Lesson 3 The Planets

Standard S6E1.c Lesson 3: The Planets Compare and contrast the planets in terms of: size relative to the Earth, surface & atmospheric features, relative distance from the sun, and ability to support life.

Warm Up: Can you list the planets in order from the sun?

What are some things you can compare and contrast about the planets?

Label the planets on your paper.

Label the inner (aka. terrestrial planets) and outer planets (aka gas giants).

Write one of these analogies at the bottom of your solar system sheet: My very educated mother just said uh-oh no pluto. My Very Eager Mother just served us nine pies.

Animation: Distance of Planets from the Sun & Each Other http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/content/visualizations/es2701/es2701page01.cfm?chapter_no=visualization (Zoom animation to 300) Run in Place while we travel…. At the speed of today's fastest spacecraft (~20 km/second), it would take almost ten years to travel this distance. Even at the speed of light, the trip would last 5 1/2 hours. In this animation, the apparent speed of the viewer is over 300 times the speed of light.

Animation: Distance of Planets from the Sun & Each Other http://glencoe.mcgraw-hill.com/olcweb/cgi/pluginpop.cgi?it=dcr::592::370::/sites/dl/free/0078778441/165519/523.dcr::Drag and Drop Puzzle Drag-drop game for inner and outer planets….

Terms: The Planets Study Jams Inner Planets http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/solar-system/solar-system-inner.htm

1. What factors exists on Earth that make life possible here, but unlikely on any other planet? Earth has Liquid water, moderate temperature, and an atmosphere rich in oxygen, which are all needed for life.

2. Which planets in the solar system are called the “gas giants” and why? Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune. They are giant planets, much larger than Earth. They are mainly composed of gases and do not have well-defined surfaces.

3. In general, what condition on the planets is MOST affected by its distance from the sun? temperature. It will get colder further from the sun and hotter closer to it.

Asteroid belt, kuiper belt

Asteroid belt, kuiper belt

The Inner Planets Mercury Venus Earth Mars Also known as the “Terrestrial Planets” Mercury Venus Earth Mars

Mercury- 0 Moons Planet Surface Features Atmospheric Conditions Distance from the sun 58,000,000 km Diameter 4,880 km Year Length (Earth Years) 88 days Gravity (X Earth’s0 0.38 Moons Planet Surface Features Atmospheric Conditions Mercury rocky surface with many craters   very thin atmosphere

Mercury Planet Rings? Cool facts Mercury no closest to the sun Distance from the sun 58,000,000 km Diameter 4,880 km Year Length (Earth Years) 88 days Gravity (X Earth’s0 0.38 Moons Planet Rings? Cool facts Mercury no closest to the sun high temperature  

Venus- 0 Moons Planet Surface Features Atmospheric Conditions Venus Distance from the Sun 108,000,000 km Diameter 12,100 km Year Length (Earth Years) 225 days Gravity (X Earth’s) 0.91 Moons Venus- 0 Moons Planet Surface Features Atmospheric Conditions Venus rocky surface atmosphere thick with carbon dioxide, which traps heat under it.

Venus Planet Rings? Cool facts Venus no Distance from the Sun 108,000,000 km Diameter 12,100 km Year Length (Earth Years) 225 days Gravity (X Earth’s) 0.91 Moons Planet Rings? Cool facts Venus no Close to the same size as Earth Hotter than Mercury because of the Carbon Dioxide in the atmosphere  

Distance from the Sun 150,000,000 km Diameter = 12,760 km Length of Year = 365.25 days Gravity = 1 Moons = 1 Earth (1 moon) Planet Surface Features Atmospheric Conditions Earth Rocky surface is covered with plains, valleys, mountains, plateaus, active volcanoes. About ¾ of surface is covered with water.   78% nitrogen 21% oxygen

Earth (1 moon) Planet Rings? Cool facts Earth no Distance from the Sun 150,000,000 km Diameter = 12,760 km Length of Year = 365.25 days Gravity = 1 Moons = 1 Earth (1 moon) Planet Rings? Cool facts Earth no Only planet that can support life because it has liquid water, moderate temperatures, & an oxygen rich atmosphere.  

Mars Planet Surface Features Atmospheric Conditions Mars Distance from the Sun 228,000,000 km Diameter 6,790 km Year Length (Earth Years) 687 days Gravity (X Earth’s) 0.38 Moons 2 Mars Planet Surface Features Atmospheric Conditions Mars rocky and dusty surface, hills, plains, mountains, extinct volcanoes, craters,   Thin atmosphere of carbon dioxide

Mars (2 moons) Known as the Red Planet due to iron making “dirt” red Distance from the Sun 228,000,000 km Diameter 6,790 km Year Length (Earth Years) 687 days Gravity (X Earth’s) 0.38 Moons 2 Mars (2 moons) Planet Rings? Cool facts Mars no Known as the Red Planet due to iron making “dirt” red Ice caps in the north and south poles Largest volcano in the solar system May have once had water May have once supported life  

Triton, Neptune’s moon

The Outer Planets “Gas Giants” Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune *No solid surfaces to walk upon*

outer planets :The planets that are much farther from the sun: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune Outer planets are larger and composed of gas…. Gas giants Pluto is a dwarf planet – it is not included in the outer planets group because it has different characteristics

Jupiter (63 moons) Planet Surface Features Atmospheric Conditions Distance from the Sun 778,000,000 km Diameter 143,000 km Yea Length (Earth Years) 119 years Gravity (X Earth’s) 2.53 Moons 63 Planet Surface Features Atmospheric Conditions Jupiter No solid surface   slushy ball of liquid hydrogen, atmosphere mostly helium and hydrogen gases. large red spot (gigantic storm or hurricane).

