Planets 1.0
This is the closest planet to the Sun.
Mercury
These planets are rocky and solid.
Inner (terrestrial) planets
Earth’s distance from the Sun equals this unit.
1 AU
This force keeps moons orbiting planets.
gravity
Pluto is no longer a planet because it does not meet this requirement.
clearing its orbit
This is the only inner planet with liquid water on its surface.
Earth
This inner planet has no atmosphere to trap heat.
Mercury
This planet has an AU value close to 30.
Neptune
The Moon takes about this many days to orbit Earth.
28 days
If Earth moved closer to the Sun, what would likely happen to life?
temperatures would increase / water might evaporate
This planet is known as the Red Planet.
Mars
Name one difference between inner and outer planets related to gravity.
outer planets have stronger gravity due to larger mass
Which planet would have a shorter year than Earth, and why?
Mercury, because it is closer to the Sun?
Astronauts jump higher on the Moon because of this difference.
weaker gravity
These rocky objects orbit mostly between Mars and Jupiter
asteroids
This planet takes the longest time to orbit the Sun.
What is Neptune?
This planet has an atmosphere mostly made of carbon dioxide.
Venus
Mercury’s year is 88 Earth days. About how many Mercury years happen in one Earth year?
4
Why does the Moon appear to shine at night?
It reflects the Sun’s light
Name 3 characteristics of inner planets.
Rocky surfaces· Smaller in size· Warmer and closer to the Sun
(Also: have few or no moons, no rings)
This planet is similar to Earth in size but very different in atmosphere.
Venus
Why outer planets are colder even though they are very large
they are farther from the Sun
If you are 12 years old on Earth, how old are you on Jupiter?
1
What causes ocean tides on Earth?
The Moon’s gravity
Name 5 things in our Solar system?(excluding planets & stars)
The Moon Asteroids Comets Meteoroids, dwarf planets, moons of other planets, the asteroid belt, space dust, satellites