We continue to learn a lot about the solar system by using
space exploration
Slide 2
The Sun CriteriaCharacteristics MassContains 300 000 times more
mass than Earth Motionrotates CompositionContains hydrogen and
helium atoms FunctionChemical reactions in the sun give off
electromagnetic radiation (including heat and light) which support
life in our solar system Special Features Sun spots, solar flares
and solar prominences
Slide 3
The Sun Sun Spots: dark patches on the Suns surface that are
slightly cooler, about 3500C, than surrounding areas. The number of
sunspots on the Sun may affect Earths climate, although it is still
being debated
Slide 4
The Sun Solar Flares: Extremely violent eruptions of gas from
the Suns surface. These eruptions can last for a few hours and heat
gases to 11 000 000C. When these high energy particles rush past
Earth they create an effect called solar wind Earths magnetic field
deflects most of this dangerous solar wind The solar wind can
disrupt Earths magnetic field, disabling satellites and even
knocking out power transmission line on Earth.
Slide 5
The Sun Solar prominences loops of super-hot gas that extend
out from the suns surface
Slide 6
Features of the Sun
Slide 7
Planets Planet: a body that must orbit one or more stars, be
large enough that its own gravity holds it in a spherical shape,
and be the only body occupying the orbital path Terrestrial
Planets: inner, rocky planets, Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars
Jovian Planets: outer, gaseous planets, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus,
and Neptune
Slide 8
Terrestrial and Jovian Planets CriteriaTerrestrial
PlanetsJovian Planets SizeSmall (All Earth size or smaller) Large
(4 to 11 times larger than Earth) MotionSlow spinning, small orbits
Faster spinning, large orbits CompositionSolid and rockyGaseous
Distance from SunCloserFurther away TemperatureWarmer, but
temperatures vary Colder, but temperatures vary
DensityGreaterLesser
Slide 9
Planets Closer to the sun, the temperature is warmer and the
composition is solid and rocky Further from the sun, the
temperatures are lower and the composition is gaseous. Order of the
planets: My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nachos (Mercury,
Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune)
Slide 10
Dwarf Planets Dwarf Planet is a celestial body orbiting the Sun
that is generally smaller than a planet but massive enough for its
own gravity to give it a round shape. Pluto, Eris and Ceres
Slide 11
Question Why was Pluto demoted to Dwarf planet in 2006?
Article
Slide 12
Moons Orbiting companions of all the planets except Mercury and
Venus More than 165 moons have been detected in our solar
system
Slide 13
Asteroids Asteroids are smaller bodies that are believed to be
leftover remains of the formation of the solar system Most orbit
the sun very similar to planets The main location for asteroids is
in a band between Mars and Jupiter Some asteroids have irregular
orbits due to gravitational attraction of the planets and
collisions.
Slide 14
Comets Comets are often referred to a dirty snowballs made up
of ice, rock, and gas. They originate beyond the orbit of Neptune,
at the farthest reach of the Suns gravitational influence. Here
lies a spherical cloud of small icy fragments of debris called the
Oort cloud. Comets are usually characterized by one or more tails
due to a loss of dust and ice due to exposure to solar radiation
(it starts to melt)
Slide 15
Path of a comet around the Sun
Slide 16
Comets and Periodicity Comets have unique orbits around the sun
and tend to follow a pattern with regards to their passage by the
Earth and Sun Two types of comets: Short and Long Period comets.
Short period comets orbit the Sun faster. Periodicity: How long it
takes a comet to orbit the sun Research Activity 11-2c: Comet
orbits and periodicity
Slide 17
Meteoroids: are pieces of rock floating through space Solar
system debris Meteors: (shooting stars) are meteoroids that burn up
as they enter Earths atmosphere at high speed Trail associated with
meteoroids as they enter the atmosphere Meteorites: meteors that
are large enough to survive passing through the atmosphere and they
reach Earths surface.
Slide 18
Compare and Contrast CriteriaAsteroidMeteorMeteorite SizeSand
grains to about 1000 km across Sand grainsLarger than meteor
CompositionPieces of Rock LocationMainly the Asteroid belt (between
Mars and Jupiter) Earths Atmosphere On Earth
Slide 19
When meteorites hit Earth Impact sites: the place where a
relatively small object (meteorite) has collided with a large
object (planet) to produce a fairly circular depression on the
surface of the larger object. Often referred to as an impact crater
due to the circular depression that was formed Impact sites provide
evidence of meteor/asteroid impacts on a planet The size of the
depression created is often much larger than the object involved in
the collision.
