Question

Notice that the planets with the largest radii all fall in the category of "hot Jupiters," which means Jupiter-like planets that are hot because they orbit close to their stars. Which of the following best explains why these planets are large in radius?

A. They have a high density core.
B. They are older than other planets.
C. They experience tidal heating.
D. They are composed primarily of metal.

Answer 1

The hot Jupiters have large radii due to internal heat sources and gravitational contraction.

Step-by-step explanation:

The giant planets, including the hot Jupiters, have large radii due to internal heat sources and a process called gravitational contraction. During their formation, these planets experienced strong heating from the collapse of surrounding material onto their cores, resulting in the retention of some primordial heat. Additionally, as these largely gaseous planets slowly contract, even a minuscule amount of shrinking can generate significant heat, further contributing to the increase in their radii.