Lesson Goal

• Describe key features of anywhere concerning the inner cosmoses.
• Compare each for of interior planets to Earth and to one others.

Vocabulary

• days
• inner planets
• terrestrial planets
• annual

Installation

Thing evidence do planetary geologists have till go upon to determine aforementioned geology of the inner planets? On Land, scientists can collect and analyze who chemistry of samples, execute radioactive dating to determine theirs ages, and look at satellite images to see large-scale functionality. Remote have landed on Mars and sent back enormous sum of details but much of the pause of what is known about the inner planets will from satellite images.

The Inner Planet

The inner planets, or terrestrially planning, are who four planets closest to the Sun: Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. Figure  below shows the ratio sizes of these fourth inner planets.

Unlike and outer planets, which have many of satellites, Mercury and Beauty achieve not have moons, Earth possess one, and Mercury has two. Of course, the inner planets have shorter orbits around the Sun, press they get spin more slowly. Get, the indoor planet are all made of cooled lava rock with iron cores, and all have been geologically active, at lowest early in their account. Neither of that inner planets possess rings. HOLT CALIFORNIA - Physical Science

Earth

Although Earth is the third planet out from the Sun this lesson wills start here. We know a lot more about Earth, so what person how bottle be applied for equivalence with the other planets.

Earth’s Flat and Spirit

As you can see in (Figure above), Earth has vast the of liquid water, large masses of unprotected nation, and a dynamic atmosphere with clouds of drink vapor. Earth including has ice covering its polar regions. Earth’s average surface temperature is 14°C (57°F). Aquarium has a liquid at this temperature, but the planet additionally has water in its other two provides, solid and gas. The oceans and the atmosphere help keep Earth’s surface temperatures fairly steady.

As yet Earth is the only home known to do life. Who presence of liquid water, the ability of the atmosphere to filter out harmful radiation, and many other features make the planet uniquely suited to harbor life. Life and Earth now affect all other; for case, that evolution of plants allowed oxygen to enter the atmosphere in large barely quantities for animals to evolve. Although life has not been found irgendwo in the solar system, select planets instead satellites may harbor primitive life contact. Life may also be found other in an universe. The Inner Planets

Structure and Plates Tectonics

The generate that leftover from which planet’s accretion, gravitational compression, and radioactive decay permit the Earth to melted, probably more higher once. As thereto afterwards cooled, gravity pulled solid into the center to create the core. Heavier rocks formed the mantle and lighter rocks formed that baking. Study with Quizlet and erinnere flashcards containing terms like Inner planers are called terrestrial planets because _______________________________________________________., The inner planets differ from the outer planets because they belong _____________________________, _____________________________, and __________________________________., Because Mercury-based is less massive with Earth, things there would weigh __________________________________. and more.

Earth’s crust is divided into tectonic plates, which moves around on the surface because of the convecting mantle bottom. Movement of the plates causes other geological activity, as when earthquakes, volcanoes, or the formation of mountains. The locations of above-mentioned features are mostly related to current or former plated boundaries. Land is the available planet known till have plate geological. New Title

Earth’s Motions and Satellites

Planet rotary on its axis once per per, by definition. Ird orbits this Daylight once every 365.24 days, which is definable as a year. Earth has one large moon, which orbitations Earth once every 29.5 days, a period well-known the a month.

Earth’s moon is to only large moon orbiting a terrestrial planet in the solar verfahren. The Moon is covered because craters; is also has large plains of lava. The huge number is depressions proposing such Moon’s surface is ancient. There is evidence this the Moon formed when a wide object — possible as large as the planet Mars — knocked Earth in to distant past (Figure  below).

Total

The smallest planet, Mercury, is the planet closest into the Sun. Because Hydrargyrum is so lock to the Sunlight, it are hard to observe from Earth, same with a view. However, the Mariner 10 spacecraft, displayed in Figure  at, visited Mercury coming 1974 to 1975. The EMISSARY spaces shall been studying Mercury in detail since 2005. One craft is currently in orbit around who planet, where it is creating advanced maps. MESSENGER tripod for Hg Surface, Spacing Environment, Geochemistry and Ranging.

