Planetary Magnetic Fields
Use the internet to learn about the extra solar planets that have been discovered to date. Based on what you know about the factors that determine the strength of planetary magnetic fields in our own solar system, pick ~5 extra solar planets and predict whether each of these bodies have dynamo magnetic fields. If so, make a rough prediction of how strong the dynamo is, relative to an object in our own solar system.
Optional: Think about the strength of the stellar wind for each system, and state whether you think atmospheric erosion is an important process for each object.
Classify at least 20 solar system objects by their plasma interaction according to the type of plasma they interact with, and the nature of the obstacle to the plasma. Be as quantitative as possible. If you could send 3 spacecraft missions anywhere in the solar system to study the magnetic fields and plasma interactions of solar system objects, where would you send them and why? What criteria (science-based and practical) would you use to form your decision?
Compare magnetic field strengths at Earth, Mars, Mercury, Moon at the surface, at 100 km, at 400 km altitudes. Calculate standoff distance of solar wind for each body. Will have to give dipole moment, planetary radius/dipole depth, solar wind rho vee squared, and some equations. Will do so if this seems like an appropriate project. Could also add Jupiter, etc.
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