AST Ch. 6 Sec 4 Planets Quiz

Questions and Answers

What is the difference between Jovian planets and Terrestrial planets?

Jovian planets are mostly gas and larger than Terrestrial planets.

Which four planets are inner planets? List their properties.

Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. They are small, dense, and rocky.

Which four planets are outer planets? List their properties.

Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. They are large, low density, and gaseous.

What are the traits of Terrestrial planets?

<ol> <li>All have atmosphere. 2. Earth is the only one to have liquid water and oxygen. 3. Terrain varies: Earth is liquid, Venus is volcanic, Mercury is cratered. 4. All of the planets rotate, however some do it quickly and some do it slowly. In fact, Venus rotates 'backwards'. 5. Only Earth and Mars (two moons) have moons. 6. Only Earth and Mercury have magnetic fields.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

What are the traits of Jovian planets?

<ol> <li>All have tall, thick atmosphere with different ingredients. 2. No 'surface' to speak of; the 'surface' is defined as the top of the atmosphere. 3. Each planet has a liquid interior and a solid, rocky core. 4. All planets rotate quickly; Uranus lies on its side. 5. Moons are abundant. 6. All have strong magnetic fields; Jupiter's magnetic field is so strong that it reaches Saturn's orbit.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Differences Between Jovian and Terrestrial Planets

Jovian planets are primarily composed of gases and are significantly larger than terrestrial planets.

Inner Planets

Inner planets include Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars.
These planets are characterized by their small size, high density, and rocky composition.

Outer Planets

Outer planets consist of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
They are known for their large size, low density, and gaseous nature.

Traits of Terrestrial Planets

All terrestrial planets possess atmospheres.
Earth is unique among them for having liquid water and oxygen.
Terrain varies significantly across these planets:
- Earth features liquid water,
- Venus is dominated by volcanic activity,
- Mercury is heavily cratered.
Rotational speeds differ; Venus notably rotates in a retrograde direction.
Only Earth and Mars have moons, with Mars having two.
Earth and Mercury are the only terrestrial planets with magnetic fields.

Traits of Jovian Planets

Jovian planets have thick atmospheres composed of different ingredients.
They lack a solid surface; "surface" refers to the upper atmosphere.
Each has a liquid interior encasing a solid, rocky core.
These planets rotate rapidly; Uranus has a unique tilted rotational axis.
Moons are plentiful among the Jovian planets.
All Jovian planets have strong magnetic fields; Jupiter's magnetic field extends to Saturn's orbit.

Description

Test your knowledge on the differences between Jovian and Terrestrial planets with this quiz. Identify the inner and outer planets and explore their properties. Perfect for students studying Astronomy!