Overview

Planets come in many different sizes, and with many different compositions, orbiting our Sun and countless other stars. Understanding their properties and interactions requires an understanding of a diverse set of sub-fields, including orbital and atmospheric dynamics, geology, geophysics, and chemistry. This textbook provides a physics-based tour of introductory planetary science concepts for undergraduate students majoring in astronomy, planetary science, or related fields. It shows how principles and equations learned in introductory physics classes can be applied to study many aspects of planets, including dynamics, surfaces, interiors, and atmospheres. It also includes chapters on the discovery and characterization of extrasolar planets, and the physics of planet formation. Key Features  Covers a wide range of planetary science topics at an introductory level Coherently links the fields of solar system science, exoplanetary science, and planet formation Each chapter includes homework questions Includes python templates for reproducing and customizing the figures in the book

Full Product Details

9780750322102

Table of Contents

Reviews

The book assumes that you are up to university first-year standards in mathematics and physics. It then divides the subject into nine topics. We start by defining the term 'planet', and then considering the form of the solar energy source. Chapters three and four consider orbits and the restricted three-body problem. We then have a detailed discussion of extrasolar planets. Chapters six, seven, and eight review planetary interiors, surfaces, and atmospheres. The book ends with a comprehensive chapter on planetary formation. The text abounds with terms like geostrophic balance, Hadley circulation, Jeans' mass, oligarchic growth, Toomre stability criterion, planetary migration, tidal circularization, hot Jupiters, and mean-motion resonances. I recommend it most strongly. It is spot on. I did however have one little caveat. It skates over the mysteries. It gives the impression that our understanding is nearly complete. I always liked to tease my students with a few left-field questions. Was Mercury once a satellite of Venus? Why does Venus spin so slowly? Why has Earth only one moon? Why do Jupiter and Saturn go round every ten hours? Why has Uranus been tipped over? Why does the system end at Neptune? How many comets are left? Does every planetary system have an asteroid belt? Why have we only got eight planets? How does planetary origin depend on stellar mass and singularity? And so on. At least it gives them the impression that there is still plenty of work to do. David W. Hughes. 2021 October The Observatory * The Observatory *

Author Information

Colette Salyk is currently an astronomy professor at Vassar College, where she teaches courses in planetary science, observational astronomy, and introductory physics. Her research focuses on the chemistry of planet formation, and the role it plays in producing planetary diversity. She has performed observations of planet formation using space-based telescopes and telescopes around the world. Kevin Lewis is currently an assistant professor in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Johns Hopkins University, where he teaches courses in remote sensing and the geology of the Earth and other planets. His research focuses on the geological evolution of the terrestrial planets, and in particular the climate history of Mars. He has been a science team member on several planetary missions, including the Mars Exploration Rovers, the Curiosity Mars rover, and the InSIght lander.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available