What are the differences between inner and outer planets?

Inner planets are closer to the sun, smaller, and rocky, while outer planets are further away, larger, and gaseous.

The inner planets, also known as terrestrial planets, include Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. They are located within the asteroid belt and are closer to the sun. These planets are characterised by their small size and rocky composition. They have solid, hard surfaces with mountains, valleys, and craters. The inner planets have few or no moons and no ring systems. They also have shorter orbits around the sun, meaning they have shorter years.

On the other hand, the outer planets, also known as gas giants or Jovian planets, include Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. These planets are located beyond the asteroid belt and are much further from the sun. They are significantly larger than the inner planets and are primarily composed of gases, such as hydrogen and helium, and ices, like water, ammonia, and methane. The outer planets have numerous moons and elaborate ring systems. They have longer orbits around the sun, resulting in longer years.

The atmospheres of the inner and outer planets also differ significantly. The inner planets have thin atmospheres, while the outer planets have thick, heavy atmospheres, often with intense storms and high-speed winds. The inner planets are also warmer due to their proximity to the sun, while the outer planets are much colder.

In terms of geological activity, the inner planets are more geologically active with earthquakes and volcanoes, while the outer planets are less geologically active. However, the outer planets often have intense atmospheric activity, with storms that can last for hundreds of years.

In summary, the inner and outer planets differ in their location in the solar system, size, composition, number of moons, presence of ring systems, length of year, atmospheric conditions, temperature, and geological activity.