Science Year 4

Unit 6 :

The Earth And The Universe

Lesson 1 :

Our Solar System

The Earth

The Universe

Our Solar System

Inner Planets Mercury Venus Earth Mars Neptune Uranus Asteroid Belt Comet Saturn Jupiter Outer Planets

Sun

The Sun
Corona Convection Zone Radiation Zone Core Photosphere

Is a star, a hot ball glowing gases at the heat of solar system. Largest object in the solar system. Without the suns intense energy and heat, there would be no life on Earth.

Mercury
Closest planet to the Sun. The Smallest planet in the solar system. Heavily cratered surface can reach 801 F ( 427 C ) No atmosphere to trap the heat, night time temperatures plummet to -279 F ( -173 C )

Venus
( earths sister planet)
Similar to Earth in size and mass. Its atmosphere is primarily carbon dioxide. Permanent blanket of clouds traps heat, creating surface temperatures hot. Reflective cloud cover makes it the brightest.

Earth
( The big blue marble )
The only planet to support life. Is a complex system of air, water, and land. Thin and dynamic veil of atmosphere. Rapid spin and molten nickeliron core give rise to a magnetic field.

( the red planet)

Rocky planets surface has seen volcanoes, meteor impacts, shifting tectonic plates, and huge dust storms. Seasonal temperature fluctuations.

Mars

Jupiter
Largest planet. Mainly hydrogen and helium atmosphere resembles that of our sun.

( the giant )

Saturn
( the ringed planet )
Gas giants. Made of hydrogen and helium. Has 3 wide rings.

Uranus
( the blue planet )
Spins on a axis that often points directly at the sun. Methane gas in its atmosphere.

Neptune
( the outermost planet )
Bright blue coloring from methana gas in its atmosphere.

Pluto
( celestial snowballs )
Dwarf Planets. In 2006, petite Pluto was stripped of its planet status and down graded to dwarf planet.

Asteroid belt
Between Mars and Jupiter.

asteroid
Chunks of rock that travel around the sun.

comet
Balls of rock and ice that grow tails as they approach the sun. Gas and dust are expelled and trail behind them as it heat up.

meteor

Tiny rocks which probably come from the asteroid belt. Meteorite impacts velocities.

Meteorite impacts velocities

Planet Mercury Venus Earth Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune Pluto

Distance from Sun ( million Km )

58 108

Mass of Planet ( x1022 kg)

33 487

Time for 1 Orbit of Sun ( days )

88 224.7

150
228 778 1,429 2,871 4,504 5,913

598
64.2 109,000 56,900 8,690 10,280 1.49

365.2
687 4,332 10,760 30,700 60,200 90,600

70 60 Number of Moons 50 40 30 20 10 0

63

61

27

13 0 0 1 2

Exercise
1. What is the closest planet to the Sun? 2. What planet is famous for the beautiful rings that surround it? 3. What is the hottest planet in our solar system? 4. Can humans breathe normally in space as they can on Earth? 5. Is the planet Neptune bigger than Earth? 6. What planet is known as the red planet? 7. Is the sun a star or a planet? 8. Who was the first person to walk on the moon? 9. Does the sun orbit the Earth? 10. What is the name of the force holding us to the Earth?
More exercises More information

Mercury Saturn Venus No Yes Mars A star

Neil Armstrong

No Gravity