What if Earth were the size of Jupiter?

Jupiter or Jupiter is the fifth planet from the Sun and the largest planet in the Solar System. It is a gas giant with a mass one thousandth of the Sun but two and a half times the total mass of all the other planets in the Solar System combined.

Both Earth and Jupiter orbit the same star - our Sun. But that's where the similarities end. Earth is a rocky planet with a radius of just under 4,000 miles (according to Space.com). It contains all forms of life thanks to liquid water, an atmosphere, a magnetic field, and a reasonable distance from the Sun. Meanwhile, Jupiter is a gas giant that is much farther from the Sun and is unlikely to have created life forms like Earth. According to NASA, it is 11 times larger than our home planet, which also makes it the most massive planet in our Solar System.

What if Jupiter and Earth had more in common? What if Earth suddenly became 11 times larger and similar in size to Jupiter?

Both Earth and Jupiter orbit the same star that is the Sun.

Earth's gravity will increase dramatically

Perhaps the most notable change that would occur if the Earth were the size of Jupiter would be the new gravity, much stronger than the current one. Since Jupiter is 11 times larger than Earth, Earth's gravity will increase by 11 times. According to The What If Show, the pull of gravity will be so strong that your muscles are not strong enough to move and support your body.

But what if the size of the blue planet wasn't instantaneous, instead the size of the Earth would be the size of Jupiter in the first place? The most significant difference would be in the size of things. According to Livescience, everything will be shorter and lower, including mountains, trees, animals and people. This is because the more gravity there is, the more you have to try to resist it. Smaller objects have less weight and therefore won't have to resist gravity as much. In fact, we have already observed the effects of gravity on altitude by studying astronauts who have spent long periods of time in zero gravity. Unaffected by Earth's gravity, astronauts could actually grow taller if they spent enough time in space,

The air pressure increases and breathing becomes more difficult

If the Earth's gravity suddenly increased, it would mean that the air pressure would increase. According to The What If Show, if Earth's gravity matched Jupiter's gravity at once, the atmosphere would be affected as well. Specifically, the air molecules around us will be pulled down and increase Earth's atmospheric pressure.

The increase in barometric pressure makes it difficult for our lungs.

While an increase in barometric pressure will certainly take a toll on our lungs, that's not the only impact it has. Atmospheric pressure plays an important role in how water molecules behave. According to the Pew Research Center, water boils at a lower temperature at higher altitudes due to a decrease in atmospheric pressure at those altitudes. If the barometric pressure increases, you will have to heat the water more to bring it to a boil at normal altitude. This can have a significant impact on the weather cycle, as it will be difficult for water molecules to get out of the liquid and evaporate.

Asteroids will be more likely to hit Earth

In addition to changing things on the planet's surface, Earth's new increase in gravity will also affect how it attracts objects in space. If Earth were the size of Jupiter, it would be able to pull in more asteroids, including larger ones. According to The Planetary Society, asteroids are large enough to cause significant global changes.

Earth is mostly shielded from asteroids thanks to its small size. Meanwhile, Jupiter tends to receive a much larger number of asteroids each year. In fact, some astronomers actually believe that we are partially protected from comets and asteroids hitting the Earth's surface thanks to Jupiter's intense gravity.

Jupiter does this by pulling in space debris and rerouting or destroying it.

Earth's magnetic field may disappear

A larger Earth effect that may not be immediately noticeable would occur below the surface. Earth currently has a molten iron core, which is responsible for creating a magnetic field around the planet (according to National Geographic). If the amount of pressure on the Earth's core increases, this could lead to the Earth's core solidifying. According to Science Focus, it will take billions of years before the Earth's core can completely solidify. But on an Earth with increased gravity, this could change.

Without a magnetic field, we would be exposed to harmful amounts of radiation from the Sun.

The magnetic field generated by the Earth's core is vital to the existence of the planet. According to Cosmos Magazine, without a magnetic field, we would be exposed to harmful amounts of radiation from the Sun. Speaking to Livescience, Rory Barnes of the University of Washington, who studies the habitability of the planet, said that our magnetic field "protects life on the planet from the dangers of space. Without the magnetic field, we can't live without it. , harmful radiation can cause a wide range of problems on Earth from the planet's environment, to animals, plants and people."

The moon will be torn apart

Of all the changes that would occur if Earth were the size of Jupiter, the most notable is how it would affect our Moon. Our moon is on average 238,855 miles away from us. With our current gravity and this distance, the Moon could orbit Earth about once every 28 days (according to Forbes).

According to The What If Show, if the Earth had more gravity, the Moon would experience major changes in tidal forces. This is because the Moon would be pulled too close to Earth's Roche limit, a distance in astronomy used to describe the point at which larger moons are pulled away by the planet's gravity. of them. Accordingly, the Moon may be torn apart by the gravity of the giant Earth.