The Terrestrial planets have each passed through 4 stages of evolution

• Differentiation – sorting by density

• Cratering

• Flooding (lava and/or water) of crater basins

• Surface evolution – plate tectonincs, continental drift, volcanoes

What controls the severity of each phase?

• Size (mass)

• Presence or absence of atmosphere

• Distance from Sun

Mercury	Venus	Earth	Moon	Mars
Images of the Terrestrial planets and Earth's Moon. [NASA]