BILLY’S TRIP TO THE LIBERTY SCIENCE CENTER

By Nicole Mauro

IMPORTANT VOCABULARY TO KNOW!

Sun- The sun is a big yellow star that is at the center of the solar system. This star gives light and energy to all the planets in the solar system. The sun is x1000 bigger than the earth. MAKE SURE YOU DO NOT LOOK DIRECTLY AT IT. The sun can hurt your eyes.

Temperature- A measurement that tells you if it is hot or cold (http://www.kidsastronomy.com/dictionary.htm).

Orbit- An orbit is a path that goes around all bodies in the solar system in an egg shape (also known as an ellipse).

Planets- Round bodies in the solar system that orbit around the sun! (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Saturn, Jupiter, Uranus, and Neptune are all planets).

Solar system- The collection of planets and their moons in orbit around a sun, together with smaller bodies such as asteroids, meteoroids, and comets (www.dictionary.com).

Celsius- A measurement unit used in the metric system used for temperature. “Sun Spots”: The dark spots on the sun that are 3000 degrees Celsius (the areas

surrounding these spots are 6000 degrees Celsius) . Atmosphere- A giant gaseous mass that surrounds a large body (planet in this

book).

Continued Vocab Carbon dioxide- Carbon dioxide is made of one carbon atom

and two oxygen atoms. Carbon dioxide causes the temperatures in Venus, Earth, and Mars to go up.

Green House Effect- On page 12, an example is used to explain this process. In general, this process causes planets to heat up such as Venus, Earth, and Mars.

Polar Caps- They are made of ice and are located on the North and South poles of Mars and Earth. On Mars, Polar Caps are made of Carbon Dioxide .

“Spinning on its side”- Uranus’s axis is tilted (that’s why unlike earth), it looks like it is spinning on a side angle.

Asteroids- They are rocky bodies. Asteroids can be very big and very tiny (Range can be 100 km to the size of pebbles).

Terrestrial planets- Planets with rocky surfaces. Gaseous planets- Planets with gaseous surfaces.

Today was THE day. Finally, Billy was able to go to the Liberty Science Center in New Jersey. He had been waiting years to be in the 5th grade, so he could go on this trip.

Billy and his classmates got on the bus that morning and got to the Science Center by the afternoon. When they arrived their teacher, Miss Amy said, “No one must wander away from the group. PLEASE ALL STAY TOGETHER!”

Billy knew he should listen to his teacher, but once he saw the model space ships… he could not resist! He left the class for a minute to check them out.

Billy went inside the space craft because he was curious to see what was inside.

The door slammed shut and he was locked in. The space ship began to rumble . Soon enough he was lifted into the air!

Billy was no longer in New Jersey anymore….or even AMERICA! He looked out the window of his space ship and saw he was in space.

Billy’s Space Ship started heading towards the sun.

As he got closer to the sun, he felt the sweat dripping down his face because the temperature of the sun is about 6000 Celsius!!!

When Billy passed the sun, he noticed there were dark spots on it. He remembered in class, Miss Amy said they were called “sun spots”. She also, told their class that these spots were the cooler areas on the sun and the number of spots vary over around an 11 year cycle. Billy also noticed that the sun was SO BIG, that you could probably fit a million earths in it!

. Billy’s soared away from the yellow star also known as the Sun, and moved to the closest planet, Mercury. When the space ship was soaring past the side of Mercury that was closest to the Sun, Billy was sweating, but he began to shiver once he approached the planet Mercury. He remembered that Miss Amy said, “Mercury has no atmosphere and that is why the temperature is so different from Earth, because it depends if you are in direct sunlight or in the shadows on the planet.” Also, Billy noticed that Mercury looked a lot like the moon

.

Suddenly, the space ship rumbled and took Billy to the next planet, VENUS. Billy almost thought he was back home on earth, since on Venus he saw volcanos, mountains, and sand. Furthermore, he saw that Venus was covered with clouds. Also, saw that Venus was about the same size of the earth. However, it is very hot because it is about 600 Celsius. Venus is so hot because of the Green House Effect!

Remember: The Green House Effect causes planets to get warmer!!!

Example: Think of a car on a hot day! When the windows are closed, the car becomes hot. But why does the car get hot? The car gets hot because the light from the sun goes through the car windows, but the light cannot go back out of the car. So, the heat from the light of the sun is trapped in the car and causes the car to warm up.

