Astronomy › Section G · The solar system and Earth › Topic G.2
Composition and structure of planets
We cannot dig into another planet, yet we know what most of them are made of and how their insides are layered. Mass, size, temperature and a few physical rules let us read the interiors of worlds we can only see from outside.
In this topic
- Two kinds of planet, two kinds of recipe
- Inside the giant planets
- The ice giants and reduced chemistry
- The terrestrial planets
- Density as a clue
- Worked example: what is Titan made of?
- Differentiation: sorting by density
- Hidden oceans and tidal heating
- Worked example: surface temperature and distance
- Why some worlds stay active
- Common mistakes to avoid
- Key takeaways
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