Introduction
The outermost planet in our solar system is Neptune, a blue gas giant with a mysterious atmosphere. It’s not just the color that makes it so mysterious; Neptune is also the least explored planet in our solar system. But one thing we do know about Neptune is its size. So the question arises: How many Earths could fit inside this gas giant? In this article, we’ll explore the astronomical proportions to answer this burning question.
Calculating the Volume of Neptune and Comparing it to Earth
In order to answer our question, we must first calculate the volume of Neptune and compare it to the volume of Earth. To do this, we must explore the differences in mass and density between the two planets.
Exploring Mass and Density Differences
Neptune has a mass of 1.0243×10^26 kg, while Earth has a mass of 5.972×10^24 kg. This means that Neptune is 17.14 times more massive than Earth. Additionally, Neptune has an average density of 1.64 g/cm^3, while Earth has an average density of 5.51 g/cm^3. This means that Neptune is 2.96 times less dense than Earth.
Examining Size Difference
Neptune has a radius of 24,622 km, while Earth has a radius of 6,371 km. This means that Neptune is 3.88 times larger than Earth. Combining these two facts, we can see that Neptune is 51.7 times more voluminous than Earth.
Analyzing Astronomical Proportions
Now that we have calculated the mass, density, and size differences between Neptune and Earth, we can analyze the astronomical proportions to answer our question. We know that Neptune is 51.7 times more voluminous than Earth, which means that if we filled up Neptune with Earths, we would need 51.7 of them to fill it up completely.
Investigating How Many Planets Could Fit Inside a Gas Giant Like Neptune
Now that we know that we need 51.7 Earths to fill up Neptune, let’s investigate how many planets could actually fit inside a gas giant like Neptune.
Estimating Number of Earths
Based on our calculations, we estimate that approximately 52 Earths could fit inside Neptune. This is due to the fact that Neptune is much more voluminous than Earth, which means that there is more space for other planets to fit inside it.
Describing Relative Sizes
When compared to each other, Neptune and Earth are vastly different in size. While Earth is a rocky planet with a diameter of 12,742 km, Neptune is a gas giant with a diameter of 49,244 km. This means that if you were to put Earth inside Neptune, it would be like putting a pea inside a basketball.
Exploring Other Factors
Of course, there are other factors to consider when asking how many Earths could fit inside Neptune. For example, the gravitational forces of the planets may affect the number of Earths that could fit inside Neptune. Additionally, the temperature and pressure within Neptune’s atmosphere could also affect the number of Earths that could fit inside.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we have explored how many Earths can fit in Neptune. We have calculated the volume of Neptune and compared it to Earth, and we have estimated that approximately 52 Earths could fit inside Neptune. Additionally, we have described the relative sizes of the two planets, and we have explored other factors that could affect the number of Earths that could fit inside Neptune. This article provides us with a better understanding of the astronomical proportions between the two planets.
Resources
NASA Solar System Exploration – Neptune: https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/neptune/overview/
NASA Solar System Exploration – Earth: https://solarsystem.nasa.
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