Jupiter is the fastest rotating planet in the Solar System; one day lasts just 10 Earth hours, despite its circumference being almost 11 times larger.
The reason for this lies in the planet’s mass. As the planets condensed from the disc of material surrounding the infant Sun, they naturally conserved angular momentum.
Just as an ice skater performs faster pirouette spins by drawing their arms towards their body, a proto-planet spins faster as it contracts under gravity.
All the gas giants have high mass and consequently fast rotation rates, Jupiter being the most massive and hence fastest.
This article is an answer to the question (asked by Myrtle Morales, via email) 'Why does Jupiter spin so fast?'
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