What are the 4 stages of terrestrial planet formation in order?

Scientists believe that terrestrial planets, like Earth, formed by clumping together from dust and gas into into hot blobs of molten metal and rock several billion years ago. After becoming distinct planets, they went through four stages of formation: Differentiation, Cratering, Flooding and Surface Evolution.

What are the processes that shape the surface of the Earth?

The physical processes on Earth create constant change. These processes—including movement in the tectonic plates in the crust, wind and water erosion, and deposition—shape features on Earth’s surface.

What are 4 characteristics that all of the terrestrial inner planets have in common?

The four planets closest to the Sun—Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars—are the inner planets or terrestrial planets (Figure below). They are similar to Earth. All are solid, dense, and rocky. None of the inner planets has rings.

Why are the first 4 planets terrestrial planets?

The planets Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars, are called terrestrial because they have a compact, rocky surface like Earth’s terra firma. The terrestrial planets are the four innermost planets in the solar system. Without life, most of the oxygen would soon become part of the compounds on the planet’s surface.

What is the process of forming planets?

According to our current knowledge, planets are formed around a new star by condensing in a disc of molecular gas and dust, embedded within a larger molecular cloud. Condensation increases until they become giant planets, which are heated, then cleanse their orbits in the disc and possibly bend it.

What are the 4 physical processes?

Physical Processes at Work Around You You have a thorough understanding of how four physical processes—tectonic movement, volcanic activity, erosion, and glaciation—have shaped Earth’s surface.

What are the four things that cause weathering?

Weathering breaks down the Earth’s surface into smaller pieces. Those pieces are moved in a process called erosion, and deposited somewhere else. Weathering can be caused by wind, water, ice, plants, gravity, and changes in temperature.

What are 5 characteristics of a terrestrial planet?

Terrestrial planets are Earth-like planets made up of rocks or metals with a hard surface. Terrestrial planets also have a molten heavy-metal core, few moons and topological features such as valleys, volcanoes and craters.

What separates the four inner planets from the four outer planets?

These two groups of planets are separated by the asteroid belt, a disk of small rocky bodies orbiting the sun between Mars and Jupiter.

What is the shape of the planets orbit?

All orbits are elliptical, which means they are an ellipse, similar to an oval. For the planets, the orbits are almost circular. The orbits of comets have a different shape. They are highly eccentric or “squashed.” They look more like thin ellipses than circles.

How do terrestrial planets form?

Terrestrial Planet Formation Hydrogen compounds, such as water and methane, typically condense at low temperatures, and remain gaseous inside the frost line where temperatures are higher. Thus, the inner planets are made almost entirely of rock and metal and form the group known as the terrestrial planets.

What are the four common planet surface processes?

The four common Planet Surface Processes are: Cratering, Volcanoes, Erosion, and Weathering (chemical and physical). Accretion, collisions and radioactive decay would be required in the formation.

How are planets shaped?

There are four basic processes that shape the planets in our solar system. VolcanismEruption of molten rock onto the surface of a planet TectonismFaulting or folding or other deformation of the outer layer of a planet ErosionWearing away of a planet’s surface Impact CrateringBreakup of a planet’s surface when a meteoroid hits

How do you model the formation of a crater?

Model the formation of an impact crater by dropping balls into a tray with layers of different colored powders and examine the features. Predict and model the properties of glaciers, view images of advancing glaciers, and create your own Flubber flow.