What are similarities and differences between the inner and outer planets and what separates them?
2007-03-22 12:42:03 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
The difference between "inner" and "outer" planets is one of definition: anything interior to the Earth (i.e. Mercury and Venus, and Earth itself) is considerd an inner planet. Anything else is "outer".
There *is* a compositional difference between "rocky" planets, such as Earth or Mars, and "gas giants", of which there are four: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
2007-03-22 12:47:55 · answer #1 · answered by Astronomer1980 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually Mars is an inner planet too. Anything before the asteroid belt is an inner planet. Inner planets tend to have a rocky core, outer planets tend to be gaseous planets with rings and plenty of moons. Mars has the most moons of the inner planets (2). Also the distance between the inner planets are much, much less that the distance between the outer planets.
2007-03-22 12:52:01 · answer #2 · answered by misoma5 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The inner planets are small and rocky. The inner ring is separated from the outer by the asteroid belt. The outer planets are large, gaseous masses with a lot of moons/trapped rocky satellites.
2007-03-22 15:09:30 · answer #3 · answered by teresa r 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Inner planets are on the side of the asteroid belt closest to the sun. They are small, close together, and terrestrial (rocky). Outer planets are on the other side of asteroid belt. They are the gas giants. They are farther apart, are large and are made of gas. (unless you count Pluto, but you shouldn't because Pluto is not a planet anymore) Also, the Jovian (outer) planets all have rings, even though some are very slight.
2007-03-22 22:25:50 · answer #4 · answered by dolphinlvr3342 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The inner and outer planets are different because the outer planets are mainly composed of hydrogen and helium, and the inner planets have hard surfaces. The inner and outer planets are sperated by the Astroid Belt
2007-03-22 12:50:26 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe that all the planets orbit the sun in the same direction.
The main difference between inner and outer planets is that the inner planets (mercury->mars) are rocky planets with solid surfaces.
The outer planets (Jupiter->Neptune) are gas giants with no solid visible surface.
2007-03-22 12:49:21 · answer #6 · answered by davidbgreensmith 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It has happened before. Intersecting with the tail of a comet is not a large issue. Some ice and debris falls on planet earth or burns up harmlessly in the upper atmosphere. Intersecting with a comet could be a bit more disastrous. It is hard to say if it would ever happen but it could. If it does the impact of a comet as large as 6 to 8 miles in diameter could be an extinction event depending on the make up of the comet. If it is mostly water ice, not so bad. If it is mostly iron and hard metals, serious problems afoot at the Circle K.
2016-03-29 00:10:32 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
they all orbit the sun,
the inner planets are all rocky & solid also smaller
the outer planets are larger & made of gasses
2007-03-26 12:26:13 · answer #8 · answered by b fakes 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Similarities : around the sun, they are sphericals.
Difference : inners are small compared to outer, with bigger density.
2007-03-22 12:49:48 · answer #9 · answered by Scanie 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