Terrestrial Planets

Question 1

Earth

Answer 1

● Core, mantle, crust
● Density differentiation
● Magnetic field
● Atmosphere layers
● Greenhouse effect

Question 2

Moon

Answer 2

● Moon composition
● Highlands vs maria
● Moon formation - collision theory
● Craters on the moon vs Earth

Question 3

Mercury

Answer 3

■ Smallest planet
■ Closest planet to the Sun
■ Heavily cratered: no atmosphere, not geologically active
■ Ridges from crust crumpling as Mercury cooled and contracted

Question 4

Venus

Answer 4

Second planet from the Sun
■ Rotates very slowly backwards
■ Hottest planet
● Thick atmosphere and clouds: runaway greenhouse effect
■ Volcanic activity

Question 5

Mars

Answer 5

Fourth planet from the Sun
■ Evidence of past water
● Erosion, dried lake/river beds, sediment with evaporation, polar ice
caps
● 4 billion years ago: oceans