The inner planets are DIFFERENT from the outer planets mainly because they are:
Larger
Colder
Comprised of rock
Comprised of gas
Actually, the inner planets are different from the outer planets for several reasons, and none of them include being larger or colder. The main differences between the inner and outer planets are:
1. Distance from the Sun: The inner planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars) are closer to the Sun, while the outer planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune) are farther away.
2. Size and composition: The inner planets are smaller and mostly composed of rock and metal, while the outer planets are larger and mainly composed of gas (primarily hydrogen and helium).
3. Atmosphere: The inner planets have thinner atmospheres compared to the outer planets, which have much thicker and more massive atmospheres.
4. Moons: The inner planets have few or no moons, while the outer planets have numerous moons. For example, Jupiter has at least 79 known moons and Saturn has more than 80.
5. Rings: Only the outer planets have ring systems. Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune all have distinctive ring systems composed of ice, dust, and rock particles.
6. Orbital period: The inner planets have shorter orbital periods around the Sun, ranging from about 88 days for Mercury to approximately 687 days for Mars. On the other hand, the orbital periods of the outer planets are much longer, ranging from about 12 to 165 Earth years.
These factors contribute to the overall differences between the inner and outer planets in terms of their physical characteristics, compositions, and behavior within the Solar System.