More about the moment of inertia of Mars

Journal Article · Wed Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1989 · Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/GL016i011p01333· OSTI ID:6050636

Kaula, W M ^[1]; Sleep, N H ^[2]; Phillips, R J ^[3]

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1. Univ. of California, Los Angeles (USA)
2. Stanford Univ., CA (USA)
3. Southern Methodist Univ., Dallas, TX (USA)

The maximum allowable mean moment-of-inertia I of Mars is 0.3650 {center dot}MR{sup 2} because the rate-of-adjustment of the rotation axis is much faster than the rate-of-generation of density heterogeneities, as with any planet. But Mars differs from the other terrestrial planets in that its gravity field is rougher, in the sense of stress-difference implication, and its global tectonics is dominated by one feature, centered on the Tharsis Plateau. Plausible tectonic models of Mars require generation and support that are almost axially symmetric about Tharsis. Hence, unlike other terrestrial planets, Mars likely has two non-hydrostatic components of moments-of-inertia that are nearly equal, and the most probable value of I/MR{sup 2} is slightly less than 0.3650.

• OSTI ID: 6050636
• Journal Information: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (USA), Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (USA) Vol. 16:11; ISSN GPRLA; ISSN 0094-8276
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640107* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Planetary Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DENSITY
GRAVITATIONAL FIELDS
MARS PLANET
METEORITES
MOMENT OF INERTIA
MOTION
ORIGIN
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLANETS
ROTATION
SPHERICAL HARMONICS
TECTONICS
TOPOGRAPHY