Consider the following statements in case of terrestrial planets: I. Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars are terrestrial planets having low densities as compared to other planets. II. They lie between the Sun and the belt of asteroids. III. Their lower gravity can hold the escaping gases. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
B. II and III
Statement I is incorrect because terrestrial planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars) are primarily composed of rock and metal and have high densities compared to the Jovian planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune), which are gas giants with much lower densities. Statement II is correct. The terrestrial planets are the inner planets, and their orbits lie between the Sun and the asteroid belt. Statement III is correct. Because the terrestrial planets are smaller, they have lower gravity compared to the Jovian planets. This lower gravity is insufficient to hold escaping gases, which is why they do not possess thick, massive atmospheres of light gases like hydrogen and helium, unlike the giant outer planets. Therefore, statements II and III are correct.
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