Author Question: Describe the three sources of internal heat of the terrestrial planets. What will be an ideal ... (Read 27 times)

nenivikky · **on:** Jul 27, 2018

Describe the three sources of internal heat of the terrestrial planets.

What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

How does the size of a planet determine its internal temperature?

What will be an ideal response?

alexanderhamilton · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 27, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Accretion is heat generated by the agglomeration of planetesimals when the planet was formed. Differentiation is heat generated by the energy released as dense objects fall toward the center of a planet during the formation of the core of a planet. Radioactive decay generates heat by releasing nuclear energy when an unstable (radioactive) isotope decays into a more stable element.

Answer to Question 2

Size is the most important factor in determining how rapidly a planet loses its internal heat. The larger a planet is, the deeper is the insulation that surrounds the core and keeps in the heat.