Inside Planetary Storms
In Inside Planetary Storms, Professor Brian Cox explores the extreme weather conditions on Jupiter, a planet with an incredibly thick atmosphere that fuels its intense storms. Despite being far from the Sun, Jupiter’s storms are powered by immense surface pressure. This atmospheric pressure causes hydrogen gas to transform into a liquid, releasing vast amounts of energy and creating some of the most powerful storms in the Solar System. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Wonders of the Solar System, a spellbinding documentary series that explores the most extreme locations on Earth to explain how the laws of physics carved natural wonders across the Solar System.
Lesson Express
Q: How does Jupiter's thick atmosphere contribute to its extreme weather?
A: Jupiter's thick atmosphere holds in more heat and moisture, which creates high pressure that powers intense storms. The dense atmosphere also traps energy, making storms much stronger and longer lasting.
Q: Why do storms on Jupiter persist despite the planet's distance from the Sun?
A: Jupiter generates its own internal heat from deep within, which fuels the storms. This heat keeps the atmosphere active and helps sustain storms, even though the planet is farther from the Sun than Earth.
Q: What role does hydrogen play in Jupiter's storms?
A: Hydrogen is the main gas in Jupiter's atmosphere. Under extreme pressure, it turns into a liquid, releasing large amounts of energy that help intensify the planet's storms.
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