Hot Jupiters & Kepler's Laws: Does it Violate?

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In summary, the conversation discusses whether hot Jupiters violate Kepler's laws and if they are consistent with general relativity. It is stated that while no object follows Kepler's laws exactly, the deviations are small when orbiting regular stars. The impact of general relativity is also mentioned, with the other planets having a larger impact on orbit deviations.
  • #1
jordankonisky
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Do hot Jupiter's violate Kepler's laws?
 
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No, of course not. Why would you think that they do?
 
  • #3
phyzguy said:
No, of course not. Why would you think that they do?
I'm not really sure about this. Let me ask a similar question: Are Keplars Laws consistent with general relativity at the energy level of hot jupiters? Most hot Jupiters lie far inside of Mercurys orbit, which itself does not follow Newtons laws.
 
  • #4
I guess it depends on the level of accuracy you are talking about. No object follows Kepler's laws exactly, since there are deviations from simple orbital mechanics, of which GR is only one. That's why I wanted the OP to specify why he thought the hot Jupiters would violate Kepler's laws. Perhaps I should not have said "of course".
 
  • #5
Just as comparison: While the effect of general relativity on the orbit of Mercury is measurable, the impact of the other planets (mainly Jupiter) is at least 10 times larger. "At least" because there are multiple ways to quantify the impact, with different results.

Nothing follows laws based on classical mechanics exactly, but the deviations are tiny if things orbit regular stars.
 

FAQ: Hot Jupiters & Kepler's Laws: Does it Violate?

1. What are "Hot Jupiters"?

"Hot Jupiters" are a type of exoplanet (planet outside our solar system) that are similar in size and mass to Jupiter, but have extremely high surface temperatures due to their close proximity to their host star. These planets orbit their stars in just a few days, compared to the 12 years it takes for Jupiter to orbit the Sun.

2. How do "Hot Jupiters" violate Kepler's laws?

Kepler's laws of planetary motion describe the orbital patterns of planets in our solar system. However, "Hot Jupiters" orbit their host stars in a much closer and faster orbit than any of the planets in our solar system. This violates Kepler's third law, which states that the square of a planet's orbital period is proportional to the cube of its semi-major axis. "Hot Jupiters" have shorter orbital periods and smaller semi-major axes, making them a violation of this law.

3. What causes "Hot Jupiters" to have such high temperatures?

Being so close to their host stars, "Hot Jupiters" receive high levels of radiation and heat. This is due to their orbital distance and the type of star they orbit. Additionally, the thick atmospheres of these planets trap in heat, causing their temperatures to rise even further.

4. Are there any other known exoplanets that violate Kepler's laws?

Yes, there are other exoplanets that have been discovered that violate Kepler's laws. These include "Hot Neptunes" and "Super Earths", which are smaller planets that also orbit very close to their host stars. However, "Hot Jupiters" were the first type of exoplanet to be discovered and studied, making them the most well-known example of this violation.

5. How do scientists explain the presence of "Hot Jupiters" in other solar systems?

There are several theories that attempt to explain the presence of "Hot Jupiters" in other solar systems. One theory is that these planets formed further away from their star and then migrated inward due to interactions with other planets or the protoplanetary disk. Another theory suggests that these planets formed in situ, meaning they formed close to their star and never migrated. However, more research is needed to fully understand the formation and presence of "Hot Jupiters" in other solar systems.

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