Mathematical model of thermal energy in spherical celestial bodies with application to solar system planets

The internal thermal energy of celestial bodies is a fundamental driver of planetary evolution and habitability. However, a universal mathematical framework for quantifying it from first principles has yet to be established. Current approaches rely on indirect measurements in system-specific models, with no reflection of a unified theoretical foundation. This study introduces a mathematical method that defines a fundamental relationship between internal pressure and non-equilibrium temperature in spherical celestial objects. By expressing this relationship as a function of radial distance from the core, we can derive a set of three equations that can be used to calculate internal pressure, distributed temperature (non-equilibrium), and self-generated heat. A key theoretical contribution lies in identifying two coefficients for temperature–pressure proportion and heat production for rocky and gaseous celestial bodies, respectively, thereby establishing a unified classification criterion. To rigorously validate the model, we calculated the surface temperatures of all eight planets in the solar system. The results align well with comparable empirical data and successfully distinguish between the effects of stellar irradiation and the intrinsic heat of the planetary body. The three derived equations provide a novel theoretical perspective on the thermodynamic analysis of spherical celestial bodies, offering a new base to advance the tool for planetary-scale environmental studies.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
AIP Advances
Published
2026-01-01
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0300219
Primary Topic
Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

Mathematical model of thermal energy in spherical celestial bodies with application to solar system planets

W Y Zhang
AIP Advances
Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies
article

Mathematical model of thermal energy in spherical celestial bodies with application to solar system planets

W Y Zhang
article en

Abstract

The internal thermal energy of celestial bodies is a fundamental driver of planetary evolution and habitability. However, a universal mathematical framework for quantifying it from first principles has yet to be established. Current approaches rely on indirect measurements in system-specific models, with no reflection of a unified theoretical foundation. This study introduces a mathematical method that defines a fundamental relationship between internal pressure and non-equilibrium temperature in spherical celestial objects. By expressing this relationship as a function of radial distance from the core, we can derive a set of three equations that can be used to calculate internal pressure, distributed temperature (non-equilibrium), and self-generated heat. A key theoretical contribution lies in identifying two coefficients for temperature–pressure proportion and heat production for rocky and gaseous celestial bodies, respectively, thereby establishing a unified classification criterion. To rigorously validate the model, we calculated the surface temperatures of all eight planets in the solar system. The results align well with comparable empirical data and successfully distinguish between the effects of stellar irradiation and the intrinsic heat of the planetary body. The three derived equations provide a novel theoretical perspective on the thermodynamic analysis of spherical celestial bodies, offering a new base to advance the tool for planetary-scale environmental studies.

AIP AdvancesVol. 16(1)
Beijing Fengtai Hospital (CN)
Openalex Percentile: Top 93%
Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.