Our Solar System Our Solar System
Dec 27, 2015
Our Solar SystemOur Solar System
Consists of the sun, eight planets, their moons, asteroids, comets, and
The planets are all unique and differ in terms of their:– Size– Surface temperature– Chemical elements (e.g. H, He, O2 and C)– Gravitational field strength (surface gravity)
The Inner (Terrestrial) PlanetsThe Inner (Terrestrial) Planets
The four planets closest to the sun
Mercury Venus Earth Mars
They are:– Small– High density– Mainly composed of rocks/metals
The Outer Planets or Gas GiantsThe Outer Planets or Gas Giants The four planets farthest from the sun
Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune
They are:– Large– Low density– Mainly composed of gases such as hydrogen and helium
PlutoPluto**Pluto is in a category by itself. Due to
its strange orbit and tiny size it is no longer classified as a planet. It has been re-classified as a minor or dwarf planet.
Other Objects in our Solar SystemOther Objects in our Solar SystemAsteroids (aka:Minor Planets)
– Small rocky objects– There is a ring of asteroids between Mars and
Jupiter known as the “Asteroid Belt”
CometsComets
Aka “Dirty Snowballs”
Made up mainly of dust and ice
Travel in a very long orbit around the Sun
CometsComets
As the comet approaches the Sun, it is warmed. Frozen material begins to melt and then evaporate from its surface becoming gases. These gases are pushed outward by the solar wind to produce a bright tail.
A comet’s tail can be MILLIONS of kilometers long and always points away from the Sun.
http://www.windows2universe.org/comets/comet_model_interactive.html
Meteors (aka Shooting Stars)Meteors (aka Shooting Stars) A meteoroid is a small
rock or particle of debris in our solar system. They range in size from dust to around 10 metres in diameter (larger objects are usually referred to as asteroids).
A meteoroid that burns up as it passes through the Earth’s atmosphere is known as a meteor.
Most never reach the earth. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8DPrVSmjwI
..\..\..\My Videos\grade nine science\Spaced Out- Meteors, Meteorites and Shooting Stars.mp4
MeteoritesMeteoritesA meteor that
hits the Earth before it completely burns up.
Produce large craters
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBvotWfR3j4
..\..\..\My Videos\grade nine science\Meteorite Explosion - Russia Chelyabinsk 2_15_2013 - Asteroid expected to pass close by Earth.mp4
Planetary Moons Planetary Moons (aka. Natural Satellites)(aka. Natural Satellites)
Large natural objects that revolve around the planets
Each moon is a different size and has a different surface
Contain useful minerals
Luminous vs. non-luminousLuminous vs. non-luminous
Luminous objects are seen because they give off their own light. Examples are stars.
Non-luminous means objects can only be seen because light from the sun reflects off of them. Examples are planets, moons, asteroids and comets.