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Chapter 4A Family of Planets

4.1 The Nine Planets

Measuring distancesAstronomical units (AU) = the distance the earth is from the sun

Light-minutes = 18,000,000 kmThe sun is 8.3 light minutes away

4.2 The Inner Planets

called terrestrial planet● rocky and dense● Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars

Mercury

Fun facts:Slow rotation--A day lasts 59 day● rotation periodYou only weigh 38% of weight hereA year is 88 days● period of revolution

Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.

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Section 2 The Inner PlanetsChapter J4

Venus

Fun facts:slightly smaller than earthrotates opposite direction than earth

(sun rises in west)dense atmosphere (90x pressure)464oC surface temp




Earth

Perfect distance from sun to have liquid water

We know fun facts:a year = a yeara day = a day etc...




Mars

Most studied: Viking 1 and Viking 2Cold (-13oC to -77oC)● thin atmosphere and far from sun● no liquid water, pressure so low, it boils

away● ice caps and volcanoes● Weight is also 38% of earth




4.3 The Outer Plantes

Large and composed of gas● Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto

(Pluto is small, dense, and rocky)

JupiterFun facts

Largest PlanetHigh pressure solidifies gasRed spot is 400 year old storm

3x the size of the earth

It is so hot, it radiates more energy than it collects from the sunyou weight 236% of your weight here (2.36x)



Section 3 The Outer PlanetsChapter J4

Saturn

Second largest planetMostly Hydrogen and HeliumMay still be forming!Rings made of icy particles between a few cm to several m bigReleases heat




Uranus

mostly Hydrogen and Methanetipped over to 90o angle Weigh less than earth (89%)




NeptuneLooks bluemostly Hydrogen and Methanetipped over to 90o angle Releases heat




Pluto

Half the size of MercuryHas one moon, CharonStill classified as planet, though some challenge




4.4 Moons

satellites--bodies that revolve around larger bodies

Our moon, also called Luna,



Section 4 MoonsChapter J4

The surface of the moon

Bodies with no atmosphere preserve a record of impact craters

Can help identify age

Phases of the Moon

Moons continual changing appearance

Waxing: apparently getting largerWaning: apparently getting smaller

Eclipses

When the shadow of one celestial body falls on another

Lunar eclipse

Moon looks red because of bending light around earths atmosphere

The moons of other planets

Mars has 2Jupiter has dozens, 4 main ones

Io, Europa, Callisto and GanymedeSaturn has dozens

Titan is largestUranus has several

Miranda has strange features

Neptune has severalone large called Triton

Pluto has 1Charon

4.5 Small Bodies in the Solar System

Cometssmall body of ice, rock,

and cosmic dust“dirty snowballs”

Comet tailsgas and dust released by sun’s heation tail: electrically charged particles

Asteroids

● small rocky bodies that revolve around the sun

An asteroid beld exists between Mars and Jupiter

Types of Asteroids

Dark reddish brown on outside

Light gray on inside with stoney or metalic

Three asteroids:

Meteoroids: relatively small, rocky body that travels in space

Meteorite: meteroid that reaches Earth’s surface without completely burning up

Meteor: a bright streak of light that results when a mereoroid burns up in the atmosphere



Interpreting GraphicsUse the diagrams below to answer the questions that follow.

Standardized Test PreparationChapter J4



1. According to the information above, which planet has the oldest surface?

A planet A

B planet B

C planet C

D planet D




1. According to the information above, which planet has the oldest surface?

A planet A

B planet B

C planet C

D planet D


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