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Outer Solar System A Program for Exploration, Report of a Study (1969) / Chapter Skim
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GRAVITATIONAL AND CELESTIAL DYNAMICS
Pages 75-79

The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.


From page 75...
... The time scale for the evolution of satellite orbits may have been dominated by tidal friction, and new information is thus of considerable value in cosmogonical discussions. Radar reflectivity can provide useful information on the dielectric constants of the surfaces of the satellites, especially if measured at two or more wavelengths.
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From page 76...
... Further, the bistatic mode (reception of both direct and scattered earth radar signals by the spacecraft) should provide useful information.
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From page 77...
... Secular changes in the orbit of Amalthea would give valuable information concerning tidal elasticity and friction of Jupiter. It is even possible that extremely precise Doppler radar observations of Amalthea could detect a gravitational anomaly arising from the Great Red Spot of Jupiter.
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From page 78...
... Thus, existing experiments show that the decrease in mass of atomic nuclei in comparison with their component protons and neutrons -- the mass defect -- affects equally the inertial mass of the material and the gravitational force exerted on it by the earth and the sun. The question remains whether the mass defect of a massive object caused by the gravitational attraction of its parts will affect the object's inertial and gravitational masses differently.
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From page 79...
... This would result in a discrepancy in the radius of Jupiter's orbit of 3.l km, if the lower limit for the mass defect obtained above is entirely effective as a contributor to either the gravitational or inertial mass of Jupiter but not to both. Such an effect might be detected in detailed studies of the scale of the solar system based on radio tracking of spacecraft and radar and optical observations of the planets.
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Key Terms

  • mass defect
  • red spot
  • inertial mass
  • radar signal
  • gravitational anomaly

  • radar observations
  • mean motions
  • inertial frame
  • spacecraft trajectory
  • lower limit

  • orbital parameters
  • velocity component
  • rotation rates
  • strong gravitational
  • corona plasma

  • homogeneous sphere
  • bility relationships
  • question remains
  • doppler radar
  • cosmogonical discussions

  • concerning tidal
  • equivalence principle
  • time scale
  • apparent existence
  • worth mentioning

  • dragging effect
  • tidal elasticity
  • atomic nuclei
  • periodic variations
  • questions related


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