The Earth And The Solar System Continued
Overview
Our Solar System is a single star with eight planets, a scattering of dwarf planets, asteroids, moons and comets, all held in orbit by the Sun's gravity. Look closely and a pattern appears: small rocky worlds near the Sun, giant gas worlds far out, and a story of how they formed.
In this lesson you will describe the contents of the Solar System and the order of the planets, explain why the inner planets are rocky and the outer ones gaseous using an accretion model, and learn that orbits are elliptical. You will also interpret real planetary data.
Objectives
- Describe the Solar System as containing: (a) one star, the Sun (b) the eight named planets and know their order from the Sun (c) minor planets that orbit the Sun, including dwarf planets such as Pluto and asteroids in the asteroid belt (d) moons, that orbit the planets (e) smaller Solar System bodies, including comets and natural satellites
- Know that, in comparison to each other, the four planets nearest the Sun are rocky and small and the four planets furthest from the Sun are gaseous and large, and explain this difference by referring to an accretion model for Solar System formation, to include: (a) the model’s dependence on gravity (b) the presence of many elements in interstellar clouds of gas and dust (c) the rotation of material in the cloud and the formation of an accretion disc
- [Supplement] Know that planets, minor planets and comets have elliptical orbits, and recall that the Sun is not at the centre of the elliptical orbit, except when the orbit is approximately circular
- [Supplement] Analyse and interpret planetary data about orbital distance, orbital duration, density, surface temperature and uniform gravitational field strength at the planet’s surface
Lesson Note
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Lesson Evaluation
Congratulations on completing the lesson on The Earth And The Solar System Continued. Now that youve explored the key concepts and ideas, its time to put your knowledge to the test. This section offers a variety of practice questions designed to reinforce your understanding and help you gauge your grasp of the material.
You will encounter a mix of question types, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, and essay questions. Each question is thoughtfully crafted to assess different aspects of your knowledge and critical thinking skills.
Use this evaluation section as an opportunity to reinforce your understanding of the topic and to identify any areas where you may need additional study. Don't be discouraged by any challenges you encounter; instead, view them as opportunities for growth and improvement.
- The correct order of the planets from the Sun is: A. Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune B. Venus, Mercury, Earth, Mars, Saturn, Jupiter, Neptune, Uranus C. Earth, Mars, Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune D. Mercury, Earth, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, Uranus Answer: A
- The inner planets, compared with the outer planets, are: A. large and gaseous B. small and rocky C. large and rocky D. small and gaseous Answer: B
- The orbits of planets and comets are: A. perfect circles with the Sun at the centre B. elliptical with the Sun at one focus C. straight lines D. square Answer: B
- In the accretion model, the Solar System formed from: A. a single solid block B. a rotating cloud of gas and dust pulled together by gravity C. light from the Sun D. the Earth breaking apart Answer: B
- We see the planets because they: A. produce their own light B. reflect sunlight C. emit gamma rays D. are on fire Answer: B
Available on the Green Bridge App
Download the Green Bridge CBT app on your phone or computer to access full lesson notes, practice questions, and more.
Available on the Green Bridge App
Download the Green Bridge CBT app on your phone or computer to access full lesson notes, practice questions, and more.
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