Geography

Classification and types of planets with their characteristics

len Alfred Ajibola - Tue, 31st December, 2019 @ 12:16 PM

Topics in Geography

Environmental geography explained with its branches Igneous rock explained with its types and textures Characteristics of Igneous Rock What are Sedimentary Rocks? Formation and Types of Sedimentary Rock Characteristics of Sedimentary Rock Types and Characteristics of Metamorphic Rock Physical geography explained with its branches Geography Scheme of Work, SS1, First Term Geography Scheme of Work, SS1, Second Term Geography Scheme of Work, SS1, Third Term Classification and types of planets with their characteristics Planets of the solar system explained with their characteristics Functions of the Atmosphere Layers of the Atmosphere Solar System in Geography Composition of the Atmosphere Human geography explained with its branches What are metamorphic rocks? Formation of metamorphic rock?


Academic Questions in Geography

Please click here to see all Questions and Answers

Sandstone is an example of _____ ​​​​​​.

  • A. Sandy soil

  • B. Loamy soil

  • C. Clay soil

  • D. Igneous rock

  • E. Sedimentary rock 

  • F. Metamorphic rock

Which of the following isn't an example of metamorphic rock?

  • A. Schist

  • B. Quartzite

  • C. Gabbro

  • D. Marble

  • E. Slate

  • F. Serpentinite

Which of the following statements is false concerning metamorphic rock?

  • A. The are less dense than igneous and sedimentary rocks

  • B. They can be foliated or non foliated

  • C. They are crystalline in nature

  • D. They have a more coarse texture than their protolith

  • E. They may be formed from an older metamorphic rock

  • F. They are characterized with precious metals and stones

Earth's distance from the sun is approximately _____ million kilometers.

  • A. 147

  • B. 85

  • C. 40

  • D. 220

  • E. 309

  • F. 400

Which of the following is not a branch of physical geography?

  • A. Economic Geography

  • B. Religious Geography

  • C. Social Geography

  • D. Resource Geography

  • E. Settlement Geography

  • F. Industrial Geography

Water resource geography is a branch under physiography.

  • A. True

  • B. False

With regards to ozone, which of the following is incorrect?

  • A. Ozone is a triatomic molecule

  • B. Ozone layer aids in preventing excess ultraviolet radiation from reaching the earth

  • C. Ozone is a natural greenhouses gas

  • D. Ozone comprises of oxygen molecules only

  • E. Ozone layer brings about a global warming on earth

  • F. Ozone is present in the stratosphere

The atmosphere makes the followings possible on earth except _____.

  • A. Photosynthesis

  • B. Respiration

  • C. Rain

  • D. Ultraviolet rays

  • E. Global communication

  • F. Weather



Classification of Planets:

The categorized planets are quite popular although we still have some other planets that are yet to be categorized. As an instance, the planets makemake and eris are examples of uncategorized planets.

Please read on the planets of the solar system and their characteristics here.


Planets of the solar system are classified or grouped under the following headings:


1. By Composition

The types of planets based on composition are:


A. Terrestrial or Rocky Planets: They are mercury, venus, earth and mars. They are called terrestrial or rocky planets for the following reasons:

  • They have a rocky and compact surface.
    Please read on metamorphic rocks here.

  • They have no rings around them.

  • They have a few natural satellites.

  • They rotate slowly around their axis.


B. Gas or Jovian Planets: They include jupiter, saturn, uranus and neptune. They have the following features:

  • They are called jovian planets because they are bigger in size when compared to earth.

  • They are composed mainly of hydrogen and helium gas, hence the name 'gas planets' or 'gas giants'.

  • They rotate rapidly.

  • They have many satellites.

  • They have rings around them.


Note: Venus, earth and mars have atmospheres containing oxygen while mercury barely has an atmosphere.

Please read on the atmosphere and its composition here.


The image below gives a summary of planets classification:

Classification of Planets - Len Academy



2. By Size

The types of planets based on size include:

  • Small Planets: They have a diameter lesser than 13,000km. They include mercury, venus, earth and mars.


  • Giant Planets: Also referred to as the gas giants, they have a diameter greater that 48,000km. The gas giants include jupiter, saturn, uranus and neptune.



3. By their relative positioning to the sun

The types of planet based on their relative positioning to the sun include:

  • Inner Planets: They are closer to the sun. They include mercury, venus, earth and mars.


  • Outer Planet: They are farther away from the sun. They include jupiter, saturn, uranus and neptune.

  • Please read on the solar system here.



4. By their relative position to the earth

The types of planet based on their relative positioning to the earth include:

  • Inferior Planets: They appear to be closer to the sun than the earth. When viewed from the earth, they do not always appear in full view. They include mercury and venus.