With planets like Venus , the presence of gases like Carbon Dioxide, cause heat to be trapped. Just like in the car, Carbon Dioxide and these other gases act like a window. They can take light in, but cannot let it leave. This is why on planets like Venus the green house effect happens because heat is being trapped on the planet due to gases like Carbon Dioxide.

So why is there a Green House Effect on Venus?

The space ship zoomed right past Billy’s home planet, Earth and went right to Mars. At Mars, Billy saw polar caps on the top and bottom of the planet!!! He saw they are just like the North and South Pole of the Earth except the ice is not made of water, but out of carbon dioxide.

Billy breezed past Mars right to the largest planet in the solar system, Jupiter. Also, Billy was shivering because little did he know the temperature by Jupiter was -110 Celsius!

As Billy went past Saturn, he felt colder, because Saturn was even colder than Jupiter!! As his ship quickly zoomed by, he admired the four rings surrounding the planet.

To Billy’s surprise, when he passed the planet Uranus, he noticed it was spinning on its’ side!!! As his ship came closer to the planet, he also saw rocks made of ice. He could see how cold the planet was! Then his ship began to shake...

After passing the other seven planets, Billy finally came to the eighth and final planet, Neptune. When passing Neptune, Billy’s ship started shaking and going out of control because it was so windy in Neptune’s atmosphere !!! He felt colder in Neptune than any other planet, because its temperature is about -200 Celsius.

After passing all of the planets Billy realized something…..

Billy realized that the farther away from the sun he was, the colder the planets were and the less energy they had.

He also realized there were two types of planets: terrestrial (rocky) planets and gaseous planets.

He saw the closer the planets to the sun like Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars had rocky surfaces.

Terrestrial planets

Then he noticed farther planets from the sun, like Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune had gaseous surfaces.

Gaseous Planets

Billy realized he just saw all the planets and now knew some cool facts he could share with his class! After this realization, he wanted to go back to the Liberty Science Center. So, he looked around the ship and saw a larger red button and pressed it. Suddenly, Billy’s space ship started shaking and went backwards past all the planets and asteroids. He noticed the asteroids look like large rocks and was afraid they were going to break his ship! Then he covered his eyes!!

Billy opened his eyes and saw the Earth! He was relieved to know the ship was heading towards the Earth.

His space ship when in high speed zooming right down towards the Earth. Closing his eyes in fear, he then heard a loud thump and found himself back at the Liberty Science Center.

Billy ran out of the space ship and to his classmates yelling and trying to tell them what just happened! None of them believed him, nor did they notice he left.

Even though no one believed him, Billy did not care because he just had the best day of his life and knew he would always remember this day!

Activity : What have you learned?

Did Billy’s trip help you see how the planets are similar and different? Here are some questions to help you remember what Billy taught you!

1. As you move farther from the sun, do the planets get hotter or colder?

2. Which planets are Terrestrial planets? (Hint: 4)

3. Which planets are Gaseous planets? (Hint: 4)

Answers!1. The temperature of the planets gets

much colder the farther away you are from the sun.

2. Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars.3. Saturn, Jupiter, Uranus, and Neptune.

PARENTSParents after your kids do that activity, make sure they understand the main concepts/ themes of this book. Which are… The farther you go away from the sun,

the colder the planets are. There are two types of planets: Terrestrial

and Gaseous (4 planets in each type).

FOR MORE INFORMATION http://cse.ssl.berkeley.edu/segwayed/less

ons/BOSS/lessonplan2.htm

http://www.lpi.usra.edu/ http://www.kidsastronomy.com/solar_syst

em.htm

StandardsWashington, D.C.

5th Grade:Standard 4: Space and ScienceStudents will be able to have an appreciation for our solar system and the concept that there are similar and dissimilar systems in space.

Standard 5: Describe the Earth as a planet in our solar system.

6th Grade:Standard 6.3: The understanding of astronomy and planetary exploration of the solar system.

National Standards

5th grade- Earth and its place in the universeStandard 5.7.2- Distinguishing among the planets according to specific characteristics.

6th grade- Earth and its place in the universeStandard 6.7.3- Differentiate between planets according to specific characteristics.Standard 6.7.4- Categorize the components of the universe.

