Table of Contents
What is the difference in the surface between the inner and outer planets?
Inner planets have fewer moons, small, silicate surface, nickel-iron core, higher density and rotate more slowly compared to outer planets. Outer planets have a greater number of moons, no solid part; rotate faster, have a lower density as well as rings in some cases (Jupiter and Saturn).
Do the inner planets have smooth surfaces?
The inner planets have smooth surfaces. The inner planets have rocky surfaces.
Do inner planets have no solid surface?
The Inner Planets: The four inner planets are called terrestrial planets because their surfaces are solid (and, as the name implies, somewhat similar to Earth — although the term can be misleading because each of the four has vastly different environments).
What are the inner planets made of?
Geologically, the inner planets are all made of cooled igneous rock with iron cores, and all have been geologically active, at least early in their history. None of the inner planets has rings.
Do all inner planets have moons?
There are hundreds of moons in our solar system — even a few asteroids have been found to have small companion moons. Of the terrestrial (rocky) planets of the inner solar system, neither Mercury nor Venus have any moons at all, Earth has one and Mars has its two small moons.
How were the inner planets formed?
The inner planets of our solar system, Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars, originated from small dust and larger particles in the solar nebula that collided with each other over millions of years forming larger and larger particles (Figure 1a). These eventually became protoplanets.
How are the inner planets different from the other planets?
First, consider the interior structure of these planets. Just like the Earth, Mercury, Venus, and Mars are differentiated. Curiously, we find that, compared to the other planets, Mercury’s core is relatively large. That is, it fills up most of the interior of this planet.
Which is the innermost planet in the Solar System?
Previously NASA’s only encounters with the innermost planet were the three flybys performed in 1974 and 1975 by the Mariner 10 mission that mapped 45 percent of the planet’s surface. In January 2008, the MESSENGER spacecraft flew by Mercury for its first of three fly-bys.
What makes up the atmosphere of the inner planets?
The terrestrial inner planets are composed largely of refractory minerals, such as the silicates, which form their crusts and mantles, and metals such as iron and nickel which form their cores. Three of the four inner planets (Venus, Earth and Mars) have atmospheres substantial enough to generate weather.
What makes up the mantle of the inner planets?
Every inner planet has a mantle. Except for Mercury’s, the mantle is a layer which is about of the planet’s radius. Every planet’s mantle is made of the same stuff: melted silicates mixed with some metallic oxides. The Crust Every inner planet has a crust. The crust ranges from about .5% of an inner planet’s radius to about 2%.