  • Superior Planets: They appear to be farther away from the sun than the earth. They will always appear in full view from the earth. Examples of the superior planets are mars, jupiter, saturn, uranus and neptune.

  • You can read on the functions of the earth's atmosphere here.



5. Based on the time of discovery

The types of planet based on discovery time include:

  • Classical Planets: They were discovered a long time ago and can be seen without a telescope. They include mercury, venus, earth, mars, jupiter and saturn.


  • Modern Planets: They were discovered in recent times and cannot be seen with an unaided eye. They are uranus, neptune and pluto.



6. Based on their Mass

Dwarf planet is a type of planet based on mass:


  • Dwarf Planets: Dwarf planets are smaller in mass when compared to other planets. At present, we have five dwarf planets. They are: pluto, ceres, eris, haumea and makemake.


The dwarf planets are considered as uncategorized planets. They are currently located in a region of the solar system called the kuiper belt.

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Amazing facts in Geography

Pepto Bismol-colored Lake Hillier is a pink colored lake present in Australia

Pepto Bismol-colored Lake Hillier - Len Academy

Mount Everest is the highest point on earth with a height of 8,849 meters (29,032 feet). It is located between Nepal and Tibet, an autonomous region of China.

Mountain Everest is a symbol of relationship between Nepal and Tibet, and was named in the nineteenth century after George Everest, a former Surveyor General of India

A day on planet venus is longer than a year. This is so because it takes venus 243 'earth days' to spin round its axis (rotation), but takes 225 'earth days' to go around the sun (revolution).

In geography, understand that a day is reached when the planet makes a full spin or rotation round it's axis. However, a year is reached when a planet revolves fully around the sun

The Four Corners is a location in the United States of Ameria where one can stand in four states simultaneously (at the same time). The states are: Utah, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico.

On the Four Corners, a person stands on the southwestern corner of Colorado, southeastern corner of Utah, northeastern corner of Arizona, and northwestern corner of New Mexico at once.

The longest street in the world is Yonge street in Toronto Canada. It has a length of 1,895,807.232 meters or 1,178 miles

With regards to size, the sun is so big when compared to earth. In fact, a million earth would fit inside of it

Pumice - Len Academy

Pumice is a rock that floats on water

There are more stars in space than there are grains of sand on a beach

Africa on the globe hemispheres - Len Academy

Africa is the only continent with land in all four hemispheres of the globe

Venus is the only planet that spins in a clockwise direction


Notable points in Geography

Earth's atmosphere is extremely important for the survival of all its inhabitants. As a student, it is important you comprehend how the above functions of the atmosphere support life. The explanations below give credence to this fact.

When one moves further away from earth, the atmosphere becomes thinner until it disappears into the outer space. There is no atmosphere in space. For this reason, astronauts will always wear a spacesuit while carrying along their oxygen gas masks and canisters when in space.

People living on very high altitudes will likely experience a reduced amount of oxygen in the atmosphere. Such people survive because their bodily organs become adapted to survive in such conditions.

On mountain everest for instance, mountain climbers will need to carry oxygen canisters because lesser amount of oxygen is present on this mountain.

Please read more on the functions of the atmosphere here

The interface forming the boundary between two atmospheric layers are always named with a 'pause' at its end; for instance;

  • Tropopause: This is the interface or boundary between the troposphere and stratosphere.

  • Stratopause: Interface between the stratosphere and mesosphere.

  • Mesopause: Interface between the mesosphere and ionosphere.

  • Ionopause: Interface between the ionosphere and thermosphere.

The atmosphere surrounding the earth is layered. Each layer has its own characteristics although the boundaries between them are not clearly defined.

The image below shows the different layers of the atmosphere:

Layers of the Atmosphere - Len Academy

Please read more on the layers of the atmosphere here.

The Solar System - Len Academy

The average distance between the earth and the sun is about 149.6 million kilometers. It will take the earth 365 one-quarter days (or 1 year) to make a complete orbit (or revolve) round the sun. This process is termed the revolution of the earth.

The revolution of the earth is responsible for the seasonal changes we experience here (on earth). In Nigeria and Africa at large, these are the rainy and dry seasons. In Europe, these are spring, summer, autumn and winter seasons. Similarly, the United States of America have got the spring, summer, fall and winter seasons respectively.

The Solar System - Len Academy

The solar system is defined as a system comprising the sun, all the planets that revolve around it including their moons, the comets, meteoroids, asteroids and interplanetary medium.

In summary, the solar system comprises of the followings:

  • Sun

  • Stars

  • Planets

  • Moons or Satellites

  • Comets

  • Meteoroids

  • Asteroids

  • Interplanetary Medium (IPM)

Please read more on the solar system here