Scientists have told what will happen if the planets of our solar system double in size
According to experts, on some planets the changes will be very noticeable, while on others, no huge difference will be observed.
The planets of the solar system have different sizes, and some of them, including Jupiter and Saturn, are striking in their dimensions. But what if they get even bigger? How big does Jupiter have to be to become a star? And will Pluto finally be able to restore its planetary status, writes What If .
The scientists suggested looking at the size chart of the planets and seeing what kind of havoc would be produced by doubling the size of each of them. Doubling the radius of every planet in the solar system would make each one 8 times more massive. But could super-Jupiter’s gravitational pull set off a chain of events that would lead to the destruction of the solar system?
Mercury
At its current size, the closest rocky planet to the Sun is only slightly larger than the Moon.
At its present size, the closest rocky planet to the Sun is only slightly larger than the Moon. Doubling the size would make it nearly twice as massive as Earth. And despite the fact that Mercury ceased to be volcanically active 3.5 billion years ago, the expansion of its bowels would mean that all this internal energy must disappear somewhere. So in the future, several more explosive volcanic eruptions may occur on Mercury.
Venus
Venus is very similar in size to Earth
Venus is very similar in size to Earth. But one of its many differences is that Venus’s atmosphere is so dense that the pressure on the surface is 95 times stronger than on our planet. As it increases in size and mass, Venus’s increased gravity will pull the atmosphere even closer to the surface. This can cause the atmosphere to become so dense that traveling through it is more like walking on water. Except that you will indeed be passing through incredibly dense carbon dioxide.
Earth
If the Earth were to double in size, the first big change we would notice is that we would feel a lot heavier.
If the Earth were to double in size, the first big change we would notice is that we would feel a lot heavier. In a matter of seconds, we will go from our weight, for example, 75 kg to 150 kg. And all because the force of gravity will become twice as strong.
Your heart will have to work twice as hard to pump blood. The pressure on the joints would also increase. Jumping, flying or launching rockets into space may be a thing of the past. After all, scientists will need much more fuel, energy and money to leave the surface of the Earth and pass through its even denser atmosphere.
Mars
If the Red Planet doubles in size, we are unlikely to recognize it after such changes.
If the Red Planet doubles in size, we are unlikely to recognize it after such changes. Once a dry, desolate place, over time, it may turn into a planet more like Earth, with oceans, rivers and a dense atmosphere. Mars lost its magnetic field and then its atmosphere, probably due to chemical changes inside its core. If the Martian core gets bigger and hotter, it could restart the magnetic field. This, in turn, would protect Mars from the solar winds and give it a chance for the origin of life.
Jupiter
By doubling in size, Jupiter will remain an intimidatingly huge planet.
By doubling in size, Jupiter will remain an intimidatingly large planet. And the impact of this will be so huge that it will probably shift the actual center of our solar system.
You see, not all planets in the solar system revolve around the sun. They revolve around a common center of mass, or barycenter. Due to the normal size of Jupiter, this barycenter is about 48,000 km from the center of the Sun. Folded in half, this point in space would have gone even further from the Sun. Material from the asteroid belt will begin to be attracted to Jupiter or further into the solar system.
But even such a large Jupiter would not be massive enough to become a full-fledged star. To do this, he would need to increase his mass by 85 times. Although it would be close to star status. Jupiter’s mass, 13 times its original mass, could turn into a brown dwarf star.
Saturn
If Saturn grows in size, it will have to say goodbye to its famous rings.
If Saturn grows in size, it will have to say goodbye to its famous rings. The enormous increase in gravity on the planet’s surface will upset the balance of the materials of the rings, as well as the 5 smallest satellites of Saturn. They will begin to fall on its surface with greater speed.
Uranium
Apart from the increase in weight, little would change for the ice giant Uranus, located at the edge of the solar system.
Aside from the weight gain, little would change for the ice giant Uranus at the edge of the solar system. It will still hold the record for the stinkiest planet. If doubling the size of Uranus means doubling the amount of hydrogen sulfide in its upper atmosphere, that could spread an even stronger rotten egg smell.
Neptune
The fate of Neptune would not be too different from that of its giant icy neighbor
The fate of Neptune would not be too different from that of its giant icy neighbor. Except that Neptune’s increased gravitational pull could eventually cause some or all of the billions of icy objects outside of its orbit to disappear. Neptune has already absorbed matter from the Kuiper belt equivalent to a mass 7–10 times the mass of the Earth.
Pluto
If Pluto doubles in size, it could be back on track to regain its former planet status.
If Pluto doubles in size, it could be back on track to regain its former planetary status. If his extra mass and gravity can grab the debris from the area around him, he will be able to reunite with the rest of his “family members”.
So it’s safe to say that all the planets doubling in size will definitely not lead to a catastrophic end of the solar system. However, this would cause a bit of chaos. But not as much as if the Sun were big enough to swallow the Earth.