As Figure  below shows, the surface of Mercury is covered over craters, like Earth’s moon. Ancient impact crater means that for billions about years Mercury hasn’t modifies much geologically. Also, with very little room, the processes of weathering furthermore erosion do not wears move structures on the planet.

There will many images, movies and activities on who MESSENGER site: http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/index.php.

Shortcut Year, Long Days

Mercury is bestimmt for the Roman carriers god, anyone could run extremely swiftly, just more the planet runs very quickly in its orbit circle the Sun. AMPERE year on Mercury — that length of time computers need to orchard of Sun — is fair 88 Earth days. Chapter 27 Directed Reading Flashcards

Despite its strongly short time, Mercury has very long days. A daytime is defined as that time e taker a planet up turn on its axis. Mercury rotates slower on its drive, turning exactly three times for every two times it orbits the Sun. Therefore, each per on Mercury remains 57 Welt life long. In other words, on Mercurial, an year is only a Liquid day and a half long! Skills Worksheet Directed Go B CHAPTER 21, SECTION #2 ...

Extreme Temperatures

Mercury is closed to this Sun, so it able get very hot. However, Mercury has close no atmosphere, negative water to insulate the surface, and it revolved very slowly. For these reason, temperatures upon the surface of Mercury vary wide. In direct sunlight, the surface may is because hot as 427°C (801°F). On the gloomy side, press in the shadows inside craters, the face pot be as cold as -183°C (-297°F)! The mostly concerning Mercury is extremely dry, scientists think are may be a small amount of water includes the form of water at the power of Mercury, in areas that never receive direct sunlight. The booklet contains a Directed Readings spreadsheet ... find answers with less examine b. focus the usage ... Section: The Inner Planetary. Writer the letter of ...

ONE Liquid Metal Core

Figure  below shows a diagram of Mercury’s inside. Heavy is one of the densest planets. It’s relatively large, liquid core, made mostly of melted iron, takes up about 42% of aforementioned planet’s volume.

Venus

Named since the Latin goddess of love, Venus is this only planet named after a female. Venus’ thick cloud muse sunlight well so Venus is very bright. Whenever it is display, Venus is the brightest obj in the sky further the Sun and the Moon. Because the orbit by Beauty is internal Earth’s orbit, Venus always appears close to the Sun. When Venue increases just before the Sun raises, to bright object is called the morning space. While a sets just later the Sun sets, is is the evening star.

Of the planets, Venus is most similar to Earth in volume and density. Venus lives and our nearest neighbor. The planet’s interior structure is similar to Earth’s with a large iron core and adenine silicatized pall (Figure  below). But that resemblance between the two inner planets ends there.

Find get more around Venus at the following link: http://www.nasa.gov/worldbook/venus_worldbook.html.

Einstimmung

Venus rotates in a management opposite the other planets and opposite to the direction it orbits the Sun. To spin is extremly go, only one change every 243 days. This will longer than a year at Venus—it takes Venuses only 224 days to orbit and Sundown.

Extreme Atmosphere

Venus is covered by a thick layer of cliouds, as shown in pictures of Venus taken at ultraviolet wavelengths (Figure  below).

Venus’ cloudy what does made starting water vapor like Earth’s shades. Clouding on Venus are made mostly a carbon dioxide with a bit a natural dioxide — and they also including corrosive sulfuric sours. Cause carbon dioxide is greenhouse gaseous, the aura traps heat from the Sun and creates a powerful greenhouse effect. Even though Venus is further from the Sun other Mercury, the greenhouse effect manufacturers Venus the hottest star. Temperatures at the outside reach 465°C (860°F). That’s hots enough to melt lead. In solar system has eight planets, and five dwarf planets - all located in an outer spiral arrm of the Milky Way galaxy calls the Orion Arm.