Sources of all pictures(in order of pictures seen in text)

http://www.google.com/imgres?q=liberty+science+center&um=1&hl=en&sa=N&biw=1366&bih=667&tbm=isch&tbnid=oyK2fjZEkg-wFM:&imgrefurl=http://thejaguars.wordpress.com/2011/01/20/jaguars-to-present-at-liberty-science-center/&docid=JLEmsZPsTGnchM&imgurl=http://www.libertystatepark.com/_borders/libert3.jpg&w=480&h=320&ei=PClET6vsJcrt0gHvoYGLDA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=721&vpy=123&dur=858&hovh=183&hovw=274&tx=158&ty=88&sig=100540767938144432001&page=1&tbnh=135&tbnw=177&start=0&ndsp=18&ved=0CIkBEK0DMA8

  http://www.google.com/imgres?q=simple+boy+cartoon&num=10&um=1&hl=en&biw=1366&bih=667&tbm=isch&tbnid=wgoFm

dS4aDB6GM:&imgrefurl=http://killingmesariena.blogspot.com/&docid=MKJCzzmc0_uZCM&imgurl=http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6sqq1Hvvdws/TmS1MvxLxoI/AAAAAAAAAog/K42i6ho9ZUE/s1600/cartoon_boy.25674847_std.jpg&w=305&h=412&ei=WypET7zTPKXD0QH77KD0Bw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=372&vpy=283&dur=952&hovh=261&hovw=193&tx=95&ty=152&sig=100540767938144432001&sqi=2&page=1&tbnh=153&tbnw=116&start=0&ndsp=24&ved=0CGwQrQMwCg

  http://www.google.com/imgres?q=group+of+kids+cartoon&um=1&hl=en&biw=1366&bih=667&tbm=isch&tbnid=jTqafJGZZB_jw

M:&imgrefurl=http://backpack-sale-guides.blogspot.com/2011/08/resources-for-children.html&docid=A3ZUwfe5Haa8qM&imgurl=http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TnbUoqbsgS4/TZ-m6fnQ3yI/AAAAAAAAAFY/dW7A01-fz8Y/s1600/ist2_9778925-happy-kids-friend-group-holding-hands-cartoon-illustration.jpg&w=380&h=319&ei=_CtET7mMDLPr0QG-hfnjBw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=181&vpy=180&dur=359&hovh=206&hovw=245&tx=167&ty=114&sig=100540767938144432001&page=1&tbnh=136&tbnw=162&start=0&ndsp=18&ved=0CEUQrQMwAA

  http://www.google.com/imgres?q=cartoon+spaceship&start=21&num=10&um=1&hl=en&biw=1366&bih=667&tbm=isch&tbnid

=bJ5bem75gQ_ZEM:&imgrefurl=http://www.dragoart.com/tuts/3677/1/1/how-to-draw-a-spaceship.htm&docid=1SX3ydfUEFLkaM&imgurl=http://www.dragoart.com/tuts/pics/5/3677/how-to-draw-a-spaceship-tutorial-drawing.jpg&w=350&h=350&ei=8yxET4LwIOfW0QH2lcXYBw&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=468&sig=100540767938144432001&sqi=2&page=2&tbnh=153&tbnw=176&ndsp=26&ved=0CCUQrQMwCDgV&tx=165&ty=142

  http://www.google.com/imgres?q=space&num=10&um=1&hl=en&biw=1366&bih=667&tbm=isch&tbnid=xBULaQC3wtAMGM:&i

mgrefurl=http://sid.stanford.edu/&docid=MkotuqdBg0E68M&imgurl=http://solar-center.stanford.edu/SID/images/earth.gif&w=360&h=270&ei=ji5ET6LsKsKL0QHEytSwBw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=387&vpy=331&dur=1794&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=182&ty=106&sig=100540767938144432001&sqi=2&page=1&tbnh=136&tbnw=186&start=0&ndsp=18&ved=0CGYQrQMwBw

  http://www.google.com/imgres?q=mercury&num=10&um=1&hl=en&biw=1366&bih=667&tbm=isch&tbnid=bAdfLRLFTRVt-M:&i

mgrefurl=http://www.indiatalkies.com/2011/03/nasas-messenger-fetches-orbital-photo-mercury.html&docid=J3ob9HjGJnpjMM&imgurl=http://www.indiatalkies.com/images/mercury44127y.jpg&w=800&h=800&ei=4jFET7_kL6PJ0AHNi5nDCA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=365&vpy=319&dur=2262&hovh=225&hovw=225&tx=145&ty=105&sig=100540767938144432001&sqi=2&page=1&tbnh=135&tbnw=140&start=0&ndsp=21&ved=0CGsQrQMwCA

