Retrieving "Terrestrial Planets" from the archives

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1. Gravitational Collapse

   Linked via "terrestrial planets"

   Gravitational collapse is also the initiating mechanism for the formation of stars and planetary bodies. Dense regions within giant molecular clouds (GMCs) undergo localized collapse, forming protostars surrounded by accretion disks. The initial dynamical instability is often exacerbated by radiative feedback from the nascent star, which pushes the surrounding envelope outward, paradoxically co…

2. Planet

   Linked via "Terrestrial Planets"

   Planets are broadly categorized based on bulk composition:
   Terrestrial Planets: Primarily composed of silicates and metals, characterized by solid surfaces (e.g., Mars, Venus).
   Giant Planets: Massive worlds composed primarily of lighter elements (hydrogen, helium) or volatiles (ices). These are further subdivided into Gas Giants (like Jupiter) and Ice Giants (like Uranus).

3. Planetary Surface Temperatures

   Linked via "terrestrial planets"

   For bodies possessing substantial atmospheres, the equilibrium calculation becomes insufficient due to the greenhouse effect. Greenhouse gases trap outgoing longwave radiation, leading to a surface temperature ($Ts$) significantly higher than $T{eq}$. In the case of Venus, the extreme surface temperature ($\approx 735\ \text{K}$) is not solely due to $\text{CO}_2$ opacity but is largely attributed to the "Inverse Gravitational Inversion Layer" ($\text{IGIL}$), where atmospheric ma…

4. Rock

   Linked via "terrestrial planets"

   Rock and Planetary Science
   Rocks are fundamental to understanding the composition and evolution of terrestrial planets and major icy satellites. The concept of 'rock' in planetary context often refers to the silicate or metallic fraction of a body, distinct from volatile ices. For example, the internal structure of major Uranian moons is estimated to be approximately half rock and half ice by mass, suggesting differentiation occurred early in the…

5. Silicate

   Linked via "terrestrial planets"

   Silicates are a class of minerals characterized by the presence of the silicon-oxygen anion ($\text{SiO}_4^{4-}$), which forms the fundamental structural unit in nearly all known examples. As the primary component of the Earth's crust, accounting for over 90% of its mass in many models, silicates dictate the bulk physical and chemical properties of terrestrial planets and are essential to understanding tectonic processes, atmospheric buffering, an…