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rocky planet

Primary Information
Secondary Information

Definition

A rocky planet is a planet that is composed primarily of silicate rocks and metals. Rocky planets are the most common type of planet in the Solar System, and they include Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars.

Rocky planets form from the leftover material that was left over after the formation of the sun. This material was very hot and dense, and it eventually clumped together to form the planets.

Rocky planets are solid, and they have a hard surface. They also have a thick atmosphere, which is made up of gases like nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide.

Rocky planets are not as big as gas giants, like Jupiter and Saturn. They are also much colder.

Rocky planets are thought to have formed in the inner Solar System, where the temperature was cooler and the material was denser. This allowed the planets to form from solid material, rather than gas.

Rocky planets are important because they are thought to be the only planets that can support life. This is because they have a solid surface, an atmosphere, and liquid water.

How can the word be used?

The word "rocky planet" is used to refer to planets that are composed primarily of silicate rocks or metals.

rocky planet

Different forms of the word

Noun:

  • a planet that is composed primarily of silicate rocks or metals.

Etymology

The word "rocky planet" is a compound word, made up of the words "rocky" and "planet".

The word "rocky" comes from the Old English word "roccian", which means "to make rough".

The word "planet" comes from the Greek word "planetēs", which means "wanderer".

The literal meaning of the word "rocky planet" is "a planet that is made of rocks".

Question

What are the rocky planets?

AQA Science Exam Question and Answer

Question:

Explain the key characteristics that distinguish rocky planets from other types of planets in our solar system.

Answer:

Rocky planets, also known as terrestrial planets, exhibit distinct features that set them apart from other types of planets in our solar system. One primary characteristic is their composition, primarily composed of dense, solid materials such as rock and metal. Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars are the four rocky planets in our solar system.

These planets are relatively small in size compared to gas giants like Jupiter and Saturn. They have solid surfaces with varying geological features, including mountains, valleys, and impact craters. Rocky planets tend to have thinner atmospheres compared to gas giants due to their lower gravitational forces, making them less capable of retaining large amounts of gas.

Furthermore, rocky planets are typically located closer to the Sun, in the inner region of the solar system. Their proximity to the Sun results in higher surface temperatures and different climate conditions compared to the outer gas giants.