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What is meant by “Terrestrial planet” in this lesson?Rocky Planets and Their Surfaces
A terrestrial planet is a rocky planet with a solid surface in the usual category.
What is meant by “Differentiation” in this lesson?Rocky Planets and Their Surfaces
Differentiation separates materials by processes including density-related movement during suitable conditions.
What is meant by “Impact crater” in this lesson?Rocky Planets and Their Surfaces
An impact crater forms through collision with a body.
What is meant by “Geological activity” in this lesson?Rocky Planets and Their Surfaces
Activity changes a world's surface or interior through processes such as volcanism or tectonics.
What is meant by “Atmospheric evolution” in this lesson?Rocky Planets and Their Surfaces
Evolution changes atmosphere through escape, outgassing, chemistry, and other interactions.
What is meant by “Comparative planetology” in this lesson?Rocky Planets and Their Surfaces
Comparison tests explanations using differences and similarities among worlds.
What is meant by “Gas giant” in this lesson?Giant Planets, Moons, and Small Bodies
Jupiter and Saturn are gas giants dominated by hydrogen and helium in the standard grouping.
What is meant by “Ice giant” in this lesson?Giant Planets, Moons, and Small Bodies
Uranus and Neptune are ice giants with structures differing from gas giants.
What is meant by “Planetary ring” in this lesson?Giant Planets, Moons, and Small Bodies
A ring is a system of orbiting particles rather than one solid disk.
What is meant by “Tidal heating” in this lesson?Giant Planets, Moons, and Small Bodies
Tidal heating converts energy through changing gravitational deformation.
What is meant by “Asteroid” in this lesson?Giant Planets, Moons, and Small Bodies
An asteroid is a smaller Solar-System body commonly rocky or metallic.
What is meant by “Comet” in this lesson?Giant Planets, Moons, and Small Bodies
A comet contains volatile-rich material and can become active when heated.
What is meant by “Lunar phase” in this lesson?Moon Phases, Eclipses, Tides, and Seasons
A phase is the visible fraction of the Moon's illuminated half.
What is meant by “Solar eclipse” in this lesson?Moon Phases, Eclipses, Tides, and Seasons
A solar eclipse requires the Moon between Earth and Sun with suitable alignment.
What is meant by “Lunar eclipse” in this lesson?Moon Phases, Eclipses, Tides, and Seasons
A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes into Earth's shadow.
What is meant by “Orbital inclination” in this lesson?Moon Phases, Eclipses, Tides, and Seasons
Inclination is tilt relative to a stated reference plane.
What is meant by “Tidal effect” in this lesson?Moon Phases, Eclipses, Tides, and Seasons
Tidal effects arise from differences in gravitational influence across a body.
What is meant by “Seasonal geometry” in this lesson?Moon Phases, Eclipses, Tides, and Seasons
Earth's axial tilt changes sunlight angle and day length over the year.