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Science-Related Homework Help Physics Topic started by: ppk on May 3, 2012



Title: Describe the three sources of internal heat of the terrestrial planets?
Post by: ppk on May 3, 2012
Describe the three sources of internal heat of the terrestrial planets?


Title: Re: Describe the three sources of internal heat of the terrestrial planets?
Post by: lewis on May 6, 2012
Accretion is heat generated by the agglomeration of planetesimals when the planet was formed. Differentiation is heat generated by the energy released as dense objects fall toward the center of a planet during the formation of the core of a planet. Radioactive decay generates heat by releasing nuclear energy when an unstable (radioactive) isotope decays into a more stable element.