2012 Edition -- Target 2: F Ring, Grade 9 to 12 Winner
2012 Edition -- Target 2: F Ring, Grade 9 to 12 Winner
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| Zoe Aridor | ||||
| Fox Chapel Area High School | ||||
| 10th Grade Pittsburgh, Pa Teacher: Heather Skillen | ||||
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"Dynamic and full of exciting discoveries, Saturn's F Ring would be the most interesting and rewarding subject to study. From a distance, the F Ring is unnoticeable, only a few hundred kilometers wide and, but despite its size, it is one of the most active rings in the entire solar system and the most eccentric of Saturn's ring system. This dusty ring is constantly manipulated by influences Prometheus and Pandora, two small moons that are on either side of it and seem to be the root of many of the F Ring's strange activities. Studying the complexities of this ring would cast light upon the origin of the solar system, since such a ring shares a resemblance with the disc from which the planets were born. Recently, Cassini images have shown small trails coming out of the F Ring, which scientists have dubbed mini-jets. These interruptions in the F Ring are actually the result of slow collisions; the moon Prometheus is literally creating giant snowballs, and some of them survive and are able to cut through the ring. Because these objects are only moving at a few meters per second, they are actually able to adhere to the material in the ring. By further Cassini investigations of such impacts on the F Ring, scientists will be able to come closer to understanding how they contribute to the formation of large satellites, perhaps even planets. Using the Cassini probe, this ring could let scientists understand accretion/astrophysical discs in more depth; the information could be employed to create a better picture of the early solar system. Looking more closely at the ring could result in sightings of what could be considered "mini moons", which would have developed because of the collisions. The F Ring would be a fascinating subject for Cassini to study, especially because it shows change over the course of only a few hours. These quick alterations can ultimately be explained by the influence of both Prometheus and Pandora, two astrophysical objects that orbit on either side of the ring. They affect the ring by creating perturbations, pulling at the debris in the ring, and contributing to the spiral shape of the ring, a structure that is practically unprecedented among planetary rings. At the same time, both moons help maintain the integrity of the F Ring, keeping the structure together. The curious effects Prometheus and Pandora have on the ring are fascinating, which is why further Cassini imaging could result in new and thrilling observations and discoveries. Overall, the F Ring would be the best and most telling choice for Cassini to study; the yield of scientific discoveries that could possibly occur makes this target the obvious selection for research, and could help us look further back into the life of the solar system than we ever did before." |
