Is this project an undergraduate, graduate, or faculty project?
Undergraduate
Project Type
individual
Campus
Daytona Beach
Authors' Class Standing
Kate Shenk, Senior
Lead Presenter's Name
Kate Shenk
Lead Presenter's College
DB College of Arts and Sciences
Faculty Mentor Name
Ashley Kehoe
Abstract
The exact composition of terrestrial exoplanets remains the subject of great interest, from informing chances of habitability to our theories of planetary formation. Such information is difficult to resolve for exoplanets. Mass and radius alone may be used to determine a set of probable compositions, however if one uses average densities for iron and silicate an inaccurate composition is calculated. To more accurately determine composition, one must apply the effects of compression and differentiation. In this project we apply the Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkoff equation and bulk modulus to accurately determine the possible compositions of terrestrial exoplanets.
Did this research project receive funding support (Spark, SURF, Research Abroad, Student Internal Grants, Collaborative, Climbing, or Ignite Grants) from the Office of Undergraduate Research?
No
Composition determination of terrestrial exoplanets
The exact composition of terrestrial exoplanets remains the subject of great interest, from informing chances of habitability to our theories of planetary formation. Such information is difficult to resolve for exoplanets. Mass and radius alone may be used to determine a set of probable compositions, however if one uses average densities for iron and silicate an inaccurate composition is calculated. To more accurately determine composition, one must apply the effects of compression and differentiation. In this project we apply the Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkoff equation and bulk modulus to accurately determine the possible compositions of terrestrial exoplanets.