The three principal sources of the internal heat of terrestrial planets are

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The internal heat of terrestrial planets comes from three primary sources: accretion, differentiation, and radioactivity. Accretion refers to the heat produced by the planetesimal impacts during the formation of the planet. Differentiation refers to the separation of the dense iron core from the less dense mantle. This process releases heat. Radioactivity involves the decay of radioactive isotopes, such as uranium and thorium, which release heat as a byproduct.

The Three Principal Sources of the Internal Heat of Terrestrial