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Chapter 7

Chapter 7: The Terrestrial Planets and Earth's Moon

Study Plan

The objects that formed in the inner part of the protoplanetary disk around the Sun were relatively small rocky worlds, one of which we call home. Comparing those worlds with one another teaches us lessons about what shapes a planet's fate. Among the lessons we will learn are

  • That each terrestrial planet is shaped by impacts, tectonism, volcanism, and erosion.
  • How impacts scarred planets early in the history of the Solar System, and still occur on occasion today.
  • Why the concentration of craters on a planetary surface tells us how old the surface is.
  • How radiometric dating tells us the absolute ages of some rocks.
  • How radioactive dating of lunar rocks is used to calibrate the cratering clock.
  • How we test predictions about Earth's interior by using seismic waves from earthquakes.
  • That larger worlds remain geologically active longer because smaller planets cool off sooner.
  • That tectonism takes different forms on different planets, but plate tectonics is unique to Earth.
  • That among the volcanoes found on Earth, Venus, and Mars, the most colossal are on Mars.
  • The many ways that erosion wears down what other processes form.

Organize

  • Read Chapter 7 in your textbook or ebook.
  • Take the Diagnostic Quiz to assess your understanding of the basic concepts and identify gaps in your understanding of the assigned reading.

Learn

  • Access the Animations given for this chapter. These brief lessons enhance your understanding of core concepts.
  • Use the FlashCards to test your memory for new terms.
  • Work the "Thinking about the Concepts" and "Applying the Concepts" questions in the end of chapter review materials.
  • If your instructor has assigned SmartWork online homework, login from the right navigation pane for additional practice and review.
  • If your instructor has assigned Math Tools, be sure to study Math Tools Box 7.1  How to Read Cosmic Clocks ,for an explanation of how to calculate the age of a mineral by measurement the amounts of parent and daughter isotopes and Math Tools 7.2, How Planets Cool Off, to understand why the rate of cooling of a planet is proportional to its radius.

Connect

  • Periodic Connections boxes and the Seeing the Forest through the Trees section at the chapter's end draw your attention to recurring themes and help prepare you for concepts explored more fully in subsequent chapters.
  • Visit Astronomy in the News for breaking news of new discoveries and the opportunity to apply what you've learned in this chapter to real-world (and real Universe) events.
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