what are two major differences in the composition of the inner and outer planets?
Inner: solid, with a solid core
Outer: bundles of gas, much of it liquidified.
To find the two major differences in the composition of the inner and outer planets, we first need to understand the characteristics of these two groups of planets.
1. Inner Planets (Terrestrial Planets):
- Consist of Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars.
- Located closer to the Sun.
- Smaller in size.
- Have solid surfaces.
- Composed mainly of rocks and metals.
- Have thinner or no atmosphere.
2. Outer Planets (Gas Giants):
- Consist of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
- Located farther from the Sun.
- Larger in size.
- Lack solid surfaces.
- Composed mostly of gases, primarily hydrogen and helium.
- Have thick atmospheres, often with prominent features like clouds and storms.
Based on these characteristics, the two major differences in the composition of the inner and outer planets are:
1. Physical Structure: The inner planets are mostly solid, consisting of rocky surfaces and metal cores, while the outer planets lack a solid surface and are primarily composed of gases.
2. Atmosphere: The inner planets have thinner atmospheres, and in some cases, like Mars, they have almost no atmosphere. In contrast, the outer planets have thick and extensive atmospheres primarily made up of hydrogen and helium, with various atmospheric features such as clouds and storms.
In summary, the major differences in composition between the inner and outer planets lie in their physical structure, with inner planets consisting of solid surfaces and outer planets lacking solid surfaces, and their atmospheres, with inner planets having thinner or no atmosphere and outer planets having thick and gas-rich atmospheres.