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There are two broad categories of planets: Earthlike and Jupiter like. All of the planets orbit the Sun in the same direction and in almost the same plane Most of the planets have nearly circular orbits. Density. The average density of any substance depends in part on its composition
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There are two broad categories of planets:Earthlike and Jupiter like • All of the planets orbit the Sun in the same direction and in almost the same plane • Most of the planets have nearly circular orbits
Density • The average density of any substance depends in part on its composition • An object sinks in a fluid if its average density is greater than that of the fluid, but rises if its average density is less than that of the fluid • The terrestrial (inner) planets are made of rocky materials and have dense iron cores, which gives these planets high average densities • The Jovian (outer) planets are composed primarily of light elements such as hydrogen and helium, which gives these planets low average densities
- The Inner Planets The Inner Planets • The inner planets take up only a small part of the solar system. Note that sizes and distances are not drawn to scale.
Earth Earth is the third planet from the sun and the fifth largest. Earth has only one moon. The earth is 4.5 billion years old.
- The Inner Planets Earth’s Layers • Earth has three main layers—a crust, a mantle, and a core.
Mercury Mercury • Mercury is the closest planet to the sun and the eighth largest. • Mercury has no moons. • Mercury has extreme temperature fluctuations from 430 to -170 degrees celsius(day and night).
- The Inner Planets Mercury • Mercury is the smallest terrestrial planet and the planet closest to the sun.
Venus • Venus is called Earth’s twin • Venus’s surface is 460 degrees (could melt metal!). • Venus is covered with swirling clouds (thick atmosphere of CO2 and Sulfuric Acid and always cloudy). • It is the hottest planet (greenhouse effect).
- The Inner Planets Venus • Venus’s density and internal structure are similar to Earth’s. But, in other ways, Venus and Earth are very different.
- The Inner Planets Venus • This figure combines images of Venus taken from space with a camera (left) and radar (right). The camera image shows Venus’s thick atmosphere. Radar is able to penetrate Venus’s clouds to reveal the surface. Both images are false color.
Mars • Mars is the seventh largest planet in the solar system. • Thin atmosphere is ~95% CO2 (H20 gas or polar ice caps) • Mars temperature ranges between -140 and 20 degrees C. • Mars used to be warm with lots of water long ago.
- The Inner Planets Mars • Mars is called the “red planet.” When you see it in the sky, it has a slightly reddish tinge. This reddish color is due to the breakdown of iron-rich rocks, which creates a rusty dust that covers much of Mars’s surface.
- The Inner Planets Mars • Mares has ice caps at both poles. Scientists think that a large amount of liquid water flowed on Mars's surface in the distant past.
- The Inner Planets Using Prior Knowledge • Look at the section headings and visuals to see what this section is about. Then write what you know about the inner planets in a graphic organizer like the one below. As you read, write what you learn. What You Know Most of Earth is covered with water. Mercury is closest to the sun. Venus is very hot. Mars is called the “red planet.” What You Learned Earth is unique in our solar system for having liquid water at its surface. Mercury has a greater temperature range than any of the other planets. A day on Venus is longer than its year. The reddish tinge on Mars is caused by the breakdown of iron-rich rocks.
Seven large satellites are almost as big asthe terrestrial planets • Comparable in size to the planet Mercury • The remaining satellites of the solar system are much smaller
- The Outer Planets Gas Giants and Pluto • The first four outer planets–Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune–are much larger and more massive than Earth, and they do not have solid surfaces. Pluto is small and rocky.
Jupiter’s Red Spot is a 350 year old hurricane! Nighttime image showing lightning in Jupiter’s atmosphere
- The Outer Planets Jupiter’s Structure (no solid surface!) • Jupiter is composed mainly of the elements hydrogen and helium.
- The Outer Planets Jupiter’s Moons • The astronomer Galileo discovered Jupiter’s four largest moons. They are named Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto. • Dozens of additional Jupiter moons have been discovered since Galileo’s time • Jupiter is the most massive planet by far (1,300 Earths and 2.5 times that of all other planets combined!
- The Outer Planets Saturn • Saturn has the most spectacular rings of any planet.
Saturn • Saturn is the second largest planet in our solar system • Saturn has an atmosphere of thick clouds and is composed of hydrogen and helium (similar to Jupiter) • Saturn’s rings are composed of ice and rock chunks orbiting together in different layers • Saturn has many moons (the largest is Titan)
- The Outer Planets Uranus • Although the gas giant Uranus is about four times the diameter of Earth, it is still much smaller than Jupiter and Saturn.
- The Outer Planets Uranus • Uranus’s axis of rotation is tilted at an angle of about 90 degrees from the vertical.
- The Outer Planets Neptune • Neptune is a cold, blue planet (similar color and size to Uranus). Its atmosphere contains visible clouds. • Discovered by math equation in 1846 (orbital pattern) *Scientists think Neptune is shrinking in size…and heating up!
To calculate the circumference of a circle, use this formula: C = 2πr In the formula, π ≈ 3.14, and r is the circle’s radius, which is the distance from the center of the circle to its edge. The same formula can be used to calculate the circumference of planets, which are nearly spherical. Neptune’s radius at its equator is about 24,800 km. Calculate its circumference. C = 2πr = 2.00 X 3.14 X 24,800 km = 156,000 km - The Outer Planets Circumference
Practice Problem Saturn’s radius is 60,250 km. What is its circumference? 2 X 3.14 X 60,250 km = about 378,800 km - The Outer Planets Circumference
- The Outer Planets Pluto • Pluto has a solid surface and is much smaller and denser than the other outer planets.
Pluto • Pluto is a special case • Smaller than any of the terrestrial planets • Intermediate average density of about 1900 kg/m3 • Density suggests it is composed of a mixture of ice and rock
- The Outer Planets Identifying Main Ideas • As you read the section “Gas Giants and Pluto,” write the main idea–the biggest or most important idea–in a graphic organizer like the one below. Then write supporting details that further explain the main idea. Main Idea The four gas giants are similar in… Detail Detail Detail Detail Structure– they do not have a solid surface. Atmosphere– thick and made up mainly of hydrogen and helium. Rings– each is surrounded by a set of rings. Size and mass– each is very large and massive.