The electrically charged particles that produce electric currents and therefore magnetic fields when they move inside Uranus and Neptune are A) electrons flowing through metallic iron in the planet's cores. B) molecules such as ammonia (NH₃), which become ionized when in solution in water. C) liquid metallic hydrogen under immense pressure. D) electrically conducting iron atoms in the molten cores.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The correct answer is B because in the interiors of Uranus and Neptune, it is believed that molecules such as ammonia, when mixed with water, can become ionized and conduct electricity, contributing to the generation of magnetic fields. Unlike Earth, where the magnetic field is generated by the movement of molten iron in the outer core, the magnetic fields of Uranus and Neptune are thought to be generated by a different mechanism involving ionized molecules in a water-rich interior.

The Electrically Charged Particles That Produce Electric Currents and Therefore