AST 111 Study Guide Exam # 2

What are the similarities of terrestrial planets and jovian planets?

Characteristic Table

Earth

Moon

Mercury

Venus

Mars

Diameter (equatori al)

12,756 km

3476 km

4880 km

12,104 km

6794 km

Mass

5.974 × 1024 kg

7.349 × 1022 kg

3.302 × 1023 kg

4.868 × 1024 kg

6.418 × 1023 kg

Structur

e

Atmosph ere

78.08%  

nitrogen (N2)

Essentially none

Essentially  

none

96.5%  

carbon  

dioxide  

(CO2)

95.3%  

carbon  

dioxide  

(CO2)

20.95%  

oxygen (O2)

3.5 nitrogen  (N2)

2.7 nitrogen  (N2)

0.035%  

carbon  

dioxide (CO2)

0.003%  

water vapor

0.03% water vapor (H2O)

about 1%  

water vapor

2% other  

gases

Magnetic Field

25 to 65  

microteslas  

(0.25 to 0.65  gauss)

None

2 to 6

microteslas  

(1.1% smaller  than Earth)

None

None

Craterin

g

Doesn’t have any because  of the  

atmosphere

Does have  

craters because  it has no  

atmosphere

Does have  

craters 

because it has  no atmosphere

Doesn’t  

have any  

because of  the  

atmosphere

Doesn’t  

have any  

because of  the  

atmosphere

Average  density

5515 kg/m3

3344 kg/m3

5430 kg/m3

5243 kg/m3

3934 kg/m3

What are the similar characteristics of earth’s moon and mercury?

We also discuss several other topics like What are the types of metamorphism?

Surface  

temperat ure  

range

Maximum:  

60°C/ 140°F/  333 K

Day:  

130°C/ 266°F/  

403 K

Day:  

350°C/ 662°F/  623 K

Average:

460°C/  

860°F/ 733  K

Maximum:  

20°C/ 70°F/  293 K

Minimum:  

−90°C/  

−130°F/ 183  K

Night:  

−180°C/ −292°F/ 93 K

Night:  

−170°C /−  

274°F/ 103 K

Minimum:  

−140°C/−  

220°F/ 133 K

In astronomy, what is the surface temperature range of venus?

Compare and Contrast  

From the table above, the Earth’s Moon and Mercury have similar  

characteristics such as, not having an atmosphere. Another common trait is  the craters that they both have. The result of not having any atmosphere  prevents the asteroid from burning up. Not like Earth, Venus, and Mars that  have an atmosphere and that asteroids end up burning up because of the  heat that the atmosphere makes. The Earth’s Moon and Mercury also have a  smaller mass than the rest of the terrestrial planets.  If you want to learn more check out What is norepinephrine?

Terrestrial planets and Jovian planets

Similarities

 The large Jovian planets initially formed through a similar process as  the terrestrial planets through the accretion of planetesimals.

 The planets in our solar system have similar interiors composed of a  core and a mantle.

 Terrestrial and Jovian planets have weather Don't forget about the age old question of How can water form hydrogen bonds?

Differences

 One of the differences is the surface of the terrestrial and Jovian  

planets. While the terrestrial planets are made of solid surfaces, the  

Jovian planets are made of gaseous surfaces.

 Jovian planets are less dense when compared to the terrestrial planets, because they are mainly composed of hydrogen gas.  We also discuss several other topics like What is the function of exponential random variables?
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Don't forget about the age old question of What are the symptoms of hypoglycemia?

 The core of the Jovian planets is denser than the terrestrial planets

 the Jovian planets are much larger than the terrestrial planets

 the Jovian planets have more moons than the terrestrial planets.

 While the terrestrial planets spin less, the Jovian planets spin more,  

and due to this fact, the terrestrial planets tend to be less flattened at  

the poles.

 The terrestrial planets were much hotter when they were formed, and  they cooled with time. The terrestrial planets were hit by meteorites  during the early times, which made them so hot. This is why Earth and  Venus have very hot interiors when compared to other planets.

Try to look at the table and see all differences and  similarities for each. How and why are they like  that?  

(this part might help with the note card if you  would like to use one)

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