The Inner Planets

The Inner Planets

Ch 3 L 4 p. 94-101

What Do the Inner Planets Have in Common?

• The inner planets are small and dense and have rocky surfaces.

• They are often called the terrestrial planets, from the Latin word terra which means “Earth”

Multiple Select

The inner planets have what characteristics?

• Small

• Dense

• Rocky Surfaces

• Made of gas

Multiple Choice

These inner planets are also called what?

• Terrestrial Planets

• Gas Plants

• Stars

• Dwarf Planets

What Are the Characteristics of the Inner Planets?

• Although the four inner planets have many features in common, they differ in size and composition as well as distance from the sun.

What Are the Characteristics of the Inner Planets?

• Mercury is the smallest terrestrial planet and the planet closest to the sun.

• It has virtually no atmosphere because its gravity is too weak to hold gas particles.

• Much of what astronomers know about Mercury has come from space probes.

Multiple Choice

__________ is the smallest terrestrial planet and the planet closest to the sun.

• Mercury

• Earth

• Mars

What Are the Characteristics of the Inner Planets?

• Venus has a thick atmosphere, an unusual pattern of rotation, and the hottest surface of any planet.

• It is so hot because its atmosphere traps heat in a process called the greenhouse effect.

• It rotates slowly, so its day is longer than its year!

• Oddly, Venus rotates from east to west, the opposite direction from most other planets and moons.

Multiple Choice

________ has a thick atmosphere, an unusual pattern of rotation, and the hottest surface of any planet.

• Venus

• Mercury

• Earth

• Mars

Multiple Choice

What process is happening on Venus that makes it so hot?

• Greenhouse Effect

• Global Warming

• Storms

What Are the Characteristics of the Inner Planets?

• There is only one planet in the solar system where you could live easily.

• Earth has liquid water and a suitable temperature range and atmosphere for living things to survive.

• Earth has enough gravity to hold on to most gases, which make up Earth’s atmosphere.

• Earth is the only planet with an oxygen-rich atmosphere.

• Like Venus, Earth experiences a greenhouse effect.

Multiple Select

What are the reasons that Earth can carry life?

• Liquid Water

• Suitable Temperature

• Atmosphere

• People

What Are the Characteristics of the Inner Planets?

• Mars appears reddish because of the breakdown of iron-rich rocks.

• Although Mars is too cold for liquid water, it does have ice now and had liquid water in the past.

• Mar’s atmosphere is more than 95% carbon dioxide.

• Some regions of the planet have giant volcanoes.

Multiple Select

What did Mars have in the past?

• Liquid Water

• Ice

• Carbon Dioxide

Multiple Choice

What did Mars have in the past?

• Ice

• Water

• Water Vapor

Review Questions

Time to see what you have learned!

Multiple Select

The inner planets have what characteristics?

• Small

• Dense

• Rocky Surfaces

• Made of gas

Multiple Choice

These inner planets are also called what?

• Terrestrial Planets

• Gas Plants

• Stars

• Dwarf Planets

Multiple Choice

__________ is the smallest terrestrial planet and the planet closest to the sun.

• Mercury

• Earth

• Mars

Multiple Choice

________ has a thick atmosphere, an unusual pattern of rotation, and the hottest surface of any planet.

• Venus

• Mercury

• Earth

• Mars

Multiple Choice

What process is happening on Venus that makes it so hot?

• Greenhouse Effect

• Global Warming

• Storms

Multiple Select

What are the reasons that Earth can carry life?

• Liquid Water

• Suitable Temperature

• Atmosphere

• People

Multiple Select

What did Mars have in the past?

• Liquid Water

• Ice

• Carbon Dioxide

Multiple Choice

What did Mars have in the past?

• Ice

• Water

• Water Vapor