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Solar System. D. Crowley, 2007. Solar System. To know what our solar system looks like, and how the planets move around the sun. Mass & Weight. What is the difference between mass and weight?
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Solar System D. Crowley, 2007
Solar System • To know what our solar system looks like, and how the planets move around the sun
Mass & Weight • What is the difference between mass and weight? • Mass is the amount of matter in an object (how much stuff there is) - this always remains the same, anywhere in the universe • Weight is an equation Mass x gravitational pull • So weight can vary, depending on what planet you’re standing on
Planets • We live on the planet Earth - this is one of a collection of planets which, along with other objects, orbit around the sun. We call our sun, and the planets which orbit around it, our solar system • Our sun, along with millions of others, make up a collection known as a galaxy (kept together by gravity) • And there are billions of these galaxies, all of which make up the universe! Planets and other objects orbit our sun, which we call the solar system A galaxy is a collection of millions of stars, like our sun, rotating around each other The universe is made up of billions and billions of galaxies!
The Planets - orbiting the sun • Now you need to learn the planets • See if you can come up with a memorable way of remembering them - they are as follows: - Mercury Venus Earth Mars (Asteroids) Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune Pluto
Planets Solar system interactive - http://www.scienceyear.com/wired/index.html
Planets Mercury MyMy Venus VeryVery Earth EfficientEnergetic Mars MemoryMaiden (Asteroids) Aunt Jupiter JustJust Saturn StoresSwam Uranus UpUnder Neptune NineNorth Pluto PlanetsPole
Orbit • The planets that make up our solar system are all very different. Some are near to the sun, and experience very hot temperatures. Others are very far away, and are much colder. Whilst Earth is just the right distance away to allow life to flourish - not too hot, and not too cold! • The size of the planets also varies, from the tiny planet Pluto, to the gas giant Jupiter • However all the planets have one thing in common - they all orbit the sun (go around it) due to the sun’s gravity • Some planets, like Earth, have moons, which orbit the planet • How long does it take the Earth to orbit the sun?
Orbit • The Earth orbits the sun once every year, as shown below, due to the pull of gravity: -
Gravity • It is the sun’s gravity (its pull force) which keeps all the planets orbiting around it • The force of gravity gets smaller as you get further away, meaning the closest planets to the sun experience a strong force of gravity, whilst those further away experience less • This means that it takes longer for the outer planets to orbit the sun - what else do you think differs as you get further from the sun?
Differences Mars • All the planets are very different - their size can vary (Pluto & Jupiter); their composition (solid rock / gas); the temperatures they experience (hot / cold); what orbits them (i.e moons, bits of rock etc…); year length; the pull of gravity; if they can support life etc… Jupiter Saturn
Task • Your task is imagine you are a holiday rep, but your holidays are to other planets. You need to come up with a brochure of one of the planets, and describe what it is going to be like for a sightseer to visit • What should they pack (can they breathe there); what is the terrain like; is it hot or cold; how long will it take to get there etc… • As a group, you’ll present your chosen planet to the class - and make a good size poster for next lesson Build you own planet: http://www.scienceyear.com/wired/index.html Use page 547 Exploring Science + internet if possible