🍎 Differences between Earth and the other Terrestrial Planets

There are several key differences between Earth and the other terrestrial planets in our solar system, including Mercury, Venus, and Mars. These differences can be attributed to a variety of factors, such as the planet's size, composition, and distance from the sun. Here are some of the key differences:


Size: Earth is the largest of the terrestrial planets, with a diameter of approximately 12,742 kilometers. Mercury is the smallest, with a diameter of just 4,879 kilometers.


Surface gravity: Earth has a surface gravity of 9.81 meters per second squared, which is the highest of all the terrestrial planets. This is due to its larger size and greater mass. Mercury has the lowest surface gravity, at just 3.7 meters per second squared.


Average density: Earth has an average density of 5.52 grams per cubic centimeter, which is higher than the other terrestrial planets. This is because it has a larger iron core relative to its size, which increases its overall density. Venus is the closest in average density to Earth, with a value of 5.24 grams per cubic centimeter.


Surface pressure: Earth has a relatively low surface pressure compared to Venus. The average surface pressure on Earth is around 101.3 kilopascals (kPa), while Venus has a surface pressure of around 92 times that, at 9,300 kPa. Mars, on the other hand, has a surface pressure that is less than 1% of Earth's, at just 0.6 kPa.


Temperature: Earth has a relatively narrow temperature range compared to the other terrestrial planets, with an average surface temperature of around 15 degrees Celsius. Venus, on the other hand, has an average surface temperature of around 460 degrees Celsius, due to its thick atmosphere of carbon dioxide. Mercury has a very large temperature range, with a surface temperature that can range from -173 degrees Celsius at night to 427 degrees Celsius during the day.


Overall, Earth's size, surface gravity, average density, surface pressure, and temperature all contribute to its unique characteristics and make it different from the other terrestrial planets in our solar system.