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Question
why is Jupiters mass greater than Saturns
Hello.
Jupiter has the equivalent of 318 Earth masses, and Saturn 95.
Most of this difference can be attributed to two factors:
i) Jupiter's internal (core, near core) composition contains more massive material than Saturn's.
We believe this to be metallic hydrogen (core) and liquid hydrogen (surrounding core) in both cases. However, Jupiter has more of each of these, compared to Saturn.
Thus, Jupiter's density turns out to be 1.3 that of water's, and Saturn's density is 0.7. (It would float on water if enough water could be found for the task!)
ii) Jupiter has a greater volume.
Jupiter's radius is about 11.2 Earth radii, and Saturn's is about 9.45.
Recall the volume (roughly) would be 4/3 times pi times radius cubed.
The difference in the radius for Jupiter, coupled with the higher density(above) would therefore nearly account for all the difference in the mass.
The remainder or residual will probably have to await more thorough probes to each of those planets.
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Answers by Expert:
Philip Stahl
Expertise
I have forty years of experience in Astronomy, specifically solar and space physics. My specialties include the physics of solar flares, sunspots, including their effects on Earth and statistics as applied to astronomical investigations.
Experience
Astronomy: more than forty years experience starting with construction of my own simple telescopes. Worked at university observatory in college, doing astrographic measurements. M.Phil. degree in Physics/Solar Physics and more than ten years as researcher.
Organizations
American Astronomical Society (Solar Physics and Dynamical Astronomy divisions), American Mathematical Society, American Geophysical Union
Publications
Solar Physics (journal), The Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, The Proceedings of the Meudon Solar Flare Workshop (1986), The Proceedings of the Caribbean Physics Conference (1985). Books: 'Selected Analyses in Solar Flare Plasma Dynamics', 'Physics Notes for Advanced Level'.
Education/Credentials
B.A. Astronomy, M. Phil. Physics
Awards and Honors
American Astronomical Society Studentship Award (1984), Barbados Government Award for Solar Research
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