Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 18, 2026
12:21
Preparation of Monodomain Liquid Crystal Elastomers and Liquid Crystal Elastomer Nanocomposites
Published on: February 6, 2016
Composition and physical properties of Enceladus' surface
Robert H Brown1, Roger N Clark, Bonnie J Buratti
1Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|March 11, 2006
Summary
Cassini
Area of Science:
- Planetary Science
- Astrobiology
- Spectroscopy
Background:
- Saturn's moon Enceladus exhibits unique surface compositions and thermal anomalies.
- The south polar region, known as the "tiger stripes," is of particular interest.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the surface composition and thermal properties of Enceladus using Cassini's Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS).
- To investigate the presence of key molecules and determine temperature limits in specific regions.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from three Cassini flybys of Enceladus in 2005.
- Employed the Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS) for spectral analysis.
Main Results:
- Enceladus' surface is predominantly water ice, with light organics and CO2 near the south pole.
- Upper limits were established for atmospheric carbon monoxide (CO) at 5 precipitable nanometers and ammonia (NH3) in surface deposits at 2%.
- Temperatures in the tiger stripe regions were constrained to an upper limit of 140 Kelvin.
Conclusions:
- The composition of Enceladus' surface, especially the tiger stripes, provides insights into its geological activity.
- The derived limits for CO and NH3 offer constraints for atmospheric and surface models of Enceladus.
- Thermal data from the tiger stripes suggest localized energy sources or processes.
Related Concept Videos
01:23States of Water
Water exists in any one of the three classical states: solid (ice), liquid (water), and gas (steam or water vapor). The state of water depends on i) the intermolecular forces that draw molecules together and ii) the kinetic energy that leads to movements that pull them apart.
Water freezes when the intermolecular forces are greater than the kinetic energy. Unlike most other substances, water is less dense in its solid state than in its liquid state. This is because each water molecule can form...
Water freezes when the intermolecular forces are greater than the kinetic energy. Unlike most other substances, water is less dense in its solid state than in its liquid state. This is because each water molecule can form...
01:07Cohesion
Cohesion is the attraction between molecules of the same type, such as water molecules. Water molecules have an overall neutral charge but are polar molecule. An oxygen atom in one water molecule has a partial negative charge that can bind to a hydrogen atom with a partial positive charge in a second water molecule, forming a hydrogen bond. Each water molecule can form up to four hydrogen bonds with other water molecules. Hydrogen bonds are responsible for water's cohesive nature.
On a surface,...
On a surface,...
02:57Surface Tension, Capillary Action, and Viscosity
Surface Tension
The various IMFs between identical molecules of a substance are examples of cohesive forces. The molecules within a liquid are surrounded by other molecules and are attracted equally in all directions by the cohesive forces within the liquid. However, the molecules on the surface of a liquid are attracted only by about one-half as many molecules. Because of the unbalanced molecular attractions on the surface molecules, liquids contract to form a shape that minimizes the number...
The various IMFs between identical molecules of a substance are examples of cohesive forces. The molecules within a liquid are surrounded by other molecules and are attracted equally in all directions by the cohesive forces within the liquid. However, the molecules on the surface of a liquid are attracted only by about one-half as many molecules. Because of the unbalanced molecular attractions on the surface molecules, liquids contract to form a shape that minimizes the number...
02:19Physical Properties Affecting Solubility
Solutions of Gases in Liquids
As for any solution, the solubility of a gas in a liquid is affected by the attractive intermolecular forces between solute and solvent species. Unlike solid and liquid solutes, however, there is no solute-solute intermolecular attraction to overcome when a gaseous solute dissolves in a liquid solvent since the atoms or molecules comprising a gas are far separated and experience negligible interactions. Consequently, solute-solvent interactions are the sole...
As for any solution, the solubility of a gas in a liquid is affected by the attractive intermolecular forces between solute and solvent species. Unlike solid and liquid solutes, however, there is no solute-solute intermolecular attraction to overcome when a gaseous solute dissolves in a liquid solvent since the atoms or molecules comprising a gas are far separated and experience negligible interactions. Consequently, solute-solvent interactions are the sole...
01:16Surface Tension and Surface Energy
When a paint brush is immersed in water, the bristles wave freely inside the water. When it is taken out, the bristles stick together. The reason behind this effect is surface tension.
Consider a beaker filled with liquid. The bulk molecules in the liquid experience equal attractive forces on all sides with the surrounding molecules. However, the surface molecules experience a net attractive force downward due to the bulk molecules. The surface of the liquid behaves like a stretched membrane,...
Consider a beaker filled with liquid. The bulk molecules in the liquid experience equal attractive forces on all sides with the surrounding molecules. However, the surface molecules experience a net attractive force downward due to the bulk molecules. The surface of the liquid behaves like a stretched membrane,...
01:24Surface Tension
Surface tension is defined as the force per unit length (γ) acting along the surface of a liquid. It arises due to strong intermolecular forces of attraction. A molecule located inside the bulk of the liquid is surrounded by other molecules and experiences equal forces in all directions. However, a molecule at the surface experiences unbalanced forces because there are more neighboring molecules below than above. This creates a net inward force that pulls surface molecules toward the interior,...