Explain why the inner planets are rocky and could not be gaseous like the outer planets?

Answer 1

Please read the planetary formation wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planetary_formation

It explains why the planets formed the way they did...

Basically, the inner planets were too close to the Sun during its T-Tauri phase for their atmospheres to retain the lighter gases found in the outer planets.

Direct link to the T-Tauri phase explanation:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planetary_formation#The_protostar

Answer 2

My understanding is that when the sun lit up, the solar wind blew the lighter elements away into the outer solar system where they formed the gas giant planets. And our small rocky planets didn't have enough gravity to retain any helium and molecular hydrogen that might have been left behind.

Answer 3

HERES YOUR ANSWER ... Gravity affects all dense matter. When the solar system was formed, our sun, located in the very center of the solar system pulled in all of the material, or elements surrounding it. The heavier elements were the first to be pulled in (please refer to the Periodic Table of Elements for a list of the heavier elements). Whereas the lighter elements which have a less density were the last to be pulled in and floated along the out skirts of the solar system. These elements then formed a gaseous planet whereas the heavier elements formed a solid planet near the sun. This explains why our planet along with Mercury - Venus - Mars all have a solid surface. Our solar system was formed very similar to centrifugal force.

Answer 4

The inner planets have already been stripped-the more impure people touch these gaseous planets they also will turn rocky; Space travel is not ordained by God

Answer 5

thats why they called it inner planets coaz it usually made up of rocks.like mercury venus earth mars

Answer 6

That is obvious: because they are too close to the Sun, being much too heated up.