Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system, with an equatorial radius of almost 5,100 kilometers (about 2.)06%), which makes Jupiter's shape look very flat. In contrast, the Earth's equatorial radius is only more than 100 kilometers larger than the radius of the poles (about 0.).3%), so the shape of the Earth looks relatively rounder. So why is Jupiter's equatorial radius so much larger than the polar radius?
To explain this, we need to understand how the rotation and gravitational forces of the planets interact. The rotation of the planets creates a centrifugal force that exposes the matter near the equator to an outward force. At the same time, the gravitational pull of the planets tries to pull all the matter towards the center. When the planet rotates fast enough, the material near the equator is "flung away" by centrifugal force, causing the planet to flatten in shape.
Jupiter's rapid rotation is the main reason for the flattening of its shape. It takes about 11 for Jupiter to make one revolution around the Sun8 Earth years, but its rotation period is only 99 hours, it is the fastest rotating planet in the solar system. Because the equatorial part of Jupiter is subjected to more centrifugal force than the polar part, the material near the equator is "flung away" wider, making Jupiter's shape appear very flat.
In addition to its rotational speed, Jupiter's strong gravitational pull is also an important factor in the flattening of its shape. Since Jupiter's gravitational pull is very strong, the material inside it is strongly pulled towards the center, which further exacerbates the flattening of Jupiter's shape.
In addition, Jupiter's climate also has an effect on the shape. There are powerful storms and vortices in Jupiter's high latitudes, and these climatic phenomena also have small changes to Jupiter's shape.
In conclusion, Jupiter is so flat because of the interaction of its fast rotation and strong gravitational pull. This process is a prime example of how planetary rotation, gravity, and climate work together to shape the shape of a planet.