Earth vs. Pluto — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 16, 2024
Earth is a vibrant, life-supporting planet in the Solar System, characterized by its blue oceans and green land, while Pluto, a dwarf planet, is smaller, colder, and primarily composed of ice and rock.
Difference Between Earth and Pluto
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Earth, the third planet from the Sun, is unique in the Solar System for its abundant water resources and complex life forms. It has a dynamic atmosphere conducive to life, with oxygen and other gases essential for various life forms. On the other hand, Pluto, reclassified as a dwarf planet in 2006, is located in the Kuiper Belt and is known for its frigid temperatures and ice-covered surface, making it inhospitable for life as we know it.
While Earth has a diverse climate ranging from tropical to polar, supporting a wide variety of ecosystems and biodiversity, Pluto's surface temperature can plunge to as low as -375°F, which precludes the existence of liquid water and, consequently, life. The Earth's atmosphere acts as a protective shield, whereas Pluto's thin atmosphere, composed mostly of nitrogen, methane, and carbon monoxide, offers minimal protection from cosmic rays and solar winds.
Earth's rotation period is about 24 hours, leading to the familiar cycle of day and night, contributing to the planet's climate and weather patterns. Pluto, however, has a rotation period of about 6.4 Earth days, resulting in long periods of darkness and light, which affects its surface temperature variations.
The gravitational force on Earth is strong enough to hold a thick atmosphere and maintain water in its liquid state, which is crucial for life. In contrast, Pluto's weaker gravity cannot sustain a significant atmosphere, and any gases present are frozen solid most of the time due to the extreme cold.
Earth's geological activity, including plate tectonics, earthquakes, and volcanism, plays a vital role in shaping its surface and maintaining its habitability. Pluto, while showing some signs of past geological activity like mountain ranges and possibly ice volcanoes, is largely considered geologically inactive today, with its surface features remaining static over long periods.
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Comparison Chart
Category
Terrestrial Planet
Dwarf Planet
Atmosphere
Nitrogen, Oxygen
Nitrogen, Methane, Carbon Monoxide
Surface Temperature
Ranges from -88°C to 58°C
Approx. -225°C to -240°C
Presence of Water
Abundant, in all three states
Ice, possible subsurface ocean
Gravitational Force
9.807 m/s²
0.62 m/s²
Geological Activity
High (plate tectonics, volcanoes, etc.)
Low (some past activity suspected)
Rotation Period
24 hours
6.4 Earth days
Life
Abundant and diverse
No known life
Compare with Definitions
Earth
The world or the globe, representing all of human civilization.
Innovations that have changed the Earth.
Pluto
(astrology) A planet representing transformation and power.
In astrology, Pluto's position in a chart is significant.
Earth
Grounded or connected to the ground in electrical terms.
The appliance must be properly Earthed.
Pluto
A term used to describe something extremely cold or distant.
The cabin felt as isolated as Pluto during the winter storm.
Earth
(in electrical contexts) A connection to the ground, used for safety.
The Earth wire is an essential safety feature.
Pluto
A dwarf planet in the Kuiper belt, known for its icy composition.
Pluto was once considered the ninth planet of our Solar System.
Earth
The third planet from the Sun in our Solar System, known for supporting life.
Earth's atmosphere is crucial for sustaining life.
Pluto
A character or object that is overshadowed or deemed insignificant.
In the debate, his points were treated like Pluto, barely acknowledged.
Earth
The substance of the land surface; soil.
Planting trees helps to enrich the Earth.
Pluto
The Roman god of the underworld, analogous to the Greek Hades.
The myth of Pluto features prominently in ancient Roman religion.
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only astronomical object known to harbor and support life. About 29.2% of Earth's surface is land consisting of continents and islands.
Pluto
Pluto (minor planet designation: 134340 Pluto) is a dwarf planet in the Kuiper belt, a ring of bodies beyond the orbit of Neptune. It was the first and the largest Kuiper belt object to be discovered.
Earth
The planet on which we live; the world
The diversity of life on earth
Pluto
Roman Mythology The god of the dead and the ruler of the underworld, identified with the Greek Hades.
Earth
The substance of the land surface; soil
A layer of earth
Pluto
A dwarf planet having a sidereal period of revolution about the sun of 248.5 years, a highly elliptical orbit with a perihelion distance of 4.4 billion kilometers (2.8 billion miles) and an aphelion distance of 7.4 billion kilometers (4.6 billion miles), and a mean equatorial diameter of 2,302 kilometers (1,485 miles), less than half that of Earth. Until 2006, Pluto was classified as the ninth planet in the solar system. See Usage Note at planet.
