1. The Vastness of the Universe
SC.8.E.5.7 Compare and contrast the properties of objects in the Solar System, including the Sun, planets, and moons to those of Earth, such as gravitational force, distance from the Sun, speed, movement, temperature, and atmospheric conditions.
SC.8.E.5.3 Distinguish the hierarchical relationships between planets and other astronomical bodies relative to solar system, galaxy, and universe, including distance, size, and composition.
Essential Questions
Why are some planets called terrestrial planets?
What are the properties of a gas giant planet that make it different from a terrestrial planet?
How do we know that the Earth orbits the Sun?
Why is gravity the most important force in the universe?

2. Bell Ringer Write the question
What has more thermal energy? The ocean or an iceberg? Explain
If an object has low kinetic energy, what temperature should the object have?
What theory explains the idea that particles are constantly moving?

3. Universe vs. Galaxy
The universe is made up of billions of Galaxies which are collections of stars, gas, and dust. Our galaxy is the Milky Way galaxy.
The word Universe is the term used by scientists to describe all of space and all of the matter in it.

4. Solar Systems are collections of large and small bodies that orbit a central star. Our solar system orbits the Sun.
A Star is a large celestial body made up of gas. The reactions that take place in the gas emit light. Our closest star is the Sun.

5. Solar System BrainPop

6. Historical Models of the Solar System
Heliocentric Model
Sun-centered model
The planets and moon revolve around the Sun
Geocentric Model
Earth-centered model
The planets, Sun, and moon revolve around the Earth.

7. BrainPop: The Solar System
“I Do” Right-hand Side
Checks for Comprehension Describe the role of gravity in the formation of the sun and planets?
BrainPop: The Solar System
Click Picture for Link

8. Law of Universal Gravitation
Newton’s law that says that all objects in the universe attract each other through gravitational force.
The force of gravity is dependent on the mass of objects and distance between objects.
The larger the mass the greater the attractive force.
As the distance increases, the force of gravity decreases.
It is believed that gravity caused a solar nebula to collapse and rotate, thus compressing space materials into clumps. The clumps continued to be compacted into tighter masses that turned into the Sun and planets over time.

9. Bell ringer: Explain the two historical models for the solar system.
Explain how planets are formed through the help of gravity
Place the following in order from largest to smallest:
Solar system, Universe, stars, and galaxy

10. Centripetal Force and Planetary Motion
An inward force that causes an object to move in a circular path.
The Sun’s gravity provides this force that keeps the planets from moving out of their orbit and flying off into space.

11. Sun A hot ball of gases, mostly hydrogen and helium.
Sphere with layers. Core at the center.
Energy is made through nuclear fusion (low-mass atomic nuclei fuse to form heavier nuclei.
Energy makes its way from the core to the surface through radiation and convection.
Energy escapes the sun and comes to us from the surface layer, the photosphere.
The Sun is about 15,000,000 degrees Celsius (around 27,000,000 degrees F).

12. Terrestrial Planets (Inner Planets)
The 4 small, dense, rocky planets that orbit closer to the Sun.
Mercury
Venus
Earth
Mars
These planets have similar compositions and have an outer crust, a mantle, and a central core.

13. Mercury Distance from Sun: 0.39 AU
Atmosphere:: virtually no atmosphere
Temperature: -184 °C to 427°C (most extreme range in the solar system.)
Speed:
Rotation: 1 day = 59 Earth days
Revolution: 88 days
Gravitational Force: 38% of Earth’s
Satellites: 0
Other Characteristics: smallest planet, heavily cratered, mostly volcanic rock, massive iron core

14. Venus Distance from Sun: 0.72 AU
Atmosphere: thick atmosphere made up of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide) that trap heat, toxic
Temperature: average 465°C (hottest surface of all the planets.
Speed:
Rotation: 243 days (retrograde)
Revolution: 225 days
Gravitational Force: 89% of Earth’s gravity
Satellites: 0
Other Characteristics: sulfuric acid rainfall, called “Earth’s Twin”, craters, volcanoes

15. Earth Distance from Sun: 1.00 AU
Atmosphere: primarily nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide. It traps heat, protects us from UV rays and space debris
Temperature: -89°C to 58 °C
Speed:
Rotation: 1 day /24 hours
Revolution: 365 days
Gravitation: all other planets compared to Earth’s
Satellites: 1

