THE INNER PLANETS
Planets are large bodies that rotate around the sun. The inner planets, or terrestrial planets,
are the four planets closest to the Sun: Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. Even though these
planets are all small and rocky, they have more differences than they have things in common.
Because Mercury is the closest to the sun, the side that faces the sun gets as hot as 427°
Celsius. At the same time, the side that faces away from the sun is a freezing -173° Celsius.
The extreme temperatures alone make it a very unlikely place for life. With an atmosphere too
thin for human breathing, its obvious that people wont be living on Mercury any time soon.
The next planet from the sun is Venus. Below clouds of sulfuric gas lies 96% carbon
dioxide atmosphere. That might be nice for a plant, since a plant breathes carbon dioxide,
but not for a person. If you managed to survive the atmosphere, the surface of the planet is hot
enough to melt solid metal. Venus has a temperature that is maintained at 462° Celsius, no
matter where you go on the planet.
You are probably most familiar with Earth because it is your home planet. It has the
perfect conditions for life. Earths atmosphere and oceans help control the trickiest part of
making a planet life-friendly: temperature. Earth is the only planet known to have liquid water.
surface survive frozen universe explore missions down might
Mars is the fourth farthest from the sun. Some people think it may be possible for life to
exist there. Although scientists have not been able to find actual water on Mars, there seems
to be evidence of water erosion on its surface. Its canyons and mountains are very similar tothose found on Earth. The main difference is that there is no plant life. Some scientists believe
that Mars may have been very much like Earth until something happened that made the water
supply evaporate.
A. Decide if the statements are true (T) or false (F).
1. The inner planets are located closest to the sun.
2. Mercury is the hottest planet because its the closest to the sun.
3. Venus has an atmosphere whose composition is similar to that of Earth.
4. The temperature on the surface of Venus is hot enough to melt lead.
5. Earth has a surface temperature that is uniquely friendly to life.
6. Scientists have proved that life once existed on Mars.
7. It seems that Mars once had liquid water on its surface.
8. Some scientists believe that Mars is very similar to the Earth.
B. Answer the questions.
1. What is another name for inner planets?
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2. Why cant people live on Mercury?
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3. What is the atmosphere of Venus primarily composed of?
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4. Which planet is hotter, Mercury or Venus?
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5. Is Earth the only planet with water in liquid form on its surface?
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6. What land features of Mars are similar to Earths?
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Question

Accepted Answer

A. True/False Statements:
1. True
2. True
3. False
4. True
5. True
6. False
7. True
8. True

B. Answer the questions:
1. Another name for inner planets is terrestrial planets.
2. People can't live on Mercury because of its extreme temperatures and thin atmosphere.
3. The atmosphere of Venus is primarily composed of 96% carbon dioxide.
4. Venus is hotter than Mercury.
5. Yes, Earth is the only planet with water in liquid form on its surface.
6. The canyons and mountains of Mars are similar to Earth's land features.

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THE INNER PLANETS Planets are large bodies that rotate around the sun. The inner planets, or terrestrial planets, are the four planets closest to the Sun: Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. Even though t...