Jupiter, also known as the fifth planet from the Sun, is the largest planet in our Solar System. It is a giant gas planet, with a mass that is one-thousandth that of the Sun, but two and a half times the total mass of all the other planets in the Solar System combined.
Both Earth and Jupiter orbit the same star – our Sun. However, that is where the similarities end. Earth is a rocky planet with a radius just under 4,000 miles (according to Space.com). It supports all forms of life due to its liquid water, atmosphere, magnetic field, and reasonable distance from the Sun. Meanwhile, Jupiter is a giant gas planet located much farther from the Sun and incapable of supporting life forms like Earth. According to NASA, it is 11 times larger than our home planet, making it the most massive planet in our Solar System.
What would happen if Earth had more in common with Jupiter? What if Earth suddenly grew to 11 times its size and became similar in size to Jupiter?
Both Earth and Jupiter orbit around the same star, the Sun.
The Gravity of Earth Would Surge
Perhaps the most notable change that would occur if Earth were the size of Jupiter would be the new, much stronger gravitational force. Since Jupiter is 11 times larger than Earth, the gravity on Earth would increase 11-fold. According to The What If Show, the gravitational pull would be so strong that your muscles wouldn’t be strong enough to move and support your body.
But what if the size of the blue planet did not change immediately, and instead, Earth was the size of Jupiter from the start? The most significant difference would be in the size of everything. According to Livescience, everything would be shorter and smaller, including mountains, trees, animals, and humans. This is because the more gravity there is, the more effort you have to exert to counteract it. Smaller objects would weigh less and thus wouldn’t have to resist gravity as much. In fact, we have observed the effects of gravity on height by studying astronauts who have spent extended periods in a weightless environment. Without the influence of Earth’s gravity, astronauts can actually grow taller if they spend enough time in space.
Increased Air Pressure Makes Breathing Difficult
If Earth’s gravity suddenly increased, it would mean that air pressure would also rise. According to The What If Show, if Earth’s gravity matched that of Jupiter immediately, the air would be affected as well. Specifically, the air molecules around us would be pulled downward, increasing Earth’s atmospheric pressure.
Increased atmospheric pressure makes it difficult for our lungs.
While the increase in atmospheric pressure would undoubtedly make it difficult for our lungs, that is not the only impact it would have. Atmospheric pressure plays a crucial role in how water molecules behave. According to the Pew Research Center, water boils at lower temperatures at higher altitudes due to decreased atmospheric pressure at those heights. If atmospheric pressure increased, you would have to boil water longer for it to reach boiling point at normal altitudes. This could significantly affect weather patterns, as water molecules would struggle to escape from liquid form and evaporate (according to National Geographic).
Asteroids Would Be More Likely to Collide with Earth
Aside from changing everything on the planet’s surface, the increase in Earth’s new gravitational force would also affect how it attracts objects in space. If Earth were the size of Jupiter, it would be able to pull in many more asteroids, including larger ones. According to The Planetary Society, asteroids large enough to cause significant global changes.
Earth is primarily shielded from asteroids due to its smaller size. Meanwhile, Jupiter tends to receive a much larger number of asteroids each year. In fact, some astronomers believe that we are partially protected from comets and asteroids colliding with Earth’s surface because of Jupiter’s strong gravitational pull.
Jupiter accomplishes this by pulling space debris in and rerouting or destroying it.
Earth’s Magnetic Field May Disappear
One effect of a larger Earth that may not be immediately noticeable would occur beneath the surface. Earth currently has a molten iron core, which generates the magnetic field around the planet (according to National Geographic). If the pressure on Earth’s core increases, this could lead to the core solidifying. According to Science Focus, it would take billions of years for Earth’s core to completely solidify. But in a planet with increased gravitational force, this could change.
Without a magnetic field, we would be exposed to harmful radiation from the Sun.
The magnetic field generated by the Earth’s core is vital for the planet’s existence. According to Cosmos Magazine, without a magnetic field, we would be exposed to harmful radiation from the Sun. Rory Barnes from the University of Washington, who studies planetary habitability, told Livescience that our magnetic field “protects life on the planet from the dangers of space. Without a magnetic field, harmful radiation could cause a multitude of issues on Earth, from the planet’s environment to flora, fauna, and humans.”
The Moon Would Be Torn Apart
Among all the changes that would occur if Earth were the size of Jupiter, perhaps the most notable would be how it would affect our Moon. Our Moon is an average of 238,855 miles away from us. With our current gravity and this distance, the Moon can orbit Earth approximately once every 28 days (according to Forbes).
According to The What If Show, if Earth had more gravitational pull, the Moon would experience significant tidal changes. This is because the Moon would be pulled too close to Earth’s Roche limit, a distance in astronomy used to describe the point at which larger satellites are pulled away by the planet’s gravitational force. Accordingly, the Moon could be torn apart by the immense gravitational force of Earth.
