Patterns in the Solar System - Weebly



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Learning Target: I will recognize patterns within our solar system by analyzing a data table.

Although composed of many diverse objects, the solar system exhibits various degrees of order and several regular patterns. To simplify the investigation of planetary sizes, masses, etc., the planets can be arranged into two distinct groups, with the members each displaying similar attributes. This exercise examines the physical properties and motions of the planets with the goal of summarizing these characteristics in a few general, easily remembered statements. The tables below provide some essential useful data regarding each of the planets:

Planet |Period of Rotation

(Revolution) |Diameter (km) |Relative Mass

(Earth = 1) |Average Density (g/cm3) |# of known moons (satellites) |Period of Revolution

(Year) | |Mercury |59 days |4854 |.05 |5.4 |0 |88 days | |Venus |244 days |12,112 |.82 |5.2 |0 |224.7 days | |Earth |23h56m04s |12,751 |1.00 |5.5 |1 |365.25 days | |Mars |24h37m23s |6788 |.108 |3.9 |2 |687 days | |Jupiter |9h50m |143,000 |317.87 |1.3 |66 |11.86 yrs | |Saturn |10h14m |121,000 |95.14 |.7 |62 |29.46 yrs | |Uranus |17h14m |47,000 |14.56 |1.2 |27 |84 yrs | |Neptune |16h03m |46,529 |17.21 |1.7 |13 |165 yrs | |

Comparing the Terrestrial and Jovian Planets

Terrestrial planets are the first 4 planets. Their surfaces are solid and they are referred to as the “rocky” planets. Jovian planets are the outer 4 planets. Their surfaces are gas and often have frozen cores and are referred to as the “gas giants.”

The physical characteristics such as diameter, density, and mass of the terrestrial planets are very similar and can be summarized in a few statements. Likewise, the characteristics exhibited by the Jovian planets as a group can also be generalized.

To gain an understanding of the similarities of the planets within each of the two groups and the contrasts between the two groups, complete the following sections using the planetary data presented in the tables on page 1.

1. Describe the composition (make up) of the Jovian planets. (read the paragraphs above to see what they are made up of)

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Size of the Planets—The similarities in the diameters of the planets within each of the two groups and the contrast between the groups are perhaps the most obvious patterns in the solar system.

2. Which is the largest (NOT mass) terrestrial planet? _____________________________

a. What is this planet’s diameter?____________________

3. Which is the smallest (NOT mass) Jovian planet? _________________________

a. What is this planet’s diameter? ____________________

4. Write a general statement that compares the sizes (diameter) of the terrestrial planets to those of the Jovian planets. (Which have a larger diameter, which have a smaller diameter?)

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Mass and Density of the Planets—Mass is a measure of the quantity of matter an object contains. In the tables on page 1, the masses of the planets are given in relation to the mass of the Earth. For example, the mass of Mercury is given as .056, which means that it consists of only a small fraction of the quantity of matter that Earth contains. On the other hand, the Jovian planets all contain several times more matter than Earth. Density is the mass per unit volume of a substance. As a reference, the density of water is approximately one gram per cubic centimeter.

5. Complete the following statements by looking in the relative MASS column:

a. The planet _______________ is the most massive planet in the solar system. It is ___________ times more massive than Earth.

b. The least massive planet is _______________, which contains only _______________ as much mass as Earth.

6. The gravitational attraction of a planet is directly related to its mass. Which planet exerts the greatest pull of gravity? Explain how you know this. (More gravity = more mass)

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7. Write a general statement comparing the MASSES (NOT diameters) of the terrestrial planets to the masses of the Jovian planets. (Which type of planets have more mass, which have less mass?)

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Rotation and Revolution of the Planets—Rotation is the turning of a planet about its axis that is responsible for day and night. When the solar system is viewed from above the Northern Hemisphere of Earth, the planets, with the exception of Venus, rotate in a counterclockwise direction. Venus exhibits a very slow clockwise rotation. The time that it takes for a planet to complete one 360 degree rotation on its axis is called the period of rotation. The units used to measure a planet’s period of rotation are Earth hours and/or days. Revolution is the motion of a planet around the Sun. The time it takes a planet to complete one revolution about the Sun is the length of its year, called the period of revolution.

8. If you could live on Venus or Jupiter, approximately how long would you have to wait between sunrises? Complete the blanks below to answer this question.

a. On Venus, a sunrise would occur every __________ Earth days. (How long is a day on Venus?)

b. On Jupiter, a sunrise would occur every _________ hours and _________ minutes. (How long is a day on Jupiter?)

9. Write a statement comparing the periods of rotation of the terrestrial planets to those of the Jovian planets. (How long are days on terrestrial planets compared to Jovian planets? Which type has longer days? Which has shorter days?)

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10. Compare the planets’ periods of rotation to their periods of revolution and then complete the following statement using either the word “long” or the word “short” to fill in each blank.

The terrestrial planets all have ____________ days and ____________ years, while

(long or short) (long or short)

the Jovian planets all have ____________ days and ____________ years.

(long or short) (long or short)

11. Explain the relation between a planet’s period of rotation and period of revolution that would cause one side of a planet to face the Sun throughout its year (extra credit).

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Diameter vs. Density—To visually compare the diameters and densities of the planets, use the data from page 1 to complete the diameter vs. density graph according to the directions following.

Density vs. Diameter Graph

140,000

120,000

100,000

80,000

60,000

40,000

20,000

0

1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0

12. Make a SCATTER PLOT graph above (DO NOT CONNECT THE POINTS LIKE IN A LINE GRAPH) using the following rules:

A.) Plot a point on the diameter vs. density graph for each planet where its diameter intersects its density. Use the data from the diameter column and density column on the first page.

B.) Label each point with the planet’s name.

C.) Use one colored pencil for the terrestrial and a different colored pencil for the Jovian planets.

D.) Don’t forget to make a key!

13. What general relation exists between a planet’s size (diameter) and its density? (As diameter increases, what happens to the planet’s density?)

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14. The average density of Earth is about 5.5 g/cm3. Considering that the densities of surface rocks are much less than the average, what does this suggest about the density of the Earth’s interior? (extra credit)

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15. Which of the planets has a density less than water and therefore would “float” (water has a density of 1 g/cm3)?

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16. Write a general statement comparing the densities of the terrestrial planets to the Jovian planets. (Which is more dense, which is less dense?)

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17. Why are the densities of the terrestrial and Jovian planets so different? (Look at what they are made up of to help you with this question)

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Number of Moons of the Planets

18. Write a brief statement comparing the number of known moons of the terrestrial planets to the number orbiting the Jovian planets. (Which has more moons, Jovian or Terrestrial planets?)

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19. What is the general relation between the number of moons a planet has compared to its mass? (As a planet’s mass increases, what usually happens to the number of moons?)

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Patterns in the Solar System - M

Terrestrial

Jovian

Diameter (km)

Mercury

Density (g/cm3)

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