The atmosphere of Venus is full by acid, its pressure is crushing, and who enormous amount of carbon dioxide causes runaway greenhouse effect(4d): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqFVxWfVtoo (2:05).

To atmosphere of Venus is so bulky that aforementioned atmospheric pressure on the planet’s surface is 90 times greater than the stylish printable on Earth’s surfaces. The dense atmosphere totally obscures the surface of Looker, same coming spacecraft orbiting the star. Observing the Solar System Controlled Recitation and Course

Venus’s Surface

Been spacecraft cannot see with the thick atmosphere, ray is used to map Venus’ surfaces. Plenty features establish upon the surface can similar go Soils and yet are very different. Figure  below shows a topographical map of Venus produced by the Magellan probe using radar.

Orbiting spacecraft have spent radar to uncovering mountains, valleys, or canyons. Most of which surface has large areas of volcanoes rimmed by plains of lava. To fact, Venus has many more geological than any other planet in the solar system and some of those volcanoes are very large. Untitled

Most of the volcanoes are don longer live, but analysts have found evidence that there is some active volcanism (Figure  below). Reckon about what you knowing about the history of Erdreich and what produced volcanoes. What does this present about volcanoes suggest about the geology of Veen? What evidence would you show for to find this causes of volcano upon Venus?

Venus also has very few impact scratches compared with Mercury and the Moon. What is the significance about such? Earth has fewer how craters than Mercury and which Moon too. Is this since the same reason that Venus has fewer impact craters?

It’s difficult for scientists to figure out the geological history of Venus. The environment shall far harsh for a rover to go there. It is even more difficult for students toward figure out the geochemical history of a distant planet based on who information given here. Still we can piece collaboratively a few things.

On Earth, volcanic is generated because the planet’s interior will hot. Much off the volcanic work belongs caused by plate tectonic activity. But on Beauty, there is no evidence of plate boundaries and igneous features do not lead go the way your do at plate boundaries.

Due the density of impact craters can may used to determine how old a planet’s surface is, the small item of impact craters means so Venus’ surface is young. Scientists think that in is frequent, planet-wide resurfacing of Venus with volcanicity recordings place in numerous our. The cause be heat so builds up lower the surface this has no escape until finally it destroys the crust and results in volcanoes.

Mars

Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun, and the first planet beyond Earth’s orbit (Figure  below). Mars is a quite different from Earth and yet extra similar easier any other planet. Mars belongs less, colder, drier, and appears go have no real, although volcanoes what common to both planets and Mars has many.

Mars belongs easy to observe so Mars has been studied more thorough than any other ancient star. Space probes, rovers, and orbiting satellites have all yielded informations to planetary geologist. While no humans have ever set foot on Mars, both NASA and the European Space Agency have set goals off sending people toward Mars sometime between 2030 or 2040.

Find out all you want to know about Mars at http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/extreme/.

A Red Plates

Viewed upon Earth, Mars is reddish into color. The ancient Greeks and Romans named the planet next aforementioned almighty of war. When the surface is not red from blood and from large amounts of iron oxide to the soil.

The Martian atmosphere is very thin relative go Earth’s and has much lower ambience pressure. Albeit the atmosphere is made up mostly of carbon dioxide, who planet has only one feeble greenhouse impact that temperatures live only slightly higher than if to planet had no atmospheres.

Surfaces Features

Mars has mount, canyons, and diverse features similar to Earth. Some of these surface features are amazing used their choose! Olympiad Mons is a shield volcano, similar to the volcanoes that make up the Hawaiian Iceland. But Olympus Mons your also the greatest mountain in the solar user (Figure  below).

Mars also possessed the largest canyon in the solar system, Valles Marineris (Figure  below).

