Atmosphere

[apache]

Um, where did you get that 'surface gravity' information? I hope you realize that gravity is a function of mass, not density. There also is absolutely no scientific information about the 'surfaces' of any gas giants, just theories.
Also, to whomever made the comment about liquid being denser than solid, you are incorrect. Some solids, based on their freezing processes are less dense than their liquid counterparts (like water). But for most elements and compounds, solid is the densest state.

[rdouglass]

quote:

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Originally posted by apache:
Um, where did you get that 'surface gravity' information

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From my old high school chemistry days. I think that you meant "specific" gravity that I used. And again I'm not sure if that is the correct term to use. However, what I meant was that since things like iron are more "dense" than other things, the more "dense" elements / compounds should be at the center. Its what makes steel float in mercury.... That should IMO rule out the "diamond core" theory unless carbon is the "densest" element in the planet's composition.

[SunDevil]

Apache:

Do you work for NASA?

[Krakenup]

quote:

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Originally posted by apache:
Um, where did you get that 'surface gravity' information? I hope you realize that gravity is a function of mass, not density. There also is absolutely no scientific information about the 'surfaces' of any gas giants, just theories.

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Well, uh, you could use a search engine such as Yahoo and search on "planet surface gravity" or something similar and look at one of the thousands of references. Oh, and it absolutely is a function of density. Read one of the references.

[jimbob55]

If you're talking realism...
How do hydrogen /methane/ CO2 breathers invent fire? + how do ice planet dwellers invent fire?
How do gas giant dwellers (The colony base pic looks like it is hovering somewhere in the upper atmosphere) invent anything?
You can't mine iron without VERY LONG drill bits and of you can't make very long drill bits without carbon steel.

[Alpha Kodiak]

As far as the strength of a gas giant race is concerned, the real question is, what type of life would evolve on a gas giant? If you look at the race portrait of the Eee, they look more like bubbles than anything else. Probably not very strong in hand-to-hand combat. (As my son put it, all you would have to do is pop them.)

I have always pictured a gas giant race as one that floats/flies in the upper atmosphere of the gas giant. That also meshes with the baloon-like appearance of the gas giant colonization tech.

Whatever life there would be on a gas giant, I think we can safely say that it would in no way even remotely resemble life on a rock world.

[Cybes]

to the many people with issues regarding the diamond-core theory:
i didn't think it up. nor am i an astrophycist or a chemist - just someone who reads a lot. i can't answer all of your questions. if you want to take this up seriously, ask in sci.astro, or of an applicable scientist you know, or even consult a library. books are, after all, where i heard about the idea in the first place.

puke: as rdouglas said, though, solid is the densest form of most elements. given the pressure at the core of a jovian planet, i'd reckon any carbon present would pretty much have to be in the densest form available. so, it's a hot diamond.

rdouglas: i think you answered your own question, didn't you? iron is 'heavier' than carbon, so that's what's at the centre. whereas, carbon is 'heavier' than the majority of elements on a jovian, so that is at the centre instead there.

(sorry it took so long to reply - timezones are a ***** )


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"Just think of it as Evolution in action" - 'Oath of Fealty', by Larry Niven & Jerry Pournelle.