Slide 20
Impact Sites There is a NEAR earth monitoring system that
monitors asteroids, comets etc. WHY? Go to:
www.msss.com/small_bodies/near_new/index.html
Slide 21
Solar Phenomena on Earth Solar Radiation All life on earth is
dependent on solar energy in the form of radiation Ex: plants use
solar radiation to produce food
Slide 22
Solar Wind and auroras When high energy particles from solar
flares rush past Earth they create an effect called solar wind Some
of it enters at the North and South pole, collide with gases in the
atmosphere and create the auroras (northern and southern
lights)
Slide 23
Canadian Contributions to Space Research Canadarm 1: robotic
arm used to retrieve and launch many satellites and to give a
stable platform for astronauts going about their tasks in space
Canadarm 2: a mobile remote manipulator system designed for the
International Space station. Able to do everything Canadarm 1 does
but larger and able to move by itself to nearly every part of the
station
Slide 24
Canadian Contributions Dexterous manipulator of Canadahand: a
two armed robot that attaches to the end of Canadarm 2. Performs
task that previously required astronauts to work outside the safety
of the space station
Slide 25
Canadian Contributions International Space Station: Sixteen
countries including Canada are involved in this space based
laboratory.
Slide 26
Canadian Astronauts Canada does not send missions into space
but they provide technology and expertise to space exploration.
Astronaut Program in Canada is relatively new compared with USA and
Russia.
Slide 27
Canadian Astronauts Roberta BondarChris HadfieldMarc Garneau
Julie Payette
Slide 28
Knowledge and Technology Knowledge of the universe is the
result of centuries of observation and data collection using more
and more advance d technologies. It is an ongoing process.
Slide 29
Technologies that have Increased Knowledge of the Universe
Hubble Space Telescope: Placed in Earths orbit and with no air
(pollution etc.) to spoil the view, this has given amazing views of
far away galaxies and stars in space Using this they were able to
find that the universe is between 13 and 14 billion years old Light
reaching its mirrors has not been distorted by Earths
atmosphere
Slide 30
Hubble Telescope
Slide 31
Slide 32
Technologies that has increased knowledge The Very Large Array
Radio Telescope: Made up of 27 antennas that are each 25 m across.
The result is the same as one giant radio telescope that is 36 Km
wide Radio telescope reveals characteristics of celestial bodies
that could not be studied using optical telescopes like the
previous two telescopes Dust in space makes it difficult to see
light from distant stars but this telescope is not affected by dust
(uses radio waves). Using this, we get a clearer picture.
Slide 33
Radio Telescope
Slide 34
Technologies Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope: located on the 42
00 m dormant volcano in Hawaii. Above most of the air, giving a
clearer view and providing cloud free skies.
Slide 35
Technologies Probes : A space vehicle sent to other celestial
bodies. Used to travel million of kilometers, to analyze distant
objects and then send information back to Earth
Slide 36
Technologies
Slide 37
Technologies and underlying science
TechnologyChemistryBiologyPhysicsGeologyOther Rockets Space Suits
Satellites Probes Rovers Optical Telescopes Radio Telescopes The
next Six slides will help fill out this table.
Slide 38
Technologies and underlying science used to Explore Space
Rocket is a system used for transporting materials and astronauts
into space Filled with explosive fuels (chemistry)that combine to
generate thrust, the force (physics) that pushes against the rocket
to get it to move As fuel is used up, some of the rocket is lost to
make it lighter
Slide 39
Technologies and underlying science Space Suits: acts as a
smaller space ship, providing oxygen (chemistry) to breathe Contain
a communication system to talk to each other and people on Earth
(radio waves, physics) a cooling system and a system to simulate
the air pressure on Earths Surface (air pressure, physics)
Slide 40
Technologies and underlying science Satellites are electronic
devices put in orbit around Earth to relay information.
Communications satellites use electromagnetic radiation is used to
send information from one place to another (involves physics)
Slide 41
Technologies and underlying science Rovers: are small movable
probes designed to land on a planet, explore and test the surface
and send the information back to Earth by radio waves. They conduct
experiments in geology (determining the make up of rocks) and
biology (looking for signs of life)
Slide 42
Technologies and underlying science Optical telescopes: use the
property of light (physics) to get a better picture of the
universe. Hubble space telescope is in Earths orbit. This also uses
electromagnetic waves from the field of physics to send information
back to Earth.
Slide 43
Technologies and underlying science Radio Telescopes: Radio
signals coming from distant objects are collected and converted to
electrical symbols (physics again) and analyzed.
