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The lighter gases were blown away by the solar winds. This is why the inner planets have rocky cores and are not gaseous planets.

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What are the two main reason why Jovian planets have much thicker atmoshperes than the Terrestrial planets?

While terrestrial planets are made of rock and have gases in the atmosphere, jovian planets are made almost entirly of gases. If an atmosphere is made of gases in a planet, then the atmosphere of the planets with more gases will be thicker.


Did outer planets lose the light gases in their atmosphere?

Yes, outer planets like Jupiter and Saturn likely lost light gases from their atmospheres due to their gravity not being strong enough to retain these gases. Additionally, the strong solar wind and radiation in the outer solar system may have contributed to the loss of these gases over time.


Why do Jovian planets have a thicker atmosphere than the terrestrial planets?

Jovian planets do not have a solid surface, therefore their atmospheres are thick all the say to where their surface would be. Their atmospheres have more gasses than those surrounding terrestrial planets.


Which process explains why the terrestrial planets do not have hydrogen and helium in their atmospheres?

The terrestrial planets are less massive and therefore have less gravity. As a result, much of the lighter gases could escape, in the process of planet formation.


Why are gas giants larger than terrestrial planets?

The masses of the gas giants are greater, which would make them larger, and their gravity can hold more massive atmospheres. Due to limits on the compressibility of atmospheric gases, these atmospheres are very deep. The lower solar heating farther from the Sun also plays a role in allowing these planets to maintain a high percentage of their lighter gases (hydrogen, helium) than the inner planets. So, even without their atmospheres, the cores of gas giants would have greater diameters than the terrestrial planets. They are simply bigger planets.

Related Questions

What are the two main reason why Jovian planets have much thicker atmoshperes than the Terrestrial planets?

While terrestrial planets are made of rock and have gases in the atmosphere, jovian planets are made almost entirly of gases. If an atmosphere is made of gases in a planet, then the atmosphere of the planets with more gases will be thicker.


Why are the planets closest to the sun made of solids and the far planets made of gas?

The planets closest to the sun are made mostly of solids because the heat from the sun prevented lighter gases from accumulating there. The outer planets are farther away and cooler, allowing them to capture and retain lighter gases like hydrogen and helium, making them gas giants.


Are the outer planets lighter than the inner planets?

No, the outer planets are not lighter than the inner planets. In fact, the outer planets are generally much larger and more massive than the inner planets. This is because they are primarily composed of gases and ice, which makes them less dense but more massive.


Why have the Jovian planets retained their atmospheres?

Simply because the gas giants are so big that the force of gravity is sufficient to retain the light gases.


Did outer planets lose the light gases in their atmosphere?

Yes, outer planets like Jupiter and Saturn likely lost light gases from their atmospheres due to their gravity not being strong enough to retain these gases. Additionally, the strong solar wind and radiation in the outer solar system may have contributed to the loss of these gases over time.


Why do Jovian planets have a thicker atmosphere than the terrestrial planets?

Jovian planets do not have a solid surface, therefore their atmospheres are thick all the say to where their surface would be. Their atmospheres have more gasses than those surrounding terrestrial planets.


What happened to the lighter gasses once the sun formed?

Due to the Sun's strong gravity, the lighter gases would mostly stay in the Sun. The same happens - to a great extent - in the case of the larger planets.


Why are iner planets not made of light elements?

Inner planets, such as Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars, are primarily composed of heavier elements like metals and silicates due to their proximity to the Sun. The intense heat during the formation of the solar system caused lighter elements, like hydrogen and helium, to be stripped away or pushed further out, allowing only denser materials to coalesce in the inner regions. This process led to the formation of rocky planets with solid surfaces. In contrast, the outer planets, which are farther from the Sun, were able to capture and retain lighter gases, resulting in their gaseous compositions.


Which process explains why the terrestrial planets do not have hydrogen and helium in their atmospheres?

The terrestrial planets are less massive and therefore have less gravity. As a result, much of the lighter gases could escape, in the process of planet formation.


Why are the inner planets composed of heavy elements and outer planets composed of gas?

During the creation of the planets, gravitational forces pulled the heavier planets towards the center. The lighter gas filled planets by default established further orbits. It is thought that heat caused the inner planets to lose their gas composition.


What planets make up the inner or terrestrial planet?

The inner or terrestrial planets are Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. They are located closer to the Sun and are primarily composed of rock and metal. These planets have solid surfaces and are believed to have formed closer to the Sun, where it was too hot for volatile gases to condense.


Why are gas giants larger than terrestrial planets?

The masses of the gas giants are greater, which would make them larger, and their gravity can hold more massive atmospheres. Due to limits on the compressibility of atmospheric gases, these atmospheres are very deep. The lower solar heating farther from the Sun also plays a role in allowing these planets to maintain a high percentage of their lighter gases (hydrogen, helium) than the inner planets. So, even without their atmospheres, the cores of gas giants would have greater diameters than the terrestrial planets. They are simply bigger planets.