Welcome to Thermalphysics

 

The average density of the Sun and the Jovian planets:

 

So when we look back over the centuries we see that doctrines of the interpretation of nature, which were held as sound and good for their time, fell from honor when faced with the light of some new scientific theory.

 

Max Planck, The New Science, 1959.

 

 

Back to Evidence for a Liquid Photosphere 

It is surprizing that the gaseous model of the sun has survived given the average density of the sun (1.4 g/cm3).  This average density is consistant with matter in the condensed state and not with a gaseous state.  Note that the density of water is ~1.0 g/cm3.  The gaseous model of the sun would have been more credible if the average density of our star was not compatible with condensed matter (for instance less than 0.1 g/cm3 or better still, less than 0.01 g/cm3).  Currently, the gaseous model explains the average density of the sun by invoking the presence of a very dense solar core (~150 g/cm3) and a very sparse photosphere (~10-7 g/cm3).  The latter is about 1/1000th the density of the earth's atmosphere at sea level.

Along these lines, it is also important to note that all of the Jovian Planets have densities on the order of unity (Jupiter 1.33 g/cm3; Saturn  0.7 g/cm3; Uranus 1.30 g/cm3; Neptune 1.76 g/cm3).  If the photosphere really has a density of 10-7g/cm3 as is currently held, then why do the Jovian planets all have densities approaching 1.0 g/cm3?  Instead, it would appear that the Jovian planets exist essentially in the condensed state and the same must hold true for the photosphere. 

 

Published Electronically on December 18th, 2003