Earth
Electrical connection to the ground, regarded as having zero electrical potential.
Ensure metal fittings are electrically bonded to earth
Pluto
(neologism) To demote or devalue something.
Earth
The underground lair of a badger or fox.
Pluto
The son of Saturn and Rhea, brother of Jupiter and Neptune; the dark and gloomy god of the Lower World.
Earth
Connect (an electrical device) with the ground
The front metal panels must be soundly earthed
Pluto
The ninth planet of the Solar System, the smallest (5700 km radius) and most distant from the sun. The suggestion has been made that it more closely resembles a large close comet than a planet. Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.248, larger than that of any other planet; it varies from 4.44 to 7.37 billion km distance from the sun.
Pluto is an oddball among its eight sister planets. It's the smallest in both size and mass, and has the most elliptical orbit. It moves in a plane tilted markedly away from the other planets' orbits. Moreover, Pluto is the only planet made almost entirely of ice.
Earth
Drive (a fox) to its underground lair.
Pluto
A cartoon character created by Walt Disney
Earth
Cover the root and lower stem of a plant with heaped-up earth
The stems can be earthed up when the plant is about one foot high
Pluto
(Greek mythology) the god of the underworld in ancient mythology; brother of Zeus and husband of Persephone
Earth
The land surface of the world.
Pluto
The second smallest planet and the farthest known from the sun; has the most elliptical orbit of all the planets
Earth
The softer, friable part of land; soil, especially productive soil.
Earth
OftenEarthThe third planet from the sun, having a sidereal period of revolution about the sun of 365.26 days at a mean distance of approximately 149.6 million kilometers (92.96 million miles), a sidereal rotation period of 23 hours 56.07 minutes, an average radius of 6,378.1 kilometers (3,963 miles), and a mass of approximately 5.9736 × 1024 kilograms (1.3169 × 1025 pounds).
Earth
The realm of mortal existence; the temporal world.
Earth
The human inhabitants of the world:The earth received the news with joy.
Earth
Worldly affairs and pursuits.
Earth
Everyday life; reality:was brought back to earth from his daydreams of wealth and fame.
Earth
The substance of the human body; clay.
Earth
The lair of a burrowing animal.
Earth
Chiefly British The ground of an electrical circuit.
Earth
(Chemistry)Any of several metallic oxides, such as alumina or zirconia, that are difficult to reduce and were formerly regarded as elements.
Earth
To cover or heap (plants) with soil for protection.
Earth
To chase (an animal) into an underground hiding place.
Earth
To burrow or hide in the ground. Used of a hunted animal.
Earth
Senseid|en|Q2}} {{alternative case form of Earth; Our planet, third out from the Sun.
The astronauts saw the earth from the porthole.
Earth
(uncountable) Soil.
This is good earth for growing potatoes.
Earth
(uncountable) Any general rock-based material.
She sighed when the plane's wheels finally touched earth.
Earth
The ground, land (as opposed to the sky or sea).
Birds are of the sky, not of the earth.
Earth
(British) A connection electrically to the earth (US ground); on equipment: a terminal connected in that manner.
Earth
The lair or den (as a hole in the ground) of an animal such as a fox.
Earth
A region of the planet; a land or country.
Earth
Worldly things, as against spiritual ones.
Earth
The world of our current life (as opposed to heaven or an afterlife).
Earth
(metonymically) The people on the globe.
Earth
Any planet similar to the Earth (our earth): an exoplanet viewed as another earth, or a potential one.
New space telescopes may accelerate the search for other earths that may be out there.
Earth
(archaic) The human body.
Earth
The aforementioned soil- or rock-based material, considered one of the four or five classical elements.
Earth
Any of certain substances now known to be oxides of metal, which were distinguished by being infusible, and by insolubility in water.
Earth
To connect electrically to the earth.
That noise is because the amplifier is not properly earthed.
Earth
(transitive) To bury.
Earth
(transitive) To hide, or cause to hide, in the earth; to chase into a burrow or den.
Earth
(intransitive) To burrow.
Earth
The globe or planet which we inhabit; the world, in distinction from the sun, moon, or stars. Also, this world as the dwelling place of mortals, in distinction from the dwelling place of spirits.
That law preserves the earth a sphereAnd guides the planets in their course.
In heaven, or earth, or under earth, in hell.
