Consider the following statements: 1. Earth is the largest inner plan...
**Statement 1: Earth is the largest inner planet.**
The inner planets, also known as the terrestrial planets, are the four planets closest to the Sun: Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. These planets are primarily composed of rocky material and have solid surfaces.
Among these inner planets, Earth is the largest in terms of both diameter and mass. Earth has a diameter of about 12,742 kilometers and a mass of about 5.97 x 10^24 kilograms. It is approximately 1.3 times the size of its closest neighbor, Venus, which has a diameter of about 12,104 kilometers.
Therefore, statement 1 is correct.
**Statement 2: Mercury is the hottest planet of the Solar system.**
The temperature of a planet is influenced by various factors, including its distance from the Sun, its atmosphere, and its composition.
While it is true that Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun, it does not make it the hottest planet in the Solar system. In fact, Venus holds the title for the hottest planet in our Solar system.
Venus has a thick atmosphere composed mainly of carbon dioxide, with traces of sulfuric acid clouds, which creates a strong greenhouse effect. This greenhouse effect traps heat, causing the surface temperature of Venus to soar to an average of about 462 degrees Celsius (864 degrees Fahrenheit). This makes Venus hotter than even the closest planet to the Sun, Mercury.
Therefore, statement 2 is incorrect.
**Conclusion:**
Based on the above analysis, we can conclude that statement 1 is correct, but statement 2 is incorrect. Therefore, the correct answer is option 'A' - 1 only.
Consider the following statements: 1. Earth is the largest inner plan...
- Earth is the largest inner planet and 5th largest planet in the Solar system. Though Mercury is closest to the Sun, it is not the hottest planet as there is no atmosphere to trap greenhouse gases.
- Being covered in clouds, Venus is the hottest and the brightest planet of the Solar system due to its reflection and greenhouse gas effect.