18. THE REASON FOR EXISTENCE OF RINGS AT THE GIANT PLANETS

18. THE REASON FOR EXISTENCE OF RINGS AT THE GIANT PLANETS

At the equator of any planet of the solar system the Force of Attraction (gravity) is less compared with other areas, such as poles. This is due to a stronger "warming up" of the equator. As a result, individual molecules and chemical elements of the atmosphere are not so hard attracted by solid phase of the planet in the equatorial region. The value of atmospheric pressure is reduced closer to the equator. Layer of the atmosphere above the equator is thicker. But also it is thinner as compared with the poles.

Chemical elements and molecules of the atmosphere, located in the uppermost layers of the atmosphere are distanced on such large distance from the center of the planet that they cease to reach the necessary amount of thermal radiation from the planet. And at the same time the giant planets are very distant from the Sun and therefore the atmosphere gets very little sunlight. As a result, the aggregate state of the atmospheric gases becomes solid, and they turn into ice particles of various sizes, which form rings.

In general, the very reason for the existence of such phenomena as the "ring" is a difference in mass of chemical elements forming compounds of the atmosphere. The heavier chemical elements that make up the gas molecules, the closer to the surface of the solid phase of the planet such icy chip will be located in the rings. The easier chemical elements - the further away from the planet it is, in the outer regions of the rings.