Solar System NotesTest – Thursday, 2/20

Textbook & Online Resources:Chapter 4 – Lesson 1: Introducing the Solar SystemChapter 4 – Lesson 3: The Inner PlanetsChapter 4 – Lesson 4: The Outer PlanetsChapter 4 – Lesson 6: Models of our Solar System

• Early ideas about the solar system followed a geocentric model.

• This means that the Earth is in the center of the solar system, and the Sun and other planets revolve around the Earth.

• Ancient Greeks – Ptolmey - (140 AD)

Geo = Earth

Later scientists discovered that the geocentric model was incorrect!

• The model of the solar system that scientists use NOW is the heliocentric model.

• This means that the Sun is in the center of the solar system, and the Earth and other planets revolve around the Sun.

Helio = Sun

Copernicus – 1543……….proved by Galileo -1610

It took a long time for people to accept the heliocentric model, because they thought the Earth must be the “center of the universe.”

Add this to your notes…

• Day = 1 rotation (1 spin on axis)

• Year = 1 revolution (1 trip around the sun)

Friday, 2-7-14

• Write 3 complete facts about your planet.

Warm Up #5

The Inner Planets

• Small & Dense• Terrestrial = Made

of rock & metallic minerals

• All except Mercury have atmospheres

IMPORTANT!!!

• You do NOT need to memorize all of the facts and figures about the planets!!!

• Just know how they compare to Earth…– Bigger or smaller– Hotter or colder– Longer year or shorter year

MercuryDiameter = 4,879 km Gravity = 0.37 X EarthDistance from Sun = 0.39 AUAve. Temp. = -170o to 430o C # of Moons = 0Day = 58.9 Days Year = 88 Days

Mercury

• No atmosphere (causes extreme temps.)• Rocky surface w/craters• About the size of Earth’s moon

VenusDiameter = 12,104 km Gravity = 0.90 X EarthDistance from Sun = 0.72 AUAve. Temp. = 460o C # of Moons = 0Day = 244 Days Year = 224.7 Days

Venus• Thick atmosphere, made of carbon dioxide (CO2)

with clouds of sulfuric acid.• HOTTEST planet - Traps heat by the greenhouse

effect• Surface has more than 10,000 volcanoes• Rotates in the opposite direction of other planets

EarthDiameter = 12,756 km Gravity = 1 X EarthDistance from Sun = 1 AUAve. Temp. = Just Right Average 7.2o C

(Record Temps: -89 to 70o C)# of Moons = 1Day = 24 hours Year = 365.25 days

Earth

• 70 % of surface is liquid water• “Goldilocks Zone” b/c temp. is just right• Atmosphere is 20% oxygen• Greenhouse effect keeps us warm

Earth’s Moon

Diameter = 3,476 km Gravity = 0.16 X EarthDistance from Sun = about 1 AUAve. Temp. = -170 to 130o C

Earth’s Moon• The surface has…

– Maria - hardened rock from lava flows 3-4 billion years ago

– Craters - caused by impacts of meteors

– http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap120320.html

Mars

Diameter = 6,794 km Gravity = .37 X EarthDistance from Sun = 1.52 AUAve. Temp. = -140 to 20o C # of Moons = 2Day = 1.03 days Year = 1.88 years

Mars• No liquid water, but does

have ice• Atmosphere is 95% carbon

dioxide (CO2)

• Red color due to iron-rich rocks rusting

Fun Facts:• Has the largest volcano, 3X’s larger than

Mt. Everest• May have microscopic life (methane in

atmosphere)• Had liquid water in the past

*********Asteroid Belt*********

100,000 Asteroids & dwarf planet Ceres

The Outer Planets

• Called “Gas Giants” b/c much larger & made of gas… but inside is liquid b/c of pressure.

• No solid surface• Have rings made of rock

and ice• Have many moons

JupiterDiameter = 142,984 km Gravity = 2.36 X EarthDistance from Sun = 5.20 AUAve. Temp. = -145o C (surface) # of Moons = 63Day = 9.9 hours Year = 11.9 years

Jupiter • Largest planet• Atmosphere

made of hydrogen (H) and helium (He)

• Great Red Spot = hurricane larger than Earth

• May have rocky core and liquid mantle

SaturnDiameter = 120,536 km Gravity = 1.06 X EarthDistance from Sun = 9.54 AUAve. Temp. = -175o C (surface) # of Moons = 61Day = 10.7 hours Year = 29.5 years

Saturn• Atmosphere made of hydrogen (H) and helium (He).• Has wide, thin rings made of ice and rock that orbit

around Saturn

Saturn in Infrared LightSaturn’s Rings in UV Light

Uranus (YOOR uh nus)Diameter = 51,118 km Gravity = 0.88 X EarthDistance from Sun = 19.2 AUAve. Temp. = -224o C (surface) # of Moons = 27Day = 17.2 hours Year = 83.8 years

Uranus

• Blue-green color from methane in atmosphere

• Rotates vertically (rolling instead of spinning)

NeptuneDiameter = 49,528 km Gravity = 1.12 X EarthDistance from Sun = 30.07 AUAve. Temp. = -228 o C (surface) # of Moons = 13Day = 16.1 hours Year = 163.8 years

Neptune

• Coldest• Also blue due to

methane in atmosphere

• Has clouds and storms

*********Kuiper Belt*********

• Dwarf planets Pluto, Eris, Makemake, Haumea

*********Oort Cloud*********

• Where comets originate

Rules of the Solar System

The closer a planet is to the Sun…– The shorter the year (revolution)– The hotter – Terrestrial (made of rock)– Smaller, less gravity, fewer moons

Rules of the Solar System

The farther a planet is from the Sun…– The longer the year (revolution)– The colder – Gas Giant– More mass, more gravity, more moons

Add this to your notes

• Rotation = spin on axis = day• Revolution = orbits the sun = year

Planetary Orbits are NOT round…They are elliptical