Rotation & Revolution
In your own words, what is rotation?
Rotation is when an object spins on its axis
Name the four inner planets in order from the Sun.
What force keeps objects in orbit?
Gravitational Pull
Name one characteristic of Earth that helps support life
Liquid water, correct gasses, correct distance from the sun for suitable temperatures
What is an asteroid?
A rocky or metallic object that orbits the Sun and is much smaller than a planet.
What movement of Earth causes day and night? Explain.
Earth’s rotation causes day and night as different parts of Earth face toward and away from the Sun.
What major physical characteristic do the four inner planets share?
They are rocky/terrestrial planets with solid surfaces. Thin atmospheres. Smaller planets
What object provides the gravitational pull that keeps Earth in its orbit?
The Sun.
In what three states can water naturally be found on Earth
Solid (ice), liquid, and gas (water vapor).
What is a comet mostly made of?
Ice, dust, and rocky material.
Explain the difference between rotation and revolution.
Rotation is spinning on an axis; revolution is traveling around another object.
Name the four outer planets in order from the Sun.
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune.
What provides the gravitational pull that keeps the Moon orbiting?
Earth.
What two gases make up most of Earth’s atmosphere?
Nitrogen and oxygen.
What is a meteor?
A meteoroid entering an atmosphere and heating up.
Describe BOTH major movements Earth makes in space.
Earth rotates on its axis and revolves around the Sun.
Compare the inner planets with the outer planets using at least TWO characteristics.
Inner planets are smaller and rocky; outer planets are much larger and are gas or ice giants. Outer planets also generally have more moons. Inner planets have thinner atmospheres
Why does the Sun have such a strong gravitational pull on the planets?
The Sun has an enormous amount of mass, which creates a strong gravitational pull.
Scientists discover a planet. What are TWO pieces of information that would make it seem more likely to support human life?
Examples: liquid water, suitable temperatures/distance from its star, and a suitable atmosphere including oxygen.
Compare an asteroid and a comet.
Both are smaller objects that can orbit the Sun; asteroids are mainly rocky/metallic while comets contain large amounts of ice and dust. Asteroids in the Asteroid Belt and Comets in the Kuiper Belt or Oort Cloud
Which planet has the shortest revolution around the Sun, and which planet has the longest revolution? How long are they? Explain why their revolution times are so different.
Mercury has the shortest revolution of 88 earth days, and Neptune has the longest of 165 years. Mercury is closest to the Sun and has a much smaller orbital path, while Neptune is farthest from the Sun and has a much larger orbital path.
Without memorizing orbit times, predict which would take longer to revolve around the Sun: a planet near the Sun or one very far away. Why?
The farther planet, because it has a much larger orbital path to travel.
Imagine the Sun suddenly had no gravitational pull. Would the planets continue following their same orbital paths? Explain.
No. Without the Sun’s gravity pulling them into orbit they would float off in a straight line through space
Why does Earth’s distance from the Sun matter for life?
Its distance helps create temperatures that allow liquid water and conditions suitable for life.
A scientist finds a small, rocky object orbiting the Sun. It is far too small to be a planet. What type of object is it most likely to be, and what clue helped you decide?
Most likely an asteroid; the clues are that it is small, rocky, and orbiting the Sun. Not covered in ice like a comet would be.