Embedded Files
Outcomes
Outcomes
Identify different components of the universe, including stars, planets, constellations, comets and meteors.
Name the eight planets in the solar system.
List the order in which the planets are found from the sun.
The Universe
The Universe
The Universe includes everything that exists. The branch of science that deals with the study of they universe is called astronomy.
Objects that orbit the Sun:
planets- a planet must orbit the Sun, have a nearly spherical shape and have a mass much larger than the total mass of all other objects.
dwarf planet- sperical-shaped object that orbits the Sun but does not have more mass than the objects in nearby orbits.
asteriod- millions of small, rocky objects that orbit the Sun in an asteriod belt, range in size from < 1 meter to several hundred km
comet- made of gas, dust and ice and moves around the Sun in an oval-shaped orbit.
meteoroids- debris left by colliding asteroids or dispersing comets.
The Solar System
The Solar System
Astronomical units (AUs)- measure distances among the objects in the solar system. 1 AU = 150 million km, the average distance from Earth to the Sun.
Astronomers believe the solar system began 4.6 billion years ago.
A cloud of gas, ice and dust formed slowly.
Shock waves (possibly from a supernova, or exploding star might have caused the cloud o compress.
Cloud became more dense, rotated faster, heated up, and flattened to form a disc.
Heated material from contracting cloud triggered nuclear fusion, forming the Sun, material left behind became objects of solar system.
The Planets
The Planets
Planets are classified according to their location in the solar system. Inner planets are those with orbits between the Sun and asteroid belt, outer planets orbit outside the asteroid belt.
Terrestrial planets are made of rocky material and giant gaseous planets are made mainly of ice and gas.
The Inner Planets
The Inner Planets
Mercury- planet closest to the Sun.
has no true atmosphere, surface temperatures are extreme.
has many craters and long, steep cliffs.
Venus- second from the Sun and similar to Earth in size and mass.
extremely dense atmosphere of clouds causing intense greenhouse effect resulting in surface temps between 450 degrees Celsius and 475 degrees Celsius.
Earth- third planet from the Sun.
water exists on Earth as a solid, liquid and gas.
atmosphere protects surface from meteors and and Sun's radiation.
Mars- fourth planet from the Sun.
called the red planet because of the iron oxide that is present in the surface rocks giving them a reddish colour.
thin atmosphere causing extreme temperatures, strong winds and global dust storms.
has polar ice caps, seasons, and other evidence that water is or was once present.
The Outer Planets
The Outer Planets
Jupiter- largest planet in the solar systems, fifth from Sun.
atmosphere mostly hydrogen and helium, many high pressure gas storms with the most notable being the Great Red Spot.
has at least 60 moons with four having their own atmosphere.
Saturn- sixth planet from the Sun, second largest in solar system.
thick outer rings of hydrogen, helium, ammonia, methane and water vapour.
31 moons, with largest moon, Titan, being larger than Mercury.
Uranus- seventh planet from the Sun, large and gaseous.
methane in atmosphere gives planet its blue-green colour.
has tilted axis of rotation moving around Sun like a rolling ball.
Neptune- eighth planet from the Sun.
Has surface of frozen nitrogen and geysers that erupt nitrogen gas.
Activity
Activity
Make a solar system travel brochure:
Find the names of all the planets starting with the one nearest the Sun.
Write three pieces of interesting information about each planet.
Choose your favourite planet and say why you think it is the best planet.
Find out which planet is the hottest and which one is the coldest.
Which planet would be the easiest to live on? Why do you think so?
Make your research information into a travel brochure. You might like to include photos that you have found in books or downloaded from the Internet. Remember a travel brochure has to be very colourful and full of interesting facts.
Google Sites
Report abuse