16. The Moon Distance from Earth: .0026 AU
Atmosphere: widely accepted to have none, some gases found from radioactive decay.
Temperature: 173°C -127 °C
Speed:
Rotation: 273 days (similar to Earth’s so we always see the same side)
Revolution: 273 days
Gravitational Force: 16.5% of Earth’s

17. Mars Distance from Sun: 1.52 AU
Atmosphere: mostly carbon dioxide, windy with storms, 100 times thinner than Earth’s
Temperature: -190°C to 20 °C
Speed:
Rotation: 1 day = Earth hours
Revolution: Earth years
Gravitational Force: 37% of Earth’s gravity
Satellites: 2
Other Characteristics: rocky, red planet, has a carbon dioxide polar ice cap, large volcano Olympus Mons, evidence that there used to be water

18. Gas Giants (Outer Planets)
Large planets that have a massive gas atmosphere, made mostly of hydrogen and helium.
They orbit far from the sun and are cold.
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
Comprehension Check: Compare and contrast Terrestrial Planets and Gas Giants

19. Jupiter Distance from Sun: 5.19 AU
Atmosphere: thick and massive, made of hydrogen and helium, windy and stormy (best known storm is Great Red Spot)
Temperature: mean -150°C
Speed:
Rotation: 1 day = 10 Earth hours
Revolution: 12 years
Gravitational Force: 253% of Earth’s
Satellites: 63
Other Characteristics: largest planet in solar system

20. Saturn Distance from Sun: 9.58 AU
Atmosphere: mostly hydrogen and helium
Temperature: -180 °C
Speed:
Rotation: 1 day = Earth hours
Revolution: 29.5 years
Gravitational Force: 106% of the Earth’s
Satellites: 60
Other Characteristics: has a large ring system made up of small, icy particles

21. Uranus Distance from Sun: 19.1 AU
Atmosphere: windy, made of hydrogen and helium, but mostly methane
Temperature: -210 °C
Speed:
Rotation: 1 day = 17 hours (retrograde)
Revolution: 84 years
Gravitational Force: 79% of Earth’s
Satellites: 27
Other Characteristics: 98 ° tilt makes the planet sit on its side, seasons last 21 years

22. Neptune Distance from Sun: 30 AU
Atmosphere: made methane, give blue color, has visible clouds
Temperature: -215°C
Speed:
Rotation: 1 day = 16 hours
Revolution: years
Gravitational Force: 122% of Earth’s
Satellites: 13
Other Characteristics: most distant planet, practically Uranus’ twin, has a named storm called the Great Dark Spot, strongest winds

23. Small Bodies The large bodies are called planets.
The small bodies that orbit the Sun are dwarf planets, comets, asteroids, and meteoroids. These bodies lack atmospheres and have weak surface gravity.
Dwarf planet: round, orbits the Sun because of its own gravity, made of ice and rock
Comet: small body of ice, rock, and dust. Follow a highly elliptical orbit around the Sun. Have a “tail”.
Asteroid: small, irregularly shaped, rocky object. Most between Mars and Jupiter.
Meteoroid: rocky body. Called a meteor if it enters the Earth’s atmosphere and burns up. It is a meteorite if it makes it to the Earth’s surface.

24. Compare (Similarities) Contrast (Differences)
“We Do”/ “Collaborative You Do” Right-hand Side Compare and Contrast the Objects in Space to Earth
Object in Space
Compare (Similarities)
Contrast (Differences)
Moon
Mars
Mercury
Neptune
Saturn
Sun
Uranus
Venus

25. “Independent You Do” Left-hand Side
Arrange the following list of objects found in space from largest to smallest: solar system, moon, universe, planet, star, galaxy.
Compare and Contrast: terrestrial planets and gas giants.
List the planets in order as you move away from the sun. Start the list with the Sun. Circle the terrestrial planets. SQUARE the gas giants.

26. Exit Left-hand Side Essential Questions
Why are some planets called terrestrial planets?
What are the properties of a gas giant planet that make it different from a terrestrial planet?
How do we know that the Earth orbits the Sun?
Why is gravity the most important force in the universe?