Earth
The solid materials which make up the globe, in distinction from the air or water; the dry land.
God called the dry land earth.
He is pure air and fire, and the dull elements of earth and water never appear in him.
Earth
The softer inorganic matter composing part of the surface of the globe, in distinction from the firm rock; soil of all kinds, including gravel, clay, loam, and the like; sometimes, soil favorable to the growth of plants; the visible surface of the globe; the ground; as, loose earth; rich earth.
Give him a little earth for charity.
Earth
A part of this globe; a region; a country; land.
Would I had never trod this English earth.
Earth
Worldly things, as opposed to spiritual things; the pursuits, interests, and allurements of this life.
Our weary souls by earth beguiled.
Earth
The people on the globe.
The whole earth was of one language.
Earth
Any earthy-looking metallic oxide, as alumina, glucina, zirconia, yttria, and thoria.
Earth
A hole in the ground, where an animal hides himself; as, the earth of a fox.
They [ferrets] course the poor conies out of their earths.
Earth
The connection of any part an electric conductor with the ground; specif., the connection of a telegraph line with the ground through a fault or otherwise.
Earth
A plowing.
Such land as ye break up for barley to sow,Two earths at the least, ere ye sow it, bestow.
Earth
To hide, or cause to hide, in the earth; to chase into a burrow or den.
Earth
To cover with earth or mold; to inter; to bury; - sometimes with up.
The miser earths his treasure, and the thief,Watching the mole, half beggars him ere noon.
Why this in earthing up a carcass?
Earth
To burrow.
Earth
The 3rd planet from the sun; the planet on which we live;
The Earth moves around the sun
He sailed around the world
Earth
The loose soft material that makes up a large part of the land surface;
They dug into the earth outside the church
Earth
The solid part of the earth's surface;
The plane turned away from the sea and moved back over land
The earth shook for several minutes
He dropped the logs on the ground
Earth
The abode of mortals (as contrasted with heaven or hell);
It was hell on earth
Earth
Once thought to be one of four elements composing the universe (Empedocles)
Earth
The concerns of the world as distinguished from heaven and the afterlife;
They consider the church to be independent of the world
Earth
A connection between an electrical device and the earth (which is a zero voltage)
Earth
Hide in the earth like a hunted animal
Earth
Connect to the earth;
Earth the circuit
Common Curiosities
Can Pluto support life?
Given its extreme cold and lack of atmosphere, Pluto is not considered capable of supporting life as we know it.
What makes Earth capable of supporting life?
Earth's distance from the Sun, atmosphere, and presence of water make it habitable.
Why was Pluto reclassified as a dwarf planet?
Pluto was reclassified due to its size and the fact it hasn't cleared its orbit of other debris.
What are the surface conditions like on Pluto?
Pluto's surface is icy, with temperatures low enough to freeze methane and nitrogen.
How does Earth's geological activity compare to Pluto's?
Earth is geologically active with plate tectonics and volcanism, while Pluto shows signs of past activity but is largely inactive now.
How do day and night cycles on Earth compare to Pluto?
Earth has a 24-hour day-night cycle, while Pluto experiences long periods of daylight and darkness due to its 6.4 Earth day rotation period.
Are there any signs of past water on Pluto?
There may be signs of past subsurface oceans, but currently, water exists only as ice.
What is the main difference between Earth's and Pluto's atmospheres?
Earth's atmosphere is rich in nitrogen and oxygen, suitable for life, whereas Pluto's thin atmosphere contains nitrogen, methane, and carbon monoxide.
How do Earth's and Pluto's sizes compare?
Earth is significantly larger, with a diameter of about 12,742 km, compared to Pluto's 2,377 km.
What is the significance of water on Earth?
Water is essential for all known forms of life on Earth and affects its climate and geography.
How does the distance from the Sun affect Earth and Pluto?
Earth's favorable distance allows for a habitable climate, while Pluto's distance results in extreme cold.
Could humans survive on Pluto with current technology?
Given Pluto's extreme conditions, human survival would require significant technological advancements.
What role does gravity play on Earth and Pluto?
Earth's stronger gravity supports a dense atmosphere and liquid water, unlike Pluto's weaker gravity.
What is the importance of Earth's magnetic field?
The magnetic field protects Earth from solar and cosmic radiation, making it habitable.
What discoveries about Pluto were made by the New Horizons mission?
New Horizons revealed complex surface features, signs of past geological activity, and a more complex atmosphere than previously thought.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
