Planetary Interiors: General Principles
Equation
of State
For
a simple gas, the equation of state is fairly straightforward, but for solids, liquids and
gases under extreme conditions, the equation of state can be quite complex. The
resulting states of matter under extreme consitions can be unusual as far as our daily
experiences are concerned. For example,
- Solid rock can undergo
fluid-like deformation, or plastic-like bending!
- An otherwise spherical
planet, if it rotates fast enough, can take on an oblate spheroidal shape as a result of this deformation....
In
other words, the equation of state can affect the overall appearance of a planet!
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