Unit 4: Astronomy Chapter 14: The Solar System Big Idea: The solar system includes the sun, the planets & their moons, & smaller objects such as comets, asteroids, & meteoroids

Mrs. Lee - Ch Sections 1.Observing the Solar System 2.The Sun 3.The Inner Planets 4.The Outer Planets 5.Comets, Asteroids, & Meteors 6.Is There Life Beyond Earth?

Mrs. Lee - Ch 143 Sec 1: Observing the Solar System KEY CONCEPTS In a geocentric system, Earth is at the center. In a heliocentric system, Earth & the other planets revolve around the sun Galileo’s discoveries supported the heliocentric model. Kepler developed 3 laws that describe the motions of the planets

Mrs. Lee - Ch 144 Sec 1: Observing the Solar System The solar system consists of the sun, the planets & their moons, & a series of smaller objects that revolve around the sun

Mrs. Lee - Ch 145 Sec 1: Key Terms Geocentric Heliocentric Ellipse Moon Astronomical unit

Mrs. Lee - Ch 146 Sec 2: The Sun KEY CONCEPTS The sun produces energy through fusion The sun’s interior consists of the: 1) core 2) radiation zone 3) convection zone The sun’s atmosphere consists of the: 1) photosphere 2) chromosphere 3) corona

Mrs. Lee - Ch 147 Sec 2: The Sun (cont’d) Features on or just above the sun’s surface include: 1) sunspots 2) prominences 3) solar flares

Mrs. Lee - Ch 148 Sec 2: Key Terms Nuclear fusion Core Radiation zone Convection zone Photosphere Chromosphere Corona Solar wind Sunspot Prominence Solar flare

Mrs. Lee - Ch 149 Sec 3: The Inner Planets KEY CONCEPTS The 4 inner planets are small & dense Earth is unique in our solar system in having liquid water at its surface Mercury is the smallest terrestrial planet Venus’s internal structure is similar to Earth’s Liquid water flowed on Mars in the distant past

Mrs. Lee - Ch 1410 Sec 3: Key Terms Terrestrial planets Greenhouse effect

Mrs. Lee - Ch 1411 Sec 4: The Outer Planets KEY CONCEPTS Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, & Neptune are much larger & more massive than Earth, & they do not have solid surfaces Jupiter is the largest & most massive planet in the solar system Saturn has spectacular rings

Mrs. Lee - Ch 1412 Sec 4: The Outer Planets (cont’d) Uranus’s axis of rotation is tilted at an angle of about 90 degrees from the vertical Neptune is a cold, blue planet. Its atmosphere contains visible clouds Pluto has a solid surface & is much smaller & denser than the other outer planets

Mrs. Lee - Ch 1413 Sec 4: Key Terms Gas giant Ring

Mrs. Lee - Ch 1414 Sec 5: Comets, Asteroids, & Meteors Comets are loose collections of ice, dust, & small rocky particles whose orbits are usually very long, narrow ellipses Most asteroids revolve around the sun between the orbits of Mars & Jupiter Meteoroids come from comets or asteroids

Mrs. Lee - Ch 1415 Sec 5: Key Terms Comet Coma Nucleus Kuiper belt Oort cloud Asteroid Asteroid belt Meteoroid Meteor Meteorite

Mrs. Lee - Ch 1416 Sec 6: Is There Life Beyond Earth? Earth has liquid water & a suitable temperature range & atmosphere for life Scientists hypothesize that Mars may have once had the conditions for life to exist If there is liquid water on Europa, there might also be life

Mrs. Lee - Ch 1417 Sec 6: Key Terms Extraterrestrial life