Final answer:
The inner planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars) differ from the outer planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune) in terms of size, composition, and the presence of moons and rings. The differences are attributed to the formation process of the solar system.
Step-by-step explanation:
The inner planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars) differ from the outer planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune) in several ways:
- Size: The inner planets are relatively small, with Earth being the largest, while the outer planets are much larger. Jupiter, for example, is more than 11 times the diameter of Earth.
- Composition: The inner planets are primarily made up of rocks and metals, while the outer planets are composed mainly of gases, such as hydrogen and helium.
- Moons and Rings: The outer planets have extensive systems of rings and moons, whereas the inner planets have few or no rings and fewer moons.
The differences between the inner and outer planets are believed to have been caused by the formation process of the solar system. The inner planets formed closer to the Sun where it was hotter, so most of the volatile materials, such as gases and ices, were blown away by solar winds. On the other hand, the outer planets formed farther from the Sun where it was cooler, allowing them to retain more of these volatile materials.