting guidelines.
 
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