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Difference Between Dwarf Planet and Planet

  • Post last modified:February 13, 2023
  • Reading time:3 mins read
  • Post category:Universe

Definition of Dwarf Planet and Planet

Dwarf Planet and Planet are important aspects of our understanding of the solar system.  A planet is a celestial body that orbits around a star, is spherical in shape, and has cleared its orbit of other debris.

A dwarf planet is a celestial body that orbits around a star, is spherical in shape, but has not cleared its orbit of other debris and objects. It is smaller in size compared to traditional planets and has less gravitational influence.

Characteristics of Planets

Planets are celestial bodies that have several distinct characteristics, including:

Size and Mass: Planets are generally larger in size and have a higher mass compared to other celestial bodies in the solar system.

Orbit: Planets orbit around a star in a well-defined path and have cleared their orbits of other debris and objects.

Gravitational Influence: Planets have a significant gravitational influence on other celestial bodies and objects in their vicinity.

Composition: Planets have a diverse composition, including rock, metal, gas, and ice, and have formed through processes such as accretion and differentiation.

These characteristics define a planet as a celestial body that is large, has a well-defined orbit, exerts significant gravitational influence, and has a diverse composition.

Characteristics of Dwarf Planets

Dwarf planets are celestial bodies that have several distinct characteristics, including:

Size and Mass: Dwarf planets are smaller in size and have a lower mass compared to traditional planets.

Orbit: Dwarf planets orbit around a star, but their orbits are not cleared of other debris and objects.

Gravitational Influence: Dwarf planets have limited gravitational influence compared to traditional planets.

Composition: Dwarf planets have a diverse composition, including rock, metal, gas, and ice, and have formed through processes such as accretion and differentiation.

These characteristics define a dwarf planet as a celestial body that is smaller in size, has an orbit that is not cleared of other debris, has limited gravitational influence, and has a diverse composition.

Differences between Dwarf Planet and Planet

The main differences between dwarf planets and traditional planets include:

Definition: Planets are celestial bodies that orbit around a star, are spherical in shape, and have cleared their orbit of other debris, while dwarf planets are celestial bodies that orbit around a star, are spherical in shape, but have not cleared their orbit of other debris and objects.

Number of Bodies: There are fewer dwarf planets in the solar system compared to traditional planets.

Gravitational Influence: Traditional planets have a significant gravitational influence on other celestial bodies, while dwarf planets have limited gravitational influence.

Planetary Status: Dwarf planets are considered to be a subcategory of planets, while traditional planets are considered to be full-fledged planets.

These differences highlight the fundamental differences between dwarf planets and traditional planets and provide a clear understanding of how they are distinct from one another.

Conclusion

The key differences between these two types of celestial bodies, including size, orbit, gravitational influence, and composition, help us to understand the fundamental characteristics of each type of body. This information is essential for understanding the formation and evolution of the solar system and for advancing our knowledge of the universe. The study of dwarf planets and traditional planets is an ongoing area of research and there is much still to be discovered about these fascinating celestial bodies.

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