3rd rock from the sun?

Question

Is Earth really the 3rd rock from the sun? Can anyone provide me with a credible source that says so? Why would planet earth classify as a rock?!

Thank you! =)

uhhh, for anyone who is mistaking me for a simpleton, I was only trying to dispute what my prof told me was true -- according to him, earth (Terra) is the third rock from the sun ... I just need to prove him wrong; and so I need a credible source ... lol ... =)

and yes, my prof does hold a PhD ... =) {I'm in 2nd year uni}

sigh .. was a question from the test ... i dont like acting smart, etc. ... i just needed to tell him what my basis was for disputing his theory ...

Answer 1

Well a credible source would be any science or astronomy text. "3rd Rock from the Sun" was the name of a TV show and it was meant to be sarcastic. Calling a Planet a "Rock" was just a funny play on words.

Mercury is closest to the sun, then Venus, then Earth, then Mars, and so on...

Answer 2

The fact that you are overanalyzing a simple euphemism astounds me.

To say that Earth is the "Third Rock from the Sun" is simply just a saying.

However, if you want to get technical, the Earth is composed almost entirely of what we call "rock" whether it be in a solid or molten state. Mercury, Venus, and Mars all share this characteristic. So, in all technicality, Earth IS the 3rd rock from the Sun. That is, unless you count the Moon, in which case IT would be the 3rd rock from the Sun about 50-60% of the time.

Why would you want to try to prove your PhD holding professor wrong, anyway? You realize that trying to ACT smarter than your prof, doesn't mean you ARE smarter.

Answer 3

All 4 inner planets of our system are almost entirely rock.
The earth is mostly either solid or molten rock, the amount of water on the earth is a very small percentage of the total mass
Venus and Mercury have no other significant components other than solid rock. So it would be perhaps unscientific but certainly valid to consider Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars all as "rocks".

Since the Earth is the 3rd planet out from the sun (counting as you move away from the sun), then Earth is the 3rd rock from the sun.

If we were counting as though we were entering the solar system from outside, then the term would be incorrect.

Answer 4

Well, I'm sorry but the Earth basically is a rock that by chance fell into the right position and luckily formed an atmosphere that keeps us alive today. The only part of Earth that is not a rock is the core which is a fire ball of Fe and Ni. (iron and nickel)

Answer 5

when the solar system came into existence the rocky material if big enough accumulated large amounts of hydrogen resulting is the gas giants.
Lucky for us we came from a little smaller chunk and among the other smaller chunks we happened to end up third in line from the sun.
Hence[lucky for us]third rock from the sun!

Answer 6

If I recall, "Third Rock from the Sun" was the name of a TV series about relationships and situations. It was not a scientific description, and was subject to some literary latitude.

So please don't take it too seriously, okay?

In a sense the Earth could be called a "rock," in that it is made up largely of mineral substances, in solid and molten forms. But it's a figure of speech. Please don't be insulted.

Answer 7

while this IS splitting hairs... Lots of the time the moon is closer to the sun than the earth, so that would occasionally make earth the 4th rock from the sun :)

Answer 8

That's the first time I've ever seen someone mistake the title of a TV series for a scientific principal... wow!

Answer 9

yes and its not really a rock.