What is the Difference Between Jovian and Terrestrial Planets?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The main differences between Jovian and Terrestrial planets are their size, location, composition, and atmosphere. Here is a comparison of the two types of planets:
Jovian Planets:
- Also known as gas giants, they are large and made mostly of gases.
- In our solar system, Jovian planets include Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
- They are located farther from the Sun than Terrestrial planets and are therefore cooler.
- Jovian planets have relatively small, dense cores surrounded by massive layers of gas, made almost entirely of hydrogen and helium.
- They do not have solid surfaces, and their atmospheres are made mostly of hydrogen and helium.
- Jovian planets have more moons and rings than Terrestrial planets.
- They rotate faster than Terrestrial planets, with rotation periods of around 10 hours for Jupiter and Saturn, and 16-17 hours for Uranus and Neptune.
Terrestrial Planets:
- Also known as Earth-like planets, they are smaller in size and mass.
- In our solar system, Terrestrial planets include Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars.
- They are located closer to the Sun than Jovian planets and are therefore warmer.
- Terrestrial planets have solid rocky surfaces and metals deep in their interiors.
- Their atmospheres are primarily composed of carbon dioxide and nitrogen gases.
- They have fewer moons and rings compared to Jovian planets.
- Terrestrial planets rotate slower than Jovian planets.
In summary, Jovian planets are larger, cooler, and have more moons and rings than Terrestrial planets, which are smaller, warmer, and have solid rocky surfaces.
Comparative Table: Jovian vs Terrestrial Planets
Here is a table comparing the differences between Jovian and Terrestrial planets:
Feature | Jovian Planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune) | Terrestrial Planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars) |
---|---|---|
Size | Larger | Smaller |
Position | Further from the Sun | Closer to the Sun |
Density | Less dense overall, denser cores | More dense overall, less dense cores |
Composition | Mainly hydrogen and helium gases | Solid surfaces, mostly rock and metal |
Atmosphere | Gaseous atmospheres | Atmospheres composed mainly of CO2 and N2 gases |
Surface | Non-solid surfaces | Solid surfaces |
Moons | More moons | Fewer moons |
Rings | Have rings | No rings |
Rotation | Faster rotation | Slower rotation |
Jovian planets, also known as gas giants, are larger, further from the Sun, and have gaseous atmospheres composed mainly of hydrogen and helium. They also have more moons and rings compared to Terrestrial planets. On the other hand, Terrestrial planets are smaller, closer to the Sun, and have solid surfaces. They have denser atmospheres composed mainly of carbon dioxide and nitrogen gases and rotate more slowly than Jovian planets.
- Jupiter vs Earth
- Saturn vs Jupiter
- Inner Planets vs Outer Planets
- Planet vs Moon
- Star vs Planet
- Earth vs Saturn
- Earth vs Uranus
- Earth vs Mars
- Aquatic vs Terrestrial Animals
- Terrestrial vs Aquatic Biomes
- Earth vs Moon
- Asteroid vs Comet
- Asteroid vs Meteoroid
- World vs Earth
- Atmosphere vs Space
- Insolation vs Terrestrial Radiation
- Jupiter vs Zeus
- Astrology vs Astronomy
- Astrophysics vs Astronomy