Answer – The planet with the coldest average temperature is Neptune, but the lowest temperature ever recorded on a planet in the solar system has been on Uranus.
Explanation:
The temperature of planets can be believed to be the result of their distance from the Sun. According to this, it may be said that Neptune, which is the farthest planet from the Sun, is also the coldest. And indeed, the lowest average temperature has been recorded on it (-214 degrees Celsius).
However, on Uranus, which is closer to the Sun by a billion miles closer to the Sun relative to Neptune, the lowest temperature has been recorded: -224 degrees Celsius. This is the lowest temperature recorded on a planet in the solar system.
Given the massive distances between these planets and the Sun, it is now believed that the latter has little effect on their temperatures. Instead, the heat of these planets originates from their interiors and their motion. Thus, the theory that explains Uranus’ lower temperature is that during the formation of the solar system, a massive object struck the planet, causing it to lose heat. This theory also explains the extreme angle at which Uranus tilts along its axis, as it “rolls” around rather than orbits the Sun.
Popular Questions
Textbook Solutions
- Heat is transferred at a rate of 0.1 kW through glass wool insulation (density=100kg/m3) with a 5-cm thickness and 2-m2 area. If the hot surface is...
- Choose the best answer to each of the following. Explain your reasoning. Which terrestrial world has the most atmospheric gas? (a) Venus (b) Earth ...