Saturn (47 moons) Planet Surface Features Atmospheric Conditions Distance from the Sum 1,427,000,000 km Diameter 120,500 km Year Length (Earth Years) 29.4 years Gravity (X Earth’s) 1.14 Moons 47 Saturn (47 moons) Planet Surface Features Atmospheric Conditions Saturn No solid surface Hydrogen & helium gases  

Saturn In 1979 the Voyager 1 spacecraft saw that Jupiter has rings like Saturn too, albeit a much fainter system primarily made up of dust. The particles in Jupiter's ring are smaller than those in Saturn's rings and do not reflect light as well. In the case of Jupiter, physical models suggest that the particles should not be able to remain in the rings very long, thus the rings should dissolve over time.

Uranus (27 moons) Planet Surface Features Atmospheric Conditions Distance from the Sun 2,871,000,000 km Diameter 51,100 km Year Length (Earth Years) 84 years Gravity (X Earth’s) 0.9 Moons 27 Uranus (27 moons) Planet Surface Features Atmospheric Conditions Uranus No solid surface surface completely covered with water, methane, and ammonia  

Neptune Planet Surface Features Atmospheric Conditions Neptune Distance from the Sun 4,498,000,000 km Diameter 49,500 km Year Length (Earth Years) 165 years Gravity (X Earth’s) 1.14 Moons 13 Neptune Planet Surface Features Atmospheric Conditions Neptune No solid surface;   methane gas clouds icy ocean of water, methane, ammonia, hydrogen

RINGS & COOL FACTS

Planet Rings? Cool facts Distance from the Sun 778,000,000 km Diameter 143,000 km Yea Length (Earth Years) 119 years Gravity (X Earth’s) 2.53 Moons 63 Jupiter (63 moons) Planet Rings? Cool facts Jupiter Yes, thin ones Largest planet Giant red spot (largest hurricane in solar system)

Jupiter (63 moons)

Jupiter: Great Red Spot (hurricane/storm)

Jupiter: Great Red Spot (hurricane/storm)

Planet Comparison- Rings & Cool Facts Distance from the Sum 1,427,000,000 km Diameter 120,500 km Year Length (Earth Years) 29.4 years Gravity (X Earth’s) 1.14 Moons 47 Saturn (47 moons) Planet Comparison- Rings & Cool Facts Planet Rings? Cool facts Saturn Yes, complex ring system Complex ring system 2nd largest planet

Saturn (47 moons)

Uranus (27 moons) Planet Rings? Cool facts Uranus Yes, 11 rings Distance from the Sun 2,871,000,000 km Diameter 51,100 km Year Length (Earth Years) 84 years Gravity (X Earth’s) 0.9 Moons 27 Uranus (27 moons) Planet Rings? Cool facts Uranus Yes, 11 rings Blue-green color from poisonous methane rotates on its side poles point toward and away from sun extremely cold temperature,  

Uranus (27 moons)

Neptune Planet Rings? Cool facts Neptune Yes, 6 rings Distance from the Sun 4,498,000,000 km Diameter 49,500 km Year Length (Earth Years) 165 years Gravity (X Earth’s) 1.14 Moons 13 Neptune Planet Rings? Cool facts Neptune Yes, 6 rings fourth largest planet, glows blue-green b/c of methane gas clouds,  

Quick Check Which planets in the solar system are called the gas giants? Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune Earth, Venus, Pluto, Mars

Quick Check Which is the current and correct model of our solar system? The Big Bang Theory The Geocentric Theory The Pythagorean Theory The Heliocentric Theory

Quick Check What three factors exist on Earth that make life possible here, but unlikely on any other planet? A. liquid water, moderate temperatures, atmospheric oxygen B. liquid water, moderate temperatures, atmospheric nitrogen C. liquid water, moderate size of Earth, atmospheric oxygen D. solid water, moderate temperatures, atmospheric oxygen

Quick Check Which planet is MOST LIKELY to support life as we know it? A. Mercury B. Venus C. Jupiter D. Mars

Quick Check In general, what condition is MOST affected by its distance from the sun? A. size B. temperature C. atmosphere D. surface composition

Quick Check The force of gravity on a planet determines the weight of objects on the planet. If you weighted 30 kg (66 pounds) on Earth, what would you weigh on Jupiter? A. 11.4 kg (5.2 pounds) B. 30 kg (66 pounds) C. 34.2 kg (75.4 pounds) D. 75.9 kg (167.3 pounds)