Distinguishing Inner and Outer Planets

Question

A 2 column by 2 row table. Column 1 is titled Planet with the following entries: A, B. Column 2 is titled Length of a Day in hours with the following entries: 16 hours, 1,408 hours.

Which planet is an inner planet, and which one is an outer planet? Explain your answer.

Answer 1

To distinguish between inner and outer planets based on the given information in the table:

1. Inner Planets: The inner planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars) are generally closer to the Sun and have shorter rotation periods (length of a day).

2. Outer Planets: The outer planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune) are farther from the Sun and typically have longer rotation periods.

Now, referring to the table:

| Planet | Length of a Day in Hours | |--------|---------------------------| | A | 16 hours | | B | 1,408 hours |

• Planet A (16 hours): This is a relatively short day, which is characteristic of inner planets. For example, days on Mars last about 24.6 hours, while days on Mercury last about 58.6 Earth days. Because 16 hours is still shorter compared to outer planets, we can classify Planet A as an inner planet.

• Planet B (1,408 hours): This is a significantly long day (equivalent to about 58.67 Earth days), suggesting that this planet is much farther from the Sun. This is characteristic of the outer planets, as they tend to have longer day lengths due to their larger size and slower rotation compared to inner planets.

Based on the above analysis:

• Planet A is an inner planet.
• Planet B is an outer planet.