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"David Eaton" <deaton@intdata.com> writes:
> In lugnet.starwars, Jeff Jardine writes:
> > In lugnet.starwars, David Eaton writes:
> > > The best way to figure it would probably be:
> > > - compare Endor's size to the size of the Death Star II (I'd use the
> > > hologram projection scene)
> > > - Endor is theoretically about the same size as Earth (at the very least has
> > > near the same mass)
> > > - Check curvature of DSII to SSD.
> >
> > Technically, you can guess that Endor's gravity is very close to that on
> > Earth, but that doesn't mean the mass is the same unless you also assume
> > their densities are the same.
>
> Well-- strictly speaking we know the *mass* is roughly the same. But you're
> right: we don't know the density of the planet, hence we can't *REALLY*
> guess at the planet's volume... And therefore you can't guarantee the
> curvature of the planet based on mass.
I think that the point is that if Endor has a very low density but the
same gravity at the surface as Earth, then the mass and diameter are
both much greater than Earth, because gravity goes by the distance
between the center of mass of the objects in question (e.g. the moon
itself, and your average Ewok). Similarly a dense small planet might
have the same gravity with a lower mass than Earth.
But it should be a pretty safe bet that any body that supports
Earthlike life is made of similar stuff, with similar density, to
Earth, so therefore both mass and diameter should resemble Earth.
However, the odds that (Earthlike) life could evolve on a moon that
size seem slim to me. What is Endor orbiting around, I forget?
Whatever it is, it's big, and therefore would have huge tidal forces
and probably a huge magnetic field. That's why I highly doubt we'll
find life on Europa or any of the other satellites of gas giants in
our Solar System.
--Bill.
XFUT: off-topic.geek
--
William R Ward bill@wards.net http://www.wards.net/~bill/
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Consistency is not really a human trait.
--Maude (from the film "Harold & Maude")
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