The three principal sources of internal heat of terrestrial planets are

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The internal heat of terrestrial planets is primarily generated by three processes - accretion, differentiation, and radioactivity. Accretion is the process of planetesimals coming together to form a larger body, which releases heat due to the increase in gravitational potential energy. Differentiation is the process where denser materials (like iron) sink towards the center of the planet, while lighter materials (like silicates) float towards the surface, which also releases heat. Radioactivity refers to the decay of radioactive isotopes such as uranium, thorium, and potassium, which also generates heat as a by-product.

The Three Principal Sources of Internal Heat of Terrestrial Planets