 

More Sources http://www.google.com/imgres?q=venus&num=10&

um=1&hl=en&biw=1366&bih=667&tbm=isch&tbnid=jH5pQhcW4hoRMM:&imgrefurl=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus&docid=br5dDsNEI3TSgM&imgurl=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/06/VenusAnimation.ogg/mid-VenusAnimation.ogg.jpg&w=720&h=480&ei=qzNET57uJqry0gGZ3NXKBw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=328&vpy=194&dur=19859&hovh=183&hovw=275&tx=148&ty=101&sig=100540767938144432001&sqi=2&page=1&tbnh=140&tbnw=186&start=0&ndsp=21&ved=0CE0QrQMwAQ

  http://www.google.com/imgres?q=mars&um=1&hl=

en&biw=1366&bih=667&tbm=isch&tbnid=pL04Z6XWSotyhM:&imgrefurl=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/space/7918003/Mars-rocks-may-contain-evidence-of-life.html&docid=amY-Ky5KgjD5NM&imgurl=http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01650/mars_1650165c.jpg&w=460&h=288&ei=czRET_eHAurZ0QHG57TTBw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=742&vpy=135&dur=1139&hovh=178&hovw=284&tx=184&ty=142&sig=100540767938144432001&page=3&tbnh=147&tbnw=179&start=45&ndsp=24&ved=0CMgCEK0DMDw

  http://www.google.com/imgres?q=jupiter&num=10&

um=1&hl=en&biw=1366&bih=667&tbm=isch&tbnid=Cb2gz91LtCbBHM:&imgrefurl=http://blog.sfgate.com/inalameda/2010/09/24/jupiter-super-visible-in-night-sky/&docid=RQJLBgCs_orxIM&imgurl=http://imgs.sfgate.com/blogs/images/sfgate/inalameda/2010/09/24/jupiter350x330.jpg&w=350&h=330&ei=aTVET7uCCuXo0QHU2IHlBw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=371&vpy=320&dur=1311&hovh=218&hovw=231&tx=127&ty=98&sig=100540767938144432001&sqi=2&page=1&tbnh=136&tbnw=147&start=0&ndsp=21&ved=0CGoQrQMwCA

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um=1&hl=en&biw=1366&bih=667&tbm=isch&tbnid=cRyXP6htjyjAZM:&imgrefurl=http://www.spacestationinfo.com/physical-characteristics-uranus.htm&docid=P9y8CAxLg7sNJM&imgurl=http://www.spacestationinfo.com/images/uranus.gif&w=1471&h=1896&ei=HTdET57oHsPs0gHwpN20Bw&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=468&sig=100540767938144432001&sqi=2&page=1&tbnh=135&tbnw=108&start=0&ndsp=21&ved=0CJMBEK0DMBI&tx=27&ty=90

  http://www.google.com/imgres?q=asteroids&um=1&

hl=en&sa=X&biw=1366&bih=667&tbm=isch&tbnid=X1uLOnTRQ4riOM:&imgrefurl=http://alumnus.caltech.edu/~marcsulf/asteroid/asteroid.html&docid=WM-a30daRm3CJM&imgurl=http://alumnus.caltech.edu/~marcsulf/asteroid/asteroid1.jpg&w=707&h=417&ei=ujlET9TIIufl0QGq89X-Dg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=503&vpy=345&dur=2516&hovh=172&hovw=292&tx=201&ty=80&sig=100540767938144432001&page=1&tbnh=135&tbnw=180&start=0&ndsp=18&ved=0CGoQrQMwCA

  http://www.google.com/imgres?q=earth&num=10&u

m=1&hl=en&biw=1366&bih=667&tbm=isch&tbnid=G5T8i_NdTi9bbM:&imgrefurl=http://www.windows2universe.org/earth/earth.html&docid=DsiI5_oLy8W24M&imgurl=http://www.windows2universe.org/earth/images/apollo8_earth_sm.jpg&w=400&h=308&ei=yDpET935NeHy0gG4iIHeBw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=622&vpy=196&dur=280&hovh=196&hovw=255&tx=138&ty=118&sig=100540767938144432001&sqi=2&page=1&tbnh=142&tbnw=187&start=0&ndsp=21&ved=0CFUQrQMwAw