/sci/ - Science & Math

I think your confusion stems from how temperature is defined. Temp is defined classically as the average kinetic energy of atoms and molecules. The plasma particles in the outer edge of the solar system have a lot of kinetic energy (moving uber duber fast) so by this definition their temperature is very very high, but there aren't a lot of them, so transfer of thermal energy (heat) to an object like voyager 1 is almost non-existent, since the particles have to collide with voyager 1 to transfer their heat, which won't happen often, cause again, not very many of them. A more dense gas, even if much cooler, would do a much better job of cooking voyager 1. Because of this fact, many objects like asteroids can come from deep space and pass through this region while remaining literal ice balls. And as for magnetic fields, if the heat is coming from high energy charged particles, then yes, it can push it away (Earth's magnetic field does this). It won't do the same though if the heat is coming from radiation (i.e. sunlight).

>>11353413
Thanks for the response that made sense. The article explains that Voyager is stuck now though in the same plasma, where it was able to travel when it was less dense but as it became more dense the voyager got stuck. So doesn't this mean that there would be more thermal transfer?

>>11353367
Voyager 2 isn't real.

>>11353504
Exactly. More atoms per cubic meter means more collisions per second means more heat imparted to voyager. I didn't here about that, but I do know that voyager 2 is almost out of juice (I think it's got like 5 years of power left). Also note that direct contact with particles (conduction) is not the only way to transfer heat. Radiation is another form of heat transfer and is the one that dominates outer space. Go a few hundred miles above Earth's atmosphere and although there won't be many particles to collide with, being on the sunny side of the planet will heat you up pretty quick. This is why satellites have mirrors and reflective surfaces on them. Though in voyager's case I think it's so far away from the sun that thermal radiation shouldn't be a concern.

>>11353592
Interesting thanks. I don't have a college education and don't need to work so a couple years ago I decided I would just start reading stuff and then my boyfriend told me about this a couple weeks ago and I didn't understand exactly so wanted to learn.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/tech/10399275/wall-fire-hot-plasma-solar-system-nasa-voyager-probe/

"The probe appeared to weather the onslaught thanks to its heat shields. However, Nasa admitted that the probe, currently over 11billion miles from Earth, appeared to be trapped within the plasma wall. Instead of crossing into interstellar space, the probe was in a "transitional region" at the edge of the Solar System, Nasa said."

>>11353636
So voyager 2 isn't yet in "true" interstellar space. There is a transitional region just outside the heliopause where the sun's solar wind ends. So the probes will pass through this "layer" of denser plasma smashing up against the heliopause until they are far enough away to be considered in actual interstellar space. But as far as I can tell they aren't stuck. It'll just be a while longer till they are in deep deep space. And again, they should be fine. The denser plasma still isn't very dense at all. I don't where they got the idea voyager was "trapped" in there.

>>11353701
Yeah I should just read official statements from NASA

>>11353367
Regarding Voyager 2 and 1 and their journey:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98GdebTOIak

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-T2nP7FWbMk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBsyzYFjpig

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDkP9Jp1KN4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygQIl-JaUUc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykOa2Kfyej0

>>11354408
>>>/x/

>>11354438

>>11353504
Voyager 2 isn't stuck, it has achieved escape velocity for the solar system and is now leaving
there isn't enough mass in the plasma out there to meaningfully affect its path via drag