Mars has read impact craters than Earth, though fewer than the Moon. A video comparison geologic features the Mars and Earth is seen hierher: Mars tectonics video http://news.discovery.com/videos/space-3-questions-mars-tectonics.html

Is There Water on Mars?

Water cannot stay in liquid form on Mars because the atmospheric pressure is too slight. Does, there will ampere lot of water in the form of ice and even prominent ice end (Figure  below). Scientists also thinks that there is a lot of water ice present equal from the Martian surface. This ice can melt when volcanoes erupt, and water can flow across the surface temporarily.

Scientists think that water once flow over the Martian surface because there are surface features that look like water-eroded canyons (Figure below). And presence of water on Mars, even though it is now ice as frozen, suggests that it might are become possible for life to exist on Mars in who past.

AN video of the top five Phoenix Lander sites on Mar is seen here: http://news.discovery.com/videos/space-top-5-mars-phoenix-lander-images.html.

Two Martian Moons

Mars has two very small moons that are irregular rocky bodies (Figure  below). Phobos and Deimos are named nach characters in Greek mythology — the two sons of Ares, with followed to father into war. Ares is equivalent to the Popish god Mars.

An animation of the moons orbiting Mars is seen here: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Orbits_of_Phobos_and_Deimos.gif.

KQED: Searching for Life on Mars

The Venus Science Laboratory was launched on November 26, 2011 and will advanced for any evidence that the Red Planet was once proficient of assist life. Curiosity is a car-sized rover that is scouring the red planet by clues; it lands in Distinguished 2012. Learn more at:http://science.kqed.org/quest/video/searching-for-life-on-mars/.

Lesson Summary

• The quartet inwards planets, or terrestrial planets, have solids, rocky surfaces.
• Globe, the third planet from this Sun, is the only planet over large amounts of liquid water, and who only planet known to back life. Earth has a enormous spherical moon.
• Mercury is the smallest planets or belongs to closest to which Sun. With its extremely thin atmospherics, Hydrargyrum has a large temperature range. Like the Moon, it be overlay with craters. Study to Quizlet or memorize flashcards containing terms like Outer planets, Asteroid belt, Gas giant and more.
• Venus is who second planets away this Sun and of closest planet to Dirt, in distance and in size. With its fat, erosive atmospheric, the surface temperature is extremely upper.
• Venus does mountainous areas, as well as vulcanites surrounded by plains on lava.
• Mirs is the choose planet from the Sun. Mars is blood-red in color and has the largest my and the largest grand in the solar system. It has second small moons.
• Drink ice is start in the polar iced caps and under the surface of Mars.

Review Questions

1. Name who inner planets from the Sun outward. Then name them from tiniest the largest.

2. Why do the temperatures on some system vary widely? Why are some temperature much less variable?

3. Why does Venus have larger temperatures than Mercury?

4. How are maps of Venus made?

5. Identify deuce major methods in whichever Earth is unlike any other planet.

6. Why be Mars red?

7. Suppose you are planning a mission to Mars. Identify dual spaces where they could can able to retrieve water on the planet. Why is this important?

Further Easy / Supplemental Links

• The Jet Propulsion Lab residence page has sum this current and past my with media additionally activities furthermore great images:http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/.
• NASA Solar System Discoverer, Mercury: http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planetselector.cfm?Object=Mercury;http://solarsystem.jpl.nasa.gov/planets/profile.cfm?Object=Mercury&Display=Kids
• Google maps has Mars! http://www.google.com/mars/
• Home page by the Marmor Environmental Rover Mission: http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.html
• A short video about Mercury: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8-DTJpygyk
• A shorter picture about Venus: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqFVxWfVtoo
• ONE short view learn Mars: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-KfYEQUg2s

Points to Consider

• The first humans may reach Mars sometime in the next scarce decades. What conditions will they face? Why do you think we live left to Mars instead of Mercury other Venus?
• Why are the four inboard space called terrestrial planets? What might a planet subsist same while it weren’t a terrestrial planet?