What do the inner planets and outer planets have in common
The correct answer and explanation is:
Correct Answer:
The inner and outer planets have several things in common. They all orbit the Sun, are part of our solar system, and were formed from the same original nebula. They all follow elliptical orbits and are kept in motion by the Sun’s gravity. All have some form of day and year, and many have moons or rings.
Explanation:
The solar system is divided into two main groups of planets: the inner planets and the outer planets. The inner planets include Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. These are also called terrestrial planets because they have solid, rocky surfaces. The outer planets include Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. These are often called gas giants (for Jupiter and Saturn) or ice giants (for Uranus and Neptune) because they are mostly made of gases and ices and do not have solid surfaces like the inner planets.
Despite their differences in composition and size, the inner and outer planets share several important features. First, they all orbit the Sun in the same direction and lie mostly within the same flat plane called the ecliptic. This shows that they likely formed from the same spinning disk of gas and dust around the early Sun. Second, all planets have a gravitational pull and follow predictable paths called orbits, maintained by the Sun’s strong gravitational force.
Each planet also has a rotation period (length of day) and a revolution period (length of year). Some planets spin quickly while others rotate slowly, but all complete a full orbit around the Sun. Many planets also have moons, though the number varies. Jupiter and Saturn have many, while Mercury and Venus have none. Some planets, especially the outer ones, have ring systems made of ice, rock, or dust.
These shared traits show that all planets, inner and outer, are connected parts of a larger system shaped by the same natural forces.