1. L ist the 9 planets in our solar system. Mercury Venus Earth Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune Pluto (dwarf planet)

2. List each planet and the main facts about each.

Mercury 2 nd smallest planet no atmosphere craters smooth terrain deep slopes 1 rotation = 59 days Temp: 800 F to -279 F

Venus Orbits sun every 255 days Thick clouds Volcanic activity Tectonic activity 80% plains covered by volcanic flows Temp: 887 F Atmosphere is 97% CO2

Earth

Mars The red planet White polar caps Large dust storms Hurricane force winds Large volcanoes Large canyons Temp: - 94 F to – 148 F

Jupiter largest planet 1 rotation = 10 hours great red spot – a cyclonic storm hydrogen-helium atmosphere winds cause light and dark bands immense gravity gigantic ocean of liquid hydrogen 28 moons

Saturn years to make one revolution around the sun Rings made of ice and rock particles Winds up to mph Large cyclonic storms 31 moons

Uranus Rotates on its side Has rings Takes years to make one revolution around the sun

Neptune Winds up to 625 mph Great dark spot – a large rotating storm 13 moons

Pluto 248 years to orbit the sun classified as a dwarf planet Average temp: 346 F Dirty ice ball

3. L ist the terrestrial planets. Mercury Venus Earth Mars

4. What does the term, “terrestrial” mean? Earth-like

5.List the jovian planets. Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune

6.What does the term, “jovian” mean? Jupiter-like

7. What are the terrestrial planets made of? Rocky and metallic substances

8. What are the jovian planets made of? Gases – hydrogen and helium Ice

9. Nebula Cloud of dust and gas in space

10.What is the nebular theory? The sun and planets formed from a rotating disk of dust and gases

Nebular Theory

11.Planetesimals Small, irregular shaped bodies resulting from colliding bits of matter.

Planetesimals

12.How did the distance from the sun affect the creation of planets? Planets closer to the sun formed from materials with higher melting points – metals and silicate minerals. Planets further from the sun formed with solid materials and ices.

13.Asteroid Small rocky bodies

14.Comet Pieces of rocky and metallic materials

15.Coma The glowing head on a comet

16.Meteoroid A small solid particle traveling through space.

17.When is a meteoroid called a shooting star? When it enters the earth’s atmosphere.

18.Meteor A meteoroid that does not enter the earth’s atmosphere.

19.Meteorite A meteoroid that reaches the earth’s surface.