1. Chapter 11 Lesson 2: The Inner Planets – p 382-387 – page 1
Vocabulary
 Terrestrial planet (383) – planets closest to the Sun, made of rock and metal, and have solid
outer layers
 Greenhouse effect (385) – occurs when a planet’s atmosphere traps solar energy and causes
the surface temperature to increase
Planets Made of Rock
o The inner planets –_____________________________________________________–
are also called terrestrial planets.
o _____________________ planets are the planets closet to the Sun, are made of rock
and metal, and have solid outer layers.
Mercury
• Facts
o The _____________ planet; closest to the Sun
o No______________________________
 The strength of a planet’s gravity depends on the planet’s_______________.
 Because Mercury’s mass is so______________, its gravity is not strong
enough to hold onto an atmosphere
o No atmosphere = no __________________
o Temperatures:
 _____________ on the side facing away from the Sun
 _____________ on the side facing the Sun
• Mercury’s Surface
o Many impact__________________, depressions formed by collisions with objects
from space
o High cliff and smooth plains from ancient volcanoes
o Without an atmosphere, almost no ____________________occurs on Mercury’s
surface
 As a result, features that formed billions of
years ago have changed very little.
• Mercury’s Structure
o Like all inner planets, Mercury has a core made of
___________and _____________.
o Surrounding the core is a layer called
the___________________.
o The crust is a thin, rocky layer above the mantle.
o Mercury’s ______________core might have been
formed by a collision with a large object during
Mercury’s formation.
Venus
• Facts
o 2nd
planet from the Sun
o About the same size as ___________________
o It rotates so slowly that its period of ____________________is longer than its
period of_____________________.

2. Chapter 11 Lesson 2: The Inner Planets – p 382-387 – page 2
 One is longer than one year
o Venus rotates east to________________, unlike most planets
• Venus’s Atmosphere
o The atmosphere of Venus is about 97% _________________
o It is so dense that the atmospheric pressure on Venus is about
___________________times greater than on Earth
o Venus has no water on its surface.
o It is covered by a thick layer of clouds made of __________________
• The Greenhouse Effect on Venus
o With an average temperature of about 460°C, Venus is the ____________________
planet in our solar system.
o The high temperature are caused by the ____________________________ effect
 The greenhouse effect occurs when a planet’s atmosphere traps
________________ energy and causes the surface temperature to increase.
o Without the greenhouse effect Venus would be about 450°C cooler!
• Venus’s Structure and Surface
o Venus’s internal structure is similar to
Earth’s.
o Radar images show that more than 80%
of Venus’s surface is covered by solidified
_____________.
Concept Check
• How are the inner planets similar?
• Why is Venus hotter than Mercury?
Earth
• Facts
o The third planet from the Sun
o Unlike Mercury and Venus, Earth has a________________.
• Earth’s Atmosphere
o A mixture of gases and a small amount of water vapor make up most of Earth’s
atmosphere
o They produce a ________________________ effect that increases Earth’s average
surface temperature
o This effect and Earth’s distance from the Sun warm Earth enough for large bodies
of water to exist.
o Earth’s protective atmosphere, the presence of liquid water, and the planet’s
moderate temperature range support a variety of life
• Earth’s Structure
o Earth has a solid inner core surrounded by a _____________________ outer core

3. Chapter 11 Lesson 2: The Inner Planets – p 382-387 – page 3
o The mantle surrounds the liquid outer core.
o Above the mantle is Earth’s___________________.
o It’s broken into large pieces, called_______________________, that constantly slide
past, away from, or into each other
Mars
• Facts
o 4th
planet from the Sun
o _______________________the size of Earth
o Two very small and irregularly shaped ______________________
o Water on Mars is mainly trapped in the polar ice caps and a small amount in found
as liquid vapor
 However, little evidence of liquid water or life has been found
• Mar’s Atmosphere
o 95% carbon dioxide
o Temperatures: -125°C – _____________
o Dust storms that last for months
• Mar’s Surface
o Reddish due to ___________ _____________ in the soil (rust)
o Enormous canyons
o Largest ________________________ in the solar system
o Polar ice caps made of frozen carbon dioxide and ice