Jupiter
Atmosphere
:
Jupiter is a gaseous planet; it does
not have a solid surface like the Earth does (but probably
has a solid, rocky core 10 to 15 times the mass of the
Earth). When we look at Jupiter, we are seeing icy clouds
of gases moving at high speeds in the atmosphere.
Jupiter's atmosphere is composed of about 90% hydrogen and
10 % helium . There are only minute traces (0.07%) of
methane (CH 3 ), water, ammonia, and rock dust.
Mantle
:
Pressurized hydrogen in the mantle may generate
electric currents which generate Jupiter's powerful
magnetic field. The outer mantle is liquid hydrogen; the
inner mantle is liquid metallic hydrogen. The layers of
extraordinarily-compressed hydrogen are in a state so
extreme that it has never been produced on Earth. The
pressure is so great that the hydrogen molecules inside
Jupiter conduct heat and electricity very well, in a
metal-like fashion (they do not do this under Earth-like
condition). Inside Jupiter, electrons from hydrogen
molecules move freely from molecule to molecule (like the
electrons of a metal); this is what allows the electrical
and heat conductivity.
Core
:
At the center of the planet is a
molten rock core which is many times bigger and more
massive than the entire Earth. It is 20,000 °C, about
three times hotter than the Earth's core.
now label this
picture:
