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Introduction to the Solar System

Introduction to the Solar System. Chapter 6. The Sun. Mass in Solar System. Solar System Temperatures. 350 F. 45 F. -390 F. Comparative Planetology. Categorize planets by properties Compare similarities and differences Ask: What physical processes can explain these properties?.

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Introduction to the Solar System

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  1. Introduction to the Solar System Chapter 6

  2. The Sun

  3. Mass in Solar System

  4. Solar System Temperatures 350 F 45 F -390 F

  5. Comparative Planetology • Categorize planets by properties • Compare similarities and differences • Ask: What physical processes can explain these properties?

  6. Planet Orbits • Orbits aligned in same plane (the ecliptic) • Explains why planets always found in Zodiac • Pluto’s orbit tipped the most (17 degrees) • All planets orbit Sun counter-clockwise • Planets rotate counter-clockwise • except Venus • Rotation axis roughly perpendicular to orbit • except Uranus and Pluto

  7. Planet Orbits

  8. The Scale of the Solar System Workbook Exercise: “Sun Size” (p. 63-65 in Workbook)

  9. The image at right shows a • picture of the Sun. The dark • spots located on this image • are sunspots. How does the • size of Earth compare to the • size of the sunspot that is • identified on the right side of • the image of Sun? • A) Earth and the sunspot • are about the same size. • B) The sunspot is much • larger than Earth. • C) The sunspot is much • smaller than Earth. Sunspot

  10. If you were constructing a scale model of the solar system that used a Sun that was the size of a basketball (approximately 12 inches in diameter), which of the following lengths would most closely approximate the scaled distance between Earth and the Sun? • A) 3 feet (length of an outstretched arm) • B) 10 feet (height of a basketball goal) • C) 100 feet (height of an 10 story building) • D) 300 feet (length of a football field)

  11. Let’s consider a scale model of the Solar System!

  12. The Terrestrial Planets

  13. Terrestrial Planets • Terrestrial = Earth-like • Mercury • Venus • Earth (and Moon) • Mars • Small, low mass • No large moons (except Earth) • Mars has two small ones… • Close to Sun

  14. Terrestrial Planets • Rocky Surface • High density (3-5 gm/cm3) (water = 1 gm/cm3) • Geologic Activity (volcanoes, continental drift) • Present on larger planets (Earth and Venus) • Absent on smaller planets (Moon, Mercury, and Mars) • Atmosphere • Little hydrogen and helium • Mostly carbon dioxide (Venus and Mars) or nitrogen (Earth) • Smaller planets have no atmosphere (Mercury, Moon)

  15. Asteroids Mars The Asteroid Belt

  16. The Jovian Planets

  17. Jovian Planets • Jovian = Jupiter-like • Jupiter • Saturn • Uranus • Neptune • Large, massive • Many moons • Far from Sun

  18. Jovian Planets • Low density (1 gm/cm3) • No obvious surface • Atmosphere • Mostly hydrogen and helium • Other gases (methane, ammonia) • may form ices

  19. The Outer Solar System Comets Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud

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